Halo, it's time for the newest chapter. Enjoy the reading.
The alarm was sounding loudly in the academy, the soldiers and staff were hurrying up and down in their great effort, so much so that they were almost unaware of the fight that would soon develop in one of the corridors.
- Give up, - Jaune warned Adam, who stood in front of them like a statue scrutinizing them. - we are outnumbered you!
- No, - Adam just smiled and reached for his katana. - this is perfect. - He grabbed the hilt of his sword, but didn't pull it out, didn't attack and didn't move.
Ren and Nora just looked at each other in confusion, before Nora transformed her hammer into a grenade launcher and immediately opened fire, while Ren fired the blades of his weapon and hooked it into the two walls so that, using the wire tied to them, he could jump towards Adam.
Adam only drew his sword, Wilt, in the blink of an eye, when Nora's heart grenade, emitting pink smoke, was already in front of his nose and as soon as the blade and the grenade met, the latter exploded and the sword absorbed the force of the explosion.
Adam raised the scabbard of his sword, Blush, pointed it at Ren, who was leaping towards him, and fired. Ren fell to the ground as a result of the shot, but Nora was already there, she reformed her hammer and charged at Adam.
Adam, empowered by his sword and the absorbed power from the earlier blast, was strong enough to knock back Nora's hammer, but Ren was already on his feet to fight, but Adam parried his blows with his katana and fired again with Blush, causing him to fall back again.
Next, Lance joined in, his sword, Golden Sting and Wilt met each other and Lance gained the upper hand, forcing Adam to retreat, who, despite his endurance and strength, couldn't break through Lance's defenses and was forced further and further back.
Oscar, taking the opportunity while Adam was completely distracted by the fight, tried to sneak in to get the Lantern. As the two blades clashed non-stop, Oscar's heart beat so violently, he almost held his breath. The Lamp's hanging on Adam's belt was only an arm's length away, but one quick and decisive movement was enough to catch and get it.
- Hey! - Adam noticed it too late and this second of inattention was enough for Lance to hit him on the head with his shield and knock him back.
- Run! - Lance turned back. - I'll hold him up!
In his anger, Adam tried to break through Lance's defenses again, but he couldn't break through his shield, his sword, much less his armor. Seeing that the others, along with the Lamp, became more and more angrier.
Lance threw another blow at him, which he dodged and somersaulted under his shield, turning back to take another shot at him with Blush, which didn't do much damage, but filled him with a good feeling and he continued running towards the others.
The JNR team, Mike and Oscar with the Lamp, rushed towards the exit, but suddenly a pile of arrows pierced their path. As they looked up at the ceiling where they saw nothing, they heard a thump between them and a sixth person appeared.
- Mandy...! - was all Mike could say as the fox faunus girl slashed Ren and Nora with both of her daggers at the same time, causing them to fall to the ground, but Jaune reacted quickly and slashed at her with his sword, but in a flash, she disappeared, but, appeared behind and above Jaune a moment later and kicked him in the back of the head.
As she aimed at Oscar, a purple force field appeared around him and a flaming boxing glove swooped towards her, which she only dodged at the last second.
- I was hoping we could talk. - Mike tried to talk to his old friend.
- We have nothing to talk about anymore! - Mandy made up her mind as she teleported again.
Mike knew Mandy's tactics, so he knew exactly where she was going to appear, so he charged What the Heck with Gravity Dust and shot another boxing glove in front of him, specifically Mandy, which knocked her back several meters.
- Nice! - Jaune and the rest of the JNR team also acknowledged Mike's performance, but their joy only lasted until Adam appeared at the end of the corridor, running towards them with all his might.
Nora was the first to attack with her hammer, but Adam ducked out of her way and ran past her, followed by Jaune, who, with his shield pointed forward, prepared to fire a Gravity Dust shot, but Adam only somersaulted out of range, then got back on his feet and continued on his way. Ren was the next to shoot at him with his weapon's machine guns, but he absorbed the shots with Wilt, pinned him and ran towards Oscar and when he struck him, he was protected by a purple force field.
Adam looked to the side and an electric projectile flew towards him, which he quickly absorbed with Wilt and shot back at Mike with a small red energy beam, causing him to fall to the ground and the force field around Oscar turned off.
Adam towered at Oscar, but the boy didn't give up without a fight, he took out Ozpin's cane and prepared for a fight.
- Stop! - A group of Atlas soldiers appeared from one of the corridors and pointed their guns, then opened fire on Adam, who blocked the shots with Wilt.
Oscar, taking the opportunity, ran away and headed towards another, empty corridor, followed by Mike, who was back on his feet.
The JNR team was no better either, as another team of soldiers pointed a weapon at them as well.
- We have to go! - Jaune gave the order as JNR ran towards another corridor.
Lance ran to catch up with Adam, who proved to be much faster and easily passed him, but to his surprise, he met Mandy, who they only exchanged a pointed look with.
- You! - Lance's long-forgotten anger towards his former teammate now surfaced.
Unfortunately, they didn't have a chance for a serious duel or a conversation, because Mandy quickly teleported away and another batch of Atlas soldiers appeared behind Lance, which forced him to run away.
Time was pressing for Team RWBY and the others. With each passing second, the general gets closer to obtaining the Staff of Creation, which he can use to leave Mantle here.
- I still can't believe that the general is doing this! - Yang just smashed two robots.
- You better believe it, Blondie, I f*cking told you in advance! - Roman blew up a door with Melodic Cludgel. - As soon as it's not in his interest to help others, he'll leave them.
