RWBY: The Joker Card

by Grand Chaos Master

Prisoners of destiny and seekers of destiny. Team RWBY at Beacon Academy training to become huntress. At the same time, all means of communication show a strange logo, a red hat, and a mask with one side on fire. A declaration of war that attracts the attention of all those in power.

15. Vol2 Chapter 5: Knocking on Death's Door

Hello, dear readers of RWBY: Joker Card!

We've finally arrived at the final chapter of the Investigation arc, titled Knocking on Death's Door.

And conversations with this format: "We are the Phantom Thieves", are happening in Oracle's telepathy link.

I sincerely hope this battle delivers the hype you've been waiting for in this story.

The rest of my message will be at the end of the chapter—but first, let's check out the comments!

---

Gamelover41592: That was exactly the reaction I was looking for! :))

divintgamer: Glad you liked it.

Blockyblob: YESSS!

Redburndragon: I know, and I tried to showcase the team's struggle as much as possible.

Sunny_us: I've replied to you in PV.

---

[Beacon Tower]

Ozpin sat in his office, drinking his coffee as usual. However, due to Leblanc being closed for an indefinite period, he was forced to settle for supermarket instant coffee. Not that it was bad, but Leblanc's coffee was on a whole different level. Ozpin brought his mug to his lips for a sip when suddenly the ground trembled. The coffee spilled out of his mug and almost landed on his glasses. But before any of it could fall onto the floor or himself, Ozpin skillfully brought the coffee back into the mug mid-air.

Ozpin stood up from behind his desk and looked out the window, but he saw nothing. To get a better view of the other side of the tower, he walked toward the elevator and, with a casual jump, landed effortlessly on the balcony of his office, standing by the window. The sight before him caused his breath to catch in his chest. Several massive icebergs had emerged from the forest, heading southwest. It was likely that anyone in Vale could see them. In his several hundred thousand years of life, Ozpin had never seen anything like it, and he could only imagine what kind of power could cause such an event.

Suddenly, his scroll rang, and Ozpin grabbed it. He looked at the incoming video call. The video displayed the main street of Vale, where a massive train had split the ground and entered the city. If you looked closely, you could spot a black figure being thrown off the top of the train, with debris crashing down on top of him. Ozpin stared in shock at the unfolding event until the camera zoomed in on the place where the figure had fallen. The debris shifted, and the figure easily pushed them aside, standing unharmed. Although the figure's face was obscured, Ozpin could swear it was the leader of the Phantom Thieves.

Suddenly, the train door was smashed open, and his friend Bartholomew Oobleck stepped out. Ozpin let out a relieved sigh. It seemed that the Phantom Thieves had joined the students and helped them thwart "her" plan.

Just then, another call appeared on his scroll, with Ironwood's profile picture flashing on the screen. Ozpin answered.

"Ozpin, they're here! I'm gathering all the forces, and—" Ironwood started, offering an attack plan, but Ozpin interrupted.

"Hold on, James. If you go in with force and an army, they'll definitely escape. How about I go there and talk to them instead?" Ozpin suggested, and the sound of Ironwood gasping was clearly audible from the other side of the scroll.

"Ozpin, have you lost your mind?!" Ironwood shouted in shock.

"If what I'm seeing out the window belongs to them, they could become powerful allies against her," Ozpin explained his reasoning. Ironwood took a deep breath, clearly not convinced but willing to concede.

"Five minutes. After that, all Atlas forces will be deployed to apprehend them," Ironwood stated firmly before abruptly ending the call.

Ozpin smiled and began preparing for negotiations. However, an all-too-familiar sensation washed over him—one he had felt thousands of times before. Death.

And before he could do anything, his scroll ranged again, but this time, it was not a friendly call.

---

[A Few Minutes Earlier, with Team JNPR]

Team JNPR stood at the Beacon Dock, ready to embark on their first official mission as Huntsmen and Huntresses—a significant step on their journey to becoming protectors of the world. Everything seemed to be going well, except for one thing; Jaune couldn't shake off his unease. His thoughts were consumed with worry for Team RWBY.

"I'm sure they're fine," Pyrrha reassured him, her voice calm and supportive. But Jaune didn't seem to relax.

"If you're worried because they haven't contacted us, I should remind you—they're in an area without service," Ren said, walking ahead alongside Nora.

"I'm just upset that they're out there saving the world without us!" Nora chirped, her usual cheerful self as she skipped along.

"I know, but... I just have this bad feeling. Like... death is waiting for them in the city," Jaune admitted, his voice heavy with concern as he stopped walking.

"Jaune..." Pyrrha placed a comforting hand on the shoulder of the armored knight. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, the ground began to tremble.

One by one, massive icebergs erupted from the earth, towering into the sky. Team JNPR stood frozen in awe, staring at the icy structures for what felt like an eternity, unable to process what they were seeing. The spell was broken by the sound of their scrolls chiming with incoming notifications. Each of them opened the message to find a link to a live news broadcast about a sudden incident in Vale. The headline alone left the entire team stunned.

Jaune clicked on the link, and the screen showed Lisa Lavender, Vale's famous news reporter, standing amidst a crowd with a cameraman filming the chaos around her.

"Lisa Lavender reporting live from a sudden incident in Central Square! Moments ago, a train emerged from underground into the heart of the city! We currently have no information, but the train appears to be linked to the White Fang, as several members are seen emerging from the cars that remain underground!" Lisa's voice was tense yet professional as she reported the scene. Suddenly, some of the debris began to shift in the background.

"Wait, it looks like something's moving over there!" she exclaimed.

A man dressed in black pushed aside the heavy rubble and stood up effortlessly as if the weight had been nothing to him. He rose to his feet without a hint of struggle.

"As you can see, a young man has emerged from the wreckage. But the question remains—who is he?" Lisa continued, her voice laced with curiosity as the camera focused on the mysterious figure.

The train door was ripped off its hinges, drawing the media's attention to a new development. The camera zoomed in on the broken door as Dr. Oobleck emerged, followed by Yang, Blake, two unfamiliar boys, Weiss, an unfamiliar girl, and finally Ruby—with a dog in tow. While Oobleck began explaining the situation, Team JNPR collectively let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

"Wait! What is that? AHHHH!" Lisa Lavender exclaimed in terror before abruptly screaming in pain. The camera was flung backward, its lens cracked, leaving a jagged fracture obscuring the image. Team JNPR suddenly felt an overwhelming, bone-chilling cold, unlike anything they had ever experienced. It wasn't just physical—it pierced their very souls.

The team exchanged worried glances as the sound of chains echoed faintly through the scroll. On the screen, a blurry image appeared—a monstrous figure that was clearly not human but also wasn't Grimm. Suddenly, the Grimm alarm blared, its haunting wail cutting through the air. Nora clamped her hands over her ears, wincing at the noise. When the alarm finally ceased, everyone turned to Jaune.

"Mission change!" Jaune commanded, signaling for the team to follow him.

---

[Central Square]

The Phantom Thieves had felt this oppressive, frigid atmosphere before. It was an unforgettable sensation—the sharp stench of death hanging heavy in the air.

They turned to the other side of the train and saw it; a swirling vortex of black and crimson, eerily similar to the how they used to enter the hearts of targets in Mementos back in their own world. It wasn't long before the sound of chains echoed, and then, as though ripping through flesh, the barrels of two revolvers emerged from the vortex. Moments later, it stepped out. The Reaper.

The physical embodiment of humanity's fear of death. A terrifying and malevolent force of nature, absurdly powerful and utterly relentless.

The Thieves tried to warn the crowd, shouting for everyone to flee, but it was already too late.

BANG!

The Reaper fired one of its revolvers into the sky, conjuring a massive green cyclone that sent everything, and everyone flying. Screams filled the air as chaos erupted, and one by one, the people around them were overtaken by the storm.

For Joker, everything went dark.

---

A few seconds later, Joker slowly opened his eyes. His brief unconsciousness was the result of Izanagi's elemental weakness to wind. As his senses returned, Joker saw the Reaper advancing on the crowd, methodically gunning down anyone in its path. Each shot was imbued with a different elemental power, mercilessly annihilating its victims.

The first was a woman with her boyfriend who were hugging each other, obliterated by Kougaon, their forms disintegrating into nothingness.

The next was a mother clutching her infant. With Eigaon, they were reduced to black skeletons before crumbling into ashes and vanishing like Grimm.

Among the crowd, two teenage sisters clung to each other. The older one tried to shield her younger sibling, her arms trembling with fear. Their eyes locked onto the Reaper, who stepped closer with an ominous glow in his crimson eyes. Before they could flee, he raised one of its guns, releasing nuke skill, Mafrei. The smaller sister was the first to vanish, her body disintegrating into particles of light with a short, sharp scream. The elder sister froze, her face a mixture of terror and despair as the second wave consumed her. Nothing remained but a faint echo of their cries and the cold clinking of the Reaper's chains.

