The End of Beginning
As the battle in the surface raged on, Ozpin, Pyrrha, Jaune, Joana, and Talos had arrived at the vault.
"What is this place?" Jaune questioned at the sight of this unfamiliar hallway.
"It's a vault from what Pyrrha told me," Talos responded as he glared at the headmaster who gave Pyrrha a look at the revelation.
"Do you know what is going on, Master Talos?" Joana asked, looking around in confusion.
"You could say that," Talos replied just as they came across Amber's pod. "So, this is her," the metallic Blade said as he touched the glass, peering at the dying girl inside.
"Whuh? Who…?" Jaune said not understanding the whole situation.
"What is this!?" And neither did Joana who had an increasingly hostile look.
But no one seemed to want to answer, because Ozpin was already pressing the keys on the unoccupied pod. Soon the machinery lifted it up and the hatch on it was opened. "Have you made your decision?" Ozpin asked Pyrrha who nodded firmly. "Good, then get in," the headmaster said while motioning towards the pod.
Despite her nod, Pyrrha gave a look towards Jaune, feeling her heart constrict just a little bit, before entering.
"Pyrrha, weren't you going to refuse?" Talos said in shocked disbelief.
"I'm sorry, Talos. But I must do this," Pyrrha said as the hatch closed with Talos rushing in to peer through the glass at his Driver while Ozpin worked on the console again.
"What's going on here!?" Jaune asked again, which earned him the headmaster's attention.
"Mister Arc, if you wish to help, please make sure no one comes here," Ozpin said simply.
Jaune looked hesitant before turning around with the shield of Crocea Mors ready. Joana also prepared herself, despite feeling uncertain about everything.
"Pyrrha, you don't have to do this," Talos said in slight fear.
"You're right," Pyrrha said with a sad look, "But I'll still do it. Because how can I fulfill my destiny if I let my own selfishness get in the way. So please…don't worry about me."
This seemingly worked, because Talos backed away from the pod. Little did anyone know that the metallic Blade was unable to voice his thoughts to Pyrrha, "I can't."
"Are you ready Miss Nikos?" Ozpin asked as he was now one button press away from the process to begin. Pyrrha responded with a nod. "…I need to hear you say it," Ozpin said with a deep sigh.
"Yes." And with that, the process begun. Amber's Aura along with her maiden powers were being transported to Pyrrha. But after a few seconds, the Champion was screaming in pain.
"Pyrrha!" Jaune shouted out, running in the front of the pod where Pyrrha was writhing in pain, while Amber looked almost peaceful.
"What are you doing to Lady Nikos!?" Joana all but demanded, pointing her weapon at Ozpin who didn't seem to acknowledge the threat.
At this moment, Talos cringed before clutching his chest where his Core Crystal was hammered in. "No." Talos said as his hand fully enclosed into a fist. "NO!" Talos roared as he grabbed Ozpin and threw him away from the console before smashing it.
"No!" Ozpin shouted from the floor he landed on. However, the machine didn't stop its purpose.
But that didn't deter Talos as he glanced at the now glowing cables attached to Pyrrha's pod. The metallic Blade grabbed the cables before pulling them all off with all his might.
"Warning! System malfunction! emergency shut down, engaged!" Came out of the second pod's console and the process was interrupted and Pyrrha stopped screaming in pain.
"What have you done!?" Ozpin shouted at the metal Blade whose glowing blue eyes were now glowing with hate directed at Ozpin.
"Stopping my Driver from dying!" Talos shouted while motioning towards Pyrrha who was now banging against the pod.
"What!?" Jaune shouted out, now even more confused and scared of what was going on.
This made Ozpin look at the Blade in shock, "Are you certain, she was dying?"
"I felt my connection to her weakening, you bastard!" Talos roared as he stomped to the headmaster and lifted him up off the ground by the man's throat.
"Master Talos!" Joana shouted, gathering her wits faster than her lord, "What is the meaning of all this!? Why would headmaster Ozpin go after Lady Nikos' life!?"
Before anyone could answer, a single black arrow zipped across the room straight into the pod, killing Amber inside of it. And soon, a warm orange glow surrounded the corpse before escaping her and flowing into the missing half of Cinder who just dealt the killing blow.
"All this time, right beneath our feet," Cinder said as her eyes glowed with the full power of the fall maiden. This caused Talos to drop the headmaster and bring out his weapon in preparation for a fight.
By then, Pyrrha used her semblance to force her pod open. With that, the champion stepped out to look at their new adversary who started floating in the air and flames danced around her.
Jaune put his shield up and charged at Cinder.
"No! Stay back," Ozpin shouted, but it was useless. In a burst of flame, Cinder pushed Jaune back easily.
"Milord!" Joana shouted as she moved in front of her lord deploying her helmet, Catalyst Scimitar at the ready.
Pyrrha used her semblance to recover her weapons and began to charge at Cinder, but was stopped by Ozpin raising his arm in front of her. "No! She's too powerful! Take Jaune and go! Find Glynda, Qrow, Ironwood! Bring them all here," the headmaster instructed.
With reluctance, Pyrrha nodded and moved to her partner's side to help him up. "Jaune, come on." Pyrrha said, and without much resistance, Jaune allowed himself to be led away. Joana and Talos following suit. Cinder gave the retreating Blades and Drivers a condescending look before returning her attention to Ozpin.
In front of the elevator, Pyrrha, Jaune and Joana got in and punched the button for the ground floor. Only Talos stayed outside.
"Talos, get in, there's just enough room for you too," Pyrrha said as the doors started closing.
"…No," Talos said firmly, earning a shocked look from Pyrrha and Jaune. With Joana, you couldn't tell because of her helmet. "If she is now as powerful as claimed, Ozpin will need help to survive long enough for you to get reinforcements," Talos explained to the two as the door was inches from closing.
Which was stopped by Joana's mecha gauntleted hand. "Master Talos, mere moments ago you were ready to end his life," Joana pointed out.
"Make no mistake, he and I will have a serious conversation when all of this is over," Talos said with a harsh tone, which wasn't directed at any of them.
With that, Joana pulled her hand away and stopped Pyrrha from trying to stop the door from closing. As soon as Talos heard the elevator leaving, he turned towards Cinder who was now flinging large fireballs at the headmaster. "Don't think this changes anything," Talos growled in his mind as he summoned his weapon and charged at the false maiden.
In another part of Beacon, Adam and Blake were facing off. "This could've been our day! Can't you see that!" Adam shouted as he kicked the black-haired girl away.
"I never wanted this! I wanted equality!" Blake shouted back, desperate to get through to Adam even if it was pointless. But that didn't stop her from switching Gambol's katana into its pistol mode before firing. But Adam unsheathed wilt to absorb the kinetic energy from the shots.
