A.N: Hey everyone! We're back with another chapter of Wild Hunt. Hope everyone enjoys this one!
Chapter 56: Pay the Piper
One man should not be capable of beating an entire army in combat. That was an ironclad rule. However, even the most rigid of rules had exceptions. During the later stages of the Great War, the King of Vale became famous for single-handedly decimating an entire army with the summoned power of the elements, much like a wizard of old. These days, as mortality rates went down and Huntsmen were allowed to grow stronger–beyond human limitations–as a result, those rare few who obtained the rank of S-Class were the exceptions to the aforementioned rule.
Professor Ozpin was on a tear now. His cane moved in flashes of emerald green light, striking at the playing card soldiers. They crumpled with one strike each, as Ozpin weaved through the army.
Atop the castle of the Red Queen, the mad, big-headed woman could only sputter in disbelief as her army fell to one man. "Impossible!" She managed to get out. "Simply impossible! Inconceivable! Unbelievable! Improbable! All the Im's! All the In's! All the Un's! All of them!"
Ozpin then tapped his cane on the ground and a single shockwave of pure energy exploded with him at the center, sending the remainder of the Red Queen's army flying. As their lifeless bodies floated to the ground, they looked like a house of cards that had just fallen apart. The Red Queen yelled in disbelief. Ozpin then looked up at the balcony of the castle, as though he was looking directly at the Red Queen. The Red Queen instinctively blinked. Only for Ozpin to be in front of her in the milliseconds it took her to blink.
"Hello there." Ozpin said to her.
"What?!" She exclaimed.
Ozpin raised his cane towards her. "Get away from me!" The Red Queen screamed. "Do you not know who I am? Touch me and you'll be executed! Off with your head! Do you understand?"
"I really don't have time for this. You're not even a real queen." Replied Ozpin. "Farewell."
Ozpin tapped the Red Queen's massive forehead with his cane. Green energy surged across her body like visible electricity. With a yell, the Red Queen's body burst, like a balloon. Ozpin's eyes widened slightly. "Well…glad she didn't have any blood."
Ozpin then looked around, his expression growing more irritated by the second. "Alice!" He exclaimed. "I've humored you long enough! I'm losing my patience here! I've fought walruses, carpenters, and card people! I've been talking to a damn cat! Am I close to the tea party or not? I have students who require my help!"
Alice's voice rang out in the wind. "Yes, yes, you have every right to be upset. I don't have an update for you on how they are doing, unfortunately. However, I can at least tell you that out of everyone I've ever dropped down the rabbit hole, into Wonderland, you've gotten further into Wonderland than anyone else."
"To be honest, no one has ever gotten past the Red Queen's army." Alice revealed. "In fact, you're doing so well, the Cheshire Cat is getting a little…antsy."
Ozpin did not respond. He was reaching the point where he no longer wanted to humor what sounded like a little girl. He had to get back to the real world and aid his comrades. Alice seemed to notice this and sighed. "Okay, okay, very well. Last challenge, I promise." Alice assured him. "Though to be honest, I'm not entirely sure how this is going to go."
A loud, inhuman roar rang out along with the sound of large wings flapping. Ozpin then turned to see a massive, dragon-like beast with an extremely long neck and a flat face, unlike the long ones that dragons were known for in art.
"Say no more," Ozpin sighed, readying his cane for battle.
Before Ozpin could do anything, however, the beast expelled a massive amount of fire. Sensing danger, Ozpin erected a barrier. No sooner had he done so, the castle he stood atop was vaporized into oblivion as the area exploded from the beast's breath attack.
By the time the attack let up, Ozpin was in the center of the crater, taking note of the damage around him. "That was comparable to an Atlesian warhead…maybe two." He mused. "That…might've actually hurt a little had that been a direct hit."
"Allow me to introduce the crown jewel of Wonderland, Professor Ozpin." Alice spoke up. "Meet the Jabberwock, the dragon of Wonderland. To be honest, I've never had to use him against anyone. I apologize in advance, because at this point, I don't know how this is going to go."
"Though I will tell you this. The power of Wonderland is imagination, and when my powers manifested, the Jabberwock was created as a result of what I imagined an S-Class warrior's power to be like."