A small boy, clutching a bright red balloon, stood motionless in the chaos. His wide, innocent eyes fixated on the Reaper, too young to fully understand the danger, or too scared to move. The Reaper slowly turned to him, aiming its revolver. A chilling blue light emanated from the gun and ice skill, Bufudyne cast. The boy froze on the spot, his expression still soft and childlike as his entire body became encased in ice. The balloon slipped from his grip, floating into the sky, while the icy shell cracked and shattered into tiny fragments. There was no scream, no remains; just silence.

A young woman screamed as she held tightly onto her fiancé's hand. They bolted into a narrow alley, hoping to escape the horror behind them. But the sound of rattling chains echoed from every direction. Turning around, they found the Reaper standing at the alley's entrance, blocking their only escape. With a motionless gesture, he raised both revolvers, summoning two distinct energies. The woman was struck first by Garudyne, her body torn apart by a vicious windstorm. The man's anguished scream was cut short as Agidyne engulfed him in a massive blaze, leaving nothing but ash. The smoke rising from his remains was the only trace of him along with the bloody skeleton of his loved one.

Three teenagers, still in their school uniforms, clutched each other's hands as they ran through the square, their cries drowned out by the chaos around them. The Reaper showed no mercy. With a single shot of his revolver, a golden circle formed beneath their feet. Light Insta-Kill skill Hamaon. A blinding light enveloped the trio, their panicked screams cutting off abruptly. When the light faded, there was nothing left, as if they were never there.

Joker could no longer stand idly by. He had to act, or everyone in the square would perish. Gathering every ounce of his strength, he forced himself to his feet and let out a powerful shout.

"MOT! MEGIDOLAON!"

An Egyptian sarcophagus materialized in the air. From within, a mummified hand extended and unleashed the devastating Almighty spell, Megidolaon. The immense explosion struck the Reaper, hurling it into the sewers below and buying the Phantom Thieves precious time to regroup and prepare for what was to come.

Joker was still injured, and his knees gave out again. He glanced back and saw that the others were beginning to get up. With his current condition, he couldn't do much unless he healed himself. The situation demanded urgency—there was no more time for secrecy. Either now or never. The other members of Team RWBY, except Ruby, slowly regained consciousness.

"Titania!" Joker ripped the mask off his face, summoning the Queen of Fairies, Titania, which caused Team RWBY to gape in shock. "Mediarahan!" The healing skill was cast, mending everyone's wounds completely, allowing them to stand steadily once more.

There were countless questions, but when Team RWBY saw Joker looking so unsettled and frightened, they understood it wasn't the right moment to ask them.

Suddenly, Yang noticed Ruby still lying motionless on the ground. Her heart sank as she rushed to her sister's side, cradling her gently. "Ruby? Ruby, wake up!" Yang shook her sister with every desperate call, but there was no response.

"Calm down," Oracle's telepathic voice cut through the tension. "Your sister's injuries have been fully healed. She's only unconscious."

Yang let out a shaky sigh of relief. Just then, a UFO appeared above her, startling her enough to make her take a step back. "I'll take her to a safe location," Oracle said. "Please, step aside."

Yang hesitated, her instincts telling her to keep Ruby close. But after all the help Joker and his team had provided, trusting them didn't seem like the wrong thing to do. It was hard, and her grip on Ruby tightened, but she finally let go.

Oracle extended Necronomicon's tendrils, carefully picking Ruby up before swiftly flying off to an unknown destination. The rest of Team RWBY watched the UFO until it disappeared from sight. Their attention then shifted back to the main scene—and what they saw turned their stomachs.

The burned and mutilated remains of the townspeople were scattered across the ground, the smell of charred flesh thick in the air.

"What kind of Grimm in Remnant could do something like this?!" Weiss exclaimed in horror, but the sight overwhelmed her, and she vomited the contents of her stomach onto the ground. Blake, who had seen slaughter before and grown somewhat desensitized, moved to comfort Weiss, patting her back to steady her.

Joker, meanwhile, was gripped with a growing fear. Had the Reaper been summoned because of him? He was the one who held the summoning scroll, after all. Frantically, he reached into his coat, pulling out the scroll and examining it. It was intact and untouched—no signs of activation. If it wasn't them, then how had the Reaper been summoned?

"Even in the oldest legends, there's no record of a Grimm like this!" Blake said, helping Weiss to her feet.

"That's no Grimm," Joker said darkly, his voice cutting through the chilling silence. He scanned the area, and that's when he saw it. Roman Torchwick lay sprawled on the ground on the far side of the train, the Reaper's summoning scroll clutched tightly in his hand.

Rage boiled within Joker, surging through him like a volcano ready to erupt. "You despicable, bastard scumbag!" he roared, his voice dripping with fury, as he started striding toward Roman. Team RWBY stared, startled by Joker's sudden outburst.

"What's going on?" Yang asked, confusion and worry evident in her tone.

Roman, barely able to move his body, turned his head and saw Joker approaching him, his rage barely contained. Joker grabbed Roman by the collar, lifting him off the ground and holding him face to face. "Do you have any idea what you've done?!" Joker yelled directly into Roman's face, causing him to shut his eyes in reflex.

"I don't know. Why don't you tell me?" Roman said, a smug grin plastered on his face despite the situation.

Joker, seething with anger, switched to his strongest physical Persona. With his own hand, he delivered a powerful punch to Roman's face, sending a tooth flying. "You summoned the Reaper! The physical manifestation of humanity's collective fear of death!" Joker bellowed, his voice rising even louder. Team RWBY, now had a little understanding the gravity of the situation, felt a chill run through them.

Joker wasn't done. He grabbed Roman by the collar again, lifting him off the ground with renewed intensity. "I don't care why or under whose orders you unleashed death upon this city, but tell me, how did you get your hands on the summoning scroll?!"

"I didn't find it," Roman replied, his smug demeanor cracking just slightly. "Someone hid it in one of the Dust crates we stole. One of those animals found it, and it came with a note. That's all I know!" Roman reached into his coat and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, handing it shakily to Joker.

Joker snatched the paper, tossing Roman back to the ground as he began reading the note aloud:

"Roman Torchwick, if you're reading this, know that I am a friend. The scroll in your possession holds the power to unleash something beyond imagination. If you ever want to bring chaos to the city, or end yourself and everyone around you, open the scroll.
A friend."

Joker's eyes darted back to Roman, who simply shrugged and shook his head, indicating even he hadn't expected something this catastrophic. But Joker wasn't satisfied. he folded the note and slipped it into his pocket.

"So, what do we do now?" Yang asked, flexing her arm, her determination evident.

"Bind Roman Torchwick's hands and feet, then get as far away from here as possible," Joker said darkly, his tone leaving no room for debate.

"Wait a second," Yang protested, anger flaring in her voice. "We've been fighting alongside you all this time, and now you're just pushing us away?"

"This fight isn't one you can win," Joker responded bluntly, his tone cold.

"We've fought powerful Grimm before; we can handle this one too," Yang retorted, her voice firm.

"No, you can't," Joker said, spinning around to face her, his voice rising slightly. "No one can. Even if you have enough strength, it doesn't matter. Its very nature defies the physical world. Hitting it is like punching a shadow!"

The weight of his words hung in the air as Yang clenched her fists but remained silent. Joker softened his tone, though it carried an edge of desperation. "If you really want to help, then leave this place. Make sure not a single living soul comes anywhere near here."

His words left Team RWBY stunned, but the conviction in his voice was undeniable. They exchanged uncertain glances, the enormity of what they faced sinking in.

"What about you? What are you going to do?" Blake asked, concern lacing her voice as she took a hesitant step forward. However, the sound of chains echoed again, and Blake instinctively stepped back.

"We..." A voice interrupted from the side, and Team RWBY turned their heads to see its source. It was Crow. "…will do what we are good at!"

The rest of the Phantom Thieves appeared alongside Crow, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Joker and assuming battle stances. In unison, their masks disintegrated into blue flames, and their Personas materialized one after another. Joker summoned Arsène, Crow called forth Loki, Queen brought out Johanna, her motorcycle skidding to a halt beside her, and Mona unleashed Zorro.

The ground suddenly shook violently as Reaper emerged from below, clawing its way back to the surface. The Phantom Thieves wasted no time, launching a synchronized assault against the creature. In response, the Reaper executed Riot Gun, forcing the Thieves to scatter in all directions, dodging the hail of deadly projectiles.

Joker led the charge, casting Eigaon to strike the Reaper. The attack landed, but the Reaper barely flinched. Mona followed up, leaping toward the Reaper's face and attempting a direct blow. However, the Reaper effortlessly deflected Mona's strike with one revolver and retaliated with Ziodyne from the other. The high-voltage blast struck Mona squarely, sending him hurtling back with such force that he crashed through the wall of a nearby house.

