Ruby blinked as she was taken to a subtle, disquietingly bright plane within the Ever After. The Blacksmith spreads her hand across some of the blank space, like a hand painting across a blank canvas. Sparkles began to emanate from the mark, and it spread, extending to a great degree, before finally opening. It glows brightly with brilliant colors, and multiple images passed and flashed before Ruby's eyes, then gradually came to a stop and began moving at normal speeds. It was by then that Ruby had an idea of what was going on before her, with the Blacksmith showing her something. It wasn't simply a display; it was a demonstration.
And more worryingly, a very powerful and unforgettable warning.
"The God of Light…was not entirely pleased with how things ultimately turned out back then. He wanted things to be more orderly and peaceful, and contemplated how he was going to achieve those ends." The Blacksmith voices through the playing images, as Ruby sees a flash of the God of Light returning to the Ever After one day, significantly more powerful than when he left. "He then had an idea, one that he was now strong and resolute enough to implement. It was one that his brother would not approve of."
Ruby could see Light himself descending into the Ever After, in his more draconic form. With his extended whiskers, the tips of them began glowing like orbs, and the shining sunshine that they imitated. The shining rays briefly touched the world itself, before everything returned to normal. She couldn't see what the immediate effects of this action was, but as the Blacksmith progressed time to a degree, something seemed…eerily changed. Ruby could see the changes in motion, as several Afterans seemed to be speaking less and less about themselves in general, and were in turn becoming more methodical, and less colorful.
"This is something Light was intending to do, a long time ago." Blacksmith displayed to the quiet and wide-eyed Ruby, as many Afterans have their individuality slowly altered. Their movements lost a bit of life in them, and there didn't seem to be much of a creative spark within them anymore. A more methodical, logical positioning of their everyday lives. Their free will wasn't compromised, they're still perfectly capable of thinking for themselves. But as Ruby could see some of the Afterans barely interacting with one another, mainly going about their days without speaking to one another unless given a reason.
Several Afterans passed each other by, even exchanging pleasantries. But not because they were feeling particularly friendly, it was because it was expected of them, and it may put others at ease as they assisted each other on projects they were subtly provided by the Blacksmith. She was trying to reignite the creative spark within them that was slowly fading away, into something more logical yet blank. Their passions no longer remain; yet they'll remain perfectly content being peaceful and useful.
They've lost the inspiration within them that would drive them to be anything else. And because they were unable to muster that passion, they were far more vulnerable to being preyed upon by the Jabberwalker. The only one who was able to muster up that will in their heart was Curious Cat, and that helped them escape.
"Peaceful and useful. That's what the God of Light wanted to simplify things to. Nothing that could fuel chaos, nothing that could inspire disorder. That was the God of Light's ideal that he wanted to realize. So that nothing could ever tarnish his beautiful experiments, a reflection of his benevolence, ever again. To him, this was the correct path to take, and he was determined to see it through." There was a brief static glitch in the images, and everything briefly went black and white. "...But then, she ruined everything he envisioned, for the second time."
The Blacksmith swiped her hand as the stars in the sky shifted, and the area around her and Ruby shifted somewhat. The world around them moved, and centuries seemed to pass by before them in seconds. The sun and moon go by every several blinks, the trees grow then wither until their seeds are left for future generations. And people continuously changed throughout what was known as the Barren Era, completely without the magic that empowered and reinforced their predecessors. Then time stopped at a specific point, as the Blacksmith descended with Ruby.
"On this day, the final day of the Barren Era, Ozma and Salem dueled each other for the fate and direction of the world." Various flashes could be seen, as Ozma and Salem were exchanging blasts of magic." His power was restored in his latest incarnation, he had the Four Maidens on his side." Salem was dodging around multiple elemental attacks, with Grimm smashing through ice, shielding her from flames, stabilizing her through wind, and demolishing earth. "He did everything he could to take the war to Salem and end it once and for all…" Magic meteors were called down upon Salem, distorting the very sky, and yet with a raised hand, Salem conjured a beast of a Grimm to blast a breath of energy that destroyed them all in a single sweep. She and Ozma then flew towards each other and then clashed blades; the force of it destroying the mountain behind Ozma and completely obliterating the water of the nearby coast behind Salem.
It was a battle that completely outshined all of their other ones in sheer scale. Ozma's desperation to win was steeper than ever, and Salem was just cackling like the maddened witch the world saw her as; A Queen of Destruction was rampaging across the world to her heart's content, and the only one who could stop her was the one currently fighting her.
…Until eventually, Ozma fell before her, right on the ground before her feet, his clenched eyes and fist barely seen through all the dirt. Salem herself was tattered and battered all around, but the only expression on her face was… unexpected serenity. The relics danced around her, glowing brightly. And with a primordial boom that mere thunder could never compare to, the Brother Gods were summoned before the duo once more.
"...yet all the same, she managed to defeat him. Her inner strength grew with inspiration, while he stagnated under the light. The world was watching with bated breath, Ozma was instilled with true despair. The direction of the world was now Salem's to decide, and there was nothing he could do. There was this agonizing wait for the destruction of the world. And then…
"The world IS united…against me." Salem calmly purrs, with quiet confidence in her eyes. "You never quite specified how that unity was to be achieved; simply that it needed to be done. And nothing quite unifies better than the threat of everything being destroyed." Salem could feel the questioning gaze from Ozma, about why she would go through such an undertaking, as she calmly smiles again. "I wanted to challenge my role in the grand scheme of things…and Ozma was taking far too long. If I were to 'save' the world with much greater effectiveness than the so-called Chosen Hero…well then, what does that say about the wisdom of the Chooser?"
Once again, Salem has proven the Brothers were not infallible. Brother Light's indifference the woman grew into irritation, and she watched him with a serene yet confident smile as he was prepared to erase her right then and there…only for Brother Dark to spread his wings defensively in front of her.
"You are done imposing your will upon this world without my input, Brother. Remnant changed and thrived in this Barren state beyond all of my expectations…and I wish to see more."
"I will not see this world fall deeper into failure and make a mockery out of us both, Brother. I must make corrections at once. Move aside."
Light and Dark clashed, shifting into their draconic forms and bathing everything in light and darkness.. Day and Night itself seemed to be battling each other through their energies, Dawn and Dusk appearing to be one in the same and trying to overtake each other; the sheer scale of their power unable to be comprehended. Salem watched with her hands clasped and a quiet humming as flashes of gold were batted away with sparks of purple, while Ozma looked utterly horrified on the ground at the Brothers dueling as well. If Brother Light was victorious, he would erase the world forever. If Brother Dark was victorious, he would restore it to its former glory. For the first time, it was a very fearful and terrifying prospect for the forces of Light to be victorious, because it would mean the end of everything.
And finally, after a primordial duel, for the first time in their history…the God of Light on the ground, and the God of Darkness's paw on his neck, completely pinning him down. What's more, is that Brother Dark took more care in making sure their fight didn't accidentally damage the world around them, while Brother Light had no such restrictions, fueled by his grasp on the conflict weakening by the second. They used to be relatively equal, with Light winning their first major battle meaning he was slightly ahead.
His younger brother had long since surpassed him.
"Yield, Brother. This era will end."