"What you want is impossible!" Adam shouted back before backhanding the feline faunus in the face, knocking her on the floor, "But I understand Blake, for all I want is you." Blake tried to lift Gambol to shoot Adam again, but the bull faunus kicked the weapon out of her hand. "And as I descend upon this world to bring mankind the justice it so greatly deserves," Adam continued, before stepping on the black-haired girl's chest. "I will make it my mission to destroy everything you love," Adam finished, leaning down to get the point across to the now utterly terrified Blake.
"Blake!" A shout from a voice she recognized came from outside. "Blake where are you!?" Both Adam and Blake turned towards the source, seeing Yang outside, taking out a White Fang grunt.
"No." Blake mouthed in terror. If Yang saw this, she would get herself killed.
Worse yet, Adam noticed this and smirked, "Starting with her." With those words Adam drew out Wilt before stabbing it into Blake's side. Causing the girl to cry out in pain, which earned Yang's attention as Adam got off of Blake before stepping forward with a smirk.
"Yang, don't," Blake sounded out in terror, but it was useless.
All Yang saw was Blake on the ground with a White Fang having a bloody sword in hand, which the bastard then sheathed. "Get AWAY FROM HER!" Yang roared as her semblance activated and she used Ember Celica to launch herself at Adam. The red-haired young man gripped his weapon before performing an Iaido upon Yang.
"YANG!" Blake cried out as her partner, her friend. And one of the first to accept her for who she was stumbled on the ground while gripping her arm in pain. More specifically, a deep wound on it.
"Damn it!" Yang cursed in pain as blood was coming out of the wound. Blake was more shocked at the fact that Yang didn't lose her entire arm. Even as Adam was approaching them with a victorious grin. But then Blake noticed a detail about Yang that she now wondered how she could have missed at all. The blonde was equipped with Dragunov's talons. And if that was the case...
"RRAAARGH!" Was the roar that made Adam turn around in alarm before barely dodging a stone fist with glowing cracks that was aiming at him. Which was followed by the second one as Dragunov was enraged at the damage his Driver took. Adam sidestepped another punch that this walking statue with some fleshy parts delivered. Except, the said statue shifted the momentum to quickly spin and hit the bull faunus with his tail instead. Sending Adam flying towards the back wall. Next to the windows. As Adam scrambled to get up Dragunov was approaching the bastard, with burning anger coursing through his body.
Even as Blake was still staring at Yang's arm in horror even as the blonde got up ready to fight despite her injury and now spent Aura. "Damn, I can't believe Drag had to save me," Yang muttered as she gripped her injured arm which was struggling to move. Only then did Blake remember one of Dragunov's abilities, Damage Armor. He must've used it before Yang charged in.
"Well, well, well. It looks like that one has a pet," Adam said with a condescending grin at the fire Blade, "And quite an interesting one too." the bull faunus noted as he glanced at Dragunov's horns, the dragon heads craning over his shoulder and resting on the fire Blade's chest and the tail that was moving ever so slightly.
"Interesting? Speak for yourself, you disgusting freak," Dragunov growled.
"What did you call me?" Adam growled gripping the sheath at his side tighter.
"You heard me you puny little animal! I wonder if your meat is any different from any of the female variants of cattle I've tasted," Dragunov said with the most condescending grin he could muster and even licked his lips for the effect.
It took a moment for Adam to register the meaning, this thing has eaten faunus. "You BASTARD!" Adam growled before rushing this insolent thing in an effort to cut it down. But since Adam had already used the charged energy, he only had his normal strikes. Strikes which were now being blocked by a Blade barrier. "Get out of there you coward! And fight me!" Adam roared in hatred.
What Adam failed to notice in his mad rampage was that Dragunov was now surrounded by a flaming aura. Just as Adam brought Wilt for an overhead strike, he got hit with a powerful blast into his side. Courtesy of Yang who had used Heatblast to strike the bastard away, but she couldn't muster the full power due to the state of her right arm. Speaking of which, the wound closed and a portion of Yang's Aura was restored.
"Great job, Yang," Dragunov congratulated as he dropped the barrier.
"Thanks, but did you have to say what you did," Yang asked, not feeling comfortable about the lie Dragunov used to piss their enemy off.
"It was a gamble and it payed off," Dragunov said simply before turning a savage grin at Adam who was rubbing his side which thankfully didn't take major damage thanks to his Aura.
"You tricked me!" Adam screamed as he stood up to where he was blasted to, "You cowardly humans!"
"Correction, she's a human," Dragunov said pointing at Yang who bumped her fists together with a determined look, before pointing at himself, "I'm just a Blade who does his job and helps his Driver." With that, Yang and Dragunov took a stance as Adam took his own.
All the while Blake held her side and allowed herself to hope. Adam was struck twice now. Could this mean, that Yang and Dragunov together have the strength to best the one the feline faunus once called a friend.
Meanwhile, the students were running for the airpads. They had just heard that everyone was to fall back there. And since they had injured and tired people among them, they obliged, especially when none of the Blades were in any better shape. Electra was now unconscious in Nora's arms. Azai was being helped by Hazuki because the Ether Cannoneer was too weak to walk on his own properly. Otohime was still able to help Ren move forward. Wu was in high spirits despite panting a little. Then there was Kos-Mos, she still allowed Penny to carry her Ether Cannon on the grounds of the possibility of hostiles, which wasn't too far from the truth. As for Dahlia, she had taken Weiss on a piggyback carry, much to the heiress' embarrassment. But she wasn't exactly in best shape to walk on her own just yet.
And then they witnessed a horrible sight. They saw a dragon like Grimm flying over them. Letting out black ooze from its mouth which soon formed into new Grimm around our heroes.
"You're not serious," Sun complained at the sight of the Grimm that were now standing between them and the air pads. However, that sight was soon replaced with bombardment from an unknown source. Everyone had to cover their eyes from the resulting smoke that came from the attack. And when everyone dared to watch, the newly spawned Grimm were gone. Only the small craters in the area proved that there was anything around before the kicked-up dirt and smoke. Then everyone glanced at the sky to see a flying landmass in the shape of some kind of dragon.
"The Dragon Guardian of Mistral," Arslan was first to comment. For that was the name the public in Mistral started using when that thing destroyed the Grimm that threatened the city. But all the Blades identified it as a Titan, not that any of them voiced that right now.
Speaking of Blades, "Umm…Nora?" Electra murmured as she stirred in her Driver's arms.
"Electra! Are you okay?" Nora asked in concern.
"Uhh…yeah, I'm feeling better," the little electric Blade said as she sounded more energetic every second.
Actually, all the Blades looked like they were enjoying something as the glow of their Core Crystals was strengthened ever so slightly.