Crow called on Loki to attack, and Loki spun his sword with legs toward the Reaper. The blow was partially deflected, but the sheer impact forced the Reaper to skid backward slightly. Queen seized the opportunity, directing Johanna to attack from behind. The Reaper twisted around and fired Psiodyne at Queen, but Joker intercepted the shot with Okuninushi, nullifying the attack. This gave Queen an opening to strike with Freidyne. The hit connected, but the Reaper remained largely unscathed.

Team RWBY watched the battle in awe, their eyes wide as they took in the sheer ferocity and precision of the fight that they could hardly follow with their eyes. It was unlike anything they had ever seen. The tactics, the coordination, and the relentless power of both the Phantom Thieves and the Reaper were overwhelming. They began to understand why Joker had insisted they leave.

Yang hoisted Roman onto her shoulder, preparing to leave with her team. But before they could move, the roaring engine of a Bullhead broke through the chaos.

While the Phantom Thieves were entirely focused on the battle, the Reaper's gaze shifted toward the sound, as if forming a sinister plan.

Team RWBY turned to see the source of the noise and spotted Team JNPR arriving aboard the Bullhead, flying dangerously close. Fear gripped Team RWBY as they frantically waved and shouted, trying to warn their friends to stay away.

"Hey, look! Team RWBY is over there!" Nora exclaimed, pointing excitedly at them.

The rest of Team JNPR noticed too, but instead of seeing the warning gestures for what they were, they misunderstood completely.

"They're signaling for help!" Jaune declared, his voice resolute. "Everyone, jump down!"

Without hesitation, Team JNPR prepared to leap from the Bullhead, oblivious to the danger awaiting them below.

Team RWBY stared at the Bullhead, their expressions twisting with dread as the cabin door opened. "No, no, no! Get out of here! It's dangerous!" Weiss shouted louder, frantically waving her hands.

"They're not getting it—they think we're asking for help!" Blake said anxiously, her ears twitching with worry.

Team JNPR leaped from the Bullhead one by one, each landing in their own heroic fashion—Nora, Jaune, Ren, and Pyrrha. All of them seemed oblivious to the monstrous chaos unfolding mere yards away, where a green giant with a smaller head on top of its own and eight massive arms wielded dual spears against a nightmare creature armed with oversized revolvers.

"Team JNPR is here to save the day!" Jaune declared, raising his sword triumphantly.

"Freeze! Nobody moves!" a new voice interrupted. Team JNPR turned toward the sound to see Sun and Neptune striking poses reminiscent of Kamen Rider, complete with a flashing badge in Neptune's hand.

"Junior detectives, at your service!" Sun announced dramatically.

"And it's official because we've got badges!" Neptune added with a smirk.

While the two teams basked in their theatrical entrances, Joker darted toward Reaper's face, attempting to stab it with his dagger. But Reaper, moving with unnatural speed, dropped one of its revolvers and caught Joker's face with a massive hand. With an almost casual motion, Reaper slammed Joker into the ground and fired a Megidolaon point-blank, leaving Joker groaning in pain and surrounded by smoking rubble.

"Let him go, freak!" Crow roared, summoning Kali. The multi-armed Persona charged with six blades, striking Reaper in a flurry of thrusts. The force drove Reaper back slightly, but it quickly retaliated. With a simultaneous shot from both revolvers, it unleashed the Heat Wave that hurled Crow into a tree, shattering it on impact. Crow's body crashed through the splintered wood and landed against the stairs, cracking the stone. His Aura shattered with an audible crackle.

Aura might have been useful in Remnant, but in the Metaverse, it was little more than a flimsy paper shield. Crow had lost count, but this was probably the seventh time his Aura had broken today.

Queen seized the opening, riding Johanna toward Reaper to deliver a devastating Megaton Raid. She landed the attack with all her strength, but Reaper sidestepped with an eerie grace. It retaliated by bashing Queen in the face with the barrel of its revolver, sending her flying off Johanna. Before she could recover, Reaper fired a Garudyne, striking her mid-air and hurling her into a train car. The impact was so forceful it bent the carriage backward into the tunnel.

At last, Team JNPR and the junior detectives took notice of the battle raging before them. They stared in shock, trying to piece together what they were seeing. First, the sheer chaos of the fight. Second, the nature of this Reaper—what kind of Grimm could it possibly be? Third, who were these mysterious fighters battling it, and why wasn't Team RWBY helping?

Joker pushed himself up, groaning from the pounding headache caused by getting hit with a Megidolaon in the face. His gaze flicked toward Team JNPR and the newcomers, Sun and Neptune, who had now joined them. His eyes widened in alarm. Then he turned back to Reaper, and for a moment, he could swear he saw a sinister grin behind its sack mask.

Reaper raised both its arms, aiming its revolvers in a cross-like stance. With chilling precision, it fired in opposite directions—Maziodyne arced toward Team JNPR, while Makougaon the Bless skill blasted a path toward Sun and Neptune.

"Norn!" Joker called out, summoning the Norse deity of time. A Persona optimized for defensive resistance in the dire situation he faced. Norn swiftly moved to intercept Reaper's attacks, positioning itself in front of Sun and Neptune, while Joker stood as a shield before Team JNPR.

The electricity from the attack directed toward Team JNPR struck Joker but was deflected back at Reaper, dealing damage more significant than anything else inflicted so far. However, despite Norn's resistance to Bless attacks, Reaper's overwhelming power shattered the Persona.

As Norn shattered, the damage rebounded onto Joker, triggering a searing headache that drove him to his knees. His Aura shattered with a sharp crack, as expected. Seizing the opportunity, Reaper launched a Brave Blade attack. Three deep slashes tore across Joker's shoulders and chest, sending a spray of blood onto Ren and the rest of Team JNPR.

Stunned, Team JNPR froze, unable to process the brutal speed and intensity of the fight. Jaune touched his face, looking down at his hand now stained with Joker's blood.

"Get out of here!" Joker shouted through gritted teeth, his left hand flinging forward in a weak motion to urge them away.

Ren and Nora stared in shock and terror. For Ren, the scene was hauntingly familiar. No, it wasn't the same... but it was so dame close. He remembered this feeling. scared in the face of an overwhelming monster, while someone else put himself as a meat shield to protect him. But he wasn't defenseless and helpless anymore. He was a huntsman in training.

Suddenly, Ren screamed, drawing StormFlower and charging at Reaper while spraying bullets. Nora followed suit, yelling a little more cheerful and energetic as she fired grenade after grenade at the monster. Ren circled around Reaper, unleashing a relentless hail of bullets. Yet, both the grenades and bullets were useless, as if absorbed into the creature's form.

Irritated, Reaper raised its revolvers skyward and fired. The air around Ren grew heavy and damp, as though he were caught in a sudden rainstorm. Five lights materialized around him, ominously floating in the charged air.

Nothing happened... until it did.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Out of nowhere, Joker appeared in front of Ren, and Repelled Tempest Slash back toward Reaper through Rangda. The five strikes landed true, dealing notable damage to the Reaper.

"I told you to run, not attack!" Joker snapped at Ren, blood still pouring from his wounds as he turned to glare at him.

Reaper capitalized on the moment, firing a Ziodyne at Joker. The bolt of lightning struck him directly, sending waves of pain coursing through his body. Joker screamed in agony, and by all rights, he should have either passed out or died. But thanks to Rangda being equipped with Endure, Joker clung to life, teetering on the edge of consciousness. Yet, he was too injured to stand upright.

Nora fired another volley of grenades at Reaper, further provoking its ire. Without even turning toward her, Reaper aimed one of its revolvers and shot a mid-level electricity skill; Zionga.

Nora saw the attack coming and smirked. Electricity? That was her domain. She prepared to absorb the attack and redirect its power right back at Reaper.

The Zionga struck her, and—

"AHHHHHH!" Nora screamed in pain, her Aura shattering as her body hit the ground, skin scorched from the sheer force of the lightning. Her Semblance had saved her from being reduced to ashes, but even so, she had overdosed on the raw electricity. The ordeal left her unconscious, though she was fortunate to still be alive.

"Nora!" Jaune exclaimed in shock, dropping to his knees beside his teammate to assess her condition, while Pyrrha raised her shield, standing guard to protect them.

Reaper's revolver rose once more.

"Incoming!" Pyrrha shouted, bracing herself. Jaune mirrored her, gripping his shield tightly, ready to block whatever was coming.

But for humanity's manifestation of fear of death, their preparations were futile.

Reaper fired, and the Vajra Blast materialized in front of Pyrrha and Jaune. The force of the explosion hurled them both backward, slamming them into a wall. Their Auras shattered upon impact with the blast, leaving them vulnerable to the physical collision. Both of them lost their consciousness and lay on the ground.

Seeing the disastrous turn of events, Sun and Neptune immediately discarded their badges and prepared to flee at full speed. However, when Sun spotted Blake in the distance, his pride as a man got the better of him. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward her at full speed.