For the first time in his existence, Brother Light completely lost all control over the situation…and Salem reveled in it. She had performed far beyond either Brother's expectations, and it inspired Brother Dark to not only spare the world and fight his brother for it, but to restore it on top of that to ensure that it has a future where it can develop interestingly. To see how it fares on the road ahead. Magic has been restored to Remnant, a gentle, massive, purple wave encompassing the world. Much unlike the wave of destruction he once used to erase everything before.
This wave was lighter and softer, instead revitalizing it to a greater, more potent extent than before. After that, their intervention remained indirect as agreed, through blessings, advice giving, and most of the more subtle ways of allowing the world to continue developing, without directly touching it themselves. Because it's clear to Brother Dark that they've damaged it too much already with their carelessness. But in any case, he was in favor of seeing the world's potential develop mostly on its own.
The various supernatural phenomena that came into being afterwards was one of those effects. He restored the world so that it was capable of doing such things, but none of those happenings were his own doing. This was a world of infinite possibilities, and he was content with seeing how they manifested. A mindset he came to accept, thanks to Salem. She had earned Brother Dark's respect and forgiveness, even becoming his inspiration…and that sent all of Brother Light's plans up to that era into oblivion.
Brother Light has never hated a being more than he did Salem, from that moment onwards.
Ruby blinked at this as the images soon faded away, leaving just herself and the Blacksmith. "For centuries after that adjustment, the Afterans lived suppressing themselves. It was not a spell I could undo, for Brother Light's powers have exceeded that of the Mother Tree by that point. And that suppression of individuality serves its ailing, terminal state." Blacksmith placed a hand over her chest. "Even I, serving as its avatar, was not immune to the effects. And that suppression of individuality means negativity was leaking out of them all, giving the Jabberwalker strength and corrupting it past its initial purpose. It's ensuing predation of them also went beyond necessity and quickly corroded into cruelty, to bring that negativity out more…this also allowed the extraordinarily powerful manifestation from your own negativity, the one you fought known as Pandora."
"...All of this…because the God of Light wanted creations that wouldn't go outside of his blueprints anymore." Ruby utters quietly. "...But he just tried to force them into these boxes, and take away anything that makes them themselves, so that they couldn't potentially sink into chaos and disorder. In other words….messing with his design."
"He believes he's doing all of creation a favor. It is difficult to sway the mind of someone who believes they're right." The Blacksmith paused. "...Your fellow Celestian, Juno, seems to be falling in line with these very designs. She might have received his blessing, as a potential loophole to realizing his vision for Remnant." The Blacksmith gave the wide-eyed Ruby a moment to process the implications of that, before the space around them began to glow again. "You must not let her succeed."
The Blacksmith slowly removed her fingers from Ruby's forehead, and Ruby found herself back in the real world with Jaune, Shion, and Checkers again. Entire millennia of context portrayed to her in several seconds without overwhelming her. She now knew what Brother Light did, why he did it, and the consequences it had on the Ever After. It was all coming together now. There were a few things she had to ask her grandmother, including her takes on all of this.
Then Ruby will come to a decision.
The surge of lightning crackled around the Sanctuary, with the shadows of the Dark Shroud engulfing it still. This clashing sense of light and darkness attempting to smother each other out of existence. Within it all the light was trying to burn away everything it didn't approve of, while the darkness was protective in keeping its charges under its nurturing shade.
Black Roses opposed Silver Lightning.
Ruby swiftly lashed out towards Juno and slashed her scythe diagonally, with Juno parrying it away with a blade of lightning. The sparks lashed outwards and crashed into a few spaces on the wall, leaving several scorched lines across it. She dodged to the side as a bolt of lightning briefly missed her head, and she harshly kicked her side so she could attempt to slash her again. Juno vanished from her range in a flash and appeared several feet away. Ruby lands gracefully on her feet, her crimson/silver eyes glowing through her Grimm mask.
"You're coming at me with more intensity than ever before. You're intending to end things here? So am I." Juno declares towards Ruby, who dashed in a zig zag and shot right for her, only to disappear into a burst of black petals. Juno crossed her arms in front of herself, only to suffer a speeding roundhouse to the back of her neck that sent her crashing and rolling across the ground. She retaliated with a swift black of lightning, whilst a gust of black roses shielded Ruby from the worst of the blast; the resulting explosion still sent her hurtling back into the wall.
Juno dashed towards her and attempted to stab her with a blade of lightning, with Ruby bursting into rose petals. Each petal slashes across her body, with Ruby reforming around her and kicking her in the back, then slashing her with her scythe. Juno dodges out of the way with a duck, though finds an opened cut across her cheek in the process. Juno narrows her eyes at this, turning to see Ruby lashing her claws towards her. Juno ducked over this as well, with Ruby coming down with an ax kick nearly immediately afterwards. The heel crashed onto her head, briefly disorienting her, and she was forced to move out of the way of the following scythe slash.
Both of them separated again, spiraling rose petals and crackling lightning surrounding them. The gusts blew around Ruby, the sparks zapping around Juno. Each of them is looking for an opportunity to build their momentum.
Further into the Sanctuary, Pyrrha Nikos could sense the psychic blast, the moment it was released, and manages to dodge it by tilting her head to the right, despite the sheer speed of it. She tossed up her sword and blocked the next blast fully with her shield, then allowed her magnetism to launch the sword towards her enemy at high speed.
Things have been set down like this for ten minutes, her clashing with Orella like this. The woman was putting her on the backfoot with her blessed psychic powers, and she was putting in all the stops in order to stop Pyrrha from completing her objective. Fortunately, this was also why she had help on her side in the form of Ren and Oscar.
While she was keeping Orella occupied, the duo was busy taking down the shrines that were set up all over the room, and taking in people's faith when they prayed to their believed to be savior from their troubles, thus granting her further power for herself. Crippling those shrines and destroying them would keep her from increasing her power any further, but it would not cripple it; what she gets will be hers to keep. A factor shared amongst her comrades regarding the virtues they claim to uphold.
Pyrrha called back her sword as it flew into her hands, and summarily blocked her shield again when a blast of psychic power crashed into her where she stood, jumping over the second wave before it could charge up enough. She then tosses the shield towards Orella as it ricochet's off the walls in a haphazard pattern, until it locks back onto Orella. She easily bounces it away with a blast, before she turns to Pyrrha launching herself at her with a punch. A field of psychic power formed around Orella as it blocked the punch, and summarily pushed Pyrrha away to send her flying. Her shield magnetically spiraled around her, and her feet landed on top of it to catch her.
Maneuvering around her with all this psychic power wasn't going to be easy, and landing impactful blows towards Orella was going to be even harder, but Pyrrha was determined to take on the challenge. She's conquered many before, and she'll conquer this one, too. She deflected Orella's psychic beams with careful precision, able to direct them to several working shrines and piercing through them as well. Though she wasn't able to deflect the incoming telekinetic bullet blasting her from above. She was able to instinctively block it with her shield, but her knees buckled as her foothold was destroyed, and she fell backwards while nearly being crushed by the force.
"I won't be able to break through like this…" Pyrrha allowed herself to fall backwards, before flipping herself once and landing on her feet, proceeding to dodge the next hail of psychic bullets. Electromagnetism was crackling off of her, and several sparks were going off around her head. She felt some influence, with Orella attempting to insert herself inside of her head, but she pushed them all the way. The sparks managed to reach Orella, and she was pushed back to a decent degree, her eyes widening slightly in surprise.