- You did well not to trust him. - Ruby was disappointed to be let down by another role model.
- The most important thing is to gather the others and get the hell out here! - Blake focused on the present.
- Right, - Ruby also jumped back. - Weiss and I are going to get the Winter Maiden, until then you find a way out.
- That sounds good, - Roman nodded confidently, but pointed at his girlfriend. - Neo, go with them and help them. - Neo just nodded as she stood next to Ruby. - Don't worry, Little Red, we'll find a way out.
The battle for the Winter Maiden began, Genna threw a smoke grenade, the contents of which quickly covered the room, but thanks to her helmet, it didn't impair her vision.
Penny, who was also not bothered by the smoke, immediately attacked Cinder, but she only waited for that, her left, Grimm hand caught the robot girl's hand and slammed her against the wall.
To get rid of the smoke, Winter summoned a rune that threw the still smoking grenade into the corridor and summoned a mass of ice birds that blew away the smoke with their wing beats and stirred up a great windstorm.
Taking advantage of her inattention, Genna opened fire on her, but Winter expected this and summoned a wall of ice in front of her, which protected her from Genna's shots.
Winter saw a fireball out of the corner of her eye, which she had to dodge, but Genna was already there behind her, before Winter took out her sword and slashed at the Bounty Huntress, who shielded it with the armor on her wrist, then took out her brushcutter and continued the fight.
Cinder also summoned her black glass swords to defeat Winter with Genna, but she held her own against both opponents.
- You Atlas elites are all the same! - Cinder's eyes lit up, both from anger and magic, but Winter split her sword and while holding Genna's knife with one, she swung at Cinder with the other, which she then parried.
Winter started backing away and seeing how much Cinder was enjoying the fight, Genna decided to stay behind.
- You think that gaining power means that it will be yours forever?! - Cinder wildly and aggressively pushed Winter further and further back. - But that will only make the others hungrier! - Finally, Cinder rolled over and slammed Winter against the wall.
Genna, seeing a sword fly towards Cinder, quickly opened fire with her rifle, knocking it aside and it fell to the ground. The sword came from Penny, who Genna pointed her weapon at.
- And I'm tired of starving. - Cinder confidently noted that Genna had started a fight with Penny and opened fire on her.
Penny blocked the barrage of bullets with her swords, but removed two from the pile and directed them at Genna. The Bounty Huntress dropped her rifle as if she had known before, threw herself to the ground in front of the swords and somersaulted under the other swords and immediately looked up, her right fist was held towards Penny as she pressed a button on her arm plate with her right hand which caused a flamethrower to come out and blew fire into Penny's face causing her to scream and fall backwards and the swords to the ground.
Genna didn't stop, she ran towards the girl, punched her twice in the face, then kneed her in the stomach, but on the next blow she caught her hand and pushed her back with one blow, but Genna stayed on her feet.
Penny gathered her swords again, this time swinging them lower so that Genna wouldn't get under them again and launched at least four at her.
The Bounty Huntress quickly dodged them, but when that didn't work, her armor protected her and rolled a grenade towards the girl, who just jumped aside from the explosive, but Genna waited for that again, because she picked up her rifle again and shot at the ceiling, more precisely, on the lamp that fell towards Penny.
To protect herself from the falling lamp, Penny raised her swords towards her, leaving herself vulnerable to Genna's shots and falling to the ground.
- Hm, - Cinder was satisfied with Genna's performance. - not bad.
- Nox naj fain. - Genna answered, which Cinder didn't understand, but by nodding towards Winter behind her, she guessed something.
Winter was back on her feet and ready to fight Cinder, who gladly took on the Atlas elite again. Winter moved quickly and nimbly while Cinder attacked wildly and aggressively. Cinder dodged a blow and managed to kick Winter in the face, who staggered back but responded with a counterattack but Cinder dodged it by jumping high.
Winter backed up and stood in front of Maiden's room, while Penny also stood up, unfazed by the many bullet wounds, and stood next to Winter, indicating that they would protect the Maiden together.
Genna was ready to work with Cinder to take care of the two guards slowly but surely, but Cinder was running out of patience. She roared angrily, her only remaining eye practically was on fire and launched herself at Winter and Penny with such force that they didn't even have a chance to react as she grabbed both of them by the neck of their clothes and sent them straight towards the wall, breaking through it.
- With muidik against the duva. - Genna just shook her head as she approached the old woman in the pod. - Ami emligo bari teme?
Cinder, after breaking through the wall outside the academy, flew several kilometers high and held Winter and Penny in her hands, who didn't let themself and from their resistance, Cinder startet to spinning and their height decreased. At one point, Cinder let go of Winter, who began to fall.
She angrily stared at Penny, who was the last obstacle between her and her long-desired power, and angrily threw her away, then summoned a flaming, black glass sword, which she shot at the robot girl.
Penny, who in the meantime had turned on her rocket boots, which allowed her to fly, caught the flaming sword, but it exploded straight into her face, causing her to fall, but with a somersault, she turned her rocket boots back on and headed towards Cinder again, stopping in front of her.
- I've come too far for a stupid toy stop me! - Cinder raged, fire radiating from her eye, both hands and feet, but an icy projectile hit her in the side and she started to fall, but she kept her strength and flew again.
It was Winter who charged at her riding on the back of an ice Manticore and Cinder launched a fire strike, but Winter dodged and shot another ice strike at her, which Cinder returned with a fire shot.
