Disclaimer: Don't own either Rwby or Type Moon. So enjoy or don't
Chapter 33: A New Plan and Unexpected Encounters
The train rattled loudly as it sped through the dark tunnel, its surroundings casting fleeting shadows through the windows. With the plan in motion, the team swiftly but cautiously guided the civilians toward the front cars. The noise of the speeding train echoed in the confined space, but for now, the tunnel's walls protected them from the Grimm that hunted outside.
Ren stood at the center of the operation, his Semblance blanketing the civilians with a sense of calm. Jaune stayed close, ready to amplify Ren's Aura as needed, ensuring that panic didn't set in among the passengers.
As the last group of civilians was ushered forward, Blake remained behind, her steps a bit slower. She approached Shirou, who was standing nearby, overseeing the situation. Her amber eyes flickered with uncertainty as she reached out to him.
"Shirou," she said quietly, "I need to talk."
Shirou turned to face her, his expression calm and open. "What's going on?"
Blake hesitated, glancing toward the front of the train where Yang was stationed. "It's about me and Yang. I've been feeling like we're not in sync anymore, like something's off between us. Earlier, during the fight... I hesitated. I don't want to make things worse between us."
Shirou listened carefully, noting the weight of her words. He had sensed that something deeper had been on her mind, and it was clear that the situation with Yang was affecting her more than she let on.
"The road to reconciliation is a long and hard journey, Blake," he began, his voice steady. "You and Yang have only just started down that path. It's going to take time, and there are going to be moments when things don't feel perfect. But that doesn't mean you won't get there."
Blake's shoulders slumped slightly, her frustration showing through. "I know it's going to take time, but I just feel like I'm letting her down. She's so direct, so strong... and I'm not. What if I'm not enough?"
Shirou shook his head gently. "You're not supposed to be just like Yang. You bring something else to the team—something just as important. And the fact that you're even worried about it means you care, which is already a big step forward."
Blake's amber eyes met his, searching for reassurance. "But what if it takes too long? What if we don't figure things out in time?"
"It will take time," Shirou said softly, "but you'll get there. You and Yang have been through too much together to let this stand in your way. Reconciliation isn't about being perfect right away. It's about understanding each other, even when things are hard."
Blake took a deep breath, the tension in her body starting to ease. Shirou's words sank in, offering her a sense of relief. "Thank you," she said, her voice quiet but sincere. "I guess I needed to hear that."
Without warning, she stepped forward and hugged Shirou, the gesture brief but filled with gratitude. Shirou, though surprised, returned the hug, gently patting her back to comfort her.
"You're going to be okay," he said quietly. "Just take it one step at a time."
Blake pulled away, a small but genuine smile tugging at her lips. "Right. One step at a time."
With that, she turned and rejoined her team, her earlier doubts eased. Shirou watched her go for a moment, feeling a quiet sense of satisfaction that he had been able to help her regain some of her confidence.
As Blake returned to Yang's side, the rest of the group finished moving the civilians safely to the front cars. Now all that remained was to prepare for the moment when the train would emerge from the tunnel. The Grimm were waiting, and the real fight was about to begin.
The train rocketed out of the tunnel, and the blinding snowstorm enveloped everyone as they scrambled to the roof of the train cars. The biting wind made movement difficult, but the plan was set in motion. Jaune and Ren stayed toward the middle of the train, focusing their Semblances. Ren's Tranquility spread outward, cloaking the train and its passengers from the Grimm's senses, while Jaune amplified the range and strength of Ren's Aura with his own.
Nora and Shirou stood guard near them, keeping a sharp eye on the storm. Shirou gripped Kanshou and Bakuya, ready to spring into action. The moment was tense, the howling wind seemingly muting all other sounds.
At the rear of the train, Team RWBY, Oscar, and Qrow had taken positions on the last car. The snow whipped around them as Blake worked diligently at the coupling mechanism, her hands moving swiftly despite the icy conditions. Yang stood nearby, her fists ready, her sharp eyes scanning the skies. Ruby crouched low, Crescent Rose folded on her back, waiting for the inevitable attack, while Weiss summoned her glyphs, prepared to act at a moment's notice.
Then, the screeching cries came. The Manticores were here.
The winged beasts descended from the swirling snow, their glowing red eyes focused entirely on the last car. They swooped in, claws outstretched, aiming straight for Ruby, Oscar, Qrow, and the rest of Team RWBY.
"They're here!" Yang yelled, firing off a blast from Ember Celica as a Manticore swooped down toward her. The creature screeched in pain as Yang's blast sent it crashing into the snow.
Ruby reacted next, leaping into the air with Crescent Rose fully extended. She spun her scythe in a wide arc, slicing through the wing of another Manticore, sending it spiraling to the ground.