I can't look into her mind? Orella blinked. She wondered what Pyrrha was doing differently, then she sensed the electromagnetic pulses surging around her, particularly around her head…then she figured it out instantly as Pyrrha threw her shield towards her again. She used a psychic bubble to deflect it, sending it away. Those are esoteric electromagnetic pulses…they're serving as a mental shield. She's actually blocking my power…! She deduced as Pyrrha struck her in the side after pulling herself towards her, launching her into the wall. She shook her head as golden glowing antler/horns manifested on her head, and brighter flashes of silver light pulses sent Pyrrha soaring back into the wall, slamming her into it with a pained cough.
Pyrrha moved to the side as she tried to avoid another pulse of light through the wall. Psionic power pulses as many objects the hit levitated within her sight, as she launched them towards Pyrrha, which sent many of them detonating in bright flashes of silver light. Blood ran down her face as Orella attempted to trap her, though she continued sensing that Ren and Oscar were destroying more of her set shrines.
Several of them were guarded, as the light creatures around them lashed psionic blasts towards the duo, bright and glowing. Ren pulled Oscar out of the way as the pulse pierced right through the wall next to them. Oscar winced as some of the blast nicked him in his arm. Both of them looked towards the shrine ahead of them that was prepared to blast them again.
"These Shrines need to go. Orella can't be allowed to gather more energy." Ren deduced as Aura gathers in his hand, glowing pink around his palm. He then thrusts forward, and a powerful pulse of Aura launched against the shrine, around the same time that it sends a blast his way. The force of it managed to cause some serious stress to his arm, spurts of red leaking from him, whilst the Aura pulse shattered the Shrine in front of him and stopped the flow of power being channeled into Orella.
Oscar kept vigilant as several of the Shrine's blasts kept him on his toes, and several of them attempted to smash him with large orbs of light to smite him where he stood. Time glyphs around him managed to help him move four seconds ahead with each one he steps on, but he was still caught off guard by one of the blasts destroying the foothold he was standing on. He was able to hold on long enough to turn and use his Clock Glyph around the Shrine and allowing it to go off; the gathered energy in the area exploded within the Glyph's contained range, destroying the Shrine where it stood. "This should help Pyrrha out some more, and maybe the others too."
Both of them continued on like this, destroying Shrines with numerous calculated blasts of forceful Aura, along with temporal explosions from Clock Glyphs. Oscar's focus sharpens with each use, the Clock Glyphs times to last for four seconds on top of each other, in order to add some extensive momentum and a force to the resulting blasts. Several of them managed to shatter the Shrines outright from the destructive force, the energy within them petering out before Orella could make use of it. They couldn't let a single one stay standing within their area. It would give Pyrrha the edge.
Pyrrha landed on her feet as she looked to see Orella hovering over her. Multiple psionic blasts descended upon her, silver psychic energy attempting to pin her down. With Pyrrha dodging and moving away from the multiples of blasts, many of the debris around her became magnetized, as she set Orella as the attracting force. They flew towards the woman with hurtling force, attempting to smash into her. She destroyed most of the objects launched towards her; though she found herself caught flat-footed when Pyrrha pulled herself along one of the magnetized pieces, turning in midair and kicking her in her back. Said kick came with a burst of repulse force, and Orella ended up being slammed into the ground.
Her silver eyes blinked open as she saw Pyrrha raise her hands, multiple weapons formed from solidified magnetic energy and had them all launched towards her. And during the launch, multiple objects and debris were magnetically pulled with them. Paired with this, they were charged with electromagnetic charges as well, charging the closer they got. Orella tried to surround herself with a shield, but when some of the debris landed, she still ended up zapped by the energy of the objects that didn't land directly on her.
"I…will not…yield…!" Orella's eyes glowed as she held her hands forward, an increased shine brightening around her. "The futures that we can create…will come to pass!"
"They will not, because I'll repel and conquer each and every one of them!" Pyrrha rejected as the numerous projectiles around her were quickly charging with a massive surplus of electromagnetic energy. "People's destinies are not for you to forcibly take control of, and they're not yours to direct!" She raised the objects higher, and their electromagnetic charges increased even further. "Your lack of faith in people's ability to choose their own futures is your own folly, not ours!" Pyrrha launched all of the objects in her vicinity towards Orella. The latter's eyes widened in shock as she attempted to keep them far away from her with a pulse of psychic power, but they kept pushing towards her. While simultaneously, the electric charges around her kept pulling the objects towards her regardless of her efforts to keep them back.
The combined results of the assault were a powerful, electromagnetic explosion, one that Orella couldn't bring herself to avoid due to the nature of the powers. Pyrrha landed on her feet as surges of lightning passed by her, magnetized objects orbiting around her quietly. She took a breath and sighed as she pushed her hair away from her face. She looked vigilant regardless, making sure that Orella wouldn't be pulling any surprise attacks. She kept her guard up just in case for this exact reason. Though there wasn't much to worry about there, because when the smoke cleared, Orella was down, her eyes seeming to have lost their light. She wasn't moving, and Pyrrha didn't sense her soul anymore, either. She took another breath, sighed, and turned to address Ren and Oscar, who were each helping one another up.
"Are you two alright?"
"More or less." Ren utters while looking towards the shattered Shrines. "We managed to get rid of enough of them that she can siphon more power from them. The same case should be for the others. We should keep destroying as many of them as we can to make sure they can't keep building power."
Over in a different patch of the Sanctuary, Penny was flying around to avoid the numerous onslaughts of glowing silver chains attempting to lash at her or catch her. Themis directed them with utmost focus, not letting her have time to think of a counter. With some of them chasing her, she turned around to slice them into pieces before they could reach her. Glowing brightly, they occasionally changed directions and attempted to trap her with a wider number of glowing chains. But before she could capitalize on it, they were slashed away by someone different.
Weiss, with Myrtenaster in hand, glared icily at Themis, who's glare was mostly impassive. Weiss soon saw a pair of glowing antler horns growing on Themis' head. And before she knew it, she was smacked aside by a massive light gavel, which slammed her into the wall full force. She coughed briefly as Themis attempted to chase her down. Penny flew before her and blocked her advance before she could attack further, catching her arm and throwing her into the ground. Themis backed away from Penny's pursuit as glowing antler horns formed on her head. Multiple chains lashed out towards Penny, though they were sliced apart by her swords, glowing green Aura coating them.
"A puppet has no right to try and interfere with these affairs. Who do you think you're trying to fool, thinking you can change anything?" Themis utters as several chains manifested around Penny and briefly wrapped around her legs, yanking her to the ground. And the moment she hit the bottom, Themis blasts a wave of silver light towards her, crashing her through said floor. "Your masters in Atlas are the ones holding your strings; making you believe you have a will of your own so they can manipulate you however they please."
Weiss narrows her eyes as multiple Glyphs formed around her, reflecting and rebounding the chains that tried to strike at her. "That's not what Atlas is about! Why are you so determined to demonize us?!"
"I am already speaking of demons, Schnee. That is what Atlans are." Themis slammed more chains Weiss' way, which she hurriedly dodged, then slices through with cold blades and Myrtenaster. "Your very home is a monument to tyranny."
