Author's Note:
New chapter hopefully you the reader is enjoying the story so far and we do apologize in advance in case the chapter reads a bit weird since the App and website been lagging a lot
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1. What would you like to see in the future ?
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[ MetsubouJinrai net Outpost – Perimeter ]
The snow crunched beneath the boots of Team RWBY, Team JNR, Qrow, and Winter as they approached the factory's entrance.
The eerie hum of the machines inside reverberated, casting a foreboding presence over the battlefield.
The Trilobite Magia units outside sprang to life, their segmented helmets reflecting the dim light. Ruby immediately raised Crescent Rose, her gaze focused.
Ruby: "Here they come!"
Weiss: (summoning a glyph beneath her feet) "Stay together! Don't let them surround us!"
Yang: (cocking Ember Celica) "Let's smash these tin cans and get to Akira!"
Jaune: (leading Team JNR into formation) "Nora, take point with Ren. I'll cover the flank!"
Nora: (excitedly spinning Magnhild) "Finally! Something to hit!"
Blake: (darting ahead) "Keep your eyes on the factory entrance. If those two we saw earlier join the fight, it'll get messy fast."
The Trilobite Magia advanced in two groups, some firing machine guns while others closed in with combat knives.
The teams split into coordinated pairs, each focusing on their unique strengths.
Ruby and Weiss worked together seamlessly, Ruby clearing space with Crescent Rose's explosive shots while Weiss immobilized enemies with ice glyphs and precise saber strikes.
Blake and Yang took a more aggressive approach, Blake's shadow clones creating openings for Yang's fiery punches.
Team JNR showcased their growth: Jaune's shield techniques protected Ren as he weaved through the battlefield, and Nora's sheer power decimated Magia with each strike.
Winter and Qrow moved with military precision, their experience allowing them to anticipate each other's moves as they cut through the mechanical enemies.
As the battle raged, Ruby's thoughts lingered on Penny.
Ruby: (to herself) Hang on, Penny. We're coming for you. Just hold on.
Blake's eyes kept darting toward the factory, a sinking feeling in her chest.
Blake: (thinking) That masked man… It couldn't be Adam… could it?
Meanwhile, Yang's focus was razor-sharp.
Yang: (gritting her teeth) Akira's inside. He's the one who killed Mom. He'll pay for everything.
Winter remained stoic but internally calculated the risks.
Winter: (thinking) Once we enter, we lose the advantage. This is too calculated... we need to be ready for an ambush.
Qrow surveyed the group as he parried a knife strike.
Qrow: (to himself) These kids have come a long way, but Akira isn't just some thug. Stay sharp, Qrow.
[ Inside the Factory – Command Center ]
Akira observed the battle on the monitors, his expression unreadable.
Amethyst lounged in a chair, one leg crossed over the other, her smirk never wavering.
Amethyst: "They're holding their own out there. Guess we underestimated them. Should I head down and spice things up?"
Akira: (calmly) "No. Let them think they're winning. We've already planned for this."
Onyx stood at the window, his lion tail swaying as he watched the chaos below.
Onyx: "I call dibs on the loud blonde one. She looks fun to break."
Adam entered the room, his voice low and composed.
Adam: "Save your energy. They'll be inside soon enough. That's when we strike."
Akira turned to Adam, his tone sharp.
Akira: "You remember your role. Winter Schnee's Aura must be shattered before she's brought to the ship."
Adam nodded, his hand tightening around the hilt of his Driver the Slashriser
Adam: "I won't fail."
The Ark's holographic form flickered into view, its mechanical voice resonating with authority.
Ark: "Directive: Maintain engagement. Avoid lethality. Preserve credibility of forthcoming arrest narrative."
Amethyst stretched lazily, her red eyes glowing.
Amethyst: "We get it. Play with our food, but don't finish them off. Such a tease, Ark."
Akira's gaze remained fixed on the monitors.
Akira: "This isn't a game, Amethyst. Every step is calculated. Stick to the plan, and we'll break them one by one."
Onyx grinned, cracking his knuckles.
Onyx: "Breaking them is the fun part."
[ MetsubouJinrai net Outpost – Perimeter Aftermath ]
The Trilobite Magia units were reduced to smoking heaps, their remains scattered across the snow.
The team regrouped, their breathing heavy but their resolve unbroken.
Ruby: "Is everyone okay?"
Jaune: (checking his team) "We're good. Nothing we couldn't handle."
Weiss: (glancing at Winter) "Winter ?"
Winter: (brushing off her uniform) "I'm fine. But we can't let our guard down. This was just the beginning."
Before they could advance, the factory doors groaned open, revealing Onyx, Amethyst, and Adam standing in the entryway with more Trilobite Magia
Amethyst: (mocking) "Well, well, look who survived. I'm impressed."
Onyx: (grinning) "Time for the real fun to start."
Adam remained silent, his masked face betraying no emotion. Blake froze, her eyes narrowing.
