A/N: Advent and I went back and improved this chapter. Hope you appreciate it!

Prepare! This chapter goes from zero to a hundred real fast. Hopefully we've ironed everything out properly.

I'd say why, but that would spoil things, flashbacks, etc.

Grappling with writer's block, sorry.

Many thanks to Advent for helping me with this, without him, this chapter simply would not have been possible. He wrote the bulk of this chapter based off what I gave him to work on; from there I went back and made the necessary edits and the like. Hopefully it looks good; because I'm exhausted.

Just wanted to thank everyone out there for their heartfelt support in these trying times.

So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.

I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.

Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.

In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!

"James Ironwood, we of the Council hereby find you guilty to attempted Genocide against the populace of not only Mantle and the citizens within her walls, but the willingness to allow those of Atlas to potentially be slaughtered.

Had the Grimm breached the Walls of Mantle where the remaining citizens would have undoubtedly perished, hundreds would have died.

Have you anything to say for yourself?"

~A judgment

Wits, Manners, and Charm

James Ironwood was clapped in irons as soon as the Horde had been dispersed and destroyed.

Stripped of Rank and Stature alike, he'd been shoved into a orange prison uniform to await his trial with various executive judges. Among these judges were the Council of Headmaster's, the as-of-yet-peaceful White Fang Hierarchy, William Schnee himself-who had repelled the massive Horde almost singlehandedly-and it was to be broadcasted for the people to watch. Usually when a General or anyone in such a high position of Authority were to be under such circumstances as he, this would be a private affair and kept silent from the Public.

Alas, William Schnee had made a single and very powerful point.

Let the world know of his cowardice, and his fate would be decided upon conclusion.

He couldn't try to fault that logic, and Jacques was slimy enough to have escaped a trial by saying he had been attending a business meeting-a story that had been proven true when the Board of Director's that worked at the SDC confirmed his tale, so the slippery bastard had gotten away with it by the skin of his teeth.

But not him.

Atlas needed a scapegoat.

He was brought out of his silent thoughts when the door to his cell opened with a resounding clang of metal

A guard stood before him weapon in hand. "Time to go, prisoner."

"Very well then, let's get this over with." James sighed.

(.0.0.0.)

The gathered witnesses-from various portion's of the Population, Military and SDC-were in their seats waiting for the trial to begin. Silent murmurs were filling the room as to their own thoughts and theories on what could possibly happen. These murmurs were interrupted when the doors opened and the man whom was most despised by Mantle was walked in under guard. His hands were chained to his waist, and his ankles were shackled to provide minimal movement in case he tried to resist and attempt escape-a precaution that William proposed as a safety measure, as you never knew what was going to happen.

"Look at him, what a waste of potential."

"To think he was once in charge of Atlas' Military power."

"Such a disgrace to the best of this world's leadership."

"Piece of trash."

Whispers of discontent filled the room as he walked past various people-Human and Faunus alike were separated on either side of the aisle to prevent a possible fight but was followed by the polite request of both Ozpin and William who didn't want anything to tear the court apart by discrepancies. James grunted as he was pushed down into a chair roughly and then cuffed to the table via a small chain that connected his wrists to the table. The bailiff stood before the massive raised podium stoically as he did his duty, and then the door opened to reveal the panel of judges that were to determine his fate.

"All rise!" the Bear Faunus commanded, "The panel of Headmaster's, Council of Faunus, and Lord of Mantle; William Schnee presiding this case, is now in session." he called out loud enough for everyone in the room to hear his voice.

As the respective personnel reached their seats, they each took a seat where their name was clearly visible to the court to read it. Ozpin-who was the Leader of the Council of Headmaster's-cleared his throat as he placed a file down upon the mahogany wood, "Please be seated." he said calmly as the room sat back down. The Headmaster of Beacon then looked to the Bailiff beneath the large gathering and spoke up, "Mr. Claw, please swear in the jury." he requested politely as the massive bear of a man...

Disregard that very terrible pun...

Anyways, the Bailiff nodded as he turned to the Jury that stood next to the panel of judges across the room, "Please raise your right hand." he told the twelve jurors, and then spoke deeply and seriously, "Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will truly listen to this case and render a true verdict and a fair sentence as to this defendant?"

All twelve member's nodded as one, and answered in a single voice, "We do."

"As jurors you are not to be swayed by sympathy. Your duty is to listen to the questions and answers and decide what actions were wise, and which were not. Upon conclusion of this proceeding, you will determine the outcome of the sentencing of Former General James Michael Ironwood." he told them, "Please be seated."

Ozpin pulled out a few sheet's of paper and began shifting through them, "Now, as this the final day of this trial, we should inform all present that if found guilty; Former General, you will be executed without question, but if your innocence remans intact, you will be discharged dishonorably, all your assets confiscated, your wages stripped and distributed to the families of those who died fighting in the counter offense for the city, and you will be imprisoned for the remainder of your days."

Ironwood didn't react. Naruto found himself tempted to smash a Rasengan through his head.

But as William Schnee, he could hardly do that now, could he? Instead, he cleared his throat, "Now, we as a consensus have agreed to some obligations if it comes down to the guilt, but we would grant you a final request as allowed. Should you prove innocent, you know what awaits you." he said seriously.

Ghira looked to the Baliff, "Has the Jury reached a decision?" he questioned.

A juror stood up and nodded as she held out a piece of paper. She was a dark skinned woman with tiger stripes showing she was a Tiger Faunus, and she wasn't the only Faunus on the Jury. It was split half Human Half Faunus for an equal voice. The Baliff took it as the woman spoke, "We the jury have indeed come to a verdict in regards of the defendant." she stated.

"Having nearly gone to a Hung Jury, we have concluded that upon being faced with facts and Evidence presented to us, we the Jury have found the Defendant; one James Michael ironwood, Guilty of attempted Genocide against the innocent populace of both Atlas and Mantle with the intent to force a military growth to lash out in war." a juror stated, a soft look of displeasure of having sentenced a man to his death.

"James Ironwood, we of the Council hereby find you guilty to attempted Genocide against the populace of not only Mantle and the citizens within her walls, but the willingness to allow those of Atlas to potentially be slaughtered had the Grimm breached the Walls of Mantle where the remaining citizens would have undoubtedly perished. Now, have you anything to say for yourself before we get down to the sentencing, James? If so please inform this gathering of people as to why you seemingly allowed a Horde of Grimm so close you not only your borders, but to the walls of the city?" he questioned.

"My reasons are my own, the world doesn't need to know why I chose to act the way I did." James said from his seat.

Gotcha.

"Actually, Ironwood, they do." Naruto stated, leaning forward atop his ow chair, "Because, the simple fact of the matter is this; if it weren't for my intervention and using my own Semblance, then this city, these people who live here-among them who are my blood and many of those who are in this very room-would all be dead." he crossing both hands before his chest, "I'm not sure if you had a escape contingency planned for yourself and your closest followers, but understand this; Cowardice is the cheap route to success."

The man's jaw clenched, his gaze narrowing ever so slightly. "My actions were not those of a coward.

"Then you won't mind explaining them to the court."

...I cannot."

"Then you are a coward." he countered.

Ironwood snorted, "Oh really, and you think you could do better?"

"I don't think so, I know so." he responded, "But we aren't here for me, we are here because of you and your inability to protect that which you have sworn to." he told Ironwood, "And due to this, you are facing the full brunt of your cowardice to not only the people of Atlas, but those of Mantle who live beneath the city that floats. My cannons controlled the tempo of the battle, ensuring that no Grimm could enter Mantle from the ground and kept the Avocational-Type Grimm away from Atlas which sits above, "And yet you hid like a coward.

There it was, the knife if in his argument, stabbing deep, fracturing the man's rigid self control.

"I did what I thought was right, you will not change my mind, child." Ironwood scowled, "We as a civilization have become to dependent on Dust, on technology, to get us out of the hard situations in which our own power could solve the issues for us." the last words tore out of him in a snarl, "I wanted to fix that weakness, by putting mankind back where it belonged. It would have been perfect, mankind growing strong through the suffering of a united cause."

"The world is united in its own way." Ghira said, "It's not perfect, but it is enough to ensure our survival."

"Survival is to ensure that the strong thrive and the weak die!" Ironwood snapped back! "I am strong, those who were down in Mantle were weak! It was time someone did something, and I acted in the way I thought best!"

"Your best intentions nearly cost an entire civilian population their lives." Leonardo Lionheart spoke up.

"Is that truly the way it works?" Something broke in Ironwood's then, shattering his composure altogether. "You fight for your country, you lose so much that was dear to you, and then you're done with? The uniform's forgotten? You have no voice? My life has been devoted to protecting everyone I could, but what if the only way to protect people is to let them die so that other's don't have to suffer that same fate?"

"In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons." Ozpin stated, "This was more than just a war that could be avoided, this was a blatant attempt at extermination." he said as he gazed down. With a sigh, Ozpin raised the gavel, "James Ironwood, you re hereby sentenced to death. Your sentence will be carried out in a month's time, and until then you will sit in the highest grade prisoner cell in the world; Chorh-Gom Prison, the prison which ever only holds one prisoner at any given time."

James sprang to his feet. "Ozpin! You can't be serious! You yourself would've done the same! Sacrifices must be made! Even that boy can't hold her off forever-

Down came the gavel with a resounding bang.

"This case, is concluded. Thank you, Jury, for your service today." once more a bang sounded out. "This session is adjourned."

The old man watched as someone he once called friend was marched out, the people glaring holes at him.

How the mighty had fallen.

(.0.0.0.)

Naruto placed both hands in his hair, sat down and sighed.

He perked up when he watched the door open and saw Headmaster Ozpin entered the room.

"Headmaster Ozpin." he greeted shortly with a nod.

"William, my dear boy, how do you fare?"

"Barely functioning right now from lack of sleep, but that is what happens when you are judging evidence presented to you to determine a man if he is or isn't worth his life." he responded, "James ironwood was a role-model to many before this fiasco, but even I am incapable of seeing as to why he would perform such blatant actions against the civilian population."

They say power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, but was that truly the case here...?

Ozpin nodded silently, "Yes, and while some of us will miss him, we have to look to the future of our people." he stated as he sipped his coffee, "So, have you thought about a possible future in your education? I'm sure you would excel if you allowed yourself to travel to places you might not have been." he said calmly, "We at Beacon would be glad to accept someone such as yourself in our curriculum to help others grow and thrive."