Neptune, moving in the opposite direction, realized too late that Sun had deviated from their escape route. Skidding to a halt, he turned back, watching Sun head straight toward Team RWBY and Team JNPR. Shaking his head in disbelief, Neptune chased after his friend. After all, what kind of friend would he be if he left him behind?

Team RWBY knelt beside Team JNPR, each member checking on their injured friends. Weiss examined Nora, Blake tended to Pyrrha, and Yang assessed Jaune. They were all alive, but it was evident they wouldn't regain consciousness anytime soon. However, Nora's condition was critical.

It was baffling to everyone that Nora, who could absorb a full bolt of lightning without issue, had been overwhelmed by an electric attack. What puzzled them even more was that this bolt wasn't nearly as powerful as the one that had previously struck Mona.

"Guys!" Sun's voice broke through the tension as he sprinted toward the group, skidding to a stop in front of Blake.

"Sun?! What are you doing here?" Blake asked in surprise, her eyes widening as Neptune arrived moments later, gasping for breath.

"We were minding our own business when we heard shouting and explosions," Sun began, gesturing toward the chaos behind him. "So, we came to check it out."

As Sun explained, the sounds of the ongoing battle grew louder, a stark reminder that something far more dangerous was unfolding on the battlefield.

Ren stood frozen, terror gripping him as he stared at the nightmare before him—a creature far more horrifying than even the worst Grimm he could imagine. Whatever this thing was, it wasn't Grimm. It wasn't a monster. And now, as he looked into the single eye peeking out from the sack covering its head, he saw the death he feared most.

He somewhat understood what they were dealing with.

What had made him think he stood a chance? He wasn't even a fully trained Huntsman yet. And because of his recklessness, they were all about to die.

His eyes shifted to Joker, who, despite barely being able to stand, still had the determination to fight burning within him.

Reaper raised its revolvers, aiming directly at them. The imminent danger locked Ren in place, unable to move. But before Reaper could fire, a strong green tornado erupted, and an explosion from behind sent the figure flying over Joker and Ren and slamming face-first into the ground.

Ren and Joker turned to see what had caused the sudden blast.

Queen stood there, landing with dramatic flair in her signature All-Out Attack pose, and at the same time, Mona landed near her.

"Fist of Justice!" Queen declared with a determined shout.

"Thanks for the save Queen," Mona said and then ripped his mask off and Zorro healed all the combatants with Mediarahan.

Reaper recovered quickly, standing and readying itself for battle. But its gaze shifted. Its eyes locked onto Team RWBY, who had gathered with Sun and Neptune to check on Team JNPR.

Seizing the opportunity, Reaper aimed one of its revolvers at the group. Before anyone could react, it fired Mabufudyne in their direction.

The massive ice blast spread rapidly, encompassing everyone in its deadly radius.

Realizing what was happening, the group braced themselves, closing their eyes as they prepared for the worst.

But nothing happened.

Cautiously, they opened their eyes.

Standing before them was a figure cloaked in silver flames, accompanied by a shadowy being dressed as a blue jester. The black figure vanished in a swirl of silver flames, leaving the cloaked individual to draw a crescent-shaped silver blade.

"Summer?!" Yang whispered in shock; her voice barely audible.

"Artemis!" Joker's shout broke the silence, surprising everyone. "You're late!" he yelled at the figure.

After a few moments, the cloak of the new Phantom Thief, known as Artemis, changed color, turning crimson due to the vanishing of the silver flames. Just like the others, she leaped toward the Reaper, transforming into a black streak mid-air.

At the same time, as Ren sprinted past Joker, rushing back to his team, Artemis reappeared behind the Reaper. She tore off her mask, summoning Tsukiyomi, who unleashed Vorpal Blade. Several slashes materialized in the air, striking the Reaper, but the monstrous entity barely flinched from the attack.

Ren finally reached his team, dropping to his knees beside Weiss, who was holding Nora in her arms. His eyes widened as he took in the burn marks on her body.

"This is all my fault," he muttered, voice filled with guilt, as tears welled up in his eyes.

"Ren, now isn't the time to dwell on regret!" Weiss snapped. "We need to get out of here and make sure no one else gets caught up in this fight."

She attempted to lift Nora onto her back, but the unconscious girl was much heavier than she appeared. Realizing she couldn't do it alone, Ren grabbed Nora's other arm, and together, they managed to support her weight between them.

The Reaper, showing no mercy, switched its focus to those without Personas, aiming another attack in their direction. This time, it used Mapsiodyne, sending a wave of psychic energy toward them. However, unlike before, the Phantom Thieves did not react.

Team RWBY, JNPR, along with Sun and Neptune, instinctively shut their eyes, bracing for impact. But just as the attack was about to strike, a bright green force field appeared in front of them, completely nullifying the blast.

"Sorry for the delay!" Oracle's voice echoed in the minds of the non-Persona Users, causing everyone—except Team RWBY, to look around in confusion.

"Yang, don't worry. Ruby is safe. She should wake up in about an hour or two," Oracle reassured her.

Yang exhaled deeply, relief washing over her. Suddenly, an unusual light surrounded their group. Within moments, Jaune, Pyrrha, and Nora's injuries vanished, and all three of them gasped awake, their breaths sharp and sudden. Despite being conscious, their bodies still ached from the ordeal.

"What… happened?" Jaune groaned, his voice laced with confusion as he realized Yang was still carrying him.

"A physical manifestation of humanity's fear of death knocked you out in one hit," Yang answered matter-of-factly.

Jaune blinked, due to not understanding a single word.

"I'd love to stay and chat, but I need to rejoin the fight," Oracle's voice chimed in from Necronomicon.

At that moment, a Megidola beam struck the building behind them, vaporizing the upper floors in an instant. The non-Persona Users instinctively covered their heads, shielding themselves from the shockwave.

Oracle wasted no time, flying toward the battlefield. Everyone, including the Reaper, turned their attention to Necronomicon as it radiated a brilliant light, momentarily blinding the entire area.

When the Reaper's vision cleared, it found itself completely surrounded. Every single Phantom Thief in Vale standing in formation, ready to strike.

"The hunt for 'Death' begins now!" Oracle declared through the telepathic link, and everyone nodded in unison.

As the first strike, Joker and Crow stood shoulder to shoulder, tearing off their masks.

"Octagram Slash!"

Izanagi Picaro and Magatsu-Izanagi materialized simultaneously, each striking in tandem. Izanagi Picaro's blade slashed in a plus shape while Magatsu-Izanagi's strike formed an X. The resulting impact created a massive octagram-shaped slash in the air, cutting deep into the Reaper. The monstrous entity was visibly wounded, sent recoiling from the sheer force of the attack.

"Witness my resolve!" Mona roared as he summoned Zorro. The Persona elegantly twirled its rapier in a Z-shape, unleashing a powerful Garudyne. The emerald storm crashed into the Reaper, halting its movements momentarily and dealing acceptable damage.

"Feel my rage!" Queen charged at the Reaper, sliding beneath it before delivering a devastating uppercut to its face. Immediately after, she summoned Johanna, who launched the Freidyne, creating a miniature nuclear explosion right in the Reaper's face.

"The hunt is on!" Artemis tore off her mask, summoning Black Frost. With an enthusiastic "Hee-Hoo!", Black Frost cast Diamond Dust, encasing the Reaper within a colossal ice formation, so massive it was visible from miles away.

For a few moments, an eerie silence fell over the battlefield. Artemis exhaled, steadying herself—only for a deafening roar to erupt from within the frozen prison. The Reaper's howl was so intense that everyone instinctively covered their ears.

The next instant, the entire ice mountain disintegrated into nothingness, revealing the Reaper—still standing, barely harmed. Without hesitation, it raised its gun skyward and fired.

The Phantom Thieves braced for another attack, expecting something catastrophic. But what the Reaper did next was far worse.

It cast Salvation on itself.

All of its wounds vanished in an instant.

"WHAT?!" Every Phantom Thief, except Artemis, shouted in shock.

"Tell me that wasn't the Salvation!" Queen said in disbelief, praying she was wrong.

"This is bad! This Reaper is way stronger than the one from our world!" Mona said, his voice filled with unease.

"What do we do now?!" Artemis asked, barely dodging another ice attack.

"In normal circumstances, we'd retreat, get stronger, and return later—but that's not an option right now," Joker growled, clenching his teeth.

They all knew what he meant. If they left now, the Reaper would roam freely, slaughtering every living soul it encountered. Their only choices were to defeat it—or die trying.

"We have to hit it as hard as possible using Charge and Concentrate, keeping up the pressure so it doesn't get the chance to recover!" Crow shouted, laying out his plan.

"But even our strongest attacks barely faze it!" Artemis pointed out as she narrowly dodged another icy blast.