"Ether," Otohime muttered as she was drawing the ether that the Titan was releasing into the air.
"Lots of it," Azai added in as he was now able to stand on his own feet.
"Master, I will function at optimal capacity soon enough," Kos-Mos told her Driver.
"Can't you just call it Dust energy," Neptune complained as that was reported to be one of the errors within a Blade's system. They were all also told to just roll with it, though for some it was harder than others.
But thankfully all Blades had given up on correcting their Drivers. Except the Blades of JNPR were told to not tell theirs by RWBY Blades. It was difficult to get Joana and Electra to agree, but when they were told it was for their Driver's safety, they were on board too.
But that wasn't where this conversation was going right now. "Did it come here to save us?" Reese wondered in slight hope.
"Looks that way," Rykiri said as he saw the Titan opening fire on the dragon itself.
As the group moved on, the dragon Grimm felt something painful hitting it's back. Screeching in pain, the monstrosity flapped its wings in place and turned around to see its new enemy swooping at it with its talons ahead, pushing the monster back and into the ground, straight through several dormitories that were now empty. The Titan then clamped its jaws around the dragon's throat in an attempt to rip it's head off, all the while the black monster screeched in pain and trashed on its back. Though if there was anyone near enough to see, a large red blur moved off of the Titan's back and landed some ways away.
"Ruby, you okay?" Roze asked from his panting Driver.
"Yeah, just…I guess I overused my semblance on that one," Ruby smiled weakly, "Don't worry, I'll recover soon enough."
"Okay." Roze nodded with acceptance, "I thought I saw people at the airpads when we flew over it, we should go there." the reaper Blade then said, earning a nod from the reaper Driver. With that, the two moved on, just in time because the dragon managed to shake the Titan off and had gotten back up. The battle between the flying fortresses wasn't over yet.
Back in the cafeteria, the fight with Yang, Dragunov and Adam was going surprisingly well. Yang and Dragunov used teamwork to keep Adam on his toes, but the Red Bull of White Fang wasn't exactly a pushover. For every hit, the fiery duo got on him, the raging bull got a few good hits on Yang when he realized that attacking her Blade was useless. Evidenced when Adam managed to pierce Dragunov's throat and the only response he got from that was a pained grunt, before the fire Blade grabbed Adam's arm so that Yang could get another hit in. Shame that Burning Spirit had run out few moments ago, but it was well used.
But now Dragunov had unleashed a gout of flame upon Adam who used his sword to absorb the attack.
"What!?" Dragunov exclaimed, while Blake who still wasn't in fighting shape paled at the sight.
With a new charge in, Adam took an Iaido stance. Something that unnerved both Dragunov and Yang.
"Get behind me!" Dragunov shouted to Yang who obliged as the Blade put up a barrier to block anything Adam threw at the two. And then Adam cut, straight throught the barrier as well as both of Dragunov's arms. The cut appendages disintegrating away.
"DRAGUNOV!" Yang shouted out before looking at the bastard who cut her Blade's arms. Roaring with rage, Yang tried to get another hit in, but Adam was able to sidestep the attack and knee the blonde in the stomach before kicking her away.
"NO!" Blake cried out, she tried to move, but her stabbed side cried in protest. She hated this, one of her friends was being attacked and she couldn't do anything to help. Had she really not changed at all from back then?
"You brought this on yourself," Adam said to Dragunov who had slumped on one knee, "You dared to use my own people against me." The faunus was smirking at something supposedly invincible on its knee, "If you beg, I might actually leave you alone and go for the human instead."
Dragunov actually chuckled while still somehow glaring at Adam, "I don't beg anyone! Least of all an out of control Grimm wearing a faunus skin." Dragunov's defiance was rewarded with a stab in the fleshy part of his chest, earning a grunt of pain.
"You're just a mindless weapon that only knows how to obey it's master. No will, no life of your own," Adam mocked the fire Blade, who's cracks glowed with heat. "Oh, shut up, you can't die from something like this." Adam complained at the draconic Blade.
"SHUT UP!" Yang screamed as she got back up, still ready for a fight. "Dragunov is alive! He has his own will. And he better refuse to beg after everything he dared to put me through." The blonde let out as she stomped towards Adam. "And for the record, just because he can't die from that doesn't mean he can't feel PAIN!" with that scream, Yang's hair ignited again and her already red eyes seemed to actually glow a little.
"Aww, caring about this thing's non-existent feelings," Adam mocked before preparing his sword. "But there is something I have been wondering," the bull faunus said as he had a sinister grin, "What happens if you strike at that gem on their body?" With that, Adam used a horizontal cut to slice at the Core Crystal on Dragunov's forehead. However, to the White Fang officer's surprise, his sword stopped at something. Turning to see what it was, Adam's eyes widened behind his mask. The stone dragon head curling over Dragunov's right shoulder had lifted itself and clamped its jaws upon the blade. "What the!?" Adam explained as he tried to pull Wilt out, but the dragon head wouldn't let up. It just glared at Adam through its burning yellow eyes as if willing the faunus to burn. This didn't last long, because while Adam was busy pulling his sword out, Yang instantly capitalized on it and punched the Red Bull away from Dragunov. This also meant that Adam lost his sword which was still in the dragon head's mouth.
"Yang," Dragunov mouthed out as wisps of flaming light came out of his stumps.
"What?" Yang asked, noticing that the left head opened its own burning eyes and lifted itself from its resting place.
"I can feel the power," the fire Blade said with excitement as all the cracks in his body were glowing with wisps of golden flames escaping them. But that wasn't all the wisps of light had faded away, revealing Dragunov's reformed arms. With this, Dragunov glared at Adam with his normal eyes which were also glowing with heat. "Time to finish this." As Dragunov declared this, Wilt fell from the right stone head's mouth. More specifically, the blade inside the mouth had melted causing the rest of it to drop. "Yang stand back," Dragunov then said as the two heads took a deep breath in unison, revealing their glowing hot insides for a moment.
Yang was in equal parts excited and in awe, Dragunov was clearly ready to unleash a new attack. One that he said required both heads to wake up. And if this is what she thinks it is, then this is even more powerful than Burning Rage. Any further thought was interrupted when Dragunov addressed Adam.
"Your ashes will be scattered to the winds! Exhaust Nova!" With that, the two dragon heads released a stream of white fire upon Adam who turned around and ran outside the window and hid behind the stone masonry. Just in time for the flames to come out and miss him thanks to his cover.
This wouldn't matter to Adam, all he had to do was wait for that thing to stop firing and then he can attack again. But then Adam took note of something that made him feel terror for the first time in a long time, the masonry was melting. At that moment Adam understood, if that thing doesn't stop firing, he won't survive when the flames cover him. "Scatter my ashes!? There won't be anything left of me if that hits me!" Adam thought in panic as the masonry was melting at an accelerated rate.