Aha. Here came the pitch he'd been expecting. "Naruto" would've jumped at in his first life.

William merely sighed, "I only want to see Weiss succeed. My ambition's aren't as high as everyone else seems to think they are." he said looking to the older man, "They call me a lord or a King all they want, but we both know the truth." he shook his head and sat up, "The king is the next generation in which we fight to protect, one which Ironwood forsook the day that horde attacked my home and family and the people I bled to protect from extermination... I just wish I could have done more..."

Ozpin sat beside him, "I'll tell you something that an old friend once told me, and you can take it however you wish." he said clasping his hands together, "Sure, he took his words from a song, but I like to think they might hold a slight bit of significance to what I am now trying to tell you." he said softly to the lad, "He told, 'Your blue might be gray, Your less might be more. Your window to the world might be your own front door. Your shiniest day might come in the middle of the night.' and I like to think that it is something that even you can understand, that the littlest change can have the biggest of impacts, and just between us, you did make a big impact on that day."

William hummed, "I'll think on it."

"That's all I ask, young man. Take your time. While the entrance exams won't be held for some time, the Vytal Festival is commencing soon and I am sure that when we weren't judging James' actions you were readying yourself for your little...surprise." the last bit was delivered with a raised brow. 'Or shall I call it an interruption, given that you plan to crash the festivities?

"I haven't the foggiest idea what you mean."

"Hmm." Ozpin sighed. "Whatever spectacle you have planned, please mind the collateral damage.

William smirked, it was wise that this old man noticed his growth-he was the strongest of all beings after all.

(.0.0.0.)

"Do you really have to pay me so much for something so practical?" a voice spoke through the scroll.

"Yes, because I want results, not promises." William responded with a scowl, "And if I can take your feeble mind of something as a mundane machine and turn your passive creativity into something worth it, then you would not need to worry about something so little. What you are crafting is going to change how this world operates. No longer will we as a species have to rely on digging through a potentially degrading resource, and instead we can chemically craft one upon success, and then craft something better." he told the speaker, "Besides, I am paying you money directly from my own pockets to see the success of this project. Pietro may excel in robotics and aura, but your mind is more suited for crafting machines of war and destruction, something which you can channel into this project."

"And I understand that, but do you honestly think I can complete such a machine in the given timeframe?" the male voice asked him.

"If a prototype can be successfully tested, then we can begin working on a full scale version, and if you need more money then I will accommodate you with the funding. Let me remind you, that you work for me, and while you do give good intel on that creature you call a Mistress and her ongoing schemes, let me remind you that without my help, your intellect will never be seen, and you shall remain not but a shadow of your former colleague. What you are crafting goes far beyond a machine, you are pioneering the future of Remnant." he said with a scowl, "A future that when mankind and Faunus spread beyond the border's of this world, where we conquer the stars, and our own lives."

Just thinking about it excited him!

"We will not need to bow to the whims of these so called God's who think they are above us simply because they have lost faith in what they have made." he stated, "Now, beyond that, your mechanical expertise is exceptional, and that twin blade set you crafted was unlike any other, Ea was improved upon using some of your personal design, and Pietro had created my greatest weapon, and three days passed before you returned it to me better than ever. That is why I am coming to you, because Pietro was unwilling to improve upon what was there, unlike you who sees the bigger picture." he stated, "Are we clear, you see more than just one thing, you see the whole thing."

*Sigh~* "Alright already, quit pulling my leg dammit, I'll see if the prototype can be built up and running, but I make no promises, if it fails, then I'll try and use a different fueling source." the person told him, "And if need be, I'll look into older sources of fuel." he finished.

"Start with helium and then work your way up the composition's, the better it runs off the source of fuel, the better, unless you already have something?" William concluded.

"Well, from what I have seen thus far has been various promises, but a minor result when I made a compound mixed with Mercury, I'll look into it and get back to you." the speaker told him, "Until then, William."

"Be well...Watts."

*Click*

William sighed as he leaned back in his chair and gazed at the ceiling. Why were his associates so whiny about such thing's?

Before he could question anything or even himself further, a knock sounded on his door.

'William, you need to hurry and pack for the tournament, we need to leave in a couple hours and you still haven't readied yourself my dear.' Mother spoke through the wooden frame.

"I'm packing Mother!" he called back... yea, he needed to do that, but he'd been rather busy these past few days. What with improving his own weapons, crafting his armor and all the other fancy gadgets he was paying other's to build for him and all that...

Huffing to himself, he climbed out of the chair he went to his closet and begun to rummage through it, pulling out some clothes, a luggage bag, and then putting them away. He paused as he looked at an old outfit he had made for the Halloween party that Mother had thrown a year back and smiled. It was a very kingly and regal thing, so he might as well put it to good use. Throwing it in with the other clothes he nodded in satisfaction. He then grabbed it and walked towards his door, only to pause,

"Why am I carrying this?" he questioned himself before he summoned a glyph and tossed the bag into the portal, "There, that's better." he nodded to himself. Exiting his room he paused when he saw Weiss standing in the hall with a dull look at him.

"What?" he questioned her.

"William, are seriously going to be lazy about carrying a bag onto the airship?" She asked, rubbing her forehead.

"Yes." he responded instantly, "You never know-" he went to say only his elder sister to wave him off, "'Who or which mongrel is going to go through your stuff when you aren't looking-

"Yes-yes I know, you say it every time we travel." she sighed.

"Then why do you ask?" he questioned her.

"Because I find reminded of the last time we traveled outside the country." she responded with a mild glare.

"Which time?" he asked with a smirk.

"The time, in which you murdered the High Commanders of the Black Fang!" she said loudly.

Ah, yes. Good times.

"That wasn't murder, they challenged me, and they paid for it with their lives, and besides, you would have been dead if I hadn't stepped up." he responded. "The White Fang is better without those parasite clinging to their name.

Wiess sighed as her memories returned to the day she had watched William fight in a more serious manner, a style of fighting in which she had never before witnessed when he had used his Gates to fight two single people. Grimm he would unleash everything, but in this fight he had been cunning and decisive from the very beginning.

Another reminder that her brother was more than he appeared.

She remembered it all too well...

(...Flashback...)

William and Weiss were out in Vacuo securing some resources for their own future's when they had found themselves under attack-more specifically; Weiss-by two individuals.

A massive stone cleaver cut through the air, and slammed into the ground, an explosion of debris kicking up in response.

"That's one!" a voice declared happily.

As the cloud settled down, another filled the air. It was a voice filled with confidence and hubris, "To attack my beloved Saber is to attack me..." William said in distaste, "You Mongrel's must have a death-wish." he spoke as the cloud dissipated, "Tell me, what in the name of my Grandfather caused you to come to such a fanatical conclusion?" he questioned, Weiss now standing behind him from where he had grabbed her and pulled her away from the danger.

Weiss drew herself up anxiously. "William, stop antagonizing people, we need to run!"

"Worry not Saber, we will be fine. In fact, you should run along and go find the proper authorities to help deal with this situation." he told her, "If anything, they might need a cadaver squad to gather the remains of the two dead." he stated.

"The only one who is dying today, is you, abomination!" a female voice spoke.

Looking at his attacker's he noticed both were Faunus, and not your ordinary run of the mill Faunus either. These were Black Fang High Commander's. High Commander Sienna Khan and her half brother Hercules.

"I see, so you attacked my dear Saber to elicit a response of desperation and anger from myself, but what could you possibly have against me that prompts a direct assault on my person?" he questioned them.

"We don't need a reason, but we both know you do not belong in this world." Hercules said in a deep voice, "All that you are, all that you do, is against the natural order. We are here to return all that is back to the way it was." he told William.

"And by that logic, then you mean to kill yourself upon my death then, do you not Hercules?" he questioned, "You were not meant to be born, much like I was, and yet here you stand, saying that I am the aberration to the flow of this realities timeline."

"No, you will die, we will live and fulfill our own plans." he stated.

"Then you have nothing I want to speak of, begone Mongrel's, while my mercy still remains intact." he said turning on them, acting as if they were nothing more than bothersome children, which they kinda were.

"Kill him, Hercules." Sienna commanded.

Hercules gave a feral smile that demanded blood, "Of course, little sister." he said as he charged forward.

William sighed as he turned around and jabbed his fist out, striking the massive Lion Faunus in the gut with a powerful straight punch to his gut, causing the hulking figure to hunch over and cough as he slid back. William watched as he held his stomach and coughed up blood, "Oh dear, that looks painful, you might wish to have your wounds tended to before they become a threat to your life." he said simply.

"William, stop joking around, we need to get out of here!" Weiss said, tugging at his arm.

"Saber, I believe I said for you to let me handle this while you went and got the proper help." he said turning to her, "Do not worry, I'll be fine." he nodded at her, making a shooing motion towards her.

"Fine, but if you die, I'll spit on your grave." she told him, and then she ran off.

"Hmph, as if a mongrel feline could so much as scratch me." he remarked as he looked back as Hercules slowly stood to his feet; shaky but firm, "So, care to try again?" he questioned calmly as he kept his gaze on the two Faunus.

"Before we begin, I wish to say that I am very glad that I can fight you so quickly." Hercules said as he stabbed his sword into the ground before he fell into a fighting stance.

"I do enjoy the occasional bout here and there, but I must ask you why you seem so eager to battle against me, even knowing what you now do?" he questioned, "I will admit that I was a bit surprised, but I am not complaining and so I suggest that you give this fight your all, as I intend to give you my very best." said William, as he fell into his own fighting stance.

"I would have it no other way" replied Hercules with a wicked grin where he then snarled before he planted a foot, the ground cracking under the pressure of his physical strength, only to shatter when he vanished in a blur of speed and slammed into the slightly stunned William and sent him crashing and rolling away. Planting a hand onto the ground, the cement tore and buckled as he dug a trench through the ground.

"I'm going to make you suffer Schnee." Hercules told him, "And those you hold dear, I will strip you of them one by one, by force if I must." he stated as he marched forward, "Your family will come to understand the pain we Faunus have endured the last century, and then, when you are all but begging me to die, I will continue to show you depravity, and when you are all broken in spirit will you have my permission to finally die." Hercules growled at him.