"Loki has a special attack called Rebellion Blade," Crow explained. "If the enemy is completely open, the damage it deals is several times stronger than normal. If we use it when the Reaper is near death, we might have a shot at finishing it off—but it drains a ridiculous amount of my energy, which means I can only use it once. But the problem is, Reaper is immune to alignments, which means we can't use Technical Tactics,"

"A move that deals massive damage when the enemy's guard is down?" Joker mused a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Crow, I've got a better idea and my Down-Shot bullet works on Reaper, and Critical Attacks still affect it," With that, he reached out and Drained a Curse skill from Reaper.

"So, we either disrupt its balance with a Down-Shot or land a critical hit on the next attack with Will of Rebellion, then..." Mona swiftly dodged a Ziodyne. "...Crow finishes it off with Rebellion Blade—or whatever Joker has planned," Mona added, having caught onto the strategy.

"I'll handle the attack! You guys focus on recovering your energy!" Artemis declared. She pressed a button on her weapon, causing the handle of her curved sword to extend, transforming it into a war scythe. Unlike a traditional scythe, this one resembled a spear, making it more practical while still retaining its deadly efficiency.

"This is the Atlas military! Drop your weapons and surrender!" General Ironwood's voice rang out. The group instinctively looked around in surprise—until a massive Atlas airship, flanked by a large squadron of Bullheads, emerged overhead.

"No, no, no, no, no!" Joker shouted in panic.

"This is your final warning! Surrender now, or we will resort to force!"

Reaper, hearing Ironwood's command, turned toward the airship and let out another deafening roar, forcing the Phantom Thieves to cover their ears.

Suddenly, one of the Bullheads activated its minigun and opened fire on Reaper. But just like Ren and Nora's bullets, the rounds vanished into its body without effect. Unfazed, it raised its twin revolvers toward the fleet and fired.

For a brief moment, time itself seemed to freeze for the Phantom Thieves. Then, suddenly—

BOOM!

A Megidolaon detonated at the center of Ironwood's airship, splitting it in two. Debris rained down toward the city below—where countless civilians lived.

"Don't let it crash into the city!" Joker yelled, pointing at the falling wreckage.

In response, Thor, the god of thunder, materialized, launching himself toward the ship's rear half with his hammer.

"Go help him!" Artemis commanded as she summoned Zeus, the God of the Olympus Gods. Zeus wasted no time, soaring toward the ship's front half. With two Wild Cards now without their Personas.

As chaos erupted on the ground, civilians screamed, ran in panic, and took cover beneath whatever they could find, fearing the impending disaster. Just as the wreckage was about to come crashing down, two gods of thunder from two different mythologies reached the ship's halves.

Thor and Zeus positioned themselves beneath the falling wreckage, each grabbing hold of a massive chunk. They lifted the broken airship, preventing it from plummeting into the city, but smaller debris still rained down.

Without hesitation, the two gods extended their hands toward the ground. A surge of electricity crackled between them, and sparks of lightning spread across the sky. Then, in a blinding flash, an electric explosion formed a massive dome over the city, blocking even the tiniest fragments from reaching the highest surface below.

It would have been effortless for the gods to destroy the entire ship, but there were likely still survivors aboard. Instead, they carried the two halves toward the sea and left them there before swiftly flying back toward the battlefield.

As the gods returned at lightning speed, people and news networks began capturing footage from elevated positions, recording the Phantom Thieves' battle against Reaper. Now everyone could see Cognition beings.

With both Joker and Artemis currently without their Personas, they took on the role of bait to distract Reaper. Joker darted around, firing shots at its head with his pistol, while Artemis moved swiftly, striking with her war scythe before retreating again.

The fight had dragged on, leaving everyone exhausted. Their bodies ached, their nerves burned, and their mental energy was nearly depleted—without it, they couldn't alter reality to unleash their stronger skills. However, Joker still had plenty of mental stamina left. Weeks of training at the gym and meditation in the temple had paid off its magic, and he could keep fighting for longer. Artemis, thanks to her training with Jaune, was in decent condition, but her energy levels were only slightly above the other team members. Crow had more mental energy than most but was nowhere near Joker, so he had been conserving his strength for a final attack. Meanwhile, Queen and Mona were nearly drained. Mona had been constantly switching between healing and magical attacks, and Queen had been balancing healing, support, and offense all at once.

"There!" Joker shouted, tossing a Soma to Queen and another to Mona.

"Thank you, Joker!" Queen called out, catching the Soma mid-air.

"Sorry!" Mona echoed, doing the same.

Both Phantom Thieves quickly consumed the Soma, restoring their stamina and energy.

Reaper fired into the air, and a three-colored triangle formed around it—a clear sign that it had boosted itself with Heat Riser. The team braced for its inevitable Concentrate and the devastating attack that would follow. However, Joker and Artemis exchanged knowing smirks.

Just before Reaper could use Concentrate, Thor and Zeus appeared above it. Thor infused Mjölnir with Wild Thunder and hurled it straight at Reaper, while at the same time, Zeus forged a spear of lightning and unleashed his signature Thunder Reign.

Both thunderous attacks struck Reaper, causing it to seize up from the intense shock.

Queen seized the opportunity, casting Dekaja to erase the effects of Heat Riser. Joker followed up by summoning Trumpeter and casting Debilitate, reducing Reaper's attack, defense, and speed to less than half their original strength.

"Now's the time! Hit it with everything you've got!" Joker shouted, ripping off his mask.

Stinger Griffon materialized in a flash and shot toward Reaper at full speed. The two monstrous entities clashed, pushing against each other in a fierce struggle for dominance. Unfortunately, Stinger Griffon made a mistake—it grabbed Reaper's revolvers.

Reaper instantly released its guns, using the opening to deliver a brutal uppercut straight to Stinger Griffon's face, winning the clash. The revolvers slipped from Stinger Griffon's talons, and Reaper swiftly reclaimed them, aiming both directly at Stinger Griffon's face before firing a powerful Kougaon.

But in an unexpected burst of agility, Stinger Griffon ducked, its tail whipping forward and striking Reaper directly in the eye.

Reaper let out a pained, distorted screech, blindly firing its revolvers into the air.

Suddenly, thick, black smoke-like orbs formed around the Phantom Thieves, swirling before coalescing into a massive, abyssal eye at the center. Without warning, the eye unleashed a barrage of crimson lasers, each one moving at impossible speeds, striking every Phantom Thief on the battlefield.

They barely had time to react—pain tore through them as they collapsed under the relentless assault.

"What the hell was that?!" Queen cried out, breathless and wounded.

"Abyssal Eye! But… that's supposed to be a unique skill!" Crow groaned, clearly in disbelief—even he was stunned at the sight of Abyssal Eye.

Reaper wasted no time and attacked again. Dozens of swords materialized in the air, slicing through the battlefield at blinding speed, each one slashing past the Phantom Thieves before they could even react.

Blood splattered across the battlefield.

One by one, they fell to their knees, barely able to stand.

Seeing his chance, Reaper turned its revolvers toward Joker and fired.

"Ah, shit—!" Before Joker could move, Crow bolted toward him and delivered a powerful kick to his side, sending him tumbling out of the attack's path.

The Inferno erupted from Reaper's revolvers, aimed straight for Joker but Crow had thrown himself into the line of fire.

He staggered, his breath heavy, his body burned—but he was still standing. He was lucky enough to have a Persona with fire resistance.

And just as Crow struggled to keep his footing, Artemis stepped forward.

"Idun! Golden Apple!" The Norse goddess of youth and vitality materialized in a radiant glow, bringing a golden apple to her chicks with a playful wink. All of the apples in her baskets levitated in the air beside her, releasing waves of shimmering golden energy that pulsed outward heart-shaped waves.

The Golden Apple didn't fully restore their health, but it did something just as crucial. Every Phantom Thief was instantly buffed with Heat Riser, reigniting their strength and fortifying their resolve.

But Artemis had given everything. That final spell drained the last of her mental energy.

Reaper, recognizing the shift in momentum, attempted to counteract Debilitate by casting Heat Riser on itself again, but out of nowhere, a pack of Beowolves, each adorned with crimson masks, lunged at it from behind, tearing and grappling at its form, holding it while it was still standing.

"They won't last long against that thing, so do your goddam job!" Crow shouted, pressing both hands against the ground, ready to strike.

Joker pulled a Fire Crystal from his coat, crushed it in his hand, and then tore off his mask. "Stalgel!"

Another hybrid Grimm materialized, this time, a fusion of a Death Stalker and a Beringel. Visually, it resembled a Beringel in every way, except for the large, scorpion tail protruding from its back.

Stalgel channeled the power of the Fire Dust into its fists and tail before charging at Reaper. A straight right hook to the face, a swift spin followed by a tail strike, continuing the spin into a backhanded punch, and finally, the deadly sting of its tail plunging into Reaper's chest. With each combo hit, bursts of explosions erupted, and with the final strike, all the Beowolves vanished into black mist. Reaper staggered backward from the sheer force of the attack.