Ozpin hummed at this as he surveyed the destruction. The Jabberwock hovered far above him. "I will grant you this, you certainly have a vivid imagination…and considering the destruction an S-Class fighter is capable of…I'd say it's a pretty accurate imagination too."
"However, do keep in mind that I am no mere S-Class." Ozpin pointed his cane upwards at the Jabberwock like a fencer. "I am the strongest of the strong."
The Jabberwock roared at Ozpin. "Then show me what the strongest of the strong can do." Alice replied. "Tea gets cold eventually, you know."
Meanwhile, back in the real world, Hansel Kobalt and Hazel Rainart continued their duel in Ever After Forest. As Hansel parried Hazel's punches with Wolf Fang, he attempted to plan out his next move. His Semblance nullifies pain…no, that's not accurate, it numbs him to pain. Hansel noted. After all, once a person's Aura reaches zero, they cannot use their Semblance, and that means he cannot numb himself to pain any longer.
Hazel found an opening and punched at Hansel's jaw, only for Hansel to rocket away with black flames. But that's easier said than done. The guy's Aura levels are insane. My Aura's massive too, but he might actually outclass me in terms of pure amount. And because his Semblance is an Effect type, he doesn't have to use too much Aura for it.
When it comes to fighting with Aura, you have to look at it from a numbers standpoint, specifically, percentages. Hansel remembered Ozpin's lessons. What percentage do you commit to strengthening your body, and what percentage do you commit to your Semblance?
I use between 40-60% of my Aura for my Semblance, and the rest goes to strengthening my body. Hansel noted as he avoided an uppercut that would've shattered his jaw. Because of the precise control required to use it and its status as an offense-type Semblance, my Purgatorial Flames need that amount to have the effect I desire. I used to need even more, but my training allowed me to even it up with enhancing my body.
By comparison though, if I had to estimate, Hazel uses only 10% of his Aura to maintain his Semblance. The rest of it goes to enhancing his body. Hansel's eyes widened as Hazel threw out a karate chop that might have snapped his neck had he not ducked.
That means, he could probably do this all day if he wanted. He might even be able to go even longer. With that kind of distribution of Aura, I can't hope to rely on my stamina to outlast him! I can't let this become a fight of attrition, or I'll lose for sure!
Hansel then moved underneath Hazel's massive arms, making the big man gasp in surprise. If I want any chance at beating this guy, I have to go on the offensive, and stay on the offensive!
Hansel then stabbed Hazel in the stomach. Hazel narrowed his eyes. He knows my Semblance numbs me to pain, so why attack like this? No matter. If I break his arms, that should slow him down.
Hazel grabbed Hansel by the arms and squeezed hard. Hansel winced as he felt the bones break. Shit, even with Aura enhancing my defenses, Hazel can break my bones, huh? Well, that's fine, because I was prepared for this.
Hansel then took a deep breath, keeping his gaze trained on Hazel. Then, much to Hazel's surprise, Hansel exhaled and blasted him right in the face with a cone of black flames. He can breathe fire?! Hazel had not been prepared for such a thing.
Then, displaying tremendous acrobatic ability, Hansel pulled himself above his sword, still embedded into Hazel's stomach. Then, displaying impressive flexibility along with that acrobatic ability, Hansel flipped himself over like a gymnast and kicked Hazel in the face while his vision returned.
He broke my arms. They're healing, but he still broke them and it hurt like hell. And to be honest, I burned the inside of my throat with that fire-breath attack. Protecting my insides from the Purgatorial Flames is surprisingly harder than protecting everything else. That will heal too, but it hurts like hell, too.
Hazel recovered just in time to see Hansel land and then propel himself back at him without hesitation. Hazel gasped. He's staying on the offensive?
Lowering his shoulder, Hansel slammed into the hilt of his own sword, still inside of Hazel's stomach, driving the blade further in, to the point the tip actually protruded out from the other side.
"You're wasting your time!" Hazel exclaimed, kicking Hansel's right knee and shattering it.
Hazel then raised his arms above his head and put them together like a hammer. With Hansel's leg broken, he would not be able to dodge this next attack. "It's over, final blow!"
"Not…from…where…I'm…standing." Hansel managed in a raspy voice. At that moment, Hazel had realized Hansel sacrificed his throat in that fire-breath attack from earlier.