Meanwhile, Penny looked at Winter from behind Cinder and they both knew that they were going to deal a joint blow to the Maiden. Winter went at her with her Manticore, then Penny attacked her with her swords, then Winter seemed to shoot her down for good with her Manticore's ice shot.
Genna, who was just looking over the broken wall and enjoying the show, saw that Cinder was in bad situation, so she aimed her rifle at Winter's head, but before she could pull the trigger, she heard Cinder's angry scream and lowered her rifle when she saw as Cinder charged like a flaming cannonball towards Winter, who lead her Manticore towards her and prepared to deliver another shot of ice at her.
Cinder was cunning, she dodged the Manticore at the last moment and cut off its head, which caused it to vaporize, and its passenger, Winter, began to fall into the depths, and to make sure that she didn't survive, Cinder even shot a fireball at her, which hit her and without the protection of her aura, it'd have killed her. A white flash appeared around her.
Penny knew very well that Winter's aura was depleted, she couldn't summon and if she fell to the ground like that, she would surely die. She was faced with a serious dilemma, since Cinder had already flown to get Winter Maiden's power and it was her job to prevent that, but also Winter's life was in her hands and she couldn't let her die because of her.
She didn't think much and flew after Winter, switching to full speed, she caught the falling woman at the last moment and then headed towards the Maiden's room again.
- What are you doing?! - Winter said angrily to Penny. - My life doesn't matter!
- I disagree with that. - Penny objected.
In Atlas, the deadly pursuit continued, Mike and Oscar, who had the Lamp, fled from Adam.
- We are escaping in an endless labyrinth, while a crazy psycho's chasing us! - Mike looked back in horror at Adam, who didn't break away from them. - This was one of my nightmares!
- Just don't look back! - Oscar put all his strength into running, but in vain, Adam was much faster and like a shadow, he slipped past them and stood in front of them like a rock wall.
They both stopped, Oscar pointing Ozpin's cane forward and Mike preparing to use What the Heck while they started to back away.
Oscar attacked first, he had improved a lot in recent months, but he didn't have much of a chance against Adam, three or four strikes and he was already on the ground. No matter what Mike shot with What the Heck, Adam absorbed it with Wilt and he quickly found himself on the ground.
Adam stood over them, a cruel and sadistic grin on his face, having longed to dip Wilt into human flesh for a very long time.
- Is this what you want?! - Mike took the Lamp from Oscar and got up to run away, at least getting this madman away from the boy. - Then come and... - BOOM, an exploding arrow hit him, causing him to fall backwards and a yellow flash appeared around him, dropping the Lamp, which rolled to Adam's feet and he picked up.
- With great pleasure. - Adam hung the Lamp back on his belt and turned back to Oscar. - Now...
- Adam! - Mandy said to Adam, who looked up as if he had been interrupted while having fun. - We have to hurry!
Adam angrily put away his katana, grabbed Mandy's shoulder, with whom they disappeared in a flash.
The JNR team and Lance were still trying to shake off the soldiers, but they were much more persistent than they thought.
- Hurry up! - Jaune said. - We have to shake them off!
Unfortunately, one corridor was like the other and it would have been impossible to tell which was the right way, some of them had even more soldiers coming, so the team had to change direction quickly.
- Oscar, Mike! - Finally, after long minutes that seemed like hours, they finally found their two lost friends.
- Are you all right?! - Lance checked quickly.
- I am, - Oscar stood up. - but Mike needs help.
- Come on! - Lance helped Mike up, who could only walk by leaning on him.
- They took it... - Mike breathed weakly.
- Huh? - Lance turned to his teammate.
- The Lamp... - Mike groaned.
- Adam and that girl appeared. - Oscar was also ashamed for letting them take the relic from them. - We tried to fight, but they were much stronger.
- Don't worry. - Jaune and the others weren't mad at him. - Let's just get out of here.
After a few minutes of running, they managed to find shelter in one of the training rooms.
- We weren't ready to be Hunters. - Ren wondered.
- That's not true! - Nora objected.
- Then why don't we have the relic?! - Ren doubted both himself and his companions.
- Hey, - Lance tried to cheer him up. - if you want to blame someone for this, it's General Ironwood! He is the one who isn't ready to protect this kingdom!
- Despite it, - Unfortunately, it didn't work out and Ren started listing angrily. - he has the Staff, Salem has the Lamp and here we are with empty hands!
- Ren, calm down! - Jaune stood up to calm his teammate down.
- We still have to get out of here. - Mike changed the subject.
- Hello, can anyone hear me? - Pietro's voice could be heard through Jaune's Scroll.
- Our scrolls?! - Jaune was surprised that the Scrolls were working again. - Doc?
- The most brilliant mind in Atlas! - Maria laughed out loud.
- Maria, what are you doing?! - Nora also barely understood what was going on here.
- We got a getaway plane. We have to get out of here. Where are you?
- On the training ground. - Nora explained. - We managed to escape from some soldiers, but at any time... - And just then the conversation was interrupted by the sound of gunfire.
- Here they are! - The soldiers found them, so the team had to flee.
- We're on our way, - Yang spoke through the Scroll. - just hold on!
Lance modified his shield to protect his entire body from the bullets and stood behind Mike. Jaune also activated the force field on his shield and hid behind with his team and they returned fire.
- Oscar?! - Jaune was the first to notice that there were one less. - Oscar?!
- I'm sorry, - Oscar joined the conversation through the Scroll. - but you must go without me!
- Are you crazy?! - Lance was more angry than worried. - If you want to get the Lamp back alone...