"Johanna! Freidyne!" Queen summoned Johanna, mounted it, and unleashed a relentless barrage of Freidyne directly into Reaper's face. With each nuclear explosion, Reaper was pushed further back, unable to recover before another blast struck. The bombardment continued until Queen's energy was completely drained.

"Zorro! Garudyne!" Mona followed up, summoning Zorro and unleashing a storm of wind. Unlike Queen's Freidyne, which blasted Reaper back, Garudyne trapped it within a swirling green tornado, preventing it from regaining any composure. The relentless gale howled until Mona, too, ran out of energy.

"Super Move, ULTRA CHARGE!" Oracle finally entered the fray, granting Charge and Concentrate to the three Wild Cards.

"Asena! Brave Blade!" Artemis summoned her first Persona, Asena, and struck Reaper with one of the strongest physical skills, preventing it from casting any healing abilities.

Joker quickly reached into his coat and pulled out a large golden bullet, loading it into his gun. It was time to end this fight.

Diving to the right, he fired off multiple rounds in rapid succession, mimicking a machine gun. Rolling across the ground, he leaped into the air, flipping upside down mid-air while continuing his barrage of shots before landing gracefully on his feet.

Joker had used Down Shot, forcing Reaper off balance and onto its knees.

"Crow!" Joker signaled, and Crow gave him a determined nod.

"I'm going to make its last moments on Earth its most painful..." Crow growled, his voice dripping with menace.

With a synchronized leap, both landed shoulder to shoulder, in front of the weakened Reaper.

Their masks ignited into flames and vanished, sending two beams, one blue and one red, shooting into the sky. The beams halted midair, transforming into two radiant figures.

"Loki," Crow shouted in a cold, sharp tone.

Loki materialized, crouching atop his blade, his sinister grin unwavering.

"Aogami!" Joker roared.

The second figure, Aogami, emerged—a unique being with an androgynous presence. Though clearly male, his long, flowing blue hair cascaded down to his lower back, giving him an ethereal, almost divine appearance. His futuristic, godly attire shimmered, glowing with intricate blue markings that extended to his fingertips.

"Pillage it!" Joker and Crow commanded in unison, gesturing at Reaper.

Loki's sword detached from under him, floating above Aogami's forehead. Aogami swiftly formed a hand sign, shaping his fingers into a precise '69' symbol in front of his face. Once the seal was complete, Aogami grasped the sword's hilt, raising it high above his head. A violent whirlwind of energy coiled around the blade, expanding into a massive, spiraling edge of destruction.

"Rebellion..." Aogami's voice echoed ominously as he raised the sword to its peak. Then, without hesitation, he brought it down in a single, devastating vertical slash. "...Murakumo!"

The combined technique of the two Personas struck the Reaper directly and passed through it. At first, nothing seemed to happen, but suddenly, everyone felt as if the very fabric of the universe had been severed.

When the Phantom Thieves looked at the Reaper, they saw it had been sliced in half from its left shoulder down. And yet, it still stood—perhaps only because it had no legs to fall on.

The Reaper, with the final remnants of its existence, stared at the Phantom Thieves with hollow, unrelenting malice. It reached out toward them, but its form began to crumble, turning into glowing red ashes that dispersed into the air.

The Phantom Thieves had won.

"We did it!" Artemis threw her fists into the air before letting herself fall onto her back, lying on the ground and gasping for breath.

"That wasn't easy… but it was worth it," Crow said, dropping onto the ground and sitting beside her.

"Our toughest fight yet," Mona added, slumping down as well. One by one, the others followed suit, sinking into the dirt with exhaustion.

"I think I'll be sleeping for a whole day after this," Oracle murmured from inside Necronomicon.

Laughter broke out among the group as they savored the sweet taste of victory over such a formidable enemy. The sun had finally risen to its peak, and they had succeeded in protecting the lives of millions of innocent people—though the battlefield, along with several city blocks surrounding it, had been reduced to rubble.

"This is General Ironwood of the Atlas Military! Drop your weapons and surrender immediately!" A voice boomed from a loudspeaker.

Snapping out of their moment of triumph, the Phantom Thieves looked around—only to find themselves completely surrounded by the Atlas army. The Bullheads that had survived the Reaper's rampage hovered overhead, deploying waves of Atlas Knights and Huntsman Academy students. At the front of the line stood General Ironwood himself, flanked by Winter and the Ace Ops.

"Phantom Thieves, you are under arrest for disrupting the peace, brainwashing, unauthorized weapon usage, assault on Atlas personnel, breaking in and out, and acts of terrorism!" the General declared.

The Phantom Thieves slowly rose to their feet, their exhausted bodies tense, their teeth clenched in frustration. They instinctively reached for their Personas, But then, a wave of dull pain hit their heads. They had given it everything. They were spent and could no longer summon their Personas.

General Ironwood pointed forward, and the Atlas Knights began advancing in steady, disciplined steps, their weapons trained on the Phantom Thieves.

As the robots advanced toward the Phantom Thieves, a sudden impact shattered the tension—a chunk of rubble struck one of the Atlas Knights square in the head. Before anyone could react, more stones followed. Dozens. Then hundreds. Then thousands.

General Ironwood and his officers turned sharply to locate the source of the sudden barrage—just in time for a rock to hit the General's forehead. His Aura absorbed the impact, but the message was clear.

Everyone—including the Phantom Thieves, stood frozen in shock, eyes wide and jaws slack at the sight before them.

"Let them go!"

The synchronized voices of thousands roared as the people of Vale—both Humans and Faunus, stood together, united in defiance, ready to protect the Phantom Thieves.

"Get lost, you useless Atlas scum!" a red-scaled Faunus with dragon-like ears shouted, hurling another rock.

"They haven't done anything wrong to deserve punishment!" a young Human girl yelled as she launched a stone of her own.

"They saved us while you stood back and did nothing!" a man with fiery orange hair added before throwing his own piece of debris.

Ironwood and his officers attempted to dodge the barrage, but the sheer volume of projectiles made it impossible. Even the Atlas Knights hesitated, their advance grinding to a halt under the relentless storm of stones.

"What the hell is happening?!" Artemis muttered in disbelief, loud enough for the other Thieves to hear.

A smirk spread across Joker's face as he took out a smoke bomb. He knew even the Gods can not stand against the will of the masses

Meanwhile, Ironwood and his officers struggled to calm the growing unrest.

"Please, everyone, stand down!" Ironwood's voice blared through his speaker. "We are simply trying to apprehend dangerous criminals!"

"Dangerous criminals?!" A little Faunus girl with small ram-like horns—no older than ten—stepped forward, standing alongside her two friends: a boy with dog-like ears and a girl with a horse's tail. "Ever since they showed up, I've felt safer than ever!" she declared.

"When they arrived, it felt like a huge distortion was lifted from my heart!" a well-dressed businessman added. "Maybe they did change my heart!"

Ironwood opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words. No explanation, no justification could counter the overwhelming voices of the people.

Then, he heard something. When he turned back at the sound, he saw a cloud of smoke emerging from the place Phantom Thieves stood before. When the smokes cleared, they were gone. Ironwood had no idea, but in fact, Phantom Thieves used the Nav to enter the Metaverse.

While Ace Ops and General Ironwood clenched their hands tightly and gritted their teeth, people started cheering. Ironwood stood speechless at the scene he was watching and hearing and only could feel ashamed because of his shortsightedness.

Team RWBY, without the 'R', rushed back to the battlefield, hoping to ask about Ruby's whereabouts. But they were too late. The Phantom Thieves were already gone.

Yang, clearly unsatisfied with how things had played out, clenched her fists. Blake instinctively reached out to comfort her, but there was no need.

"Girls!"

Ruby's voice rang out from within the crowd, and the team turned to see their leader sprinting toward them from the right.

Yang couldn't hold herself back. She ran straight for her sister, pulling her into a crushing hug. The second Ruby was in her arms, she felt as if she were a balloon being squeezed under a heavy weight.

"Where were you, my little sister?!" Yang asked, shaking Ruby slightly in her embrace.

"Ai—air…" Ruby wheezed, struggling for breath. Yang quickly let go, stepping back with an awkward chuckle. "I just woke up a few minutes ago in a warehouse nearby," Ruby explained, rubbing her head. "When I got here, everything was already like… this. So, uh, what did I miss?"

"A lot," Weiss answered flatly. "Too much for me to explain."

"A giant Grimm showed up, courtesy of Torchwick. But fortunately, the Phantom Thieves fought it and took it down," Blake summarized, keeping it short and to the point. "And no, I am not getting into the details."

Ruby simply blinked. "Huh. Guess I'll catch it on the news tonight," she said, scratching the back of her head.

---

[Beacon Tower – Ozpin's Office (Again)]

Ozpin had been preparing to head to the battlefield himself, ready to protect his students, but the Council had contacted him at the last moment, stopping him in his tracks and handing full control over to Ironwood instead.