Back inside, Yang watched Dragunov's attempt to get rid of that monster for a moment longer before turning towards Blake who looked like she didn't know what to feel. However, Yang's red eyes, which were slowly bleeding black to lilac widened before the blonde suddenly dashed with a scream, "Blake! Behind you!"
"What!?" Blake exclaimed as she rapidly turned around to see a purple katana blade approaching her. But before Blake could process this further, she felt herself being showed away from the thing. Only to hear a cry of pain from Yang which froze the blood in her veins. Turning on the floor to look, Blake saw Yang and the purple katana blade that pierced her.
"…How? I still have…," Yang stammered at being stabbed, despite having Aura.
"Tch." The owner of the sword complained as he pulled it out of Yang. "Made me miss vitals," Perceval complained at his double failure
"Get away from Yang!" Dragunov roared, having finished using his attack upon feeling the damage his Driver took. Then the fire Blade charged.
Perceval acted fast, he punched Yang into the wound he had inflicted before delivering a powerful kick to Yang's head. Knocking the blonde out, and then Dragunov collapsed suddenly as their link was severed.
"What?" Blake couldn't help but sound out in horror. "Why was Dragunov...?"
"A problem with the affinity link," Perceval said as if reading Blake's thoughts, "If the Driver is knocked out, the feedback from the link knocks out the Blade during an affinity link." And then the assassin Blade turned towards Blake, "So you're Blake Belladonna, the source of all misery for my Driver?" Perceval then said, causing Blake's eyes to widen in realization.
"You're…Adam's Blade," Blake said in fear as she made to crawl away a little.
"Running away?" Perceval asked as he approached Blake almost casually, "I think not. You see, I do not know why Adam has a deep hatred for everything, but I do understand that it all stems from you who abandoned him for your own selfish whims." The accusing tone made Blake look in shock.
"Is that what Adam told you!?" Blake shouted, finding a little of her earlier defiance.
"Silence! It's all your fault that Adam has turned into this!" Perceval shouted while kicking that fraction of defiance out of Blake, literally, "Perhaps if I deliver your head to my Driver, maybe then he can finally start healing from the wounds you inflicted on him." With those words, the assassin Blade raised his sword to behead Blake who at this point just closed her eyes with tears flowing out of them. But if the feline faunus had looked just a little longer, she might have noticed Perceval's sword hand trembling.
"I'm sorry everyone." Blake apologized in her mind. Only to be startled by the sound of weapon's clashing. Daring to open her eyes, Blake saw Perceval being pushed back from her and Yang by none other than Nox.
The dark ninja kept swinging his scythes at Perceval with his pupil in X shape. But Perceval either blocked the attacks or simply dodged them. Although this also meant that he couldn't get a chance to attack back at the ninja Blade.
"You worthless bitch!" Was the roar that interrupted all action. All the conscious beings in the room turned to the source, which was Adam. The red-haired bull's left arm had badly burned and he seemed completely out of it. "How dare you deny my justice! Who are you to deny me that!?" Adam roared in mad rage, before realizing that the blonde and her Blade were down and Perceval was here. Then the madman smirked, "Perfect! Perceval, kill the blondie!"
However, Perceval was forced to disobey that when Nox threw one of his scythes at Adam. The assassin having to block the weapon himself, because Adam seems to have lost Blush too, and his Aura was probably spent.
"Perceval, give me your weapon! If we fight together, we can-" "No, Adam." Perceval said simply as he moved to grab his Driver," You're wounded, we have to leave now." It seemed like Adam didn't agree with his Blade as he struggled to get out of the grip, but it was too strong.
So Adam resorted to a threats, "Blake! I will never stop hunting you and everyone you love! Even if I have to chase you all to the ends of Remnant! Do you hear me!? TO THE ENDS OF REMNANT!" This was what the mad bull shouted as he was being dragged away by his Blade.
Which left Nox who had moved in front of Blake protectively. All threats cutting very deep to her, unbeknownst to the dark Blade.
Speaking of which, the dark Blade knelt down to his Driver's level as he brought out his scroll, "My lady. I am so sorry. I should have been here with you."
At first Blake was relieved to see her Blade, but then her relief turned to anger as she remembered how long he was gone. "Where the hell were you!?" Blake couldn't help herself, "If you had been here, Yang wouldn't have gotten hurt!"
The words seemed to cut very deep into Nox's heart. Nox was already terrified enough when he felt his Driver being hurt. Worse yet, he had strayed very far when he was chasing Emerald and Mercury. A chase he had to abandon when he felt Blake being hurt. "I am sorry." Was all Nox could show on his scroll. After all, there really was no excuse as far as he was concerned. He should've been near his Driver. If he was, maybe none of this would've happened.
"Never mind that, we need to get Yang and Dragunov out of here," Blake said as she turned to the unconscious blonde and Blade.
"I shall wake up Dragunov." Nox showed on his scroll before getting up and moving towards the fire Blade. Taking out one scythe, Nox stabbed him at the base of the tail.
That jolted Dragunov awake. "Who stab-Yang!" Dragunov interrupted his own exclamation as he felt her condition. Instantly moving to her side.
"We need to get out of here," Blake said as she struggled to get up, with Nox moving in to help her.
"That Blade better watch himself," Dragunov growled as he picked Yang into bridal carry. Normally he would just sling her over his shoulder, but in her current state, that would not be the optimal carry right now. With that, the two Blades helped their Drivers to get out of here before anything else happened.
Meanwhile, Ruby and Roze had just made it to the airpads to see that the rest of the people who still haven't left out of Beacon were still here in the middle of evacuation. Of course, several Grimm tried to get to them every once in a while, but now that the Titan was spreading ether with its presence all the Blades have recovered and were keeping them at bay whenever they appeared. That's not even counting Port and Oobleck having arrived to help with the evacuation.
"Ruby?" Weiss called out, almost in disbelief, "Ruby where have you been!?"
Instead of answering, Ruby looked around at what was happening, "What's going on?"
Weiss reined in her annoyance at not getting an answer, but still replied to Ruby, "The school is being evacuated. Not that I can blame them, considering that." At the last part, the heiress pointed towards the skies right above Beacon. The Titan and the dragon were still fighting in the air. The Titan shot beams from the forearms of its wings at the monstrosity, but the dragon dodged them and the beams instead destroyed more of Beacon's buildings.
Roze grimaced at the sight. He was hoping that the Titan would destroy that thing with ease, but of course it wouldn't be that easy.
"Where are Yang and Blake?" Ruby then asked, noting that they weren't present.