"Then come show me such a depravity." William grinned as he watched Hercules vanish in a powerful blast of speed. Looking up, William was forced to block a drop kick from the massive Lion-Faunus as he brought up both his arms and held his ground while blocking the kick, where he then pushed Hercules away, causing the Lion to flip back and land a few feet back.

After blocking the kick, William shook his arms around a bit, as they tingled a bit, since Hercules' kick had been quite strong.

Soon after though, Hercules attacked again, where for the next two minutes the two teens fought in a fierce hand-to-hand battle, blocking or dodging each other's attacks. William was thankfully able to keep up with Hercules' high speed due to his chakra allowing him to enhance his own physical capabilities, which also had the perk of strengthening his own blows whenever he managed to pant one on the feline's body. In fact he was actually a good bit faster than Hercules was right now.

As the fight continued William blocked another spinning kick from Hercules with his right arm and then attempted to punch his opponent with other free arm. Hercules of course saw this and fell back to the ground and the spun around and did and high speed leg sweep. William of course avoided this by falling backwards as well and using his right arm to push himself into the air and flipped backwards to that he would land of the ground a few meters away from his adversary with no harm befalling him.

Not to be deterred Hercules followed after William, and attacked with a series of high speed rapid punches, which William was just able to block. After which he disappeared right before Hercules's eyes in a burst of speed and reappeared to Hercules's right side and preformed a spinning back kick! Seeing the attack coming at him from the corner of his eye, Hercules immediately brought his right arm up to block the kick, which proved to be almost as strong as Hercules's own round house. Not letting up on his attacks and in an impressive feat of agility, William was able to push himself off Hercules's arm, and spun himself around Hercules's unguarded left side and delivered a powerful forward mid-air spin kick.

Hitting the left side of Hercules's head and sending the massive hulk of a figure flying into the wall of a building, but Hercules was able to recover and flip himself around, before he could hit it. The two rushed at one another-fists drawn back- and hurled twin strikes forward as they crashed into each other with the force of a meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs on earth, the world breaking and buckling under the force of them smashing into one another. Hercules appeared in a flash of speed and smashed a fist into William's face with a very visible shockwave that planted his face into the dirt. As William rose, Hercules once more went to swing at him, William was quick and dodged around the strike and blocked the next.

As he was more experienced fighting, it thus meant that he was much better at hand to hand. William was excited. He was being forced to use his chakra to fight, using that ancient power he blocked a downward hammer-punch from Hercules, then blocked a punch aimed at his gut just as fast. His speed and strength more than enough to keep pace with his adversary, William smashed his fist into Hercules's gut, while at the same time he placed a hand against the Faunus' neck in a knife-hand form and struck him straight on the sternum with his opposing hand using even more force, another shockwave blasting out as he struck his opponent.

Hercules skid across the ground and quickly came to a stop where he looked up to see William standing above him ready to strike him under the hit, he slammed a fist into William's belly that sent him flying back and into a wall of the crumbled building behind him. Hercules appeared in an instant and slammed him into the ground. Raising his fist he went to strike again, only for the Lion to receive a boot to the chest that sent him sliding back. Sienna kicked off the ground her body glowing as she covered her body in her Semblance before she rushed forward at what looked like light speed, covering the large distance between her and her target. She appeared in front of William attempting a powerful light speed round house kick.

William watched the kick incoming from the left. He simply raised his left hand, deciding to test a theory. He tugged on his chakra forcing his powerful nature energy to flow through his limb. Chakra tugged on surrounding molecules of the world, drawing them in to latch onto his skin. His hand grasped Sienna's ankle before the sage tilted his head to the right allowing a blast of air-a powerful shockwave of energy rushing out from the collision-to sail past. William gripped tightly on Sienna's leg as the Tiger Faunus attempted to pull away. Her eyes widened as her leg was caught. She attempted to remove it, but found she couldn't, as she attempted to free herself, she felt as if her strength dissipating, "What is this!? I've never experienced such a feeling of powerlessness before, it's almost as if he were sapping my stamina from my body!"

William smirked as he cocked his right fist back enhancing it with nature chakra. His fist connected with her jaw as he released the chakra on contact. He released Sienna's leg as the woman was sent sailing through the air rolling along the walkway from the impact. William wouldn't admit it out loud but it felt quite good to lay the Tiger Faunus one in the face. Sienna lay amongst the rubble, jaw throbbing in pain. At the last second, she had used her Aura to defend herself from any actual harm, something she was thankful for doing as her jaw hurt like hell. The Faunus groaned as she forced herself to her knees. She had no idea how the punk Schnee had managed to hit her or even hurt her without the use of Aura, but this just made the man even deadlier.

William was too busy paying attention to Sienna he had-in a honest mistake-forgotten about Hercules, and if he had been anyone else it would have been a fatal mistake. With his focus on the female Faunus, a fist of raw force crashed into the left side of his face. William gave a pain filled cry as he was tossed through the air. The reborn sage hit the ground; rolling along it as the strike broke his nose, and dislocated his jaw. The sage planted his hands in the ground once he came to a stop. He slowly pushed off the ground and began to stand. The entire left side of his face had been mangled, his jaw hanging loosely, and if he was a normal human and not a reincarnation; they would be all sorts of unpleasantness in their future. William's lone eye locked onto Hercules delivering a menacing glare.

Wisps of chakra like blue tongues of fire flickered to life, folding over one another like string repairing the damage done to his features within a matter of seconds, to the point it was as if he had never been hurt, "It was my mistake for forgetting about you, not something I will do again. I will congratulate you though as that hurt like hell!" William kicked off the ground with such force he formed a hole in the ground. He launched towards Hercules holding out his right hand. A Rasengan began to form in the open palm while at the same time nature chakra was added. Two rings of energy formed around the spiraling sphere, much like the rings around a planet, turning it a greenish-blue as its user charged in for the kill. William roared as he got in range, the Lion Faunus snarling in response while he watched the Schnee heir charge him-as if his little orb would scratch him!

Sadly, for all his power and defensive attributes; it would do no good.

"Sage Art: Rasengan!" snarled the silver haired teen, and with a single push the sphere connected with the middle of the Lion Faunus' chest. As the sphere connected, the almost impenetrable flesh of Hercules's chest turned black as night. The sphere drilled into the sternum of Hercules whose reaction was to howl in pain, the raw nature chakra doing its job of pushing past his impressive defense, while the chakra forced through his muscles. William smirked only to catch a glimpse of movement from the corner of his left eye. He quickly flipped back as a crackle of energy struck where he had once stood. William landed a few feet away from Hercules currently stood with his Rasengan still embedded into his flesh, only for the energy sphere to die down, where he scowled. Sienna had come to the rescue.

Hercules fell to his knees groaning as he clutched his bleeding chest, the strange sphere had pierced his dense muscular flesh as if it were nothing. What was that thing, how had it hurt him, by the Brother Gods it hurt, it really hurt. The pain had been like nothing he had ever experienced, almost like a drill had been trying to carve its way into his chest. He hadn't felt such pain in years. He would make the little bastard pay for that. Hercules roared in anger as he climbed to his feet energy from his Semblance bursting from every pore of his body, "I'll kill you, you little bastard!" he roared at William.

William smirked, "There's only one way this ends! Either you submit, or I do!" he told the two before he bent his knees and jumped, and in a shocking display, began to glide through the air as if he were granted the ability of flight itself; the ground tearing apart underneath as he flew at the siblings at immense speeds. Hercules narrowed his eyes and began to charge ahead to meet his adversary, chunks of earth breaking apart with each step he made as he sped towards William. The two quickly met up and crashed into one another and a resounding explosion tore through the air as the sides of the various destroyed buildings crumbled apart in a circular formation caused by the shockwave of their collision.

Incredibly, in the midst of their clash, both William and Hercules had slammed into one another not only hard enough to rip the world asunder, but flip over their opponents and have William be sent flying away where Hercules had been knocked back across the ground. Hercules slammed a fist into the ground to stop his movements where he saw William slam into the upper stories of a building-and having recovered before William-quickly followed. William crashed through the rooftop and leapt back, ripping a massive spire of steel up from the structure, and as Hercules landed on the rooftop, he felt his eyes widen as he saw William leaping at him, swinging the massive building antennae at him to try and rip his head off. Hercules was given no quarter as William proceeded to smash the steel frame into his face where he was sent crashing into a wall behind him.

William huffed as he threw the ruined framework to the ground, "I may have grown up in a lavish life, but never think for a second I didn't train to get where I am. I was bred to rule this world. I trained my entire life to master and hone my senses in battle." he explained to Hercules as the man looked at him in a silent and stunned awe. He had never expected William to be strong-a spoiled brat who cried to daddy when he didn't get his way-but he was wrong, he was stronger than he had thought, but never in his wildest dreams did he ever think the kid would be this powerful. And to add insult to the injury, William snarled in contempt, "Where did you train? ON A FARM?!" he yelled as he lowered himself down, a silver glyph shimmering into existence beneath him as a silver wash of light began to cover the boy.

Hercules watched in silence as the boy's clothes began to shimmer and change before his eyes, his tattered rags vanished as his flesh was revealed to him. Crimson crisscrossing tattoo's covered his chest/hips, and arms. His body was rippling with untold strength as his muscles clenched in preparation. Suddenly silver armor began to form over his legs, a blue cape wrapping itself around his waist as a single glove of what appeared to be platinum-in reality it was Sage Chakra enhanced Atlassian steel-appeared on his right hand. Standing up as the glyph vanished William looked down on the growling Hercules, unaware that Sage Energy was flowing through the air and into his enemies body. turning his eyes from a dark blue to a blood crimson.

Hercules snarled as he leapt at William and the two of them crashed through the wall behind William and soared through the air. As they did, William smashed a fist into Hercules's face and sent him flying back. William quickly reappeared above his opponent and smashed a foot into Hercules's side and sent him flying away in the opposite direction from the force of the blow before he could recover. As he flew at Hercules, the Beast-man managed to recover as William tried to hit him again. And soon the two were running-quite literally at that-circles around one another as they tried to hit one their opponent, never hitting but coming very close as they evaded one another each time.