And, of course, Ironwood, eager for an excuse to assert his authority, had immediately mobilized his entire fleet and sent his forces marching into the city.

Yet the most interesting part of it all?

The most powerful/only military force on the planet had fallen to its knees at the hands of a single Grimm.

And the Phantom Thieves had been the ones to put a stop to it.

And now, Ozpin found himself trapped in what was possibly the most ridiculous conversation he'd had in years.

He sat behind his desk, a holographic screen floating before him, displaying the three representatives of the Vale Council, along with Ironwood himself.

"We have no other choice! We are canceling the Vytal Festival!" one of the council members declared.

For the first time in a long time, Ozpin lost his composure.

"We can't do that!" he snapped, rising from his seat. "The Vytal Festival is the most important event in the world! Canceling it would be a disaster!"

"Ozpin," another council member interjected, "after everything that just happened, the festival wouldn't even be broadcastable, let alone hosted! We were planning to request aid from the Atlas Council, but with what happened to their fleet, and the uprising against the General and his forces, we can't rely on Atlas for support anymore."

"I know the situation is difficult, but not holding the Vytal Festival could be even worse!" Ozpin continued.

"People are feeling insecure, Ozpin," the third council member spoke this time, and she was a woman. "Don't you think people will be unwilling to participate in the festival?"

"I actually think the opposite," Ozpin responded.

"Please clarify your point," the first council member asked.

"Right now, people have a hero," Ozpin replied coolly. "From our perspective, the Phantom Thieves are a criminal group and must be captured. But from the public's view, they are heroes who protect everyone."

"Ozpin, that's the most illogical answer I've ever heard," the third council member said.

"Do you not agree with me, James?" Ozpin asked Ironwood, who had remained silent until that moment.

Ironwood paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. "It's hard for me to say, but the people believe in them more than they believe in us," Ironwood replied a hint of depression in his voice.

The council members muted their microphones and began discussing amongst themselves, before unmuting again.

"We will revisit this issue later," the first council member said. "And Professor, the general provided us with reports that raised concerns about your position at Beacon. However, after witnessing the actions of your students in stopping the White Fang and protecting the people from the Grimm, we decided to overlook it," and then the council's feed cut off.

"I think you were right, Ozpin. I'm sorry for doubting you," the general said with regret, and then his image was also cut off.

Ozpin leaned back in his chair, turning it toward the window and staring out at the view. If the Phantom Thieves had managed to defeat something that had instilled the feeling of true death, they could certainly become a powerful force against 'her'. Now, he just needed to wait for the right moment to draw them to him.

---

[Ironwood's Temporary Office]

After the destruction of the main base, Ironwood set up a temporary office in the CCT tower and took residence there, until the new ship arrived in time for the Vytal Festival. Now, Ironwood sat at his desk, thinking about everything he had done, what he wanted to do, the doubts he had, and whether what he had done so far was the right thing or not. He was so deep in thought that he didn't hear the knocking at the door. After several knocks, the general finally heard the sound.

"Come in," Ironwood said. The door opened, and Penny slowly peeked her head inside.

"Penny! Come in," he added.

Penny stepped in quietly, closing the door behind her. She slowly walked forward and stopped in front of the general's desk. What was interesting was that her expression seemed troubled, and she was staring at the floor.

"Is something wrong, Penny?" the general asked.

"I... I wanted to apologize, General," she said, causing Ironwood to raise an eyebrow. "I should have been there to protect the people and fight the Grimm, but instead, you went there, and... everything that happened was because of that."

"No, Penny, this was all my fault," Ironwood said, standing up from his chair and walking over to the window on his right. "I was the one who ordered you to remain inactive until the Vytal Festival, and you followed my command. So, there's nothing for you to apologize for. Besides, if you had gone, I doubt you would have made it back in one piece."

"But it's my duty to protect the people… to protect the world," Penny insisted.

"It is your duty," Ironwood acknowledged. "But it's not time yet."

Penny lowered her gaze once again.

"You should focus on preparing for the Vytal Festival. You only have a month left," Ironwood continued.

Penny opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but she hesitated, clenching her teeth slightly.

"General I...," She wanted to say something, but she didn't.

"Is there something you want Penny?" General said as he turned around to face Penny.

"No... nothing important sir," Penny said.

She turned around and left the office, closing the door behind her and leaning against it for a moment. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. Then, just as she was about to head back to her room…

"Hey, Penny!"

A friendly male voice called out, making Penny's mechanical heart skip a beat for a split second. She turned around to see an Atlas scientist approaching her with a warm smile.

He appeared to be a man in his early thirties, with brown hair and glasses. He wore a white lab coat over a gray pair of pants and red sneakers. A name tag on his coat read: Oliver Fawn.

"Oh, Dr. Fawn! What are you doing here?" Penny asked with a big smile.

"I just got transferred here to oversee the performance of the Atlas Knights and assist in the development of the Paladins," Oliver replied with a friendly smile, scratching the back of his head.

"Wow! That's amazing, Doctor!" Penny said excitedly.

"Nah, it's nothing special. I still haven't managed to create a robot like you, not like your father did," Oliver replied with the same smile. However, as soon as he said that, Penny's smile faded.

"Excuse me, Doctor, but I have to go prepare for the Vytal Festival," Penny said politely, bowing slightly in a European manner before turning to leave.

"Good luck! I wouldn't want to see the army's top robot take a fall," Oliver called out loudly, ensuring Penny heard him before she disappeared from view.

---

[Leblanc]

The Phantom Thieves had gathered upstairs at Leblanc after their battle, discussing the events that had just transpired. Ruby had used the excuse of fetching some Leblanc coffee to be there. Meanwhile, Futaba had already dozed off.

"I'm running out of excuses! I need to come up with new ones!" Ruby groaned, slumping at the table.

"We'll deal with that later. Right now, we need to figure out how a Reaper managed to enter the real world," Makoto said, sitting across from Ren at the table.

Ren remained silent and instead placed the summoning scroll that Roman Torchwick had used on the table. The others stared at it in shock, momentarily fearing that they were somehow responsible. However, when they saw that their own summoning scroll was still in Ren's possession, they relaxed.

"The real question is; where did Torchwick even get this?" Akechi asked, standing beside the table.

Again, Ren said nothing. This time, he tossed a letter onto the table, the one Roman had given him. Everyone leaned in to read its contents, but nothing in it seemed useful.

"Ren, how exactly are we supposed to figure out who gave Roman the scroll from this?" Ruby asked, confused.

"You just need to open all of your eyes," Ren replied.

Ruby quickly caught on. She shut her eyes and focused, and in an instant, she felt an eye open between her two real ones. When she looked at the letter with her newly awakened vision, a hidden message was revealed.

"August 23, on the shores of Forever Fall Forest at 36.5° N, 139.8° W."

"What does 'August 23, on the shores of Forever Fall Forest at 36.5° N, 139.8° W' even mean?" Ruby asked, puzzled.

"A meeting invitation," Ren answered seriously.

"Precise coordinates, a set date, and exactly one week before the Vytal Festival begins," Akechi mused, stroking his chin. "It's definitely a trap... but it's also the only lead we have."

"Not much of a choice I see," Morgana said, sitting on the table.

"So, what do we do until then? If I remember correctly, we still have a month before that date," Ruby pointed out.

"We usually just live your normal life until that day," Morgana said. "Hanging out with our friends, going on vacation, doing whatever we want, having fun, doing part time jobs, and etc."

"Actually, I think a trip is not a bad idea. How about we all take a trip to the beach?" Ren suggested.

"That's a great idea!" Makoto said with satisfaction. "After all the hard work, fighting, and chasing a beach trip would really be refreshing."

"I could even set up a little business there," Ren added.

"Honestly, I've never been to the beach except when investigating murder cases, so I wouldn't mind going for something other than solving a crime," Akechi said in his usual dry tone, but he was clearly excited.

However...

"Actually, my team and I went to the beach for our summer break once, but we ended up facing a disaster," Ruby said uneasily.

"You told us about that before. SIC Corporation, the Silver Bullet Brotherhood, The Cage, and that fight against slavery," Ren confirmed.

"But I think it would be better if the rest of you came too," Morgana suggested. "If you replace those bad memories with a normal trip, it could really help boost your team spirit."

"You make a good point, but I should ask the others for their opinion first," Ruby said.

"Well, then you better go and ask them," Ren replied before pulling a basket from under the table and placing it on top. "Here's a special Leblanc coffee for the team that saved the city, and pancake for that over-energic girl— Nora if I am correct."

"You guys are the best!" Ruby said happily before picking up the basket and leaving.

---

[Somewhere in the city, atop a building]

In the darkness of the night, Cinder's team, along with Neo—who still bore a souvenir from Crow on her face, held a meeting on top of a building to discuss their current situation.

"I have to admit, those Phantom Thieves showed more than I expected," Mercury said, standing beside Emerald.