Weiss opened her mouth to respond when. "Right here," Dragunov called out as he and Nox brought their Drivers.
"Yang!" Ruby cried out as she saw the state of her sister.
"She'll be fine as soon as we can get a damn medic here!" Dragunov roared the last one to medics who took notice and ran to the bumblebee duo, who were slowly lowered by their Blades.
As the medics got to work, Blake reached out to grasp still unconscious Yang's hand. "Yang, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for everything." Blake half-sobbed, blaming herself for what happened to her friend. All the while Nox hung his head in shame and clenching his hands into fists at this failure.
"Will my sister be alright?" Ruby asked the medic examining Yang's injuries.
"She will survive," The medic said reassuringly, "The stab wound missed vitals so if I just dress the wound properly, she'll be good to go soon enough."
Meanwhile Roze was looking at the rest of their friends. Noticing another inconsistency. "Where are Jaune and Pyrrha. Or Joana and Talos?" the reaper asked.
"They're still in there," Nora said looking to the school which was now a battlefield of two draconic beings. Speaking of which, the dragon had managed bite down on the base of the Titan's wing in midair, but the giant Grimm's hold slipped and the Titan was able to kick it away. Adding a swipe from the stone spike covered tail for good measure.
"If Pyrrha and Jaune are out there, they may be in trouble," Ren said as he tried to get up from his spot on the floor, but was unable to. He was just too exhausted.
"…I'll find them…Roze and I will find them," Ruby said with a determined look towards her Blade, "We already rescued Penny, there's no way we can't save those two."
As if summoned, the ginger android moved in to hug Ruby from seemingly out of nowhere. The red caped girl was just happy that she wasn't being crushed for a change. "Ruby I was so worried!" Then the synthetic girl released the hug before giving her friend a determined look, "Fear not my friend, Ruby. I won't rest until we find your friends."
"I would advise against it, Master," Kos-Mos chimed in from her position with her Ether Cannon at the ready for any possible incursions, "Until everyone is evacuated, I cannot leave this position and you would be unarmed without me out there."
Penny looked down in slump at the fact that her Blade was right.
"You're not seriously going out there, are you," Sun exclaimed, "Those things are circling around and their battle is as destructive as it can get."
"We must," Weiss said as she stepped close to Ruby, before the heiress glared at her partner, "By the way, why haven't you answered your Scroll?"
"Huh?" Ruby sounded out as she reached for her Scroll to check on it. "Oh…It's out of power. Must've run out sometime after calling my locker."
Weiss dragged her palm down her face at this moron scaring her and probably Yang half to death because she forgot to recharge her Scroll. "All the more reason I'm going with you," Weiss said, still glaring at the sheepish looking Ruby.
"Then I'm coming too," Dahlia added in, leaving her position.
"Are you sure, won't everyone need you here," Weiss asked looking around for other Blades.
"We will manage without Dahlia for a time," Otohime said staying vigilant with her own cannon ready, "Just go and retrieve my Driver's idiotic leader and his bride to be."
"Whuh!?" Several exclamations sounded out in the area at Otohime's words.
Ignoring the exclamations, Otohime continued without missing a beat, "But please do keep the idiotic part to yourselves when you do find him. I would rather not damage my relations with one of the more refined people I have the pleasure of knowing."
Weiss and Ruby shook their heads at that and just decided to go now alongside their Blades.
"We'll be back!" Ruby called back to everyone as they ran towards Beacon where the Titan and the dragon Grimm were still fighting.
"You better be!" Sun shouted back at the four, "Idiots."
Right outside the tower, Jaune and Pyrrha had exited it to see the draconic Grimm and the Titan clashing in the air.
"Okay, I think I got Glynda's number somewhere," Jaune said as he started searching for the professor's number with some difficulty.
"Lady Nikos, what was all of that?" Joana then asked while her lord fumbled with her Scroll.
"That's…"Pyrrha didn't get to finish that sentence when they heard something like a rocket soaring through the elevator. But when it passed, it was only for an instant but they saw Cinder blasting through the elevator and up above.
"No." Pyrrha sounded out in horror.
"But Ozpin…," Jaune added in.
"Master Talos," Joana also said, unable to comprehend the metallic champion being defeated.
"There's no more time," Pyrrha said sadly.
"Lady Nikos, you are not seriously considering fighting her are you," Joana said in disbelief.
"Joana's right, you can't-" Jaune was interrupted by Pyrrha grabbing his face and pulling him in for a kiss.
Joana's eyes widened, but she turned around to allow them to have this moment, as odd as the timing was.
"…I'm sorry," Pyrrha then said before using her semblance to throw Jaune into a locker along with Joana who happened to be in the line of fire.
"Pyrrha, wait! Please don't do this!" Jaune cried out, before turning his head as much as he could towards his Blade, "Joana, do something!"
"There is not enough room, milord. I cannot move my arms enough, let alone my sword." Joana replied as she tried to move her arms. In a last-ditch effort, Joana tried to reason with Pyrrha, " Milady, please reconsider! Master Talos and Ozpin were both defeated by that witch! What makes you believe you could possibly fare better!?"
"Because I must," Pyrrha said as she punched the code on the locker and it soon propelled into the skies. Thankfully far enough from the Titan and the dragon so it didn't get caught up in their struggle.
With that, Pyrrha dashed to the busted elevator and used her semblance to force the elevator box moving up. She would defeat Cinder. She just had to.
As Ruby, Weiss and their Blades were searching for their missing friends, Weiss soon got a call from Jaune. The heiress quickly answered, "Jaune where are-!" "Weiss! You have to save her! You have to save Pyrrha!" Jaune interrupted, sounding almost broken.
"Wait, Jaune what are you talking about? Where are you?" Weiss asked in concern.
"Don't worry about me! Pyrrha's fighting her, at the top of the tower! Just please save her!" Jaune half screamed half sobbed.
"…We will, but where are-" Weiss' question was cut off when the call was cut. Weiss was still confused about what was going on, but she did get the important things. "You heard that, right?" Weiss asked from Ruby.
"Yeah," Ruby said in worry, "Let's hurry!"
In Vale, Jaune had thrown his Scroll on the ground and screamed to the heavens.
"Milord," Joana said, trying to comfort her Driver, "I am sure they will save lady Nikos." Despite her words, the knightess was also worried about Pyrrha. She just couldn't comprehend what was going through her head. It was like she wanted to die. Then the knightess heard growling. Turning to the source, the light Blade saw several Grimm approaching, no doubt lured by Jaune's grief. "Milord is not in a good mood right currently. So leave now, or prepare to be cut down," Joana threatened as she prepared her Catalyst Scimitar against the monsters. They were just Creeps and Beowolves so it shouldn't be too hard for her to deal with them while protecting Jaune until he came back to his senses.