Weiss balked, swiping her hand across the Sanctuary, as well as the world below. "Look at all of this and tell me that you yourself aren't acting like a tyrant!"
"I am acting like an enforcer. Tyranny is beneath me. And so are you."
Weiss couldn't believe it. "She's completely deranged…"
Penny eventually pulls herself up, her hair slightly messy from a destructive blast. She launched upwards and punched Themis across the face, sending her into the wall. "I am relatively confident that I know you better than you know yourself. You are the one being puppeteered." She flew towards Themis even as a giant glowing gavel was about to crash on top of her again, but one of Weiss's Glyphs appeared by her and reversed its momentum, sending it back towards Themis. She canceled the attack, which left her open to Penny kicking her in the chest and through the wall. "You are not leading a satisfactory life, it seems."
"That is an insufficient projection of yours, puppet. It won't save you."
"I do not require saving. I would ask if you needed to be saved, but I'm sure our definitions of the word will continue to contrast with one another." Penny sliced through more of the chains, kicked away another solidified gavel, before she turned on her side and opened her palm. "You would find more freedom if you didn't allow yourself to be chained down. Chained down by your own convictions. Have you never thought of having a life outside of all of this?"
"My life is forever dedicated to the light of justice. I have no need for anything else." Themis threw her hands, several light chains wrapping around Penny, throwing her about and slamming her to the ground. She charged a pulse of power through them, and the area where she lay exploded in a dazzling bright light.
Penny rises upwards in a burst, despite this. Mechanical wings adorned her, her body became more armor plated, and pulses of green energy surged through her. The sheer surplus of power channeled by her Technomagic. Penny's technomagic pulsed in time with her heart, both artificial and organic, her frame buzzing as her systems prepared for the final assault.
"Magitek Maiden: Assault Mode."
Themis glares at the sight, irritated at seeing Penny rise once more. hair glowed a brilliant white, casting an ethereal light across the wreckage, while the golden antler horns on her head gave her the appearance of a divine judge sent to impose her will upon the world. Silver chains snaked from her fingertips, coiling and snapping through the air, each link shimmering with righteous power.
Themis's voice echoed across the desolate battlefield, cold and unyielding. "You, an abomination of science and magic, dare to stand against me? You are a blight upon this world, Penny Polendina. I am justice incarnate, and I will see you erased!"
Themis raised her hand, and a silvery gavel appeared in her grasp, materializing from the shimmering chains that twisted around her. She swung it down, a blast of silver energy erupting from its descent, hurtling toward Penny with crushing force.
Penny's thrusters roared to life, propelling her upward just in time to avoid the impact. The ground cracked beneath her, fissures spreading out from where the blast had struck, but Penny remained focused, her mind racing even as her heart ached.
Themis didn't understand. She couldn't.
"You believe in justice," Penny called out, her voice echoing through the battlefield, tinged with sadness. "But your justice forces submission. It takes away choice, freedom. You would destroy everything you deem imperfect."
Themis's eyes narrowed, glowing with righteous fury. "Justice must be enforced. Those who defy it bring chaos. You, Penny, are chaos itself—unnatural, an offense to the balance of the world. Science and magic were never meant to intertwine."
The chains lashed out again, snapping through the air like serpents, each one aimed to bind and subdue Penny. She dodged and weaved, her thrusters carrying her with unmatched precision as her blades activated, slashing through the air with surgical precision. Sparks flew as they collided with Themis's chains, the sound of metal against magic ringing out like the clash of titans.
But Themis was relentless, her attacks growing fiercer with every passing second. Penny could feel the weight of the battle bearing down on her, her circuits burning as they strained under the constant assault. And yet, it wasn't fear that gripped her—it was pity.
Themis, so certain of her justice, so consumed by her ideals, was nothing more than a puppet. A puppet to her own unwavering beliefs.
"You are hollow," Penny whispered to herself, her voice barely audibles over the roar of battle. "Your devotion has left you empty."
Themis raised her gavel once more, this time summoning a massive blast of silver light, radiant and blinding. Penny could feel the immense power behind it, the culmination of Themis's unwavering conviction.
For a moment, it seemed as though Themis had won.
But Penny's eyes narrowed. She couldn't allow this. She couldn't let Themis force her twisted sense of justice upon the world—upon people like her dear friend Ruby, who deserved to live free.
With a surge of technomagic, Penny rocketed forward, her blades glowing with a fierce, emerald light. She weaved through the silver chains, deflecting Themis's attacks with blinding speed. Her thrusters roared as she closed the distance between them, and in one swift, decisive motion, Penny drove her blade forward.
Themis's eyes widened, the gavel in her hand faltering as Penny's sword pierced through her chest. Silver light exploded from the wound, radiating outward, but it was no longer the triumphant glow of justice. It was the light of something broken, something undone.
Penny's voice was soft, almost a whisper. "You're the true puppet, Themis. A puppet to your own ideals."
The Silver-Eyed Warrior's chains faltered, dissolving into silver dust as the light in her eyes dimmed. She fell to her knees, her golden antlers dulling, the strength leaving her body. Penny stood over her, her face solemn, her heart heavy with the weight of what she'd done. But there was no other way.
As Themis's life faded, Penny looked down at her, a mixture of sadness and resolve in her eyes. "I could not let you harm my friends any further." she whispered, as her battlefield grew silent. Weiss was nearby, holding herself up with Myrtenaster.
"There's only a little bit more…"
In yet another part of the Sanctuary, the battlefield was chaos.
Nora Valkyrie's hammer cracked like thunder, sending waves of pink lightning through the ground, tearing apart the advancing Silver Golems. They were massive, towering constructs of shimmering stone, their movements slow but unrelenting. Each swing of Nora's weapon obliterated them, her form glowing fiercely, sparking with electric fury.
"Out of my way!" she growled, hurling herself through the next wave of enemies. Her hammer crashed into the nearest Golem, the impact reverberating through its body before it exploded into shards of silver stone. Angels descended from the sky, their wings of pure light blinding against the storm she was creating, their divine forms elegant and deadly. But they too were no match for Nora's sheer, uncontainable force.
A bolt of lightning tore through two of the Angels mid-flight, sending them spiraling to the ground in a blaze of white feathers. Nora grinned through the haze of battle, her muscles straining but her energy undying. Nothing could stop her—not when Empress Miyako was in danger. She has a job to do.
She charged forward, shattering another Golem with a single devastating strike. Sparks flew from her body, each step leaving scorched earth in her wake as she approached the towering iron cage that imprisoned the Empress of Mistral. Miyako was bound inside, her human form huddled, but Nora could see the flicker of power in her eyes. Even restrained, the Empress was far from helpless.
Nora slammed her hammer down on the lock of the cage, a burst of lightning surging through it as the chains shattered with a deafening crack. She ripped the door open, panting, but triumphant.
"Empress Miyako, I've got you!" Nora shouted, reaching out to help her up.
Miyako slowly lifted her head, her eyes glowing gold and slitted like a predator's. Her form shimmered, tails slowly materializing, their ethereal glow lighting the air around her. Her voice was calm, measured, but held a fury like a storm waiting to break. "You've done well, Valkyrie. But now... stand back."