Hansel then grabbed onto Hazel's sides, in spite of his broken arms (which were mending). Hazel gasped. That single moment of distraction from the revelation of Hansel's reckless abandon had cost him dearly. At that moment, Hazel's upper body burst into black flames. He saw the flesh on his body burn away from Hansel's attack.
Now I understand, he's realized that he cannot hope to outlast me, so he has abandoned all pretenses of defense. He sacrificed his arms to get in close. Sacrificed his throat to stun me long enough to attack. He even sacrificed his right leg just so he could keep me in one place for an attack like this! Hazel could not believe the sheer lunacy of Hansel's strategy.
Hansel's throat recovered as he continued to burn Hazel. "If I'm gonna get hit anyway, I might as well hit back just as hard!" He declared.
I see…so this is what you meant, Your Grace. Hazel realized.
"I want you and Tyrian both to understand something, as my muscle and my assassin." Salem had said to them in a meeting between just the three of them. "Now that we know Hansel Kobalt is in play, you two need to understand what fighting a Kobalt is like."
"And you know?" Hazel had replied.
"Do not forget who you are speaking with Hazel," Salem had smiled mysteriously at that statement. "I've been around long enough to have fought a Kobalt…or ten. In fact, I even faced off against the family's progenitor, Erik Kobalt. There are only two people who have ever given me trouble in a fight besides Oz…and he was one of them."
"Oh, please, share your divine wisdom with us, Goddess!" Tyrian giddily pleaded.
"Even before they ruined their own reputation with their experiments, the Kobalts weren't exactly stable. They were always crazy. It just became more pronounced later on." Salem had revealed. "They're the kind of people that will do whatever it takes to win. When you fight Hansel Kobalt, be prepared for that family's own special brand of crazy."
This is what you meant, Hazel understood now, arms, legs, innards, he doesn't care what he loses in a fight as long as he is victorious. He'll make any kind of sacrifice play if it gives him an advantage in the fight.
Hazel recovered enough to try and hammer onto Hansel again, only for Hansel to grab the hilt of his sword with his left hand and place his right palm on Hazel's chest. Black flames exploded between the two like a bomb and both were sent flying. Wolf Fang was wrenched free from Hazel in the process.
The force of the explosion sent Hansel through multiple trees while Hazel managed to land on his feet. Hansel quickly recovered and returned to the site of their battle. Hazel was now glaring at Hansel in a mixture of anger and disbelief.
I get it now. I took the boy for just another naive child that Ozpin sank his claws into, but there is nothing naive about him! I completely miscalculated his emotional maturity in the face of a fight that could be the death of him. He's determined to win this, regardless of whatever of his he has to sacrifice!
This boy is completely insane! Hazel concluded as he stared at the ruthlessly determined expression on Hansel's face.
Meanwhile, Yang Xiao Long prepared for the final stage of her showdown with Mercury Black. She thought back to her and Weiss' private lesson with Hansel the night before their duels with Lutin and Nezha of Team GLDN.
"You can get as pissed off as you want with me, Xiao Long." Hansel had said to her. "You're not going to land a hit on me. So either take my advice on fighting smarter to heart, or perhaps we can start finding you a different approach?"
"FUCK!" Yang had screamed that in frustration, finally reaching her breaking point, much to Weiss' exasperation, who then chided her for such foul language.
Yang instinctively glared at Hansel with red eyes. "How the hell is there such a gap between us? It's not like our Semblances are that different!"
"How do you figure?"
"You get pissed and burn stuff, I get pissed and burn stuff!"
Weiss had face-palmed at this statement. "Yang, Professor Kobalt's Semblance isn't that simple and you know it. You do remember his explanation about how dangerous it is for him, right?"
"Actually, she's not entirely wrong." Hansel had then admitted, surprising both girls. "When I watch Xiao Long fight and see her burst into flames, the comparison is there."
"Where we differ though is that I take it further. I emit my Aura outwards while also transforming it into the black flames that you know as Purgatorial Flames." To demonstrate, Hansel quickly threw a punch that shot a ball of fire outwards. "Emitting Aura is a technique found commonly in Mistral. In fact, Ren practices it himself, in its most basic form. But emitting Aura while using your Semblance is the next step, so to speak. Those with offensive Semblances like mine and Xiao Long's have the easiest time mastering this technique."