- I'm not going for the Lantern. - Oscar interrupted.
- Then what are you doing?! - Jaune asked, while he got pushed further back.
- I have to do something, alone! If I succeed, there will still be hope, but if I fail... - Oscar was stubborn and turned off his Scroll.
Oscar had no idea if what he was planning was a good idea, much less his chances of survival, but he knew if he didn't, he would regret for the rest of his life that he had the chance to save Atlas and Mantle, but he didn't try.
As soon as he entered the elevator and pressed the button that made it close and start going down, he knew there was no going back.
He had to talk to the general.
As the elevator descended to the Vault of the Winter Maiden, he found Ironwood just standing there in silence, staring at the door of the Vault and thinking about the rightness of his decision.
- Winter, - The general sighed, but he didn't look at Oscar yet and he clearly expected the new Winter to be Maiden. - thank you. I know it must have been difficult... since Fria... - As soon as he turned around and saw that it wasn't Winter, but Oscar coming down the lift, his face hardened. Oscar's face was so stern and disappointed that the general couldn't tell if it was Oscar or Ozpin who had returned. - And... who am I lucky to talk to?
- It's still just me. - Oscar answered, leaning on Ozpin's cane and heading towards the general.
- It was a smart decision not to bring the Lamp here. - Ironwood admitted. - Now I wouldn't trust myself either.
- Trust is what I hope to fix. - Oscar stopped in front of the general. - I believe that we can still solve all this, but only together. - He paused and looked at Ironwood as a friend. - Please.
- Do you want to fight me? - Ironwood got to the point.
- No. - Oscar shook his head. - This is what she wants. - He raised his cane and examined it carefully. - Maybe because of Oz, but holding this calms me when I'm scared. - He folded it and adjusted it to the back of his belt.
- Do you still think I'm afraid? - Ironwood refused to admit he was afraid. He wanted to show himself as a strong man who knew exactly what he was doing.
- We are all afraid. - Oscar saw through him. - But what we do when fear comes and takes...
- That's easy to say! - Ironwood angrily interrupted him and began circling the boy. - You can think what you want about me, but the fact is that I was right all along! Just like in Beacon, but Ozpin didn't listen to me! If we'd gone out of our way to find the people of Salem, Beacon might still be ours! And now it's happening again! The moment I softened and laid down the protection, Salem appeared! - Finally he stopped and still looked sternly at the boy.
- If you leave Mantle now, - Oscar met the general's gaze. - thereby you're throwing away our best chance to unite the world. Would you give up Remnant, leaving millions to fend for themselves, for just a few could survive?! What kind of...
- Philosophical and moral triumph is worthless if Salem wins! - Ironwood was starting to lose patience.
- Listen to me! - Oscar didn't give up.
- No, you listen to me! - Ironwood didn't even want to hear it and started walking towards him slowly, before Oscar started backing away in fear. - I'm tired of others not being able to see the whole thing through and only getting in the way of the right decision! Robyn, the Council, the kingdom, and even you! - Oscar reached the edge of the chamber and when he looked down he saw endless darkness below him.
- Then you're just as dangerous as she, James. - Oscar has already realized that the general no longer listens to anyone and can't say anything to convince him.
- James. - Ironwood listened for a long time, looked at the ground, then back at Oscar. - My friends call me that. For you, - He took out one of his pistols and pointed it at him. - it's General.
Bang
The pistol shot echoed loudly in the Vault and the General saw a green flash appear around Oscar before he fell into endless darkness.
He knew very well that he couldn't turn back, he knew that his soul was damned from here forever and he knew that he could make this sacrifice.
- It was a dilo stunt be-fo-wah. - Genna didn't hide her surprise, since Cinder single-handedly defeated one of the strongest Huntress of Atlas and fought with the secret weapon. - She's yours.
- That's right. It's mine. - With a maniacal grin and a predatory look, Cinder headed towards the pod in which Winter Maiden was. They opened the pod and saw the old woman who was just waking up. - You had your time in the shine, but I'm afraid your time is up now.
- Yes, - Fria, not knowing whether she was awake now or just the imagination of her old and tired mind was playing with her, didn't even look at Cinder. - I waited here. I don't even know since when. But still... what was I waiting for?
- For me. - Cinder's eye started to burn with desire and the Grimm reached towards Fria with her arm, but she caught it and held it surprisingly strong.
- No. - Fria, as someone who's perfectly aware of what is happening, didn't allow Cinder to touch her.
- Do ya need azutipe? - Genna laughed that after Cinder defeated Winter and Penny, she had a problem with a frail old woman.
- Shut up! - Cinder didn't even want to hear Genna's rejoicing.
- I have a task to complete. - Fria's eyes glowed blue before Cinder pulled the Grimm's arm out of her hand and summoned a glass dagger into it, with which she wanted to finish off the old woman, but it pushed her back with an icy projectile.
- Lem-me... - She also pushed Genna back, next to Cinder and none of them understood how this old woman could still have so much strength.
When they recognized, a huge ice tornado appeared in the middle of the room, growing ever larger, freezing everything it touched, as well as sending several pieces of furniture and objects flying towards them, which they had to avoid.
The tornado had grown to such a size that it couldn't stay in the room, so it broke the ceiling and the windows.
- Can ya do that?! - Genna stood next to Cinder, didn't move and waited. - So? - She nudged Cinder.
- What?! - Cinder looked at him angrily.