Nora hesitated for a moment, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck rise as Miyako stood to her full height. Her once human appearance began to ripple and shift, her body expanding, her tails fanning out behind her, each one pulsing with immense power. In a heartbeat, Miyako's human form disappeared, replaced by the towering, majestic form of a nine-tailed fox. Her fur was shimmering, her eyes burning with wrath.
Nora barely had time to back away before Miyako leaped into the air, her massive form crashing down upon the remnants of the enemy army. With a furious snarl, the Empress unleashed her vengeance. Tails crackling with magic whipped through the air, each one sending waves of golden destruction rippling across the battlefield. Golems shattered under the sheer force of her power, Angels screamed as they were obliterated by the radiant fire that poured from her jaws.
The sky itself seemed to tremble under the Empress's fury. Massive explosions of light and energy tore through the ground, leveling the fortress that had dared imprison her. The once-proud structure crumbled like sand under the force of her rage. With every swing of her tails, Miyako decimated the enemy forces, her golden fire consuming everything in its path. The ground beneath her scorched black, and the air itself burned with raw, destructive energy.
Nora could only watch in awe, her breath caught in her throat as the full extent of Miyako's power was laid bare before her. The sheer scale of the destruction was overwhelming, far beyond anything Nora could have ever imagined. She had known the Empress was powerful, but up close… It was terrifying.
Miyako's enemies—those who had dared to imprison her—were wiped out in mere moments, reduced to ashes and dust. Their silver constructs lay in ruins, their angelic warriors nothing more than faint echoes on the wind. All around Nora, the battlefield was eerily silent, save for the crackling remnants of the Empress's wrath.
"…Holy shit," Nora breathed, unable to hold back the words.
Miyako's massive fox form turned, her golden eyes locking onto Nora. The intensity of her gaze made Nora's heart skip a beat, the sheer weight of her presence pressing down on her. It wasn't just the raw power that was overwhelming—it was the majesty, the undeniable force of a ruler.
The Empress padded toward her, each step graceful despite her immense size. As she approached, she began to shrink, her form returning to that of the serene, composed woman Nora had first known. But the power still radiated off her in waves, a quiet reminder of the destruction she could unleash at any moment.
"I warned them," Miyako said softly, her voice like silk laced with iron. "I told them what would happen if they harmed my people."
Nora nodded slowly, still catching her breath. "Yeah… I don't think they'll be doing that again."
Miyako's lips curled into a small smile, though her eyes still glowed with residual fury. "You fought well, Nora Valkyrie. I'm in your debt."
Nora grinned, hefting her hammer onto her shoulder, the sparks still dancing across her skin. "Anytime, Empress. Anytime."
Another part of the battlefield continues to roar.
Cinder Fall stood in the center of the charred battlefield, her breath ragged, her left arm hanging limp at her side, a dull throb pulsating through her broken bones. The left side of her vision was a blur, her eye stinging and bloodied from the earlier blast. Despite her injuries, the fire in her remaining eye burned with unyielding determination. She faced Celimene, who was, standing calmly across from her, bathed in ethereal light. The warrior's silver eyes shone brilliantly, casting a radiant halo around her pale skin. Golden antler horns crowned her head like a symbol of divine judgment.
Celimene's voice was soft, melodic, yet carried the weight of judgment. "Cinder, there is no need for this violence. There is peace if you choose it. We do not need to fight. Lay down your anger, your hatred. I can guide you to tranquility, to a life without pain."
The words were almost soothing, but Cinder wasn't swayed. She knew better than to trust the false kindness that emanated from the warrior. Celimene's peace was not true peace. It was the stripping away of passion, the lobotomizing of souls, the destruction of all that made people human. And in her mind, that was a fate worse than death.
Cinder's lips curled into a snarl. "Your peace is a lie. You take away everything that makes us alive. You steal our fire because you're afraid of what it can do. But I won't let you take mine."
Celimene sighed, her silver aura brightening as she raised her hand. From her fingers, threads of shimmering light extended, weaving into the shape of a massive knight, forged from the very essence of her power. The knight stood at least twice the height of any man, its body gleaming with silver light, its eyes hollow, empty voids that seemed to see into the very soul.
"I only wish to free you from your suffering," Celimene whispered, her voice as serene as ever. "This fire inside you—it's consuming you. If you let it, it will destroy you, Cinder."
Cinder grimaced, holding her side where the ribs cracked under Juno's earlier attack. But even with her body broken and her vision half gone, the fire within her roared to life. Blue flames flickered in her palm, dancing with fierce intensity as they spread across her body, wrapping her in a protective cocoon of heat. The ground beneath her blackened as her fire surged, crackling and hissing in defiance of the serene glow of the knight before her.
"I'd rather burn alive than live in the cold, empty world you offer."
With a roar, Cinder flung herself at Celimene, her blue flames igniting the air as they clashed with the silver forcefields that sprang to life around the Silver-Eyed Warrior. Each collision sent shockwaves rippling through the air, fire meeting light, heat clashing against serenity. Cinder's flames coiled like serpents, writhing and seeking weak points in Celimene's defenses, but the knight construct loomed over her, its massive sword sweeping down in a deadly arc.
Cinder barely dodged, her body screaming in protest as she twisted, flames exploding from her feet to propel her forward. The knight's blade slammed into the ground where she'd stood moments before, sending chunks of earth flying in all directions.
Celimene's voice was still maddeningly calm. "You're fighting for nothing, Cinder. This rage—it will end you. I could end it now, painlessly."
Cinder growled, summoning a torrent of blue fire that spiraled toward the knight, engulfing it in searing flames. But the silver light that composed the construct flickered and reformed, unyielding, as Celimene raised her hands, her expression serene and pitying.
"You misunderstand peace. It's not about taking anything from you. It's about giving you freedom from the chains of your own heart."
"Chains?" Cinder spat, her flames burning hotter, the air around her shimmering with heat. "The only chains I see are the ones you're trying to wrap around the world! You strip away everything that makes us who we are because you're afraid of it. But passion, desire, rage—those are what make us strong!"
Her mind flashed to Jaune, to Ruby. To the people she fought for. She couldn't let this self-righteous warrior take away their fire, their strength, just because it might lead to conflict.
With a feral scream, Cinder thrust her hand forward, the blue flames coalescing into a focused beam that shot toward Celimene. The warrior's eyes widened as the flames pierced through the knight's defenses, burning through its chest with a blinding explosion of light. The construct faltered, its body flickering, and for the first time, a hint of strain crossed Celimene's face.
Cinder pressed forward, her flames intensifying as she launched a relentless assault, shifting into her draconic form, blasting her enemies before her with a pillar of blue flames. The silver knight dissolved into ash under the sheer force of her fire, and Celimene staggered back, her silver aura dimming.
Cinder advanced, her heart pounding, every movement a fight against the agony wracking her body. "This is what it means to live," she snarled. "To burn, to fight, to be more than just some hollow shell."
Celimene looked up at her, the light in her eyes fading. "You... don't understand," she whispered defiantly.
"I don't want to understand. I want you to BURN."
With one final, scorching blast of blue fire from her jaws, Cinder's flames engulfed Celimene completely, the flames swallowing her whole.
When the fire finally subsided, Cinder reverted back to human form. She stood victorious, her chest heaving, her body trembling from the effort. Celimene lay on the ground, her silver light extinguished, her body charred beyond recognition.