"Okay, so how do I do that?" Yang immediately asked.
"You're not going to learn it in one night, so don't bother using it on your opponent tomorrow. Stick to shotgun shells for now, as far as ranged combat goes. That said, for the future, keep this in mind: to emit Aura while using your Semblance, two things need to happen."
"First, you need to visualize firing your Aura like a weapon. Think of your arms like guns. A highly advanced Aura manipulation technique is known as Soul Domain, which is where you can expand your Aura outwards for a variety of effects. Mastering this is actually required to use Soul Domain. Remember, you want to visualize yourself firing off your Aura like a weapon" Hansel then held up two fingers. "The second step is to visualize the form you want your Aura to take while using your Semblance."
"Why is that a required step?" Yang had asked.
"Have you ever heard of the saying 'heart is an awesome power' Xiao Long? It means that with the right amount of imagination, anyone can take even the most mundane ability and turn it into a powerful weapon. Granted, your Semblance is plenty strong already, but any Semblance can be pushed even further with enough imagination."
"The question now is, do you have the imagination and heart to visualize a new form for your Semblance as you emit it outwards in a more powerful ranged attack?"
As Yang took several deep breaths in preparation for this gambit, she remembered the last part of the conversation Team RWBY had with Hansel before landing.
"So, it's Pyrrha they're after this time?" Weiss had asked. "Why? It was Ruby and you who ruined their plans before!"
So, Hansel told them everything. How Pyrrha had taken the other half of the Fall Maiden's powers so Cinder would not have it. How magic, while rare, still existed in this world and only belonged to a select few. And that Pyrrha had been chosen because of her prodigious talent and high ceiling of power. Most importantly, Hansel told them what Cinder and her associates had done to the previous Fall Maiden, and it made them all sick to their stomachs.
Like hell I'm going to let that happen to Pyrrha! Yang thought with determination.
"Hey, Mercury." Yang said in an eerily calm tone of voice.
Her eyes then opened as she glared crimson red at the assassin. "It's time you assholes paid up for what you did to the Fall Maiden." She declared.
Mercury just chuckled. "Go ahead and try to make me pay, bitch."
As Mercury crouched for one final bound to end the fight, Yang thought back to the two steps required for emitting Aura and using a Semblance simultaneously. Visualize myself firing my Aura like a gun. My arms are guns and my Aura is a bullet.
Yang then threw a punch without firing a shotgun shell from Ember Celica. Mercury gasped as golden Aura was emitted from her fist, forcing him to roll away from the attack. "The fuck?!" He exclaimed in surprise.
Now, visualize the form that I wish my Semblance to take, a perfect representation of my power. Visualize a version of my Semblance that is stronger and more encompassing than the previous, one that has surpassed its previous limits.
Yang grinned. Yeah, I can do that!
Instinctively, Yang put her hands together like she was forming a circle. Mercury was taken aback by this. That was a move he did not know from the time he spent observing her and Beacon's other top students under Cinder's orders.
Then, golden flames appeared between Yang's hands. It quickly formed into a ball. Visualize it. Yang kept telling herself. You know your power better than anyone in the world, which means you can shape it how you wish, as long as you can make it believable.
Your power is getting pissed, taking damage and turning it into strength! So visualize the form you think such a power can take!
The ball of golden flames then expanded, growing in size, much to Mercury's shock. I'll visualize all the power I've accumulated from the damage I've taken in the form of this golden fireball! Heh, Ruby once compared my Semblance to a power meter in a fighting game. This reminds me of ki attacks from those games, so I guess that makes visualizing it even easier.
The golden fireball continued to expand until it was larger than even Yang herself. Mercury gasped in disbelief. "The fuck…did your Semblance just evolve on the spot?"
"Oi, asshat." Yang said to him. "I suggest you defend yourself with everything you've got, if you're so tough."
"Huh?" Mercury said flatly.
"To be honest, if you're not careful, this will kill you. I don't have a complete handle on this power just yet." Yang admitted.
"Don't you fucking pity me now, bitch!" Mercury snapped, getting over his shock at Yang's powerup. "Like hell I'm going to lose to the likes of you."