Weiss created a series of glyphs along the roof, using them to launch herself into the air. Ice shards materialized in her hand, and with a flick of her wrist, she sent them hurtling toward a pair of incoming Manticores. The ice spears pierced through their wings, causing them to crash into the snow below.
Qrow swung Harbinger with deadly precision, cleaving through a Manticore as it lunged at him. "We need to hold them off until Blake finishes decoupling the car!" he called out over the wind.
Blake, crouched low by the coupling, was working as fast as she could. "Almost there!" she yelled, trying to focus amid the chaos.
The Manticores continued their relentless assault, their numbers seemingly endless. For every one they defeated, two more seemed to take its place. Oscar fought to keep his footing, struggling against the wind and the icy surface of the roof. He blocked an attack with his cane, but the force of the impact almost knocked him over.
"Blake, we don't have much time!" Ruby shouted, her scythe cleaving through another Manticore.
"I'm trying!" Blake called back, her voice tense with focus. Finally, she felt the mechanism give way. With a sharp pull, she disengaged the last car. The rear section of the train began to slow and drift behind them, taking the Manticores that had landed on it along with it.
For a moment, the team thought they had a reprieve, but Shirou's instincts flared, a sense of something far more dangerous approaching.
Something larger—something far stronger—was closing in fast.
Shirou's eyes narrowed as he scanned the storm. His grip on Kanshou and Bakuya tightened, and he felt the dark presence looming in the distance. Without warning, he turned to Nora.
"Nora," he said, his voice filled with urgency. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. Something's coming for the others."
Nora blinked, surprised. "Wait, what do you—"
Before she could finish, Shirou channeled mana into his legs and, with a powerful leap, launched himself across the train, soaring toward the last car where Team RWBY, Oscar, and Qrow were stationed.
He landed beside them just as the shadow in the snowstorm became visible. A massive Sphinx Grimm, larger than any Manticore they had faced, emerged from the swirling snow. Its wings spread wide, casting a menacing shadow over the roof of the train.
The Sphinx let out a deafening roar, its glowing red eyes locking onto Ruby, who still carried the Relic. Its presence was overwhelming, radiating a dark, unnatural energy that sent a shiver through Shirou's spine.
Shirou glanced at Ruby, who was already gripping Crescent Rose tightly. "Everyone, be ready," he said, his voice steady but tense. He could sense the malevolent power within the Sphinx—something disturbingly familiar.
The Sphinx Grimm descended from the storm like a nightmare brought to life, its hulking form casting an ominous shadow over the roof of the train. The wind howled, and snow whipped around the team, but all eyes were fixed on the massive creature before them. Its feline body was a twisted mass of muscle and pitch-black scales, and its glowing red eyes burned with malice, fixating on Ruby and the Relic she held.
Ruby instinctively clutched the Relic closer to her, realizing the Grimm was drawn to its power. "It's after the Relic!" she shouted, her voice barely audible over the howling wind.
The team immediately readied their weapons. Weiss summoned her glyphs, Yang cocked her gauntlets, and Qrow gripped Harbinger tightly. Blake, who had joined them on the roof, drew Gambol Shroud, her cat-like reflexes already adjusting to the shifting terrain and the threat before them.
The Sphinx hovered ominously, its presence radiating an unnatural energy—one that Shirou immediately recognized as dark and tainted. This Grimm wasn't like any they had faced before. There was something familiar about its aura—a vile corruption Shirou had encountered before. The Grail's influence lingered around the Sphinx, distorting it into something far more dangerous.
Shirou tightened his grip on Kanshou and Bakuya, but after a moment's pause, he dismissed the twin blades. These won't be enough, he thought grimly. He needed something far more precise—something that could combat the twisted nature of this creature.
Closing his eyes, he focused, reaching deep into his magical circuits. A different set of weapons came to mind—ones imbued with sacred power, capable of purging the corruption tainting the Grimm. The Keys of Providence. Not Noble Phantasms, but Sacraments—holy weapons forged to eradicate evil.
Opening his eyes, Shirou materialized multiple Keys of Providence around him, their cross-like shapes glowing faintly in the dark, stormy air. These Sacraments would strike the Grimm where it was weakest—its corruption.
As the Sphinx let out a deafening roar, Shirou acted quickly. He hurled the first set of Keys at the Grimm. The holy weapons shot through the air like divine arrows, piercing through the snowstorm and embedding themselves in the Sphinx's armored hide. The creature let out a scream of pain as the holy energy burned through its dark, corrupted body.
Blake darted forward, her agility on full display as she weaved between the others. Using her clones to divert the Grimm's attention, she closed in for an attack, striking with Gambol Shroud. She slashed at one of the exposed wounds the Keys had created, her blade biting deep into the Sphinx's flesh. "We can hurt it now!" she called out to the others, her sharp eyes never leaving the creature.