- Akane ame taves? - Genna asked, but Cinder was already very tired of Genna's incomprehensible speech.
- Talk sensibly! - Her eye was burning with anger. - I don't understand a f*cking word you say! You're driving me crazy!
- Aah asked what should we do now?! - Genna answered in a normal way this time.
- How do I know?!
- Ya're the great Maiden expert! - Interesting, but Genna spoke normally from then on.
- I only know how to absorb their power!
- Then absorb her already!
- I have to touch her for that!
- Excuses. - Genna just shook her head.
- Hey, that magic power will be mine! - Cinder nailed it.
- Magic pow-ah, ya say? - Genna stroked his helmet and breastplate.
- Now what... - Cinder couldn't even finish before Genna put down the backpack-like containers and entered the ice tornado and to her surprise, her armor protected her from the ice.
- No. - Winter knew as soon as she saw the huge ice tornado that Fria didn't have much left.
- What is that?! - Penny could hardly believe her eyes.
- This is the full power of a fully developed Maiden. - Winter doesn't even remember the last time she saw it. She quickly headed for the tornado, but as soon as she reached it, it burned her gloves and froze her fingers. - Ouch, it's too cold! We have to do something!
Penny knew well that as a robot she wasn't affected by the cold, so she jumped into the tornado without caring about her health.
- Penny! - Winter tried to shout after him in vain.
Even though the wind, snow, and ice were blowing hard, it didn't stop Penny from going to Fria, one of her legs was frozen, but she broke out of it with her rocket boots and found Fria. Before she could touch her, a shadow caught her from the side and Genna jumped on her to knock her to the ground.
Falling on her back, Penny was unable to summon her swords and struggled helplessly to dislodge the Bounty Huntress, who pinned both of her legs down with one of her legs, preventing her from activating her rocket boots, she pressed her shoulder to the ground and Penny was completely helpless.
Genna knew exactly how to disarm Penny and a short blade appeared on her left gauntlet, which she was about to use to finish her off, but an ice projectile knocked her off the robot girl and out of the ice tornado from behind.
Genna fell out, her armor, despite being full of water from the suddenly frozen steam, was unharmed.
- Where's the Maiden? - Cinder displeasedly looked at the Bounty Huntress, who clearly returned empty-handed.
- Ya can go en too if ya want! - Genna didn't appreciate her condescending tone. It was no longer an option for anyone to enter the tornado, because a wall of ice rose around it. - They-yur's no way we can...
- IT'S MINE! - Cinder, in her crazy way, concentrated a huge fireball in her two hands to break through the ice wall.
- ...break through.
The JNR and LLMM team made it to the landing field, where the others were already waiting for them in a plane. Yang, Blake, and Roman were there, clearing the area of robots and soldiers, Maria sitting in the cockpit, Pietro next to her.
They had to run along a long, straight road that was guarded by soldiers and planes.
Nora opened the way with her grenade launcher and caused enough confusion that Jaune, Ren, and Lance made their way through the soldiers and robots by surprise.
Mike was left behind as his aura was depleted during the fight with Mandy and Adam, but he was still able to provide support as he placed a handful of Fire Dust into What the Heck to shoot down a plane with firebombs, then followed the others.
Nora also shot down two more planes with her grenade launcher and the team was halfway towards the others when three Paladins fell from the sky. One blocked the team's path, and two approached from behind.
Yang and Roman opened fire on the nearest Paladin, but were nervous to note that they were more advanced models than the ones they had fought in Beacon and even had energy shields.
- Nora! - Jaune noticed the shield generator on the Paladin's side.
- I see! - Nora jumped on top of Jaune's shield, who used the Gravity Dust in it to launch her towards the Paladin to shatter its shield generator with one powerful blow.
Jaune, Lance, and Ren then attacked the giant robot together. Lance and Jaune approached the robot from two sides with their shields raised, so they were covered by its cannon and slashed and hit hard with their swords, forcing it to retreat.
Meanwhile, Ren fired the blades of his submachine gun and hooked it into the side of the machine and yanked himself onto the Paladin, opened the cockpit, knocked the soldier down and threw him to the ground, then jumped off the machine.
While they were fighting, Mike charged What the Heck with Lightning Dust in the distance and fired it at Nora, who got stronger and easily smashed the empty Paladin with her hammer, making way for the plane.
- Watch out! - She shouted to Mike, who was dangerously approached by the other two Paladins.
Mike tried to escape, but the Paladins fired missiles into the air and then crashed into the ground, right around Mike. The huge explosion pushed the others back and they couldn't see anything. There was no sign of Mike, only the shattered, charred remains of What the Heck rolled out of the cloud of smoke.
- MIKE! - Lance immediately wanted to run back for his friend, but Ren and Jaune grabbed him and began to drag him to the plane.
- It's too late! - Ren was sure that Mike was dead. - There's nothing to do!
- I'm sorry. - Nora was sad for Mike, as they lost a friend.
- What happened?! - Yang saw that the boys could hardly drag Lance back to the plane.
- Mike! - Lance lowered his head and finally boarded the plane, which was then launched.
- What happened to Mike? - Blake noticed that there were two less of them. - And with Oscar?
- Oscar stayed behind to talk to the general. - Jaune explained. - He said don't wait for him.
- And Mike... - Lance took off his helmet and you could see his teary face.
- He was hit by a pile of missiles. - Ren finished, and a shocked and horrified silence fell on the plane.
- The young ones die, - Maria was also sad to hear the news and Pietro took her hand. - while the old ones have to keep living.