Blake: (whispering) "No… It can't be…"
Yang stepped forward, her flames flaring around her fists.
Yang: "Bring it on!"
Akira's voice echoed from a loudspeaker, cold and calculating.
Akira: "Welcome to the future. Let's see if you're strong enough to survive it."
/Change of Perspective/
[ MetsubouJinrai net Outpost – Interior, Factory Floor ]
The factory doors fully opened, and the clanging echoes of machinery reverberated through the hall
More Trilobite Magia units surged forward, locked on Team RWBY, Team JNR, Winter, and Qrow.
Amidst the mechanical horde, Onyx calmly takes out his Forceriser from his coat, the industrial device gleaming ominously under the cold factory lights.
Amethyst, her smirk unwavering, lazily twirled the Attache Shotgun in one hand, while Adam unsheathed his Slashriser, the blade humming with red energy.
Amethyst: (mocking) "Oh, look at their faces. They know it's game over."
Yang: (seething) "You… You look just like her."
Amethyst tilted her head playfully, her synthetic red eyes glowing as her expression feigned innocence.
Amethyst: "Oh, sweetie, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost. Or is it… Mommy issues?"
Yang's Aura flared with fiery intensity, and she lunged forward.
Winter extended her hand, stopping Yang in her tracks.
Winter: "Yang, don't. That's not her."
Amethyst: (grinning) "Good girl, Winter. Keep your puppy on a leash."
Yang growled, fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Onyx let out a sharp laugh, his tail swaying as he examined and took out his Dynamaiting Lion Progrisekey.
Onyx: "Enough talk. Let's show them what real power looks like."
He pressed the Progrisekey's activation button, triggering the ominous announcement.
Dynamaiting Lion Progrisekey: [ Burst! ]
Onyx slid the Progrisekey into the Rise Vice, the machinery whirring to life with the sound of grinding metal and the wailing industrial siren.
Forceriser: [ Forceriser ! ]
The sound drew Ruby's attention, her silver eyes widening in recognition.
Ruby: "That's… that's the same gear Akira used at Haven!"
Qrow: (grimly) "Yeah, and if he's anything like Akira, we're in trouble."
Onyx gripped the Force Executor and yanked it, forcibly opening the Progrisekey.
The transformation began, the Force Factory projecting a outline of the Dynamaiting Lion Rider Model that enveloped him.
Forceriser: [ Forcerise! Dynamaiting Lion! A beautiful explosive force like fireworks. ]
The armor pieces materialized and clamped onto Onyx's body, the Restraint Cables snapping into place and securing the jagged, industrial design.
The transformation completed with a final announcement.
Forceriser: [ Breakdown ! ]
Onyx, now fully armored, flexed his metallic claws, the Shooting Starmight gatling gun mounted on his left arm spinning with a low whir.
Onyx: (grinning) "Who's first?"
Ruby raised Crescent Rose, pointing the scythe directly at him.
Ruby: "You're not going anywhere!"
Amethyst stepped forward, her Attache Shotgun resting on her shoulder.
Amethyst: (mockingly) "Oh, little Red. So brave. So fragile."
Yang snarled and stepped up, flames flaring around her fists.
Yang: "You're mine!"
Amethyst: (smiling) "Oh, I was hoping you'd say that."
Adam, meanwhile, turned his gaze to Blake, his voice calm but filled with malice.
Adam: "Blake… It's been a while. I hope you've kept up your training. You'll need it."
Blake: (clenching Gambol Shroud) "Adam… I'm ending this, here and now."
The room erupted into chaos as combat began.
Amethyst engaged Yang, her Attache Shotgun firing rapid energy blasts that forced Yang to deflect with her Aura.
Yang: (gritting her teeth) "Stop hiding behind that thing and fight me!"
Amethyst: (laughing) "As you wish."
She tossed the shotgun aside and lunged at Yang with a vicious series of kicks and punches, her synthetic speed and strength matching Yang's fiery blows.
Onyx, meanwhile, targeted Qrow and Winter, his Shooting Starmight unleashing a barrage of high-speed energy rounds.
Qrow: (dodging and parrying) "This guy's got more firepower than I'd like!"
Winter: (summoning a massive glyph to block the shots) "Keep moving! Don't let him pin us down!"
Blake and Adam's duel was intense and personal, their weapons clashing with a metallic clang.
Adam: (taunting) "You always were a disappointment, Blake. Running away, hiding behind others."
Blake: (fiercely) "And you're still clinging to the past. I've moved on, Adam. You should too."
The battle raged on, the factory's machinery sparking and groaning under the strain of the chaos.
Amidst the fighting, the factory's intercom crackled to life.
Akira's Voice: "You're doing well, heroes. But this is just the beginning. Let's see how long you can last."
From the shadows, Akira watched, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Akira stood before the central console, his expression calm as Ark's holographic form flickered beside him. The chaos from the ongoing battle reverberated through the walls, yet he remained unfazed.