Mercury leapt towards Yang, only for Yang to launch the fireball at him. Mercury's bravado immediately vanished when he realized just how dangerous this attack was. I can sense some of myself in that…she took all of the damage from our fight and converted it into that fireball! Shit, I'm in trouble!
Mercury poured as much Aura as he could muster into defense as the fireball collided with his body. The fireball exploded upon impact, vaporizing the area around Mercury. Yang bit her lip as she tried to keep herself steady. Emitting takes a lot out of you, I see. She mused. I guess the gap between Teach and me is still pretty massive.
"You…fucking…bitch…" A raspy voice came from the flames.
Yang watched as a heavily injured Mercury emerged from the golden flames. His metal prosthetics had been warped horribly due to the intense heat. Yang then started laughing. "Holy shit, dude, are you for real? Seriously, you are tough." She acknowledged sincerely.
Mercury was taken aback by this. Yang then grinned. "Thanks for giving me all you've got, seriously. I feel like I just took a big step towards a lot of important goals. Knocking Teach on his ass once, protecting my baby sister, protecting Weiss and Blake."
And one day…tracking down Raven…so that I can finally understand why she left. Yang thought of her birth mom.
Mercury then grinned, sincerely touched that Yang actually acknowledged his strength. "That's right, I took the best your Semblance had to offer and came out alive. I am strong, and my dead dad can suck it."
"I've still got enough strength to snap your neck with one kick though." Mercury revealed. "It's gonna look super awkward because of what you did to my legs, but I'll make it work."
Yang chuckled. "Guess that means we're both on our last legs." She could not resist making a joke in this situation. "I've got enough in me for one last haymaker."
Yang held up her right hand in a 'bring it' gesture. "So, come at me bro." She grinned.
Mercury chuckled. "Here I come, Yang." He warned.
With one final burst, Mercury rocketed forward with the aid of his prosthetics firing off shells. He spun to increase momentum for a powerful roundhouse kick that would indeed break Yang's neck if it connected.
Then, much to Mercury's surprise, Yang fired two shells from Ember Celica into the ground, propelling herself in the air and avoiding his roundhouse kick at the last minute. Oh…shit. Mercury's eyes widened.
She then fired off another shell to the side to allow herself to flip over, training her right fist right at his head. Another shotgun shell was fired from her left gauntlet into the air, allowing herself to punch down with increased momentum, driving her right fist into the still-airborne Mercury's head. Yang then emptied her last shell into his head, shattering what was left of his Aura in the process, just as Mercury hit the ground, headfirst.
She…actually lured me into a trap? Mercury was surprised. No, it wasn't a bluff. She was on her last legs. She planned from the start to take advantage of the fact I thought she'd try and take me directly. My first instinct was correct. This isn't the same chick from Vytal!
Ah, fuck me, the bitch actually beat me for real this time… With that lament, Mercury Black drifted into unconsciousness, completely defeated yet somewhat satisfied with the fact he gave it his all and almost won against someone with a Semblance.
Yang landed and threw her arms up in the air, victoriously. "Fuck yeah!" She screamed hammily. "I am the champion!"
Immediately, the strength in her legs left her. "Which is great, because if that had failed, I'd have died." She continued, spouting off that sentence in rapid-fire.
Yang then fell on her back near Mercury's body. "You better not be dead, because you've got a lot to pay for, asshole." She groaned, feeling the adrenaline wear off and pain wrack her body.
Meanwhile, Emerald Sustrai almost immediately forced on the defensive as Weiss' summoned Arma Gigas swung its giant sword at her. This shouldn't be possible! There was nothing suggesting she had this kind of power! Cinder did say that summoning past defeated enemies was an ability the Schnee Family Semblance possessed, but she shouldn't have this ability!
Something then slammed into Emerald from the side. She turned to see a pure white Boarbatusk. Another one?
"Last time I tried this, I could only do one at a time because of how much of my Aura my opponent had drained." Weiss revealed. "That's not the problem this time!"
Emerald cut down the Boarbatusk summon, only to be forced to avoid another swing from the Arma Gigas. A white Beowolf then appeared and pounced on Emerald. She's not giving me a moment's rest! Emerald realized before gasping. No, if I can't concentrate at this point, I can't use my Semblance!