With Pyrrha, she was in trouble. She thought that Cinder would at least be weakened from her fight against Ozpin and Talos, but the false maiden seemed to be at full strength. If what she does is even her full power. So far, Pyrrha had been avoiding enormous gouts of flame. Miló was blocked with a bare hand and she seemed to not take any real damage from anything.
As for Cinder, she was annoyed when she entered Ozpin's office. She expected the dragon Grimm to be waiting for her outside the window. Instead, it was fighting with that Alrestian creature called a Titan. But it won't matter, once she's dealt with the Nikos girl she would go out there and destroy it. After all, it may be from another world, but it's still just a mindless beast like the Grimm.
Soon enough, Pyrrha managed to get close enough to Cinder to attempt to get Miló into the false maiden's throat. But Cinder caught the blade with both hands, slowly destroying it with extreme heat. Once she succeeded in destroying Pyrrha's weapon, the roof of the tower was shattered by the Titan when it was being forced down through the very top of the tower and into the ground by the dragon. As the Titan was struggling below, Cinder used a powerful blast of flame to push Pyrrha back. The red head was shocked at the loss of her weapon, but she saw many large cogs that came off from the clockwork of the tower. "Let's see what Talos' training has done," Pyrrha thought as she used her semblance to retrieve her shield and throw it at Cinder who smacked it away with her bare hand. But then she noted that the giant gears were floating in the air. Pyrrha then waved her hand, which made Akouo return and flip Cinder on her back by sweeping her legs from beneath her. Then Pyrrha started beating the false maiden down with the gears. Before pulling them all on Cinder to crush her, even making them spin to increase damage. But soon a glow was emanating from the center of the mass before in an explosion, Cinder broke free from the gears which had now shattered and rained upon the ground beneath. The explosion also slammed Pyrrha against a wall and a large piece of the clockwork falling on her legs. Thankfully her legs weren't crushed, but her Aura was now broken.
With that, Cinder lowered herself to the ground with a victorious smirk as she strutted towards Pyrrha. "It's unfortunate that you were promised a power that was never truly yours," Cinder said with faux pity. Pyrrha struggled to get the debris off of her, but she couldn't muster the strength, nor did she have any Aura left to use her semblance. "But don't worry, I will use this power in ways you could never have dreamed of," Cinder then said, finding immense pleasure at Pyrrha still struggling in vain as the Titan was no doubt being finished off by the dragon by now.
Down below, Weiss and Ruby had just made it to the bottom of the tower, but the entrance was now blocked by the debris. "How are we supposed to get up there?" Weiss questioned as she and Ruby were slowly being surrounded by the Grimm that were spawned by the dragon.
"I have a plan," Ruby told Weiss as she grinned at the side of the tower.
"You always do," Weiss said realizing what her team leader had in mind, "But first, Dahlia." the heiress then offered her unoccupied hand for Dahlia to hand over the bitball. The ice Blade obliged, and Weiss used a healing Art to restore Ruby's Aura and her own. "Now then," Weiss said as she created several glyphs to make a path up the tower, "Go and save Pyrrha."
Back in the tower, Pyrrha had stopped struggling. She simply realized that there was nothing she could do to prevent her demise anymore. Then a loud sound was heard from the direction of the elevator shafts which were now covered by small amounts of debris. This drew Cinder's attention for the moment.
(Play Xenoblade Chronicles 2 OST: Counterattack)
Out of the debris burst Talos high into the air before coming down with the intent to hit the now surprised Cinder, who dodged to the left of Pyrrha. But as soon as the Blade landed, he swung the spear again, forcing Cinder to move further back. With the witch gone for the moment, Talos removed the debris that was pinning his Driver back.
"Talos!" Pyrrha shouted out in a mix shock and relief.
"How!" Cinder cried in outrage, "I destroyed you!" before sending a fireball at the Blade who swatted it away with his shield arm.
"Did you think that burying me under a pile of rubble was enough to kill me?" Talos asked, sounding like he was insulted. Then he moved in front of his Driver to protect her from anything this she-devil could throw. "Stand up, Pyrrha! This fight isn't over," Talos said as Cinder charged at him, fueled by anger at not getting rid of this insolent thing.
"Talos, no!" Pyrrha shouted as she got up, "We can't beat her alone!" Pyrrha already felt stupid for thinking it herself while Cinder was slashing at him with her glass swords, but all Talos had to do was shift his shield and stab at her to force the false maiden back. Although he didn't hit her once.
"She's right," Cinder said, calming down from her outburst, " Even together, a mere Blade and Driver can't possibly defeat me." Right as she said that, she threw an X shaped flare at them.
"Then how about two of each!" Two separate voices shouted, revealing that they belonged to Ruby and Roze as the two shattered the attack with their partner's respective weapon.
"You!" Cinder shouted out before calming down, "It doesn't matter how many of you come at me. You will all die just like that Titan has!" Cinder said just as the Grimm dragon appeared in everyone's field of vision. Roaring like it was triumphant. Only it was soon blasted by lasers from the Titan which seemed to be chasing the monster once again. "NO!" Cinder screamed, this wasn't supposed to happen.
"A Titan is not defeated so easily," Roze called out defiantly to Cinder, "We will stop you, just as surely as it will stop that Grimm!"
"That's right!" Ruby added in, twirling Roze's scythe as she did. "We will stop you right here and now. All four of us." At the last part, Ruby glanced at Pyrrha who looked just about ready to cry.
"Pyrrha," Talos then said, earning his Driver's attention, "Take my Megalance, and help us. Together we shall have victory." the metal Blade offered his weapon to Pyrrha. Pyrrha wiped her tears and schooled her features to show determination, before accepting the weapon and the affinity link formed.
"Let's do this," Pyrrha said with confidence she had previously lost. Talos raising his shield arm, ready to assist Pyrrha in any way he could.
"Yeah!" Ruby cheered as she and Roze twirled their respective scythes in their hands.
(Change song, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 OST: Incoming)
With that, Roze started by firing Crescent Rose on Cinder who merely put up a barrier to incinerate the shots.
"You think that's enough against me," Cinder mocked.
"How about Rosy Shot!"
"A what?" Cinder asked before Ruby fired a shot from Roze's scythe which Cinder blocked again, except the spot burst in rose petals and the barrier flickered, barely withstanding it. "Is that the best you can do," Cinder asked finding their attempts at harming her cute.
"Ruby, go! I'll cover you," Roze said as he opened fire again, with Ruby charging in at Cinder head on. But the black-haired woman just smirked as she kept blocking the dust shots.