"After watching their fight against that... thing which I am sure was not a Grimm, I have more questions than answers," Emerald added.

"I'll admit, we underestimated them a bit," Cinder said, but suddenly, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. Turning her head, she saw Neo pointing at the mark left by Crow on her left eye.

"Alright, fine. We seriously underestimated them," Cinder admitted, but before she could continue, Emerald spoke up. "That's not our main problem now."

Neo just scowled and looked away.

"Now that the attack has failed and Torchwick summoned that thing, the White Fang isn't going to listen to us anymore," Mercury pointed out.

"No," a new male voice interrupted.

A fifth figure, masked and cloaked in darkness, stepped forward.

He wore an asymmetrical black, long-sleeved, double-breasted, high-collared blazer with slit sleeves. Red thorn sigils adorned the white crest on his left shoulder. His suit jacket had crimson lining over his red shirt, with additional thorn sigils atop a black flap on the left hem. His back bore a wilting rose emblem over an emblazoned white sigil, resembling the curved stems and flower of the deadly nightshade plant. The blazer was half-buttoned, exposing his red shirt with a black line running parallel to his collar. His mask was a whitish-tan Grimm mask with red, horn-like Japanese symbols on the front and slits on either side, presumably for vision.

This was a redesigned version of the Grimm masks typically worn by White Fang members.

AKA: Adam Taurus.

"They will listen to me."

---

[At the Beacon Cliffside]

Team RWBY and Team JNPR had gathered near the cliffside to talk and enjoy the coffee and snacks Akira had provided. Team RWBY shared their experiences about the mission—the challenges they faced, their encounter with the Phantom Thieves, the battle on the train, and even freezing an entire tunnel.

"Wow, so you actually met the Phantom Thieves!" Jaune exclaimed with excitement.

"Yeah! Well, not all of them, but we did meet their leader—Joker! And he was so cool!" Ruby said with a bright, almost puppy-like expression.

"I have to admit, they were a really interesting group," Weiss added.

"Whoa, even the Ice Queen was impressed!" Nora teased with a mouth full of four pancakes, earning a sharp "Hey!" from Weiss.

"They're a well-coordinated team, and I think we could learn from them to improve ourselves," Blake commented before taking a sip of her coffee and continued reading a book titled The Gentleman Thief.

"Okay, but enough about them! Let's talk about how awesome we are," Yang said with a confident grin, giving a thumbs-up.

"Well… I don't think we really did much to stop the train," Blake admitted. "And when that thing… called Reaper showed up, we were pretty much useless."

Everyone let out a collective sigh, visibly deflated by the harsh truth.

"But we were the ones who stepped on the street and stopped everyone who was crazy enough to record the fight from close!" Yang countered it.

"Speaking of the Reaper," Pyrrha said, turning to Ren. "Why did you charge in like that?"

Ren didn't respond at first, simply taking a deep breath before speaking. "When I was a kid, a Grimm attacked our village. I was too young to even hold a weapon, but when I saw others getting hurt because of me… and when I was there, I couldn't just sit there and do nothing like that time."

After Ren finished, Nora stepped closer and gently placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Did something back there bring those memories back?" Ruby asked, her tone laced with concern. Ren silently nodded.

"Ren… Nora… I'm sorry," Pyrrha said apologetically, regret evident in her voice.

"No, I should be the one apologizing for my recklessness," Ren replied before taking a sip of his coffee.

The group fell into silence for a few minutes, gazing up at the starry night sky. Finally, Yang broke the quiet.

"So… what now?" Yang asked.

"I say we focus on preparing for the festival and tournament," Weiss suggested.

"Boorrriiiinnggg!" Nora dramatically groaned.

"How about we go to the beach tomorrow with Akira and the rest of the Leblanc crew?" Ruby finally pitched the beach idea.

"Ruby, did you forget what happened the last time we went on a beach trip?" Weiss asked, clearly still irritated by the memory.

"That's exactly why I think we should go with them this time!" Ruby argued, raising her index finger as if presenting a brilliant plan.

"I think it's a good idea," Blake said.

"Me too," Yang agreed.

"Same here," Ren added.

"This time, it's definitely going to be fun!" Nora cheered excitedly.

"I guess I'll join in," Jaune said with a shrug.

"Why not?" Pyrrha smiled.

"Then it's settled! Tomorrow, we're all heading to the beach!" Ruby declared, jumping up from the cliffside.

As the night went on, the group enjoyed their time together, letting the cool breeze carry their worries away.

END

---

And with that, this chapter comes to an end.

The reason why the Reaper was so strong is that the people of Remnant face death far more often than we do. This constant confrontation makes them fear death more, which in turn strengthens the Reaper.

As you saw, I used demons from SMT V as Personas, and our favorite blue-haired femboy protagonist, Nahobino, made an appearance as a Persona named Aogami. All SMT demons in this chapter belong to Ruby's Arcana, and fun fact—Aogami isn't even her Ultimate Persona. There's still one above it.

Stalgel is a Grimm combination I inspired by one of Dr. Vortex's creations in Crash Clash of the Titans. I think its name was Scorporilla. But that combo was inspired by Scorpion 2099 boss fight in Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions.

I originally planned for Joker to use his Semblance and showcase its core ability named 72 Worldly Transformations, but I realized that the team's Aura was on the verge of breaking the entire fight, meaning no Semblance usage was possible.

As for Crow and Joker's combo attack, it was inspired by a sequence from the SMT V Vengeance ending in the Vengeance route. If you want a better idea of how it looks, check it out on YouTube or finish SMT V Vengeance yourself!

Now, it's time to charge forward into the next arc: I Choose My Own Life! And the new Phantom.

But before I say goodbye… there's something waiting for you right below this note. (And don't argue, this is my first time doing this)

---

(Music: Poem for Everyone's Souls)

In a pitch-black room, the only visible thing was a section of a table, draped in deep navy velvet. A pair of hands—clad in black sleeves and white gloves—emerged from the darkness, placing a deck of cards onto the table. Carefully, the hands arranged them in numerical order.

Then, one of the hands picked up the card marked 0 and held it up.

"Your journey began as The Fool and reached its end as The World. Yet, you chose to remain a Fool, meaning your journey continues even after reaching its destination. But tell me… are you willing to take another Fool along for the ride?"

The scene faded to black.

(Music: …)

The streets of Mantle bustled with people going about their daily lives, passing in front of a massive high-rise. Then, about 50 stories up, one of the windows suddenly shattered, and from within, a figure in a black long coat and red gloves leaped into the open air.

(Music: Last Surprise)
🎵 You'll never see it coming… 🎵

Morgana: "As Phantom Thieves, it's our duty to change society, no matter what world we find ourselves in!"

Ren walked through the streets of Mantle, then Vale, then Mistral, and finally Vacuo, with Morgana tucked in his bag.

Cut to Ren standing behind a man who was about to punch a young Faunus girl with gray cat ears in an ally. Before the blow could land, Ren caught the man's fist mid-swing from behind.

🎵 You'll see that my mind is too fast for eyes… 🎵

Skull jumping down from an unknown height, trying to slam his metal pipe on someone's head.

Ryuji: "Oh yeah! The Phantom Thieves are back in action!"

The Phantom Thieves stared in shock as their prison cell doors swung open.

Sumire: "Senpai, where even are we!?"

A man in a pristine white coat gazed into an endless white void. As he reached out to his side, a blue butterfly materialized, circling his finger.

Masked Man: "What is a God without Worshipers?"

🎵 You're done in, by the time it's hit you, your last surprise! 🎵

Someone stood inside an armory, bathed in deep navy hues, staring at Igor and a woman beside him. With a snap of his fingers, a contract materialized in the air.

Igor: "Your new journey begins today!"

A resident of the Velvet Room raised a gun and aimed.

🎵 I'm coming for you… 🎵

In a cityscape drowned in darkness under a crimson sky—where shadowy spirits drifted aimlessly, a figure wrapped entirely in black fabric emerged.

Ann: "This isn't Mementos!"

The Phantom Thieves stood before a massive gate as it slowly creaked open, unleashing a violent gust of wind.

Makoto: "No… it is. But not ours."

🎵 My game's always so fast, so fine… 🎵

Violet and Weiss dueled with their rapiers inside a grand ballet studio. As Weiss went for a thrusting strike in the neck, Violet performed a one-handed handspring backward and dodged the attack.

Weiss: "Not bad… for a bunch of amateurs."

🎵 You're spun in… 🎵

Joker: "Jacques Schnee… your heart is twisted—"

Standing alongside his comrades, Joker raised his dagger, pointing it at an unseen target.

🎵 By the net you didn't catch it in time… 🎵

Joker: "—It is ours to take!"

With a wicked grin, Joker ripped off his mask. Behind him, Arsène emerged, cloaked in the blue flames.

Joker: "PERSONA!"

🎵 Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh 🎵
🎵 Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh 🎵

Persona 5 Royal X RWBY: Royal Flush