William tried to hit Hercules, but ended up moving past him, allowing for Hercules to kick the Schnee heir away where he charged at William as fast as he could, and smashed a fist into him once, twice, thrice before William shook his head as he managed to recover from the third blow enough to turn and dash away and through the buildings that surrounded them. Hercules kept a very good pace, but William proved to be extremely elusive as he soon managed to lose Hercules in the surrounding areas and he came to a stop. As he turned around to pull back to search another area, William snarled as he crashed through one of the skyscraper's behind Hercules, catching the ebony haired man by surprise before William quickly kicked him into the side of one of the adjacent skyscraper's.

The air was filled with debris from the crumbling skyscraper side, cement and glass-some steel mixed in as well-raining down towards the ground as the two men collided in a battle that was more akin to vengeful gods fighting. As the debris fell, Hercules rushed out of the obscuring cloud and slammed into William and slammed him into an entirely different building across from them and began to drag his face across the crumbling monolith, the building crumbling apart as he tried to overpower the Schnee with his own brute force, only to find out quickly that there was not enough building top to beat the kid down with. Without the building to use to try and subdue, William, Hercules was at a extreme disadvantage.

While gripping onto William's shoulder, Hercules drew back a fist and attempted to slam it into William's face, but William quickly brought his palm up and caught the clenched fist from Hercules before he swung back, breaking Hercules's hold on him and landed a more powerful uppercut that sent Hercules up into the air, Hercules's body flipping head over foot in the process. However, rather than let Hercules get any further away to recover, William grabbed his enemies foot and began to spin in a circle, his speed increasing with each second before they were naught but a blur, Hercules's voice of panic filled the air as he realized what was to happen, but before he could counter William's next move, he released Hercules and watched as the beast-man crashed through a building nearby.

And he didn't stop, as even after crashing through the nearby building, Hercules had been spun with enough speed and thrown with enough velocity that he had been sent flying at such speeds that he crashed through not just one, not two or three, not four or five or even six, but seven entire skyscraper's without stop, explosions of steel and cement filling the air and a couple actual explosions of flame accompanied him in doing so. Easily crashing into and through what was probably the eighth or possibly ninth building, Hercules cried out and grunted with each impact before he crashed through the last wall of stone, rolling across the ground beneath him partially dazed and slightly unconscious; he was unable to fight back as William appeared next to him where he drew a foot up to his chest and coated it in golden energy where he lashed out and kicked the stunned Lion Faunus away where he crashed through the building and landed next to the stunned Sienna.

"We could stop this right now if you two give up, I will gladly leave" spoke William offering the two a chance to back out now.

Hercules was slow to recover from the beating he had been given, but upon hearing the Schnee's declaration snarled like his animal side and launched himself towards William, showing his answer. Sienna merely sighed at her mad siblings actions. It was almost as if the man had a death wish.

William lifted a hand and held it up in a claw-like fist, "Just remember I gave you an out."

Hercules released a bellowing battle cry as he reared his head back and then proceeded to grab his sword from the ground-how it had ended up there William had no clue-and he proceeded to race forward. Sienna shook her head at the actions of her brother, only to blink as she saw something pierce through Hercules' stomach. The Lion Faunus looked down, particles of blood dripping to the ground as a hand covered by a dazzling ebony lighting was pierced through his stomach. He turned his head finding his attacker, William, standing behind him.

"Senpo; Raikiri: Kuro-Yaiba (Sage Art; Lightning Cutter: Black Blade)" Whispered the teen as the lightning in his hand morphed into a cackling long sword. He slashed through the air cleaving Hercules in half at the waist, watching as the top half fell to the ground.

Sienna bit a lip as she watched as Hercules used his arms to push his upper half off the ground. He brought his severed legs to join on his lower torso causing it reattach in a sickening sound of blood and bones cracking together as his body regenerated from the grievous wound, 'That could have been fatal if he was anyone else.' Sienna thought to herself in shock at how William had defeated her sibling.

Sienna gasps when William seemingly appears behind her and leaps out of the way. Trying for a punch, Hercules appears next to William but is once more blocked and then kicked away, his hands gouging up ground as he forces himself to stop. He grunts in surprise as he catches William's fist in his hand, but still, William is just to fast as he launches a punch to his gut, lifting him up off the ground, a hit once again hitting him in the gut raises him higher and another hit strikes him quickly followed by yet another to his face lifts him back up before William executes a backflip where he lands a powerful kick to Hercules's chin and hurls him away.

The sheer force from the hits William delivered were astronomical, the shockwaves blasting the rubble of the small rocks around them back with each blow landed. Regardless, after executing his kick, Hercules slams into the ground and rolls again and manages to only roll once and quickly gain his footing where he launches himself at William as fast as he can. Hercules launches a punch that William stops with his forearm and then lashes out with a left hook to Hercules face before the two both throw punches that collide with the others fist, an explosive waterfall rising into the air as the force of their blows shove them away from one another.

With a burst of speed, William raced towards Hercules and landed a quick jab from which Hercules avoided by leaning backwards, William ducked under a left hook, but was caught off guard by a roundhouse kick that he half blocked with his right arm, the force of the kick sending him across the ground and over the already destroyed landscape. William flung into action again, Hercules easily dodging his punch with a forearm, a left cross hit William across his cheek followed by a short curt elbow on his chin that made him bleed a little. William staggered a few steps backwards, where he shook his head.

As Hercules came at him William spun around and smashed an elbow into his shoulder before William delivered a punch to his solar plexus, winding him for a bit. With that done, William grabbed Hercules by his head and slammed his face down on a knee several times, breaking the man's nose, leaving large amounts of blood across the ground in which they fought.

"Gha!" Hercules coughed up blood as he rolled across the ground trying to get up, in spite of his injuries.

Quickly moving, William struck as he thrusted his hand forward to grasp Hercules by the throat and lift him into the air before snarling, "YEARGH~!" as he slammed him down on the ground with world shaking force. The ground was ripped apart, rocks and dirt filled the air from the sheer force of the slam. But Hercules still retaliated and kicked William in the chest causing him to slide back. William ducked quickly to avoid a punch before smacking away another fist, returning one of his own. It made contact but didn't stop the two. William threw a straight right which was caught by Hercules before being hit with a strong left hand which sent him flying.

However, Hercules wasn't finished as he rushed forward. William barely managed to leap to the right to avoid an energy blast from Hercules's eyes but was caught by a kick to the chest by the man. William grunted as his back hit a large wall of rock which managed to stop him from being sent further. Getting his bearings together he flew forward and met with Hercules once more, fist impacting against fist to bring forth another explosion of power from their collision. The force alone separated the warring duo as it sent them flying through the air. Upon recovering, William landed and blocked two punches before kicking Hercules in the chest, sending the man stumbling back slightly. Taking a deep breath he exhaled it all in one breath releasing a single line of pressurized air.

Hercules saw it coming and managed to duck, had he turned around he would have seen chunks of one of the nearby being being sliced like butter. As he looked up he noticed the Schnee heir was missing. Hercules realized too late to look behind him as he felt a sharp pain on his spine. The blond had hit him with a powerful elbow right in the center of his back. Even with the power he possessed, the hit still hurt like a motherfucker when it made contact.

William saw Hercules drop to a knee as a result of the blow to the back and saw it as his best opportunity to end it. The blond appeared in front of Hercules and delivered a strong enough uppercut to the chin that managed to lift the man into the air. Reappearing, William slammed right fist into Hercules's face and Hercules returned the favor as he slammed his left fist into William's. They stepped back and then both did a high kick which connected with one another and caused an explosion of rock and dust to fill the air as the two slid away from one another.

Before William could even think more on the subject, Hercules sneered at him before he disappeared right before William's and Sienna's eyes. The next thing William knew, Hercules appeared right before him, when William tried to defend himself and strike at Hercules. He disappeared and reappeared to William's right and delivered a powerful punch to the side of William's face sending him flying. Before William could even realize what had just happened, Hercules appeared again in mid-air and gave him a brutal kick to the left side of his face, sending him flying in the opposite direction.

After the kick, William tried to recover by getting his feet back on the ground, but as soon as he did Hercules appeared again and punched him in the stomach. The punch was so strong, that William felt like he had been kicked by a donkey and nearly fell to his knees. This continued for the next few minutes, as Hercules flew around William, making the Schnee feel like a ping pong ball at being sent flying around the area. He couldn't even defend himself as every time he tried, Hercules would hit him before he could put his guard up and every time he tried to hit Hercules. The Faunus would disappear, and reappear somewhere else.

After receiving yet another powerful kick from Hercules, William struggled to keep himself standing.

'Shit! How the fuck is his raw strength on par with Tsunade's? How can anyone be so physically strong without Chakra?' thought William, as he spat out some blood and pant heavily. But before he could think any further on the matter Hercules appeared right underneath William and sent a powerful kick to his chin, sending him flying into the air. William of course recovered quickly thanks to his high tolerance for pain from his training and flipped himself over so that he would land on his feet. But as soon as he landed, he saw Hercules appear in front of him, where he tried to hit the boy. But he immediately disappeared and reappeared to William's left, then his right and then behind him and each time William tried to hit him, he would move away before William could hit him.

Before William knew where Hercules went, the Lion Faunus appeared to his right and sent him a powerful right hook, which sent the young Schnee to the ground and skidding across it to the middle of the empty plaza. As William slowly got back onto his feet, he spat up some more blood and coughed a little. 'Crap! I knew Hercules was tough, but I never imagined he was this strong, his speed is insane as his build, I just can't keep up with him. I've got no other choice, I have to play my final card, if I don't I'm going to lose this fight.'

After seeing that William was back on his feet and seeing the shape he was in, Hercules frowned slightly, "Give up, your loss is inevitable, you cannot hope to match my power. There will be no shame in admitting defeat."

When William heard this, he just chuckled, "Sorry but giving up is simply not my style, besides if you were in my shoes would you give up?"

"I suppose I would not" the Lion Faunus admitted.

"In that we are alike, but regardless, this fight is far from over" stated William, where he then-in a surprising act-bit into his forearm, a aura of blue/silver energy wrapping round his body where; much to the sibling's shock, his wounds began to vanish before their eyes as they healed, "I think I have enjoyed myself quite enough with the holding back, I think it's time that I begin to finally fight the both of you seriously now." he told them.

"Let's see how you fare when I actually take a fight serious." he hummed aloud.

At the same time, he opened a dozen portal's behind him, their silver glow shining behind him as he pulled out various treasures held within and quickly launched them at the massive Beast. However, much to his surprise-not shock, he was never socked by anyone or anything-the blades simply ricocheted off the flesh of the massive Beast's skin, Sienna and Hercules both smirking when they watched this occur.