Cinder was tempted to laugh as she charged a concentrated fireball, before unleashing it at Ruby who looked like she wasn't even trying to dodge it. And then it exploded on impact. But to Cinder's surprise, it was her that felt damage. She didn't have time to wonder about that for long before Ruby came out of the flickering flames with Thorn Barrier dissipating as it had done its job. "Thorn Hammer!" Ruby then called out as she grabbed Roze's scythe all the way from the base of the bottom and bringing it down on Cinder who tried to block it with her palms. Keyword, "tried", because Cinder could feel the drain on her Aura even though she was using defensive magic. However, after some effort, Cinder was able to push Ruby's attack away.
Only to be hit from the side by Pyrrha's Balance Breaker. Cinder wasn't amused as she released a large gout of flame to incinerate the champion, but Talos stepped forward and formed a Blade barrier to block it. Cinder didn't have time to wonder because she then fired another blast of flame at Roze who tried to come at her with Ruby's scythe at the ready. But Cinder smacked the blade away before kicking the reaper Blade away.
Ruby tried to get in with Crescent Spinner, but Cinder sidestepped the attack before punching Ruby in the face, which was followed by a kick to her stomach. Thankfully the little red reaper's aura held as she skidded across the floor, though she threw the scythe at Cinder.
"Really?" Cinder mocked as she smacked the discarded weapon away. But what she didn't notice that it went straight to Roze who equipped it before unloading Petal Blast on Cinder. The first few shots pushed Cinder back, but the last few were blocked with a barrier that barely held them at bay.
"Ruby!" Roze shouted as he threw his scythe back to Ruby who caught it as she sailed past it with her semblance. Then she came out of the flurry of rose petals to attack Cinder who formed two swords out of flames to counter the attack. But she had to divide her attention when Pyrrha joined in to stab at the woman with Talos' spear. Finally, Cinder had enough and unleashed an explosion of flame, sending all her foes back.
"Enough already!" Cinder shouted, clearly pissed off at facing far more resistance than should be possible. "I am the Fall Maiden, there is no force in Remnant or any other world that has any right to oppose me!" Cinder shouted with almost deranged look. With that, Cinder was forming the most powerful blast of fire she had yet to use. "Now DIE!" the woman shouted and unleashed the inferno upon the two Drivers and their Blades.
"Talos! Together," Roze shouted, earning a nod from the metal Blade. The two Blades combined their forces to form a barrier to protect their Drivers. But Cinder wouldn't let up, she was fully confident in her ability to squash these Blades like bugs.
"This isn't working as well as I hoped," Roze said as he felt the barrier beginning to fail.
"What are we gonna do now?" Ruby asked, looking at her Blade in worry, "There has to be something we can do."
"Talos, is there anything we can do?" Pyrrha asked her Blade.
Even as Talos was straining to hold the barrier together with Roze he was able to give an answer, "…Actually, there is! Roze, on my mark, drop the barrier."
"What!?" Roze questioned giving the metallic Blade a look.
"Just trust me," Talos said reassuringly. Roze seemed hesitant, but he looked towards both Pyrrha and Ruby who both had determined looks, the reaper Blade nodded. "Good, I need you two to act at exactly the right moment," Talos then said as he quickly explained his idea.
Cinder kept firing upon the barrier which she could tell was growing weaker. Soon enough the barrier failed and the flames were able was over her enemies without anything to protect them. Or that's how it should have been, but is seemed like her attack was stopping at something else. Cancelling her attack, Cinder was able to see what was going on. That shield arm of Pyrrha's Blade had glowing lines, similar to her maiden powers, but that should be impossible.
"Have a taste of your own attack, Revenge Strike!" And then Talos released the said attack.
"You think you can use my own power against me!" Cinder cried out in outrage, charging both palms before slapping at the counterattack which caused an explosion. Then Cinder glared at the flurry of rose petals approaching her. "Nice try, but it won't work," Cinder said before firing blasts of fire at the flurry which barely dodged them before Ruby came out of it firing Crescent Rose from beneath. Cinder shook her head as she blocked the attacks. But then she felt something slash across her back as she felt a large drain on her Aura.
"Direct hit," Roze said with a smirk as a shower of rose petals came out of Cinder's back thanks to Crescent Bloom. "Now let's get out of here," Roze shouted, but Ruby didn't need to be told that as she used her semblance again to get Roze into the flurry of rose petals and take him away from Cinder.
"Get back here, or is this the only thing you're capable of?" Cinder shouted as she formed a glass bow and several arrows to fire at the fleeing rose combo. Or she would have if she wasn't suddenly caught up in a Cyclone that came out of nowhere.
"Alright, Talos your turn," Pyrrha said from her Blade's side.
"With great pleasure," Talos said as the glowing lines of his armor glowed brighter as he lifted his arms up and the surrounding debris was gathering around his arms.
Meanwhile, the Cyclone seemed to become unstable, until Cinder was finally able to negate it. But it clearly took some effort, "This…isn't…" the woman trailed off as she took note of all the debris not just inside the remains of the tower, but all the way down from the ground gathered above Talos' arms in a crude shape of a ball.
"You believe yourself to be able to take on the weight of the world?" Talos said to Cinder in a menacing tone, "Let's see if you can even withstand the weight from Ruins of Nation!" and then he swung his arms forward as if throwing something. And the floating ball of debris flew straight at Cinder.
"I will not fall here!" Cinder shouted in defiance, "I refuse to!" And then she released all her power against the spherical mass of debris. But it seemed like Cinder wouldn't be able to destroy the large landmass. Until she realized one thing, she didn't have to, and so Cinder concentrated her power on a single point, large enough to create a hole she could fit herself through. As the ball of debris left the top of the tower and fell down below, a large flame burst from out of the ball and Cinder came through it. While she realized she didn't have to destroy the whole ball, drilling herself through the ball was still taxing.
"Blade Combo," Talos announced, earning a tired looking Cinder's attention. "Sandstorm." With that, a large cyclone appeared with sand in it. Ruby and Roze pulled their hoods on, while Talos got in front of Pyrrha who closed her eyes so she wouldn't get sand into her eyes.
Inside the sand tornado, Cinder felt a slight drain on her aura. The more she tried to resist this movement, the harder the sand hit her. No longer feeling like playing games, Cinder simply, released as big of an explosion as she could manage hoping that it would undo this unnatural phenomenon. And it did, causing everyone to look at a now thoroughly pissed Cinder whose eyes seemed to now glow with hate, but her Aura had finally begun to flicker ever so slightly. "I told you, it doesn't matter how powerful any of you are, I AM the Fall Maiden. No one else! It's my birthright," Cinder shouted out.