Emerald cut the Beowolf in half. She was then forced to deflect multiple projectiles fired from another Glyph. "Like I told you before, you're not gonna lay a finger on Ruby or anyone else!" Weiss declared. "You're going to stay right here, and take your punishment for what you did to the Fall Maiden, and to the people of Vale!"
Emerald snarled with rage as she leapt over the Arma Gigas' sword. She kicked off the flat end and propelled herself over the entire suit of armor. "Spare me the damn platitudes! This victory still belongs to me, you stinking bitch!"
Emerald swung both blades of Thief's Respite, creating flying slashes that were launched at Winter. Another Boarbatusk then appeared and took the attack for her.
A moment. I just need a moment! If I can just catch her in my Semblance, I win! All this has to be taking its toll on her, after all!
Emerald was then suddenly slammed on the ground out of nowhere. She looked up to see a white, harpy-like entity. "A Razorwing!" She exclaimed.
"They originate on the continent of Solitas, where Atlas is." Weiss reminded her. "To pass my father's tests to allow me to go to Beacon, I joined my sister on a few minor hunts and got to kill a few!"
"You played a few tricks on me earlier, making me think I was fighting an army." Weiss noted. "But you're fighting an actual army, Emerald!"
Emerald responded by aiming Thief's Respite upwards and peppering the Razorwing summon in the face with bullets. "You think I'm afraid of Grimm summons?" She glared hatefully at Weiss, her exhaustion starting to show as her eyes turned red with blood. "Slaughtering Grimm after Grimm was how I trained!"
Emerald then looked over her shoulder just as Arma Gigas swung at her once more. She ducked underneath and slashed its left leg, making it buckle to one knee. Another Razorwing summon tackled her before she could administer another blow. Emerald slashed the Razorwing in half. "I'm still your superior physically!" She exclaimed. "I don't need my Semblance to take you out, especially as you are now!"
"I'll kill you, your blonde bimbo friend, and I'll kill Ruby and the Faunus girl too! All for Cinder!"
"And what, you think that's gonna win her approval? Wake up, a monster like that doesn't give a damn about you at all!" Weiss exclaimed as she was then picked up and tossed into the air by the Arma Gigas. Myrtenaster's chamber began to spin.
"What do you know?" Emerald demanded. "She saved me! Cinder does care! I know she does!"
"She saved you because you're useful! A Semblance that creates near-perfect illusions? Perfect for a villain like her!" Weiss exclaimed as a glyph formed above her, allowing her to plant her feet and rocket back down towards Emerald.
"Bitch!" Emerald screamed, pointing Thief's Respite at Weiss.
However, her attention was immediately drawn to another charging Boarbatusk summon. She quickly destroyed it with bullets, but was forced to dodge when Weiss stabbed downwards with Myrtenaster.
"Do you wanna know how I know Cinder doesn't give a damn about you? Because she's just like my father!" Weiss yelled. "The only thing that matters to them about people is how they can be used for their sakes!"
"Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!" Emerald had snapped beyond rational as she charged Weiss with Thief's Respite, swinging wildly.
Weiss then surprised Emerald by using Myrtenaster, which was stuck in the ground, to flip over her like an acrobat, dodging her attack but now without a weapon. What the hell kind of strategy is that? Emerald wondered, watching Weiss fly over her. She's defenseless now.
Emerald then narrowed her eyes. That's what I'd like to say, but those damned summons of hers! That suit of armor is still running around.
Emerald looked forward once more to see Arma Gigas charging her. She instinctively raised Thief's Respite in defense, only to discover something that confused her greatly. Its sword is gone! She realized, noticing its hands were empty. But where could it have…
Instinctively, she looked over her shoulder to see the sword appear in Weiss's hand. Gasping, she turned to defend herself only to be forced to the ground by heavy gravity. Gravity Dust again? No, her rapier! Emerald looked to see Myrtenaster glowing purple.
Did she plant her sword in the ground on purpose with this in mind? No way…she had me in checkmate as soon as that!
Weiss then let out one final yell as she delivered a devastating slash to Emerald with enough force that sent her airborne, even within the heavy gravity. Emerald's Aura shattered like glass as blood sprayed from her open wound. Her eyes began to roll in the back of her head.