Yang followed her lead, launching herself forward with Ember Celica and landing powerful explosive punches into the Grimm's side. Each punch rocked the Sphinx, widening the cracks in its armor and forcing the creature to stagger.
Weiss, not far behind, summoned glyphs that floated in the air, allowing her to move quickly between them. She launched a barrage of ice projectiles toward the creature's back, aiming for the weakened areas. The ice shattered against the exposed wounds, slowing the Grimm's movements.
As the team pressed their assault, Ruby leapt into the fray, Crescent Rose spinning in her hands. She struck at the Sphinx's hind legs, severing tendons and forcing the creature to collapse onto the train. But even with the damage, the Sphinx wasn't down for long—its regenerative abilities kicked in, the dark energy swirling around it as it began to heal.
"It's regenerating!" Blake warned, her tone tense as she fell back to regroup with the others. Her eyes darted between the Grimm and Shirou, who was already preparing his next move.
Shirou traced more of the Keys of Providence, sending another volley of the holy weapons flying toward the Sphinx. Each key struck with precision, embedding itself into the creature's exposed wounds. The holy energy disrupted its regeneration again, slowing it down as the dark corruption was purged from its body.
"Everyone, keep hitting it!" Qrow shouted, launching himself forward with Harbinger. His scythe cut deep into the Grimm's wings, severing parts of the leathery appendages. The Sphinx roared in pain, trying to swat Qrow away, but he was too fast.
Oscar rushed in, using his cane to land a precise strike to the Sphinx's leg, destabilizing it further. "We need to keep up the pressure!" he called out, his voice strained from the effort of keeping up with the powerful creature.
Blake leapt back into action, using her clones again to distract the Grimm. She landed a swift series of slashes across the creature's exposed flanks, each strike precise and calculated. Despite the chaos, her movements were graceful and controlled, showing her growth in combat. "We can't let it recover!" she shouted.
Shirou, seeing the team working in tandem, knew they were making progress. But the Sphinx was still dangerous, and they needed to finish it before its regeneration became unstoppable. Summoning his remaining energy, he traced a holy-imbued longsword, the blade glowing brightly as it pulsed with sacred power.
"Everyone, keep it distracted!" Shirou called, leaping into the air. Ruby, Blake, and Yang coordinated their attacks, striking the Sphinx from multiple angles. Weiss and Qrow continued to support them, keeping the creature pinned down with precise strikes and glyphs.
Shirou descended toward the Sphinx, the glowing sword aimed straight for the creature's heart. With a final, powerful strike, the sword pierced through the Sphinx's chest, and a wave of radiant energy surged through its body.
The Sphinx let out one last, guttural roar before it began to disintegrate. The holy energy consumed the Grimm, purging the Grail's corruption and reducing the once-mighty creature to nothing more than black smoke.
As the Sphinx dissolved, the team finally breathed a sigh of relief. But their respite was short-lived—the train shuddered violently beneath them, the damaged car losing control. The last car derailed, sending everyone tumbling into the snow below.
Shirou landed hard, the impact sending a jolt of pain through his body. As he pushed himself to his feet, his eyes scanned the area. Blake, Ruby, and the others were scattered around, recovering from the fall. But as the snow settled, Shirou's attention was drawn to the air where the Sphinx had fallen.
A lingering, dark residue hung in the air—a vile trace of the Grail's corruption. He narrowed his eyes, his breath misting in the cold. This battle was over, but something far worse was still at play.
As the snowstorm began to calm, the team gathered themselves after the intense battle, breathing heavily but relieved that the Sphinx Grimm was finally defeated. Shirou stood among them, his senses still attuned to the remnants of the Grail's influence that had tainted the Grimm. He frowned, lost in thought, when a voice interrupted the quiet.
"Well, aren't you a peculiar bunch," the voice said, light but sharp.
Everyone turned to see an elderly woman emerging from the wreckage of the train. She leaned on her cane, her small frame barely visible under a thick cloak. Despite her age, her eyes were sharp, scanning the group with an almost predatory curiosity. There was something about her—an aura of someone who had seen far more than her frail exterior suggested.
"Who are you?" Ruby asked, her voice still laced with caution despite the relief of the Grimm being defeated.
The woman smiled faintly, her gaze locking onto Ruby. "Name's Maria Calavera. And yes, I know who you all are too. You're making quite the mess of things." She chuckled before tapping her cane against the ground. "Used to be called the Grim Reaper back in the day, but now I'm just an old lady trying to survive."
Weiss blinked, recognition flashing in her eyes. "Wait, the Grim Reaper? The legendary Huntress?"