Cinder stood over her, her flames flickering out as she breathed heavily, her vision swimming. "You want peace so badly? Fine. There's your damn peace." She uttered bitterly, her tail flicking with irritation.
Back with Ruby and Juno…
Juno's silver lightning crackled and flared around her, jagged arcs snaking across her blade as she glared at Ruby. Her eyes burned with a fierce, almost fanatical determination. Nothing would stop her—not even the betrayal of her allies or the threat of facing Ruby head-on. She would see her vision through to the end, no matter the cost.
And yet, everyone keeps trying to defy her.
Ruby stood firm, shrouded in a storm of black rose petals that swirled around her in a rhythmic, almost hypnotic dance. Her Grimm mask hid her face, but her eyes glowed coldly through the shadows, their crimson-silver hue piercing the darkness. There was no need for words. Ruby's silence spoke louder than anything Juno could say, and it was a silence that promised only one thing: destruction.
With a sudden, explosive burst of speed, Ruby lunged forward, her scythe slicing through the air. Juno's muscles tensed, her lightning-infused blade rising to meet the strike. Sparks exploded as the weapons clashed, the thunderous impact shaking the walls around them. Juno's eyes flared with a fierce resolve as she pushed back, forcing Ruby to skid across the floor.
But before Juno could press her attack, Ruby dissolved into a storm of black petals, scattering around Juno like a dark, ephemeral fog. For a moment, there was nothing but the crackle of electricity and the rustle of petals, and then Ruby reappeared, her scythe slashing downward with blinding speed. Juno barely managed to block, the force of the blow sending a shudder down her arm.
"You're fighting for nothing, Ruby," Juno spat, her voice laced with venom. "All of this destruction… all this power… what are you trying to achieve?"
Ruby's silence was unbroken, more unsettling than any response could have been. She twisted her body, her scythe gliding across Juno's blade, and delivered a swift, brutal kick that sent Juno stumbling backward. Ruby's movements were fluid, graceful, and merciless, a perfect blend of precision and ferocity.
Gritting her teeth, Juno retaliated with a crescent arc of silver lightning, aiming for Ruby's midsection. Ruby dodged effortlessly, her body spinning out of the way as her petals scattered like ashes. She lunged forward, claws extended, and Juno barely managed to parry, the force behind the strike nearly knocking her off balance.
Blood dripped from a thin cut on Juno's forearm, and she could feel her strength waning with every passing moment. Ruby's attacks were relentless, each one more calculated than the last, wearing her down bit by bit. Juno knew she couldn't afford to falter, not when she was so close to realizing her dream.
With a roar, Juno unleashed a surge of lightning, the energy coiling around her body like a serpent before exploding outward. Ruby's petals flared up, absorbing most of the blast, but the sheer force sent her crashing into the wall, cracks spider-webbing out from the impact. Juno's breath was ragged, her chest heaving as she fought to maintain her composure.
"I will remake this world, and no one will stop me!" Juno shouted, her voice echoing through the chamber. Her blade trembled in her grip, but her resolve remained unbroken, unwavering. She would not back down.
Ruby stepped forward, slow and deliberate. There was no urgency, no rush. Each step she took carried an unspoken promise of death. The petals around her swirled like a storm, sharp and deadly, ready to cut down anyone who dared to oppose her.
Juno's heart pounded in her chest, the rhythm echoing in her ears. This was it—the final battle. She tightened her grip on her blade, the silver lightning crackling around it with renewed intensity. The room felt smaller, the air thick with tension, and for a brief, agonizing moment, time seemed to stand still.
Then, Ruby blurred, closing the distance in an instant, her scythe slicing through the air with a terrifying swiftness. Juno deflected it, her movements swift and efficient, but Ruby was already following up with a barrage of strikes, each one faster and more precise than the last. Juno could barely keep up, her blade flashing as she blocked, parried, and countered.
But Ruby was relentless, slipping past Juno's defenses with frightening ease. Her scythe slashed across Juno's arm, her leg, her side, leaving shallow cuts that drained Juno's strength with every passing second. Juno could feel her muscles burning, her movements slowing, but she refused to give in. With a scream of defiance, she gathered all her power, preparing for one final, desperate attack.
"I will not be denied!" she roared, lunging at Ruby with everything she had, her blade crackling with raw, untamed power. But before she could close the distance, a shadow flickered behind her, and Blake emerged, her sword gleaming as it sliced cleanly through Juno's arm.
Juno gasped, her eyes widening in shock as she staggered back, clutching the stump where her arm had been. She turned to glare at Blake, hatred seething in her eyes.
"You seem to be losing your cool, Juno," Blake said, her voice cold and calm. Juno's blood boiled, but before she could respond, a golden blur shot forward, and Yang's fist crashed into her face, sending her tumbling across the ground.
Juno struggled to her feet, her silver lightning latching onto the severed stump, forcing her arm to reattach with a crackle of energy. She stood, her gaze shifting to Ruby, Yang, Blake, and Jaune, who had been blocking blasts of lightning from afar. Blake's cursed shadows slithered across the ground, clashing with the blessed energy that sustained the Sanctuary, weakening it with every pulse.
"I will see my dream through," Juno declared, her voice firm, her silver lightning swirling around her like a tempest. "Are you a coward, Ruby Rose? Too afraid to face me alone?"
Ruby's head tilted slightly, her mask glinting with a dark, shadowy essence, bolstered by Blake's cursed presence.
"…I'm using everything in my power to destroy your dream," Ruby said, her voice low and cold. "To destroy you. Because both threaten my loved ones." Her eyes gleamed behind the mask, her summoned Beowolves crashing through the Sanctuary, tearing apart everything in their path, while Jaune continued to heal her from a distance.
Juno's eyes narrowed, her Silver Eyes glowing with intensity. "Even now, you defend that demon, Salem? The one responsible for this world's ruin? You would stand by such a vile creature?"
"Yes." Ruby's voice was steady, unwavering. "I don't care what the rest of the world says. I'll stand by my grandmother, the one who raised my mother and me. I'll uphold her dream, and my own. And you… you're standing in my way." She raised her claws, dark, ethereal power wrapping around them as she gripped her scythe. "I'm not giving you a single ounce of leeway, Juno. I'll crush you, without leaving you any hope of recovery." Her eyes narrowed, burning with cold fury. "You've shown the true depths of your selfishness. Someone who discards the lives of their allies doesn't deserve to have their dreams realized. I'll destroy it… and I'll destroy you."
She swung her scythe, sending a wave of black petals toward Juno. Juno blasted them apart with a surge of silver lightning, only to be met with a golden fist as Yang charged her, her hair ablaze. Juno blocked with her forearm, but the searing heat burned through her defenses, forcing her back.
"Like we're gonna fall for that, bitch," Yang growled, her eyes glowing red. "We're here on a mission, and we're gonna see it through. So yeah, we're gonna jump you. Deal with it."
Blake's shadows flickered, dark and sickly violet, spreading across the floor like a creeping tide. "You're the worst kind of evil," Blake said, her voice low. "The delusional kind. The kind that thinks it's right, even as it destroys everything in its path."
Juno's lightning surged, but Ruby, Blake, and Yang stood their ground, unyielding. The battle wasn't over, but they would see it through, no matter what.