Cinder…I'm sorry… She pitifully thought as she fell to her back, losing consciousness as soon as she hit the ground, arms and legs splayed out in defeat.
"There are a lot of differences between us, Emerald." Weiss breathed heavily as fatigue started to catch up to her. Her eyes were red as well due to blood vessels popping from stress. "You were born a street rat, I was born into a life of luxury."
"Most importantly, you chose to devote your life to someone who doesn't give a damn about you and only sees you as a tool…while I was lucky enough to see my father for what he was and get out of his grip." Weiss's expression briefly turned sympathetic. "That said…I easily could've turned out like you if I stayed desperate for his approval like I was at the start."
"But that doesn't excuse a damn thing. So you better be prepared to pay for your crimes when you wake up, you fool." Weiss went back to glaring at her beaten foe.
Weiss then felt her strength fail her as Arma Gigas vanished. As she fell, she had one final thought. Ruby, Blake, Professor Kobalt…please, save the others! She pleaded as her consciousness faded.
In Ever After Forest, two battles were waged between Yang Xiao Long and Mercury Black, and Weiss Schnee and Emerald Sustrai. And the winners were Yang and Weiss.
Meanwhile, Ruby Rose and Blake Belladonna continued running through the forest. Ruby's expression was worried. "Are you sure sending Zwei off on his own was a good idea?" She asked Blake.
"We need to cover more ground, and remember what Oobleck said back in Mountain Glen," Blake said to Ruby, "canines are known for their perceptive nose and heightened sense of sound. That means, he can find the others easily. And we do need to cover as much ground as possible to make sure we save everyone."
"If that's the case, shouldn't we split up too?" Ruby asked.
Blake's expression turned concerned now. Her cat ears drooped. "Listen Ruby, do you remember how we talked about how it made more sense for Cinder to be after you and the professor, considering you two messed up her plans so badly?"
Ruby nodded. "I want to stick close to you because I'm worried about what she would do to you if the two of you met in this forest." Blake looked at Ruby with complete seriousness. "Ruby, you can't beat her as you are now."
Ruby's expression soured. She did not like being told that. Not with how much she hated Cinder right now. Blake narrowed her eyes. "So we're going to do what the professor said and retreat if we run into her, right?"
"Blake…"
"Ruby, don't fight me on this," Blake shook her head, "I want to stick close to you because I want to protect you from Cinder."
"But I can't hope to beat her either. She's too good, even for both of us. So please, if the worst happens, let me get us both out of this." Blake paused. "And…if something worse than the worst happens, let me at least get you away from her."
Ruby immediately caught onto what Blake meant. "No way," she shook her head, "we're both escaping if it becomes necessary."
Ruby then continued with complete sincerity. "You're my friend, Blake. I want to protect you too, you know."
Blake was briefly taken aback by this. She then smiled. "Thank you, Ruby."
Then, a chilling presence washed over them both as the two girls froze in their tracks, in the middle of a clearing. The pressure of tremendous malice weighed down on them. A familiar face strolled into the clearing as well, an impassive expression on the woman's face.
"Well now, I can't sense Mercury's and Emerald's Aura anymore." The woman mused. She then sighed in disappointment. "I suppose their usefulness was going to run its course eventually. Just deadweight that we need to cut loose when we leave this place."
Cinder Fall locked eyes with Ruby as she smiled wickedly. Ruby felt the intense heat of her Aura, like she was getting burnt by the sun itself. "Hello, Ruby." She greeted in a chilling tone of voice that did not match her Aura in the slightest.
Ruby had truthfully wanted to avoid retreating for the sake of her friends still in the forest. But in that moment, every survival instinct in her body told her to flee.
Cinder wanted her dead, now.
A.N: A lot to take away from this one. 1) Ozpin just survived the equivalent of a warhead. 2) Hazel, a guy who hangs out with Tyrian, calls Hansel insane. Basically, in Hazel's eyes, Hansel out-crazies Tyrian, which might not be entirely inaccurate. 3) Yang beat Mercury for real and Mercury took it surprisingly well, while Weiss out-played Emerald, big time. And finally, a confrontation between Ruby, Blake and Cinder. I'm sure this will go very well, in a world that actually tries to power-scale its characters.
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. I'll see you all next time.