The ground was torn up, but the Lion Faunus stood firm in his spot as he grinned ferally at the Schnee heir. But, rather than scream about what a monster her brother was, Sienna watched as William hummed to himself, and then he raised a hand, withdrawing a more powerful lance from the deeper sects of his Gate. Swinging the hand down, he launched it at max speed, and smirked when he watched Hercules swipe his blade through the air, a resounding clash of metal and stone filling his ears as his eyes beheld the truth of the situation, "So that's how it is?" he questioned curiously, dispersing the Gates he had summoned before hand, only to call upon two dozen more. The portal's shined silver as they manifested in a new arrangement.

Various blades once more were pulled out of the Gate as they took aim at the Beast before him, and attacked. The steel blades flew through the air and pierced flesh with various sounds of death before the ground was rocked by a small explosion.

SQUELCH~! SQUELCH~! SQUELCH~! BOOM~!

As the dust cleared, Sienna was gazing upon William as he ignored her for the more viable threat in the form of her brother.

"Do you really think it'd be that simple?" Sienna questioned him, "My brother is essentially immortal, you'll have to do better than that." she said haughtily.

And he hummed as he watched Hercules growl, his body glowing red, his eyes a deep crimson as he gazed at William while rising to his feet.

*Sigh* "I grow weary of my opponents when they simply don't just cut apart or burn." he said in disappointment, "But, to be honest, I have never fought against someone who could truly return from the dead." he remarked. Pein used puppets, they didn't count, "I see you Semblance for what it truly is. Bound to this world and unable to die, but when you do, the afterlife spits you out, forcing you to relive every single second you have lived throughout your life, taken penance in the form of your mentality thus drawing you deeper into the madness to that of a Beast." he said, shocking Sienna.

He had perfectly described her Elder Brother's Semblance; God Hand, and he had only seen it's potential a singular time!? How was this even possible!?

However, William wasn't finished speaking, "It is a Semblance that I don't possess in my armory, it seems that I am at a disadvantage." he remarked, and then, to Sienna's shock he raised his hand and called upon even more weapons from his Gate, each one was different than the ones he had used before on her brother, "I find this vexing, as only the finest of my weapons would be able to bring this one down." he sighed and then swiped his hand and launched them anew.

CLING~! CLUNK~! SQUELCH~! SQUELCH~!

"Hercules, named for the story of a man who performed twelve labors, after which he was welcomed amongst the God's!" William stated, "He was adamant and unyielding, the ultimate in perseverance." William said pleasantly, but then his tone changed, "My armory, however, is unlimited!" he stated seriously, "It is the ultimate in offensive force, and is overflowing with ways to kill enemies." he told them as he withdrew various weapons, and as he said each was new for his offense. But even with all the weapons there was a chance he could lose, but William seemed confident in his selection, "Stop playing nursemaid, Hercules, each time you die, another labor is complete." he said.

"And after this, there will be no Gods in which to welcome you." he told him softly.

"My Brother can't lose to you." Sienna growled, "BECAUSE HE'S THE STRONGEST IN THE WORLD!" she snarled out as Hercules growled and charged. William shook his head as he launched a waved of his seemingly endless weapon's, watching as Hercules swiped and dodged around them, and then, William snorted as several stabbed into the mans flesh and pushed him back further, the steel weapons dissolving as he continued his charge. Well then, if that's the way he wanted to do things, then he'd better sever the link to his madness and his own inhibitions.

Sienna.

Hercules felt his eyes widen when several of the blades swerved around him and swooped in towards the surprised and shocked Sienna, but as she closed her eyes, and heard the sounds of flesh being impaled, she awaited for the darkness but it never came. She had to check to be sure.

Head.

Lungs.

Legs.

Arms.

Chest.

Everything was safe, so if she wasn't impaled then-

She gasped when she saw her brother standing over her, a dozen blades piercing his body.

"Your defeat is as certain as the sunrise." William stated seriously, knowing that as long as his opponent fought the way he did he would inevitably fall in combat without having once reached him. The hulking Beast was crouched over the much smaller form of the figure who had nearly brought his beloved Saber to the ground in death. William however, cared not for either of them, only that he was quite enjoying himself in the fight, "How about it, you're going to die anyways, so why not just lay down your burden?" he questioned, "If you stop shielding her, you might have a chance of taking me down." he stated.

Sienna looked up past the mass of muscle guarding her in both shock and horror. This freak... no this monster, was utterly ripping her big brother apart. His Semblance was nothing, meant nothing, could be nothing before the strength of this condescending man's overwhelming force. Yes, this man was not human...many of his attacks were innumerable, and the speed in which those attacks came as they were unrelentingly freed from the depths of his so called Gate, was like watching bolts of lightning arc through the sky. That he had already claimed so much of her brother's sanity, anymore and he would be gone forever.

The blades sticking into the mans flesh shimmered and dissolved into golden dust as the man stood up with a glare, stepping around Sienna to stand in front of her attacker, a growl emerging from his lips as a pulse of raw anger and loathing was released from his throat. William nodded, "I see." he stated softly, "If that's how you wish things to be, then die alongside her, BEAST!" he declared as he opened over a dozen more portal's and began unleashing a nigh-unending wave of weapons from his Gate.

CLING! CLANG! ~SQUELCH~CLUNK! CLANK! CLUNK! ~SQUELCH~ SQUELCH~!

The massive man fought with all he had, swinging and blocking all that came before him, steel ripping through his flesh as he defended against the onslaught. His charge to try and rush ahead stopped in its tracks as he was forced to plant a foot and take the defensive, the ground ripping itself apart in the conflict between what amounted to a fight between gods. Eye's widened when he watched the portal's vanish and light up behind his sister, the massive man dashing with all the speed he could muster to her sides and back to protect her.

The ground suffered, blood flew, and steel clashed relentlessly, and yet it wasn't enough. In a effort to protect her, he died three times in less than thirty seconds, and even now Sienna could see the struggle her brother was going through, knowing what was coming now that he had reached the end of the ropes, "Please don't lose... BROTHER~!" the young Faunus woman screamed out, her hand clutched to her chest in desperation.

"RRAAAAARRRRGGGHHH~!" the Lion Faunus roared, the heavens trembled and the earth shook under the might of the feral beasts call. A roar which would normally send any who heard it running for the hills was enough to rattle the world.

William however was anything but frightened by the call of this mangy cat calling itself a King of Beasts, seeing as he was more eager than anything to continue to test himself against such a foe. The Schnee heir felt his grin widen, his blood boiling in excitement, "So be it, Beast!" he responded eagerly as he opened a impenetrable wall of glowing portals above him, "I'll give you the greatest of labors!" he declared as he unleashed his gate upon the Faunus. Triple the amount of portal's opened and unleashed their wroth upon the feral creature.

CLING! CLUNK! ~SQUELCH~ CLANK! CA-LUNK! ~SQUELCH~

"And that makes eleven!" William spoke earnestly, watching the blade pierce into the mans skull, his enemy now all but beaten, "You're on the ropes now, aren't you... Hercules!?" he demanded as the Lion Faunus roared once more as the blades piercing his flesh dissolved away once again. With the last of his power, the massive brute charged ahead, only for a wave of blades to stab down into him from behind, pinning him to the ground in an explosion of dust and stone that hid him from sight. William sighed as he dismissed his Gate, the portal's dissolving into the air, "Had you just forsaken her right away, you might actually have stood a chance." he remarked.

"In the end, he was no more than some lowly Beast who lived to fight." he sighed in disappointment, "I had hoped better for someone of his caliber." he said as he approached the fading dust cloud, "I had not taken him to be such a fool." he commented calmly as he stopped, finding the massive man on his hands and knees in the bottom of a crater. No less than a dozen blades piercing his body, his hand gripping the massive battle-axe he had used to challenge him gripped in one of his hands. He was a worthy opponent for many of his more valued treasures, but nothing so grand as Ea sadly.

A growl filled the air, drawing William's attention down where he glimpsed red eyes. He blinked in mild surprise as the brute roared once again, bolting to his feet, swinging down with all he had. But, even now William was less than surprised as he watched the full series of events unfold in the blink of an eye. Hercules went to swing, but in a strange sense of rationality, he jumped back just in time to avoid being skewered. Emerald watched in shock and fear, "Brother, no!" she cried out as she watched chains of golden energy raced through the air, surrounding the brute of an animal.

As he was airborne, the massive figure had no way to dodge the net of chains around him. One of the chains grabbed his weapon and tore it from his grasp before he could blink. Another wrapped around his neck and yanked back, slamming him down into the ground in a explosion of dust and stone. And then they piled one. Filling the air and wrapping around the hulking figure's body. The sheer amount of chains binding him would rip any other apart.

The chain around his neck was doubled upon, one pulling up from behind, another wrenching down towards the ground to pin his neck in place. There were four chains around his waist. Two at his sides and one in the front and back. Each chain pulled taut to the point he would not be able to move in any direction. Four chains bound his arms as they wrapped themselves tightly around his massive bulk and pulled in opposing directions. His legs were also bound up with twin chains to ensure he would never advance. A full and complete immobilization in every sense of the word.

"Get out of there, Brother!" the young woman cried.

"Guh-Hah!" the brute grunted, but couldn't so much as budge the chains binding him.

"Why, you are strong, so you should be able to-" Sienna went to say only for William to interrupt her, "Quiet, little girl." he commanded her, "The Adamantine Sealing Chains, even a God bound in these chains could not escape their cold embrace." he said seriously, "The more powerful their captive, the tighter the chains will." he told her, "As if I would ever allow one who attacks my Saber to ever escape from my judgement." he snarled as he opened a portal above his head and pulled out a massive cleaver and flung it at the man, removing head from body, watching as the body fell to its knees and blood flowed freely.

"Brother no!" Sienna exclaimed in terror.

"And now for you." William spoke drawing Sienna's terrified eyes to him, watching the Schnee heir as he walked forward with the utmost confidence in himself, "Now then, how should I kill you?" he questioned himself as she began to shake, "My Gate is not worthy enough to be tainted by such a feeble foe, so I find myself in a quandary." he stated, "Should I use my Rasengan, to return the arts long since forgotten by this world, maybe break your neck by settling on a clone for a weak peon such as yourself? Or would a Rasenshuriken do the job for me when it destroys all that you are on a molecular level? So many choices, so many idea's that are running through my mind that I couldn't possibly decide? he questioned giddily.