Jaune and Checkers, the Curious Cat, were tearing through the last of the energy-gathering pillars, their attacks aimed at further weakening the Sanctuary and cutting off Juno's power supply. The pillars crumbled under their assault, bursts of light and energy dissipating into the air as they worked in tandem.
A hulking golem charged at them, its massive fists crashing down with earth-shaking force. Jaune swung his sword in a wide arc, cleaving through the golem's arms with a powerful strike, sending chunks of stone flying. Checkers leaped beside him, unleashing a multi-colored blast of energy from their mouth that blasted the golem back, shattering it into rubble.
"Sloppy, as usual," Checkers remarked, their feline eyes flicking towards Jaune with a hint of amusement.
Jaune shot them an incredulous look. "Oh, I'm sorry! Did you expect finesse when we're trying to stop a disaster that could wipe out a continent?" He punctuated his words by cleaving through another golem, his Aura shimmering around him. Checkers gracefully hopped onto Jaune's head, using the vantage point to unleash another colorful blast that obliterated a golem trying to flank them. "Hey! Get off my head!" Jaune snapped, trying to keep his balance.
"But I thought finesse didn't matter, hm?" Checkers winked, their tail flicking playfully as they held their perch.
Jaune groaned, his eye twitching as he sidestepped a golem's attack and blocked another with his Aura shield, the impact sending vibrations up his arm. "Ohoho, you're SO lucky Ruby adores you," he muttered through gritted teeth, forcing the golem back with a defiant shove. "But this isn't happening, pal!" He tightened his grip on his sword, charging forward to finish off the golem, while Checkers continued to rain down blasts from above. He slashes through it and the last pillar, both of them collapsing in a heap. "There! It's done!"
Checkers clapped their paws, their collar jangling. "Congrats, you didn't mess it up. A massive surprise for sure."
Jaune glared. "...If we weren't in such a serious situation right now, I'd punch you."
"Wussy."
"OOhhhh Ruby give me strength..."
"TOOOOOOHHH!"
Both of them jumped as Little leapt into the fray, slashing apart the remaining Golems in a single solid arc of their sword. They were sliced clean in two, and collapsed under their own weight with a loud crash. Both of them watched the mouse land on their feet, their sword softly fluttering with petals, cape flowing.
"The shadows have transported me and are getting any remaining citizens out of harm's way, with the help of the Empress!" Little declared with a salute.
"...That is one strong mouse." Checkers utters.
"Yeah…" Jaune shook his head, turning to Ellayne, who had taken rest throughout the battle. "We'd better move."
"R-Right…"
Meanwhile…
Ruby, Yang, and Blake pressed their attack, a seamless flow of strikes, magic, and sheer willpower, forcing Juno to retreat step by step. Juno's eyes glowed with fury as she summoned all the power she could siphon from the Sanctuary, her hands crackling with silver lightning. With a roar of defiance, she unleashed a devastating tempest of energy, arcs of lightning blasting out in all directions, obliterating everything around her in a storm of light and sound.
The force of the explosion tore through the chamber, a blinding flash that sent debris flying and shook the very foundations of the Sanctuary. When the dust finally settled, the damage was clear.
Ruby stood at the forefront, her Grimm Mask cracked, one side revealing her fierce, glowing eyes beneath. Blake's shadows flickered erratically around her, the cursed energy she had been wielding now dim and unstable. Yang spat out a trickle of blood, her face battered, but her eyes still blazing with determination.
Juno's lips twisted into a sneer as she regarded them, but behind her expression was a flicker of disbelief. "Your resilience irritates me." She uttered, each word laced with barely contained rage. No matter how many times she tried to beat them down, they kept rising back up, and it was starting to wear on her resolve.
Ruby didn't respond. She didn't need to. Her silence was a taunt in itself, as if she was telling Juno that no amount of words would change the inevitable outcome. The way Ruby stared at her, even through the cracks in her mask, made Juno's blood boil.
"You think your persistence can outlast mine? How uncouth for someone who considers themselves a sacred warrior." Blake's tone was calm, but there was an edge to it, her eyes sharp as she stepped forward, her shadows swirling around her like serpents.
"Time to put an end to this," Yang grunted, her knuckles cracking as golden flames erupted around her, blazing brighter than before. Her Aura flared, the heat radiating off her body like a furnace. Despite the bruises and cuts, she looked stronger than ever, her spirit unbroken.
Juno's eyes narrowed, and with a scream of rage, she surged forward, her silver lightning flaring around her like a storm, crashing against Ruby, Blake, and Yang in a flurry of attacks. They met her head-on, dodging, blocking, and countering, their movements a perfect dance of offense and defense. Juno's strikes were fast, furious, and relentless, but the three of them had become a wall she couldn't break through.
Ruby's scythe was a blur, slashing through the air with deadly precision. Blake darted in and out of the shadows, her blade cutting through the gaps in Juno's defenses, while Yang's fists pounded against Juno's guard, each punch like a thunderous cannon shot. They pushed her back, bit by bit, forcing her to expend more energy just to keep up.
Juno's frustration grew with every passing moment. She gathered her power, lightning arcing out from her body, and summoned a massive surge of silver energy, trying to drive them away. But even as the bolts of lightning exploded around them, Ruby raised her hand, summoning her Grimm powers. Black petals and shadows swirled together, forming the shapes of Beowolves, Ursas, and Nevermores, all of them roaring as they charged toward Juno.
The summoned Grimm stormed toward her, their claws and fangs glinting, their eyes glowing with an eerie light. Juno's eyes widened in shock, and she lashed out with her lightning, blasting through the first wave of creatures. But for every creature she destroyed, more took its place, their dark forms surging forward relentlessly. The ground shook as they stampede, forcing Juno to retreat as she desperately tried to fend them off.
Yang's voice rang out, fierce and triumphant. "Let's see you handle this, Juno!" She charged, her Aura flaring, and threw herself into the fray. She weaved through the chaos, dodging lightning bolts as she closed the distance, and with a mighty swing, she landed a punch that connected squarely with Juno's jaw. The impact sent Juno crashing through a wall, chunks of stone crumbling around her as she skidded across the floor.
Juno barely had time to recover before Blake was on her, her blade gleaming with cursed energy. Blake slashed across Juno's chest, leaving a deep, jagged cut. Juno gasped in pain, stumbling back, but her eyes flared with defiance as she summoned more lightning, sending a massive wave of energy crashing into both Yang and Blake. The blast sent them tumbling across the ground, their bodies skidding to a stop, but they quickly scrambled back to their feet, their eyes locked on Juno with fierce determination.
Juno's breathing was ragged, her body battered, but she still refused to give up. She staggered back, her silver lightning crackling around her, forming a protective aura. "I will not fall here," she hissed, her voice trembling with rage. "I'll destroy all of you if I have to!"
But she had made a critical mistake. In her desperation to fend off Yang and Blake, she had left herself wide open for Ruby. Ruby's eyes locked onto Juno's, her expression unreadable behind her cracked mask. Slowly, she raised her scythe, the blade gleaming ominously as dark, ethereal energy gathered around it.
"Your tale ends here." Ruby's voice was calm, resolute, and it cut through the chaos like a blade.
Juno's eyes widened as she realized her danger, but it was too late. Ruby moved like a phantom, her body dissolving into a flurry of black petals as she closed the distance in an instant. With one swift, powerful motion, she slashed her scythe across Juno's midsection, the blade trailing a dark, shimmering arc of demonic energy.