Maria grinned, her teeth showing. "The one and only. Though the 'legendary' part might be a little exaggerated these days." She sighed, brushing some snow off her cloak. "I was actually on my way to Atlas. My prosthetic eyes need repairs. These things," she pointed to her goggles, "haven't been working right for a while now. Been stumbling around half-blind for far too long."
"Your prosthetic eyes?" Blake asked, curious. "What's wrong with them?"
Maria frowned. "They're supposed to help me see, but lately, they've been malfunctioning. I was hoping to get them fixed in Atlas, but it seems the journey has taken quite the detour." Her sharp eyes darted toward the wreckage of the train. "And now, it looks like I won't be getting to Atlas anytime soon."
Shirou, still standing back, remained quiet, his mind occupied with the traces of darkness left behind by the Sphinx. But before anyone could continue questioning Maria, Oscar groaned in pain, clutching his head. His body tensed, his face contorting as a familiar struggle began to take place.
"Oscar!" Ruby rushed to his side, steadying him.
But it wasn't Oscar who spoke next. Instead, a more composed voice came through—Ozpin's. "I'm afraid we don't have much time," Ozpin said, his voice resonating with authority as he fully took control of Oscar's body. He stood taller, his posture reflecting the ancient soul that inhabited the boy.
Qrow's expression darkened, recognizing the shift immediately. "Ozpin, what's going on?" he asked.
Ozpin glanced at Qrow and the others, his expression unreadable. "We need to focus on the larger picture. The Relic you carry, Ruby, is the Relic of Knowledge. It has the ability to answer three questions—truthfully, completely, and without deception. However, it can only answer three questions every one hundred years. This power is not to be used lightly."
Team RWBY exchanged glances, the gravity of Ozpin's words settling in. But there was more on their minds than the Relic. Weiss was the first to step forward, her eyes narrowing. "You've been keeping secrets from us for too long, Ozpin. We deserve to know the truth. Why did you hide all of this from us?"
Blake followed, her arms crossed. "What aren't you telling us about Salem? About the Relics? How much have you been hiding?"
The team pressed in, their frustrations bubbling over. Ozpin remained silent for a moment, his expression growing more somber. "There are things you are not yet ready to understand," he said quietly. "But I assure you, everything I have done was to protect humanity."
"That's not good enough!" Yang shouted, stepping forward, her anger barely contained. "You keep talking about protecting us, but you never give us the full truth! You've been using us, haven't you?"
Ozpin's eyes flickered with something akin to regret, but his response was calm. "There are some things that, once known, cannot be forgotten. The burden is heavier than you might realize."
Before the team could push further, Oscar suddenly grunted in pain, fighting for control. His hands gripped his head, and his voice, strained and younger now, cut through the air. "No! Stop… Ozpin, stop it!" Oscar's voice was filled with desperation as he struggled to regain control. His eyes flickered between his own and Ozpin's presence, an internal war taking place within his mind.
"Oscar…" Ruby whispered, watching her friend fight.
With a sudden surge of strength, Oscar managed to push Ozpin back, his body trembling from the effort. "Ruby," he gasped, still fighting to keep control. "You need to… use the Relic. Use it… now."
Ruby hesitated, looking at her friend with wide eyes. "But… Oscar, what—"
"Ask the Relic about Ozpin's secrets!" Oscar shouted, his voice raw with urgency. "Use it… to learn what he won't tell us!"
Ozpin's presence surged again, but Oscar gritted his teeth, pushing him back with sheer will. "Now, Ruby! Before he stops you!"
Trembling, Ruby glanced down at the Relic in her hand. The weight of what Oscar was asking her to do pressed down on her like a mountain. She didn't want to hurt Oscar—or Ozpin—but they couldn't go on like this, fighting in the dark with only half the truth.
With a deep breath, she raised the Relic in her hands. "Jinn," she called out, her voice steady despite the turmoil surrounding them. "I need you."
The Relic began to glow with an intense blue light, and the temperature around them seemed to drop even further. Snowflakes hung in the air, suspended as time itself seemed to slow. Then, from within the Relic, a brilliant blue figure emerged—a towering, ethereal woman, her form made of glowing energy. She was otherworldly, beautiful, and intimidating all at once.
"I am Jinn, spirit of the Relic of Knowledge," the figure spoke, her voice echoing across the frozen landscape. Her eyes, sparkling with ancient wisdom, focused on Ruby. "You have summoned me. What question would you like answered?"
Ruby stared up at Jinn, feeling the immense power radiating from her presence. For a brief moment, Ruby hesitated, glancing at Oscar, whose expression was strained but filled with silent encouragement. The rest of the team stood by, waiting anxiously.
Finally, Ruby took a deep breath. "Tell us Ozpin's secrets. All of them."
The moment those words left her lips, the air around them shifted. Jinn's eyes seemed to glow brighter, and a wave of energy pulsed from her form. The truth was coming, and there was no turning back.