"No... please, no!" Sienna pleaded, "Mercy, I beg of you!" she all but cried.

He then hummed, "Mercy... how interesting." he thought to himself, "In fact, it's grand idea. But, before you go off and spread tale of how you and you brother were soundly beaten both in death and to submission, you tell all your cronies that if I so much as even see a hide or hair of the Fang, then all bets are off. There will not be a single survivor of your little organization, because I will hunt each and every cell within your little groups association down, and kill them all." he said darkly before he perked up, "You know, I have a better idea, Aside from the fact that I'll let you live and say those exact words." he said before leaning down to look at the shaking Faunus in the eyes.

"Tell yourself this from here on forward, 'No matter how far you run, no matter how much you try to hide, I will find you and I will kill you.' Understand?" he questioned as she shakily got to her feet.

"A thousand pardon's for disturbing your night." Sienna bowed gratefully.

"I don't want your apologies, I want your word." he told her.

"You-you have it, I swear to all the God's; both the Old and the New!" she promised.

"That's good, very wise decision." he nodded.

"Who... what are you?" Sienna questioned softly.

"I am William Schnee, of Atlas, and I am burdened with glorious purpose." he said deeply before he spoke normally, "Now then, why don't you run along, little mouse." he ushered her away with a motion of his hands, "I believe I am about to have company." he said as

Sienna gasped asned rushing away, leaving the massive figure of her brother behind, but swearing to herself to get revenge on the murderer of her brother even if she had to make a deal with the devil himself in order to do so.

She just wouldn't realize what devil she made a deal with, and even then it was already to late; William had sensed her intentions from the start.

Hmm, better do something about her before she got to far.

...shouldn't he?

Meh, he'd be fine, he would find Kurama and they'd handle the world and all its challenges when they were thrown at them in their given time.

(...End Flashback...)

"One time, and it was only a single person who died... multiple times might I say." he told his twin, "I let the other one go at least."

"Yea, a criminal." Wiess responded.

"Why so angry, we got one of them at least." he shrugged.

"Because, you only managed to get one of them, and not the other." Weiss responded before she shook her head, "Regardless, we got to go, like, time now, Mother is growing impatient about you taking your time up here." she told him.

"Well, best not keep her waiting." he said happily.

(.0.0.0.)

"You failed."

"Salem, please-

Sienna yelped as a hand slapped across her face, a handprint glowing from the force of the blow.

"You have failed me child." the ash colored woman sneered down at her pawn, "You had told me that he could only open up a few portal's and sling a few minorly powerful weapon's around. We were supposed to capture this boy and bring him into the fold of our plans, and yet what does he do?" the woman demanded, "He eradicates a horde of my most powerful Grimm like they are nothing. 50,000 of those Grimm were designed by my hand to be the strongest of Alphas, and they are all ripped apart by a endless barrage of cannon-fire." she snarled.

"You said, he would be a good addition to our cause, and yet we couldn't stop his defiance upon those walls. Dozens were killed in the battle, but we didn't even get so much as a single Grimm to touch him in the fighting before it was settled. Easy pickings I was told by the both you and James, and yet-here I am without so much as a single Grimm or boy whose Semblance could tip the balance into my favor. The Maiden's are hidden from me, and the Relic's are out of my reach." the woman stated, "Tell me, child, where do you think you went wrong?' she questioned Sienna.

"I was misinformed about the prowess he had with his Semblance." Sienna said as she bowed her head further, "I had thought his limitation's were minimal and that with the vast size of the Horde, the city would be wiped out and the boy could be captured and brought before you."

"Hmph~" the white skinned woman snorted, "Indeed you were. "When you came to me declaring your desire to avenge your brother, you pointed out the altered Symbolic powers that brought what was essentially an immortal man who could only die a specific way a single time with each death and intrigued me. Now, I find out he has the power to stand against the largest Grimm Horde to have been recorded in history with meager cannon's." she sneered, "And then, he does another impossible feat, he rips the continent in half, further splitting up my horde, crushing a majority of it with a solitary blow of a unknown weapon that I have never before seen in the eons of my existence."

"And to top it off this, he is also capable of using these same Glyph's to summon hundreds upon thousands of weapons to battle without moving so much as an inch from where he stood!" she yelled out, "You promised me a powerful weapon, and all I have to show is the loss of countless Grimm to your folly! Ironwood swore to keep the Military at bay, to allow the slaughter of Mantle, so that we could move forward with our plans. Once we had acquired the power of a Maiden, we were going to have access to the Vault of Creation, and now look-it is beyond our reach!"

"My lady-

Sienna made to protest, only for a withering glare to cast her into silence.

"James was courtmartialled, and is slated for execution for his inaction, and those... those peon's look to this Schnee boy as if her were some kind of God!"

"Surely we can do something to bring him into your grasp, milady?" a deep male voice questioned.

"Unfortunately, Heracles, you were barely resurrected with the full might of your Semblance intact." the woman sighed towards the twisted shadow, "I have enhanced your powers, but there is only so much my Magic can grant, even one as formidable as you."

The large man rumbled. "The number of lives I have obtained has more than doubled, surely my power combined with that of your magic could crush him?"

"No, you are to be our hidden Ace." the pale woman shook her head, "If we cannot strike him at full power, we will strike him where he is weakest, we will bend him to our will."

Sienna hummed, warming to the idea. "Well, from what I know of him specifically, he seems to have only one weakness, but its a glaring one...

"And that is all we need." her dark mistress answered, "Tell me, where is the chink in this boy's armor, what makes him tick?"

All men had weaknesses. She would find his.

And then she would squeeze.

A/N: And scene.

Once again, thank Advent for this. He's helping me keep this story updated rapidly.

Weeeell? What did you think? Should this remain a story? Would you like weekly updates for that matter? Yay or nay? Really need to hear from you, here.

As stated, this has a high chance of being upgraded to M later down the line, but I need to know if folks want to see that. Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. Meaning folks don't like this, it won't be continued. If the story itself ain't popular/well-received...well, I won't be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs, holidays are here too, meaning I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.

So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.

So? Should this little tale continue? Or fall into oblivion?

By all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard!

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas…

...Review...Would You Kindly?

And enjoy these Previews!

Mind you, they're rough!

As ever:

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

PLOT DETAILS AHOY!

YE BE WARNED!

William grinned, "How intriguing, for someone such as yourself to match me blow for blow when I am hardly fighting serious...very well then, I shall grant you the privilege of this blades hidden power." he told her as he grasped the hilt in both hands, "Awaken, Sword of End; Enki!" he commanded as a pillar of dazzling blue light erupted and filled the air, the arena shaking from its presence alone as the blade was filled with unfathomable powers.

"I see you actually are serious for a change." the Lance user said eagerly, "And if that is the case, then I too shall give you a taste of your own medicine." she spoke up eagerly as she prepared herself. Having taken the twin sword's other half away from the silver haired teen, she could feel the innate power it possessed, and as such, she twisted the handle on the golden blade, a pillar of blazing red energy sparked before exploding off and streaking through the heavens. Rocks and dust shifted and rose into the air as they gazed upon one another from their positions, "Get ready to lose Schnee!" Pyrrha said boldly.

"Come at me, Lancer!" he declared with a smirk of challenge, his own blade swinging down in challenge as they struck, a pillar of twisting crimson/azure shooting up into the sky as the explosion enveloped the both of them in a shimmering dome of raw power.

"So we meet again! I admit, I had my doubts."

"Ha! Of course you would. Not me. I never doubted for a moment.

The world rippled. That was the best way, the only way Weiss felt, to describe what followed. Her brother held a hand toward the sky. A glyph bloomed above his hand, shimmering just above his fingertips. Then another. Another. Yet another still. As she looked on he reached into it.

"Let me show you...just what exactly real power is, in the hands of someone who controls it."

And heaven answered.

Laughter split the air. "Not so brave now, are you, MONGRELS?!"

Grimm died in droves, fleeing for their lives. Explosions filled the air, steel flashed as it hurtled through the space between.

Weiss palmed her face. "There's no stopping him when he's like this..."

William stood on the precipice of the Academy, he looked out over the Emerald Forest, a slight look of disgust on his face. To think they would dare to have him try to commit to such a childish game on the morrow to simply see if he was worthy to join their ranks-what fools. And it was to begin in THREE DAYS NO LESS!

With timing so perfect that it must have been brought about by the machinations of fate, rather than chance—

The earth cried out.

【――――o ̊_. ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅•_――― ̊ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅ ̅._ ̊ ̅ ̅ ̅_.】

""!?""

Ruby and her fellow Beacon Candidate's looked across the Emerald Forest all turned to look at the sky.

They had heard a mighty roar off in the distance—one with the power to shake both heaven and earth. But it was too beautiful to be called a 'roar'. It was as though a giant angel or its ilk, or perhaps even the Earth itself, was singing a lullaby. They could tell that the sound had come from far, far away from the forests that lay to the west of Beacon.

That tremendous rumbling noise, which laid waste to the very laws of physics, was, for some reason, something they each had faith in.

It was like the first cry of a newborn, and at the same time—not.

It was almost certainly the voice of a stupendously powerful being.

As she followed the lavishly armored teen, Ruby gave a pause as the hairs on the back of her neck rose, a deep otherworldly cry filling the air as it washed over both her and William, both experiencing different effects of the energy as it resonated in the duo. Ruby shook in awe as the power flowed across the world, through her body, and by feel of it alone, there was none who could match it, "T-This presence... i-its enormous... w-what is this energy?" she hyperventilated in shock. However, it was much different for the Schnee heir as he stopped with wide, shocked eyes.

William stood motionless upon hearing that voice.

He had been about to summon something to his hand, when he stopped-and it was then that the one deemed king displayed a powerful emotion for the first time.

Even those who had known William-friend and family alike- would say that it was rare to see him so emotional. That king among all kings was quick to anger, and by no means level-headed—but to think that even he could be brought to this state.

"That voice... could it be?"

His eyes lit up with surprise, consternation, bewilderment—and then, exhilaration.

"...Is it really you?"