(End song)
"What right do you have calling that power your birthright!?" Pyrrha shouted in anger, surprising Cinder. "The maidens are chosen by whoever is last in the person's thoughts. You simply stole it for yourself," the champion added, stepping out of the cover that was Talos.
"Who do you think you are!?" Cinder shouted as she shot a fireball at Pyrrha who brought out her shield to block it. Despite her lack of Aura, she was able to stand her ground. "What!?" Something Cinder found hard to believe.
"Why are you so surprised?" Talos asked almost condescendingly. "Pyrrha never needed the maiden power, but she chose to take it anyway to keep it from the likes of you," the metal Blade added. "That might actually have succeeded, if I hadn't decided that my Driver's life is more important. But you know what? I would make that same choice over and over again, if it meant Pyrrha wouldn't have to be sacrificed!" Talos added in before giving his Driver a glance, "And I will never feel sorry for it."
Pyrrha looked like she wanted to feel angry at her Blade's selfish words, but for some reason she appreciated it. Then a golden aura formed around the Driver and a Blade.
"Shut up!" Cinder shouted as she tried to charge more magic, but then the tower shook. The Titan and the dragon Grimm had hit the tower in their clash and it was on the verge of collapse.
"Ruby! Roze! I entrust Pyrrha to you," Talos shouted as Pyrrha handed over his weapon back.
"But what will you-" Ruby's question was cut off when Talos jumped higher than he ever had. And then the tower started collapsing.
"Ruby, grab on," Roze shouted as he grabbed his Driver and ran towards Pyrrha. The champion looked strangely calm given their situation. "Pyrrha!" That shout seemed to snap her out of it and she ran with Roze who was carrying an exhausted Ruby. Despite her Aura being fully charged earlier thanks to Weiss, using her semblance the way she did put a bit of a strain on her body. As the tower had begun to topple over, Roze and Pyrrha waited until the other side was vertical enough for them to move on, and so they slid down the mostly undamaged side. Shifting their momentum from horizontal to an increasingly more vertical one. Although Roze grabbed onto Pyrrha too before using his scythe to slow their decent.
Up in the air, Cinder was slowly lowering herself towards the ground while looking at the three nuisances seemingly surviving with hatred, until she smirked. It doesn't matter, Beacon Tower has fallen. The Grimm are crawling all over the school and she was still the Fall Maiden. Her momentary feeling of triumph made her lose her concentration for the moment which made her fall backwards for the moment. Well, even if she fell the maiden powers combined with her remaining Aura would allow her to survive. And then…
"OLYMPIAN FALL!" and something hit her stomach and forced her to fall down in high speed.
Down below, Ruby, Pyrrha and Roze had just made it down the fallen pillar to the base of the tower. "We should go now," Roze said, but was stopped by Pyrrha who had a sad smile.
"He will be back soon," Pyrrha said and before either Ruby or Roze could query as to who, something heavy fell into the middle of what used to be the lobby of Beacon Tower. After the dust had settled, they saw it was Talos and Cinder. The latter being still alive despite the fall.
But as everyone, including the woman herself saw clearly what had happened, they knew she wouldn't be long of this world. Case and point, Talos' spear had pierced her stomach. and it looked like it was barely scraping the bottom of her ribcage.
"No-" Cinder tried to deny but she coughed and hacked blood, which made Ruby squeamish.
"You don't have to watch Ruby," Roze said as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"…No," Ruby said as she looked at Cinder who looked to be in denial of her situation. "I'll have to get used to this one day," the little red reaper said. As much as she knew Cinder was the bad guy here, the desperation and fear in her eyes made Ruby feel bad.
"One should never get used to this," Roze said as he wrapped an arm around his Driver for comfort.
Pyrrha wasn't faring much better, but instead of sorrow, she felt pity. Pity that someone's life choices ultimately led to this.
Talos looked down on Cinder, still clutching his spear like the false maiden could even move anymore. "It's over now," the Blade said with a tone of finality, "Any last words?"
Cinder looked at the metal Blade with hatred in her glowing eyes which looked nothing more than mere embers compared to blazing inferno they were before. The soon to be former maiden raised her palm and formed what looked like a glowing glass spike pointing at Talos' body.
Not taking chances the metal Blade raised his shield to cover his Core Crystal, "Is this how you plan to spend your final moments?" Talos asked feeling pity for this poor fool.
But then, Cinder smirked sinisterly and fired the spike.
A gasp was heard and a surge of pain filled Talos. But this surge, wasn't simple pain. "No." Talos said as she turned his head to see that the spike had shot clean through the left side of Pyrrha's torso. "No! Pyrrha!" Talos shouted as he heard hacking from Cinder. Turning to the woman, Talos saw that she was attempting to laugh at her accomplishment. Overcome by rage, Talos yelled in anger and yanked the spear to fully open Cinder's torso. The false maiden died with Pyrrha's look of shock and fear being the last thing she saw. "Pyrrha! No!" Talos shouted out. Pyrrha no longer had Aura and she was already slightly battered from the rest of the fight, despite Talos' best efforts.
"Talos," Pyrrha said as she slumped down with a fearful look.
"Stay with me Pyrrha," Talos said to his Driver who was already losing blood.
"J-Jaune," Pyrrha stammered clearly delirious.
"Dammit! Ruby, call someone to help," Talos shouted as a loud impact was heard from outside.
"Ruby's scroll is out of battery, but Weiss was nearby so perhaps we can get her here to heal Pyrrha," Roze offered back. "Ruby, go and find Weiss, she should still be nearby," Roze shouted, but didn't hear an answer. "Ruby!" Roze tried again, turning around only to see an uncomprehending look on his Driver's face.
"Dammit, Ruby!" Talos shouted at the girl.
"Maybe this will help," Roze said as he quickly forced his scythe into Ruby's hand and establishing affinity link, Ruby should wake up with this.
"Dammit, we're losing her!" Talos shouted as Pyrrha's eyes were closing from shock.
And that was when Roze's plan worked and Ruby woke up. Then Ruby screamed and a silver light burst out of her eyes.
"What is this!?" Talos shouted as he and Pyrrha were devoured by the blinding light. Roze also screamed while clutching his own eyes in pain. Right above them, the Titan and the dragon had charged from the opposite sides of the building, straight into the silver light.
AN: And the climax is done! Adam isn't dead, but he was severely injured. Despite that, Yang took a cut for Blake, and only nearly lost her arm. Pyrrha was almost killed, but now she's saved... oh wait!
The next chapter will be an epilogue to vol 3 events. And if anyone is wondering how Perceval was able to harm Yang despite her aura being recharged, one of Perceval's skills is an insta-kill against humanoids, but here instead of simply killing Yang, it shattered her Aura.
And with all that done. Time to hide from Arkos fans. Toodles!