Penny felt a huge sense of relief after Fria pushed Genna off of her. Something bothered her about the Bounty huntress, as she knew several times in advance how to defeat her during the fight. But now was no time to worry about Genna, she had to reach Fria before she overextend herself with her power.
She reached the center of the tornado, where Fria was floating, not caring about anything but putting up the strongest defense around her. Penny touched her leg, which brought her back in the present almost immediately.
- Are you feeling well? - Penny worriedly looked up at Fria, who barely remembered how she got here.
- I have a task to complete. - Answered Fria. - My mission was to protect the power of Winter Maiden until I was ready. I'm afraid, I ran out of time, - She smiled with relief. - but you can tell James I'm ready.
- Ma'am, if you do that... - Penny began worriedly, but Fria interrupted her.
- I'm going to die. - Fria took a deep breath and smiled at Penny. - I know I have a serious problem with my memory, but I will remember this. - Penny didn't say anything, she just stared at her sadly, as the wind and the snowstorm started to subside and Fria also descended to the ground, but Penny caught her and held her. She looked around the room turned into an ice cave and there was no one there, it was quiet and peaceful. - What is your name?
- Penny, ma'am.
- Penny... - Fria smiled gently at the girl. - are you the chosen one? - Penny looked around worriedly, it's clear that Fria wants to give her this power, but her task is that Winter has to get it.
- I...
- You remind me to my sister, Sylvi. I don't know if I've mentioned it before.
- Yes, ma'am, you mentioned.
Suddenly, the ice wall broke and Cinder jumped through it, her eyes full of power madness and anger.
- SHE'S MINE! - Her Grimm arm reached and extended out to grab Fria, but a cut stopped it and Cinder screamed in pain.
- No... - Winter was the one who appeared at the last moment and sadly realized that she was late, Fria was lying there, in Penny's arms, dead.
She didn't have much time to think, because a bullet flew by her face and she raised her head to see that Genna had also climbed through the hole Cinder had made and opened fire on her. Knowing that she had no aura left to protect her, Winter put all her strength into a defense to deflect Genna's shots.
Meanwhile, Cinder, who was in great agony after Winter cut off the Grimm's arm, which grew back, but in excruciating pain. She angrily glared at Winter, who was pushed further back by Genna's shots, but the Bounty Huntress ran out of ammunition and Winter, taking the opportunity, tried to strike at her now, but Cinder was faster, she summoned a sword that she threw at Winter, but she also defended it.
Cinder didn't give up, she summoned more and more swords and slashed them all at Winter, who was forced to retreat again and suffered several hits. Since Winter no longer had aura, her clothes were torn in several places, she began to bleed and experienced each blow as serious pain, but she persevered and tried to fight Cinder back with all her strength.
Unfortunately, she didn't last long, Winter was bleeding from a dozen wounds, her left eye was swollen shut, her long, white hair came undone from its bun and fell weakly to the ground.
- Ya're 'unna enjoy this a little more than ya should. - Genna reloaded her rifle as Cinder smugly stood with a black glass dagger at Winter to execute her.
Suddenly, a few snowflakes flew towards them and they both looked in the direction it came from, then reluctantly realized that another blizzard had come to life in the room, the source of it wasn't Fria, but Penny, who opened her green glowing eyes, a clear sign of it was that she became the Winter Maiden.
Cinder's eye burned with rage and jealousy and she looked at Penny like a thief who had taken what was hers.
- We'll deal with her together. - Genna was confident and aimed her rifle at Penny, as she knew exactly how to fight her. She wasn't afraid of Penny, even with her new powers.
- Winter! - Suddenly, Weiss arrived in the room, even her heart skipped a beat after seeing the condition of her sister.
- Look, - Genna just laughed at the sight of Weiss, Ruby and Neo. - a group of children... - Genna's words stopped when she saw that Cinder's face was full of terror.
Genna opened fire, but Neo protected the girls with Hush, then Cinder summoned two fireballs in her hands in desperation, but Ruby's Silver Eye flashed, causing her to panic and tucking her ears and tail, she ran out of the hole she had blown in shame and flew away.
- What are ya doing?! - Genna angrily noted that Cinder ran away in such a cowardly way. - Stand 'n fight! Stand 'n fight!
In vain, Cinder concentrated with every nerve to save her life, as she remembered well what happened to her in Beacon and Haven, when she had to endure the power of Ruby's Silver Eye. She didn't want to lose any more limbs and body parts.
Genna was left alone against Penny, Ruby, Weiss and Neo. She didn't panic, gripped and aimed her rifle to open fire on Penny, who dodged the bullets with a huge gust of wind.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ruby coming towards her and preparing to strike her down with her scythe, but Genna blocked it with her rifle and tried to land a blow on the girl with her rifle-butt, but Ruby was faster and got behind her.
- San sigalo, Rosebud, but ya also have to be zoralo.
- What the hell?! - Ruby just shook her head in confusion, since she didn't understand a single word of what Genna said, but she didn't have much time to think about it, because she dodged another blow when Weiss, who had summoned the giant ice knight during that time, directed it towards her and with her broadsword it slammed Genna against the wall.
The Bounty Huntress stayed on her feet, but she didn't have much time to gather herself because Neo appeared and kicked her in the side, causing her to stagger back, then Neo took a few more hits with Hush, Ruby struck with Crescent Rose, Penny pinned the Bounty Huntress with her swords.
Genna quickly found herself on the ground and knew that these kids were dangerous and perhaps the biggest mistake was that she underestimated them. She had to flee, but the containers on her back that she had taken off were now across the room.