He is a dignified young man with silver hair standing up like a blazing white flame. His face is more than the mere word handsome can describe as it is almost angelic. His eyes are blue like the heavens, and are visibly not those of a human and give off a mysterious radiance that makes people wither. He has a 'perfect, Golden-proportioned body' described as emanating majesty that makes flames surrounding him afraid to come close, and his very soul glows gold like the midday sun. He presents himself with a suit of silver platinum armor consisting of two sections that gleam like spun moonlight and shines brighter than a diamond.

The first part, a lower plate which covers his stomach. On top of that lies another plate which hangs from the neck and goes to the midsection constructed of scaled platinum with the design of a gold dragon on the chest, the upper body coiling around while the lower portion of the body coiled down on his stomach to his back. Extending over this plate are four round, metallic extensions which attach underneath the plate around the neck. Around each shoulder are very large shoulder pauldrons. The two shoulder guards had the heads of dragons carved into them from pure gold while he had his waist covered with the tail of the dragon covering them. The armor features gleaming gauntlets bearing the scaled pattern of the rest of the armor with the sections becoming smaller as the gauntlets move in towards his hands. The platinum silver armor complete with a azure waist cape. By removing his armor, he exposes the red tattoos that he bears when using his full power. In addition, he wears a platinum necklace and has silver earrings.

Ruby watched in silence as William's powerful aura wavered for a mere instant as he whispered those words. But, without a moment's hesitation, he exuded arrogance once again, overbearing as always. He burst into a fit of earnest laughter. The sound of his jubilant voice penetrated the vast sky, higher and ever higher. And then, after he had had his fill of laughter, "Ha! What marvelous fortune! What am I to call a happenstance of this sort if not proof of my kingship?!" He swelled with delight and vigor, as though he had not been bored just a few moments earlier.

"Rejoice, mongrel girl! It seems that I have been granted a fortuitus occasion to use the full force of my abilities in this little game after all!" he said in a more pleased tone as he spoke, "There should be no need to stand on ceremony. A grand reunion is about to take place, and it shall be one the likes of which has not been celebrated in all of history." he told Ruby. William was uncharacteristically talkative, perhaps because he was awash in joy, "What a pleasure it would be to end it all in a duel on yonder plaza... But then again, if he has been summoned as a mad warrior, or if... No; I shall not speak of it. This is not a matter that the mongrels ought to hear of."

He was in a pleasant mood, unable to stifle his laughter, as kingly as ever. As he stared in the direction from which the roar came, he spoke to his dear little Assassin, who still knelt beside him, "Look upon me, Ruby."

Shocked that the Schnee heir would refer to her by name, she raised her head to look up at him.

"Before I go, I believe I have need to part some advice for you to take heed of. As you are a child, you should live your life as one, only when you obtain true knowledge of who you are and what you can accomplish may you take your place among those who have etched their names into the annals of history." he told her as he kept his gaze towards the distance.

"Y-yes...? Yes, of course!" Her eyes were wide with surprise.

He glanced her briefly before he continued. He stood up straighter than he had ever before as he said, majestically, "Until such a time comes that you learn the ways of the world, it will suffice for you to gaze upon my might with jubilance." Though he paid little attention to her, he was in high spirits as he delivered his kingly order.

Though there was a touch of sarcasm in his words, they were nonetheless powerful.

Ruby shakily nodded, "U-Uh, y-yes, of course." she said to him. She could do nothing but display her utmost respect to him. She was unable to jubilate, and so hung her head, "I shall attempt to do so." she said, apologetically.

And so—with that, a unruly King had stepped onto the battlefield.

When Ruby lowered her head at William's words, it happened.

"!?"

An enormous flow of strange...mystic energy blanketed the surrounding space and converged at a point beside her.

"Hah?"

It was more than just energy.

The purest and most magical element she had ever felt in her life — no, it almost felt like it had a divine aura to it — coalesced in the Schnee heir's right hand, and something... otherworldly fell into his grasp as it fully materialized in the form of a dagger. But, the object had too bizarre a silhouette to be called a simple dagger. It looked very similar to a cross between a-" A key... sword?" she murmured without thinking.

William haughtily replied, "Do not speak of this in the same terms as some mere door key in the hands of some mongrel clown who seeks entry to a meager room." he told her. Grasping the key-sword, William turned its tip skyward as he spoke, "Bab-Ilu...awaken from thine eternal rest..." he commanded, and suddenly, the base of the key shifted dozens of times in an instant as he held it in his grasp. She gasped once more as the sheer purity of this... object... washed over her, outshining anything that the unknown presence had done. As Ruby got a feel for this strange item in his hand, she shivered, the energy coming off this seemingly strange shaped item was the strongest and purest form of energy she had ever felt.

"Ruby, hear this and comprehend my words." he told her, "This is my soul, manifested into the physical plane and bound into contract by myself, given physical form." His tone seemed bored, but his expression contained a hint of joy, "Pay attention, Assassin. And show me your proof."

"...?"

Before Ruby, whose head was bowed, it opened, a pulse of energy suddenly pulsating from the strange key, various pieces on the base shifted in such a manner she couldn't comprehend, swiftly and delicately she watched the small pieces move about in seemingly random directions, then, she watched in shock as a massive pillar of crimson energy shoot into the air, twisting and transforming into a massive labyrinth of lines she couldn't even remotely comprehend as he gripped the base of the constantly changing item. The blood red labyrinth-like red patterns can be seen covering the sky from a great distance away- from the highest floor of the Beacon Academy all the way to the shores of the Atlas, a signal that something was about to go down without anyone being able to do anything about it.

The energy flowing from the key-sword surged into all of the space around it, and opened a portal in the world itself.

William's voice broke her from her stupor, "You should leave while you still can, because what happens next, will rewrite your previous conceptions of anything and everything you have ever imagined." he told her. Various spectating students and staff of the Academy were sent into a clamor, but the voices of the crowd, which amounted to hundreds of people, were silenced by the trembling of space. The dimensions themselves seemed to be shaking, and only William's voice clearly reached Ruby's ears, "Assassin, now is the time to prove to me, should the aftermath of this child's-play overwhelm you, know that you are unworthy of calling yourself my subject, for my subjects should never be shocked by a mere children's game. You must show me that you are worthy of being among those who are considered beyond mankind's limitations..." he told her.

"Upon witnessing this confrontation, if you buckle and break, I will not hesitate to send you off with nothing to show for it." he told her and the light finally apex's as the energy conures up a golden sphere that vanishes in a dazzling sparkle of lights that dissipate seconds after he returns the key to his vault, pulling this orb of divine light down. Everyone who was able to watched as a small dot of light beginning to get lower in lower into the air, the various crimson lines vanishing as it draws towards the ground, many looking on in wonder of what was occurring, the distortion in space converged on a single point as it reaches the Schnee heir.

As William reaches his hand into the orb of seemingly divine light, the armored teen grasps something within and he pulls his hand out, and the very air itself is cracked apart as he pulls out a strange weapon that made Ruby Rose's very being cry out in terror, commanding her all but to flee from this man as he blankly looked at her, telling her by his body language alone that the big boys were about to play, and she'd be nothing more than a nuisance to him and whoever he had called this thing for.

A single sword emerged from the distortion in front of William. It was nothing like the earlier key-sword, but it was certainly no normal weapon. The sword had a strangely shaped blade, if it could be called a blade regardless. As if enjoying himself, William spoke directly to the sword as he looks upon his weapon of choice in eager excitement, "A thousand apologies, Ea, for having disturbed your slumber, but it seems I require your company for this banquet." he said as he pushed his chakra into the weapon, crimson lines igniting as he did so, its power washing over the school in an instant.

Ruby gulped nervously, just what was this thing he called upon.

"Fret not, you shan't be bored, for I shall soon provide you with a feast, one which you will not soon forget." he cooed to the unworldly weapon, "No one will forget!" he calls out excitedly. An instant later, the Schnee Heir had moved, taking a stride filled with unconcealable jubilation, William's figure suddenly vanished from sight.

"Well, you certainly don't lack for confidence."

Cardin gulped. "What the hell are you?"

"I...am the solution. Now, what was that you said behind my back? I believe you laughed at me."

He spread his arms. The Emerald Forest went still.

"But you're not laughing now."

She frowned at him for a long moment. "What are you...?"

"Many things." he sipped at the flute of wine languidly. "A dead man. A brother. A leader. And also..."

He raised his gaze. Blue eyes shimmered red.

"...an executioner."

"You can't just be strong! You have to be smart! You can't just be deserving, you have be WORTHY! And you aren't! None of you are!"

He whirled and thrust a finger behind him.

"Only she is."

"With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me to wanna put a little bit of it back together."

Kurama grunted as he heard heavy paced footsteps, calling on his chakra as he placed a glowing hand on the ground, but he sighed in relief when he saw who it was that was running at him, "Hey, hey, easy." Naruto whispered out.

Kurama grunted as he waved a hand at him, "Get in here! The Grimm are sniffing around everywhere." he told him. Naruto didn't hesitate to leap into the hole with Kurama and Ren, who groaned as he forced himself to move out of the way. Kurama groaned as he eased out of the way, "Son of bitch, you're nothing but a shitload of surprises aren't you, brat?" he questioned only to grunt when the man ripped off some of his sleeve and tied it around his gushing leg wound.

"Want some pain meds?" Naruto asked holding out his hand to take what appeared to be morphine from his gate.

"Hell yes, that or your Sword of Rupture." Kurama responded as Naruto tightened the wrapping, "You got any more blades?" he questioned through heavy breaths.

"No, Gate's been empty for a week now...Nothing left inside of it to call upon..." Naruto responded as he passed the bottle to the Faunus who held it over his mouth and crushed it, allowing the contents to flow into his mouth for direct consummation.

Kurama dropped his hand and flicked his wrist to rid the glass from his grip, "Well shit, you want me to make you some?" the Faunus asked him.

"Save your chakra, old friend, I'm gonna get you out of here." he said before looking to the wounded Li Ren, inspecting the leg wrap and ensured it was tight enough. when it was to his satisfaction he looked up, "Let me see, turn your head." he told the teen and inspecting a large gash across his jawline," It looks much worse than it is. Girls will still wanna kiss ya." he joked causing Ren to chuckle. He rubbed some ointment from his gate into the wound to ensure it wasn't gonna get infect, "Hey, you okay here for a while?" he asked.