The world seemed to freeze for a moment. The dark wave of energy, laced with black roses, carved through the air, cutting through Juno's body and ripping apart everything in its path. The force of the attack was immense, a powerful rending slash that cleaved through the Sanctuary's walls, tearing a massive gash in the structure.
Juno's midsection was sliced open, the wound deep and vicious. She staggered, her hands clutching at the gaping wound, her silver lightning flickering weakly as the power began to fade from her eyes. The Sanctuary, too, shuddered, a massive chunk of its structure crumbling and collapsing, slashed apart by the force of Ruby's attack.
For a moment, there was silence. The storm of silver lightning had dissipated, leaving only the dark petals drifting down around Ruby, who stood still, her scythe lowered, her eyes glowing through the cracks of her mask. Juno fell to her knees, her strength leaving her, and she stared at Ruby with a mix of rage and disbelief, her hands trembling.
"How…?" Juno whispered; her voice barely audible. "How can you…?" How can this strength possibly be born from love? Especially love for someone the world, and even the gods, have already rejected? The world that Juno loved, once scarred by Salem, the dreaded Demon Queen, with her selfishness. How did Juno's sheer love for the world lose to Ruby's love for what was once it's greatest threat to its existence?
How is it possible? Why is it possible?!
Ruby turns her back, her movements slow and deliberate. "I told you, didn't I? I'd destroy you. And your dream. I'm snuffing out your light for good, Juno."
Juno tried to muster a response, tried to summon the energy for one last attack, but her body wouldn't obey. The power she had stolen from the Sanctuary was gone, drained away by Ruby's relentless assault. Her vision blurred, and she could feel the cold creeping in, numbing her limbs, stealing her breath.
As Ruby, Yang, and Blake quietly took their leave, their battered forms moving toward where Jaune was already heading to hurriedly heal their allies, the once deafening roar of battle began to fade into silence. Behind them, Juno lay amidst the rubble, her breath shallow, her vision blurring as she felt her life slipping away. She could even feel the Sanctuary beginning to crumble away into nothing. The Domain of Light was beginning to vanish.
The light around her dimmed, her strength waning. But even as her senses dulled, she felt a presence — a massive, golden, serpentine dragon looming above her in her mind's eye. The God of Light. He had blessed her, championed her, and given her the power she needed to realize their shared vision. They had both wanted to transform the world into something more logical, more controlled. A place where people's passions would fade, leaving only perfect, contented peace. A world without conflict, without chaos, where everyone would be useful and calm, devoid of the inspiration that led to turmoil.
It was an ideal she had clung to, and he had given her everything she needed to see it through. He had admired her sheer autonomy, her unyielding will, and that was why he had supported her.
But now, with her body broken and her spirit dimming, she could feel him slipping away, retreating from her. The light that had once empowered her was fading, abandoning her, discarding her like a failed experiment. She could feel his presence withdrawing, as if she had never mattered, as if her efforts were just another failed endeavor to be cast aside.
For a moment, everything went quiet.
But then, with a surge of defiance, Juno raised her trembling hand, her fingers reaching upward, as if trying to grasp something that was already slipping away. "I don't need you..." she muttered, her voice gaining strength, even as it wavered. "I don't need your power... my force of will... my love... it's enough..."
The words burned in her throat, her eyes hardening with a resolve that refused to die. Her mind raced through the choices she had made — the enemies she had slain, the family she had destroyed so they couldn't hold her back, the cities she had laid waste to in Mistral, all for the sake of seeing her vision through. Every action had been her own, each one a step toward the world she wanted to create. She had never regretted any of it, because her ideals, her love for the world, had no room for regrets.
"It has always... been enough..." she whispered, her resolve twisted, yet unyielding.
Slowly, her hand fell, her fingers uncurling as the last bit of strength left her body. Her eyes, once burning with purpose, grew dim, the light within them extinguishing. The world around her darkened, and with it, the life of Juno, the Chosen Hero, came to an end. A hero who had been consumed by her own delusions, a champion of the light who fell to the darkness. The sky broke for a moment, and as the light fully faded, it began to rain.
Ruby, the Demon Empress who had brought Juno to her knees, led her allies away, her expression hidden behind the half-broken mask. The air around her felt heavy, but she did not look back. She had done what she needed to do, and there was no room for regrets. Her silence was a testament to her resolve, as unshakable as the darkness she wielded.
As she departed, a new presence emerged, unseen yet palpable. It was dark, cold, and ancient. The image of the God of Darkness began to manifest, a towering, skeletal dragon with four legs, two wings with tattered membranes, and ornate, spiraled horns. His body was a stark contrast to his counterpart, his form skeletal, his face resembling a skull with empty, hollow eye sockets. Bone-like spines ran along his spine, and his entire form was enveloped in a deep, shadowy purple.
The God of Darkness did not speak, but his phantom image lingered around Ruby, as if cradling her gently. He watched her, his gaze almost tender, as she moved through the ruins, her presence both a part of the chaos and separate from it. Ruby could not see him, nor sense him, but he was there. He could feel the turmoil in her heart, the chaotic, yet unwavering freedom she carried.
Where Juno had sought to enforce order, to strip away the chaos and passion of the world, Ruby had embraced it. She had fought, not for logic or peace, but for the love she held for her grandmother, a love that had been scorned and ridiculed by the world. Juno had championed love, but she had refused to acknowledge that Ruby's love — a love that defied logic and reason, a love for someone the world had rejected — was just as real, just as powerful.
The God of Darkness understood. Ruby's chaotic, fierce love was a reflection of the freedom he cherished, a defiance against the order that sought to suffocate. And in that defiance, he saw his new champion.
"I see you, Ruby Rose," the phantom dragon whispered, his voice echoing softly, unheard by anyone. "You are my chosen... the one who will wield the darkness not to bind, but to free."
As Ruby led her allies onward, the phantom of the God of Darkness lingered, his form shifting and fading, but his presence still there, shadowing her every step. For he had found what he was searching for — a champion who understood that true freedom was not found in the absence of chaos, but in the embrace of it.
Juno's love had been absolute, unyielding, but it had tried to mold the world into something it was never meant to be. Ruby's love, chaotic and wild, had shattered that illusion. And in that moment, the God of Darkness knew that he had found the one who could carry his will, all while holding fast to her own.
A new era was dawning, and it would not be shaped by order or control. It would be shaped by those who dared to love, to fight, to live, even when the world tried to tell them otherwise.
And as Ruby continued forward, the darkness at her side, she did not yet know it, but she was the harbinger of that change.
Oh hey I remembered that this exists. Sweet.
I'll accept the blame for any screwups, me and beta are kind of rusty with looking over this tale.
Good thing too because I was looking forward to a few things past this, and it'll feel neat to finally be able to get to them. There's been several points of no return in various parts of this entire conflict and seeing some of them reach a resolution will probably do everyone left who was caught in it a favor. Well. a good chunk of them, at least. Some of them are understandably just outright done and are crippled and tired of all of the damage.
BUT!
With the main perpetrators of the chaos dealt with, things might finally begin looking up for everyone, especially our heroes.
How will things progress from here?! Hopefully well, right?
We'll find out next time...