She stood up, took a defensive position and saw something that could be her way out. She lunged to the side, grabbed the half-dead Winter on the ground, brought her to her knees, and put the barrel of her rifle to the back of her head.
- Don't move or Aah'll kill her! - She warned the others.
- My life is insignificant... - Winter moaned. - just get her...
- Shut up! - Genna quickly silenced her.
No one moved, the four girls and the giant knight surrounded the Bounty Huntress from five sides, who slowly walked towards the other end of the room, dragging Winter with her, until she reached her backpack, which consisted of three containers. She slowly slung her rifle over her shoulder with the strap, then with her free hand she put her pack on her back.
She finally let go of Winter and ran after Cinder towards the hole in the wall. Penny directed her swords after her, but Genna either dodged them or fended them off with either her rifle or her knife.
Weiss' giant ice knight tried to strike at her, but Genna dodged it with a somersault, then hung two grenades from her belt, pressed a button on both, and threw them away. She threw one at the knight's broadsword, causing it to explode and break its sword in two, while the other slashed at its head, causing the head to explode.
Genna kept running but was attacked from both sides by Ruby and Neo and she knew she wouldn't be able to reach the hole in time, so she turned towards Ruby, aimed her rifle and opened fire, but Ruby used her Semblance and flew away, turning into a pile of immaterial rose petals, over Genna, who was attacked by Neo in the back and almost managed to knock her down.
Genna fired again, this time at Neo, who opened Hush to dodge her shots and didn't notice that Ruby, who had flown up to the ceiling, now fell towards her and took a cut with her scythe, right into her helmet, which left a mark and causing her to fall to the ground.
She somersaulted to the side and tried to get to the hole like that, but an ice wall blocked her way, which Weiss summoned, but that didn't stop Genna, she raised the flamethrower on her arm and quickly melted the ice with it, then jumped out of the hole, down into the deep.
The others just looked out and saw that the two outermost of the three tanks on Genna's back blew fire and lifted her into the air so she could fly away.
Penny flew after her to catch her, but Genna saw this, stopped, turned to Penny, then looked down at the hole she escaped from and knew the other girls were still there. She leaned forward and fired the center canister on her back and quickly raced towards the hole.
Penny realized that it was a missile that Genna started to escape after it was fired. Penny was once again in an impossible situation, either protecting her friends or going after Genna.
This time, she didn't think much either, because with her new power she stirred up such a windstorm that it deflected the rocket from its path and crashed into the rock, accompanied by a huge explosion. By the time she turned back, Genna was gone, so she went to her friends.
- Winter! - Weiss ran over to her seriously injured sister, who wasn't pleased at all.
- What... - Winter tried to stand up, but her injuries were too severe and she just glared at her sister. - did you do?
- We saved you. - Ruby stepped forward with Neo at her side who was very displeased with Winter's ingratitude. - What will happen to her? - Meanwhile, Ruby looked at the returning Penny, who only hurried to Fria, but in vain, the old woman died.
It was the first time Penny had lost someone in her life, she couldn't bear it without crying. Ruby hurried over to her.
- Are you okay? - Ruby put her hand on her shoulder worriedly. - Penny, what happened?
- She... - Penny, although she understood what happened, found it difficult to put it into words. - died.
- No... - Winter moaned. - She has become a part of you. - Due to her injuries, she couldn't stand up, she could only sit up and lean against the wall. - I suggest that you all surrender and follow the general's orders.
The girls were silent for a while and looked at each other.
- We can't do that! - Weiss didn't want to hear about supporting Ironwood's plan, neither did the others.
- Then... - Winter was disappointed. - I suggest you run.
- No, you're hurt! - Weiss wanted to help her sister. - We won't leave you here!
- You won't leave me here! - Winter shouted angrily. - I'll give you an advantage! - She reached for the radio in her ear. - This is Special Agent Schnee, I need immediate medical help. Send reinforcements, over.
- We all have to walk our own way. - Weiss understood that as long as she refused to support the general in leaving Mantle, her sister was indeed bound by her oath and duty. She was afraid that the next time they met, they would see each other as enemies.
Suddenly, a plane could be heard coming through the hole Genna and Cinder had just escaped.
- Guys, come quickly... - It was Yang, whose voice quickly trailed off when she saw the badly injured Winter, the dead Fria and the sad looks on the others' faces.
- We have to go! - Ruby gave the order, pulling Penny along.
It didn't take long for Neo to follow them, but Weiss gave her sister one last look before following her friends.
Winter also felt sorry for her younger sister for choosing a different path, but deep inside she respected her for having the courage to do what she thought was right.
Oscar felt like he failed. He tried to persuade the general to made up his decision, but to no avail. He had already made up his mind to go down the dark path he had warned about and nothing could be done or said to make him change his mind.
He fell into the dark void and waited until he reached the bottom of the Vault, where, lacking his aura, he would shatter like an egg.
"Oscar!", he suddenly heard Ozpin's voice in his head and felt himself come back. He saw his cane was falling next to him and in his last hope he reached for it, caught it and pressed the handle on it, causing the rest of it to come out.
He pressed the handle again, concentrated hard and the gears on it began to spin and light up. As the speed of the gears increased, the light began to shine more brightly, radiating an incredible amount of magical power.
He felt that this power could still save him when the light illuminated the bottom of the Vault and nailed him hard to the ground, blasting through the floor. Oscar was still falling through smoke and dust, but he saw light. He was no longer in the Vault but under Atlas and saw that the morning sun had already begun to rise.