Kurama nodded, "Yea, I still have some chakra left in me to fight if need be." he told him, "Get him out of here." he said motioning to Ren, "Get him to Nora. They've got to be together when that baby's born."

Naruto nodded, "I'll be back, I'm coming back!" he swore as Kurama nodded. Naruto looked to Ren, "You ready?" he asked as the teen nodded showing that he was. With some effort, Naruto slung him over his shoulder's and ran as fast he could to the cliff where the others were waiting.

Kurama watched in silence as Naruto disappeared from sight. Even though he had changed into a overly prideful punk, the old Naruto still remained. The Naruto that always swore to help save and protect those dear to him. He'd shown more of the Old Naruto recently than ever before, given no choice now that one of the Four Kingdom's was in a full scale war with the Grimm now having overrun one of the larger populations with there being only a handful to fight back. It felt good to the old fox to see his friend revert-even if only for a few days-back into his old self. Damn, he needed to focus, there was no time to reminisce.

Juane was lashing out with his sword, bashing some of them back with the shield in hand as he tried his best at keeping several Ursa back at bay. Ren and Nora were both cutting down Beowolf Grimm by the dozens as they protected their fellow initiates from harm. Weiss was struggling to sit up from the series of hits dealt to her by a Ursa Major Alpha, and it was starting to look hopeless. They were near the school, and they had yet to make a significant impact on the massive Wyvern in any way shape or form, Yang grunted as she crashed to the ground, and then pushed herself up and cradled her arm, "The way this is going... we'll all be... dead..." she gasped in exhaustion, blood flowing down her forehead.

The Grimm surrounded them, their growls and snarls filled the air, and a air of dread seeped into their souls. It was looking hopeless, and without William, they would most certainly lose. However, the Grimm around them were unprepared when a pair of swords shot down from the skies above. Two swords planted themselves into the skulls of two Beowolf and one of the Ursa's where they collapsed to the ground. The Beacon hopeful's all gasped as they witnessed the attack kill several more of the Grimm. And then, a raining salvo came crashing down upon the ground, forcing the remaining Grimm around them to run away, dozens of golden swords impaling the ground with a sound akin to a machine gun.

"Why do you all have such long faces?" a familiar voice called out, demanding to be heard by all below, drawing their gazes up.

They couldn't help but gasp.

Weiss nearly began crying, but the fact she was so happy to see this figure made this so much better.

Ruby had a extremely happy look as did Yang and Blake, the figure above was definitely a sight for sore eyes.

Juane, Pyrrha, Ren and Nora felt the weight that had once rested upon their shoulder's lift off, finally, he had made it.

Standing above with no less than thirty disks of silver energy prepared and ready to unleash anything behind him, and his incredible and immense Aura washing over the area, was the one person they had thought missing or dead from the Wyvern. Said Omega Class Alpha gave a roar and the newcomer narrowed his eyes before snorting as he unleashed a veritable rain of swords down upon the massive draconian Grimm causing it to cry out in agony as hundreds of blades were impaled into its flesh, the weapons vanishing into golden dust seconds after only for a thousand more to stab into the creatures flesh once more. No part of the monster was spared his wrath as the monstrous Grimm was stabbed with what amounted to an entire Kingdom's armory. The ground was ripped apart as the dragon slid further back down the wall, a rain of dust and stone filling the air around it.

All of his treasures were ready, firing upon the creature who had done so much damage to his newfound...companion's-they weren't friends, they would not ever be granted such a prestigious title aside from him. The Grimm cried out in pain, letting go of the wall it was climbing and wailing as it was shoved back dozens of feet in an instant, the vast collection of weapons continuing to rain down upon it at the speed of lightning itself.

The newcomer smiled in glory, and his visage revealed that it was none other than, "I will help you out! I am Ruler of the Atlassian Continent, William, King of Atlas and Savior of Mantle!" he declared his identity, "You were making such a racket I had to come and see what it was about!" he told them as they took in the sight of how he had already crossed his arms over his chest, a familiar yet wide grin on his face.

"William!" Weiss called out happily.

"Did you do something with your hair, you look different!" Yang noticed. Which was true, he wasn't in the outfit he had been wearing when they had been on the top of the academy.

He was currently wearing no clothes on his upper body, revealing that while he was bleeding somewhat, he had crimson crisscrossing tattoo's across his arms and sides. He also had changed from his suit of white to where he now had silver platinum armor on his legs with a bright blue cape attached to it and he only had one hand covered in a silver glove. And for some reason, the color of his eyes had changed... Where they were at one point a astonishing blue that would make any maiden smitten, now they bled red with power and his silver hair was as wild as ever as it spiked upwards and partially towards the back, and hanging from his ears were two glistening silver earrings.

A screeching sound filled the air causing William to narrow his eyes briefly, and before she could blink, something flashed in front of her as a piercing sound filled her ears. When she blinked; Blake immediately noticed that there was an arrowhead millimeters from her eyes, the arrow tip connected to a shaft that was stopped by a steel wall of metal-a shield she realized-that had appeared from thin air before she could blink. William narrowed his eyes menacingly, "So you're the bastard that launched the surprise attack on Weiss." he stated, "I assume that you have no intention of begging for your life?" he questioned.

He hopped off his golden airship, landing softly as he slowly approached this foe who remained shrouded from his gaze, "Do you have any last words?" he demanded.

Blake shuddered, this wasn't an ordinary opponent, he was a Faunus-what with that massive lion mane on his head, his face covered by a large cloth that hid everything except his eyes in mystery. Unsurprisingly, the attacker pulled out another arrow, the coloration somewhat familiar to William, and then he knocked it. A blast of air shot out as the arrow was fired at speeds Blake couldn't track with her enhanced sight, but in a shocking move, a hand reached out and plucked it from the air while holding it away from his face, "You'll have to do better than that, Mongrel. My sister might be weaker, but even she is faster than this." he told him.

Another arrow was knocked and then fired, this time curving around, a metal wall appearing behind William as it intercepted the blindingly quick attack, "I see, if you choose to be that obsessed with victory, then that would be the correct choice." he remarked to his silent opponent. Silver disks of light blossomed into being behind him, "In that case, I might just do the same myself." he stated seriously, "However, such acts are permissible only because that is who I am!" he proclaimed as he narrowed his eyes, "They are not for the likes of you!" he declared. His attacker stood still as dozens of blades began protruding from the disks of silver light, and then shot at the man at lightning speed.

William watched in silence as the Mongrel began blocking and dodging his attacks with extreme efficiency, causing him to blink in curiosity, "What's this, a worthy opponent?" he questioned silently, hmm, better to be safe than sorry. The blades he had unleashed were scattered around the dock, the mans massive bow held above head as he gazed down towards the dirt. Lowering the bow, the intruder held a hand out towards him, beckoning him to try again after the failed attempt. William hummed pleasantly, "I see you are considerably light fingered. if that is the case, then how about this." he muttered silently as he opened three times the number of portal's-numbering now in the hundreds, blades flying through the air in rapid succession.

An explosion rocked the docking area, dust and fire filled the air, steel continuing to rain down upon the mongrel trash that attacked him. William kept his eyes narrowed, he hadn't heard the sounds of flesh being pierced by steel, the crashing explosions may mute sound to such a thing, but his unique abilities granted him access to some of the more older ones from his past life, and he wasn't so illiterate as to not channel chakra to his ears to listen for such a sign that showed the battle had come to an end. Blake watched with wide eyes and dropped jaw as the barrage seemed to never end, smoke and flame fogged the air, surely that would be the end of it-so why did he persist in continuing the assault?

William watched in silence as he kept his offense going, thousands of blades shooting into the densely filled air. Blake's hand came down on his shoulder, "William, he's already..." she went to say, only for William to speak up-

"Silence!" he commanded as he pushed more of his treasures out of his Gate, louder explosions filling the air as he kept the attack going.

Grunting in annoyance, he stopped the assault, the smoke and dust filling the air slowly fading away to reveal a sight that annoyed William, but frightened Blake beyond words.

"No... That's... It can't be..." Blake couldn't understand. There was no way anyone should have been able to withstand such a barrage of that many swords and come out unscratched, so how... why had he?

William gazed upon his shrouded opponent, the air finally clearing up as they gazed upon one another from their positions. Around the attacker, littering the ground for a hundred feet, were the thousands of blades that William had unleashed with unwavering fury. The man who had attacked was unscratched, and stood resolute before him. Suddenly, laughter filled the air, but it wasn't from William, "So, this is the power she granted me when she brought me back?" he questioned as he looked at his flesh curiously, "I'll admit, she does great work, and I'll definitely owe her for the upgrades she provided me." the unknown person remarked as William narrowed his eyes.

That voice... why did it sound so familiar to him?

"And what exactly is so amusing?" he demanded as his voice, while calm, was filled with annoyance.

"Savior of Mantle and King of Atlas, that's what you call yourself?" the intruder questioned, "I see no king, only a boy trying to prove himself a man." the attacker sneered at him, "How incredibly disappointing." he growled out now as his demeaner changed from humored to angered.

Blake was now shaking in horror. This man was a monster!

"You throw weapons at random, but now it's better to say your throwing sand at me." he told William, "A real weakling... or a mindless beast would be brought down by child's play in a manner such as this." he told the Schnee heir.

"Hoh?" William questioned, how curious. Blake felt her body stiffen as her head turned so quick one would have thought she'd broken it. He eyes filled with unquestionable fear as she looked at the eager looking William as he looked at the one calling himself his opponent, was this... curiosity... she could only wonder...She turned back to the attacker and asked herself... just who in the world was this man?

"Draw that weapon that is deep inside your little closet, show me the true power of the man who stood against my Mistress so callously and readily." he commanded him, "Then we'll be equal." he growled as he motioned for William to try again.

"Ea is my alter ego, naturally, it is not a sword that is meant to be used on such a weakling as you." William responded, "Isn't that right, Beast?" he grinned at the man as a blade shot out and ripped the hood from the mans face, revealing the formerly deceased brother of Sienna Khan, Hercules Khan, "But I will honor you with a sword particularly made for opponents such as you." he said as he pulled out a crimson sword that was enshrouded by obsidian energy, "Merdach, Origin of Selection!" he commanded as he grasped it, "Prove to me that you are mighty enough for me to behold Ea, and I might just grant you such a privilege." he told Hercules.