He blasted a hole under Atlas, which he fell through and began to fall towards Mantle.
"The one thing all living things on this planet have in common is fear," Ozpin explained in his head as they fell. "It's funny how something as common as fear is, how easily we underestimate its power. The fear of getting close to someone hides the fear of loss. Of failure. And as more and more people depend on you, those fears become more and more powerful. But the fear itself is not worth worrying about but because of who we become as a result of it. Will you be proud of that person? Will you understand why he felt the need to do what he did? ? Or is that person staring back at you in the mirror actually the thing you've been dreading since the beginning? I guess we'll all find out sooner or later."
Oscar got closer and closer to the ground and gathered all his remaining strength and due to fear, he drew a green, spherical force field around himself, which protected him from falling and hit the ground with a huge thump, stirring up a huge windstorm.
- This power... - As he stood up, he looked at himself and at the green sparks that were starting to burn out around him. - These memories... Are you back? Did you save me?
"Actually, you saved both of us.", Oscar looked up at Atlas and didn't accept defeat. He's prepared to fight on and do everything to protect the kingdom. "Oscar, I...".
- Stop! - Oscar didn't want to hear any excuses or explaining from Ozpin. - I just want to know what we can do to save Atlas.
The flash of Ruby's Silver Eye evoked the greatest fear Cinder could imagine, a sense of helplessness and weakness. She had known few people with as much power as herself and yet, that girl would be able to destroy her with a single look, with all the power she had acquired and possessed.
Right there in front of her nose, an arm's length away, was the power of Winter Maiden, the power she wanted more than anything and that cursed robot simply took it away from her.
Penny and Ruby were the source of all her anger, and flying above Atlas, she let out a mad and angry roar, then landed on one of the buildings where Mandy and Adam were already waiting for her.
- When you're done with your tantrums, - Mandy spread her arms with a confident smile and nodded towards the Lamp hanging on Adam's belt. - we could move on. Adam and I got a flying car that... - Cinder didn't say a word, she just took the Lantern. - Oh, you're welcome. - Mandy wasn't happy that Cinder just took the Lamp.
- What happened to Genna? - Adam was more interested in the whereabouts of the Bounty Huntress.
- She's... - Before Cinder could come up with a lie, she saw something in the air that she thought was Penny at first, but was actually Genna, following her. - ...there.
- Ya left meh they-yur! - Genna landed between them, it was visible on her armor that she had received some beating and there was even a scratch on her helmet. She was clearly angry and took off her helmet. - Aah patyelted ar kameled that Maiden pow-ah! - Cinder angrily clenched her fists and stared at the Bounty Huntress with piercing eye.
- Shut up. - Cinder filtered through her teeth.
- No! - Genna didn't give in, she was very upset. - Zsanav kamel, why didja natchavalt away from a group of little girls?!
- Seriously, - Mandy looked at the two women confused. - what happened? Have you acquired the power of the Maiden?
- This blindo l*bni darelted praselt away from a group of pujas like a rakli. - Cinder and the others didn't really understand what Genna said, but she clearly meant it as an insult.
- I said, - Cinder's eye started to burn and she summoned a black glass sword in her hand, which she pointed at Genna. - shut up! - Genna took out her pistol and pointed it at Cinder and the two women looked at each other in silence.
- You fought divios with those two, - Genna began as they still leveled their weapons at each other. - but as soon as the kids appeared, ya were terrified. The one with the lolo cape and the baro farkia.
- You mean Ruby? - Guessed Mandy.
- Why are ya darel from her? - Genna continued, while Cinder didn't say anything, lowered and disappeared the sword and went to the car. - Ya don't have to tell meh, - Genna also put away her pistol. - just astel somethin', - Cinder stopped, but did not turn back. - if ya leave meh in kh*l one more time, ya should rugij that Aah'll merel because then ya should darel the least from that girl.
- Keep this in mind too. - Cinder said back as she got into the flying car.
Mandy sat in the driver's seat, Adam in the first seat and Genna sat in the back next to Cinder, and as soon as they were all in, Mandy started the car, which lifted off and drove off with it.
It was a difficult night for RWBY, JNR and LLMM and the others and they should be able to rest, but unfortunately, that's still a long way off, as an ominous message came through the flight radio transmission that Pietro was able to hack.
- We detect several enemies on the radar. Does anyone else see this?
- These values cannot be real.
Our heroes only had to look through the plane's windshield to see the black storm clouds covering the morning sun and approaching Atlas, within which red lightning could be seen.
Orange lights could be seen between the dark clouds, as if small suns were floating in the storm, but as they got closer and closer and the first one approached the edge of the storm, you could see that under the orange ball of light, huge teeth were lined up that belonged to a giant Grimm whale.
On the backs of the whales there were black rocky mountains, on their sides a pair of red, spiky wings with which they flew, and around them there were so many flying Grimm that if they were higher, they could cover the sky.
On top of the very first whale's head stood Salem, with a devilish smile on her face, looking at the floating city in front of her like a predator at its prey. She knew very well that there was complete disunity within Atlas now, which she's grateful for the general and she also knew this was the perfect time to attack.
While the general and the rouge hunters fight each other, she just has to wait and pounce on the weakened winner. Everything went exactly as she had predicted to Ironwood.
Time was on her side.
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Well, the second tragedy just happened. Mike was the second one who left us. Rest in peace, Mike.
Volume 7 is over.