Ark: "Predictions suggest imminent overexertion from the targets. Your intervention is not yet required."
Akira nodded, his gaze shifting to the small device in his hand: a prototype Forceriser, sleeker and more refined than the crude models used by Onyx and Amethyst.
Akira: "It's almost time. Proceed with your next calculation."
Ark's glowing eyes flickered briefly before it spoke again.
Ark: "New directive proposed. Instead of my integration into a single android vessel, data suggests higher success if merged with a Driver system.
Predictive analysis concludes that you and I will achieve synchronicity through this method."
Akira raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Akira: "You're proposing that we become one? That I carry you into battle as part of me?"
Ark: "Correct. This will optimize combat efficiency and ensure full control over the battlefield. The Ark Driver will manifest both our wills seamlessly."
Akira's lips curved into a subtle smirk.
Akira: "Then we proceed. But first, we must prepare the stage. I'll handle our guests personally... after Penny serves her purpose."
He turned to a smaller monitor, displaying a feed of Penny in her standby state.
Akira: (to himself) "Time for the final act, Penny. You'll bring Ark to Atlas and ensure its grip tightens on the world."
He placed a Driver prototype into his coat and strode toward the exit, his footsteps echoing ominously.
[ Back with the rest ]
Amethyst continued to toy with Yang, laughing as she deflected blow after blow.
Amethyst: (mocking) "Seven minutes. Seven minutes is all I can spare to play with you before I or Akira go for another kill. Maybe Ruby next. Or better yet, turn her into a brainwashed cyborg. Wouldn't that be fun?"
Yang's flames roared higher, her fury palpable.
Yang: "Shut up!"
She lunged forward with an explosive punch, only for Amethyst to sidestep and land a brutal counter, sending Yang crashing into a nearby wall.
On the other side of the room, Qrow and Winter struggled against Onyx's relentless onslaught.
The android's Dynamaiting Lion form made him a whirlwind of destruction, each burst from his Shooting Starmight forcing them to retreat.
Onyx: (grinning) "Let's wrap this up, shall we?"
He grabbed the Force Executor on his Forceriser and pushed it in and out, triggering the finisher.
Forceriser: [ Dynamaiting Dystopia ! ]
A massive magenta energy construct resembling the Shooting Starmight appeared around Onyx.
He unleashed a barrage of energy rounds, the blasts illuminating the factory floor like fireworks.
Qrow: (ducking behind cover) "This guy's insane!"
Winter: ( creating a ice wall) "We need to disable that weapon or we won't last much longer!"
Meanwhile, Blake and Adam's duel reached a fever pitch. Their weapons clashed in a flurry of strikes, Gambol Shroud's ribbons tangling with Adam's blade.
Adam: (smirking) "This is all you're capable of, Blake? I thought you'd improved."
Blake: (glaring) "I have. And I'll prove it by taking you down."
Their blades locked, sparks flying as they pushed against each other.
Blake: (gritting her teeth) "You're not the man I once followed. You're just a broken relic clinging to a failed cause."
Adam's smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of anger.
Adam: "And you're just a traitor who abandoned her people."
He shoved Blake back with a burst of energy, forcing her to roll and recover.
[ Observation Deck ]
Akira watched the fight unfold, his gaze steady. The time had come to set the next part of the plan in motion.
He turned to Penny, who stood at the edge of the room, her eyes blank and glowing red faintly.
Akira: "Penny, it's time. Upload Ark into the Atlas network. From there, we'll finalize the Ark Driver and ensure our victory."
Penny's voice was soft, almost mechanical.
Penny: "All as the Ark Wills."
She stepped toward a terminal and connected herself, the lights on the monitors flickering as data streamed into the system.
Akira: (to himself) "Let them fight. They'll think they've won when they capture me. But by then, it'll already be too late."
He picked up his own Forceriser and exited the observation deck, heading toward the battlefield to enact the final phase of their plan.
[ Akira enters the battle ]
The chaos inside the MetsubouJinrai net outpost raged on.
Sparks flew, explosions reverberated, and the shouts and clanging of weapons filled the air.
Amethyst and Onyx were holding their own against Teams RWBY and JNR, with Adam keeping Blake locked in a brutal duel.
Qrow and Winter struggled against Onyx's relentless assault, while Amethyst taunted Yang, evading her strikes with ease.
Suddenly, a loud mechanical whirring echoed across the area, silencing all other sounds.
Everyone turned their attention toward the source:
Akira, standing on a raised platform, his Forceriser in hand.
Ruby (whispering): "It's him…"
Yang (angrily): "Took you long enough!"
Weiss (grimly): "So, he's finally making his move."
Winter Schnee's eyes narrowed as she focused on Akira.
Unlike the others, this was her first time seeing the enigmatic figure in person.
Winter: "That's him? The leader of MetsubouJinrai ?"
Qrow: "Yep. That's Akira. And he's about to put on a show."
Akira lifted the Forceriser, its rugged, industrial design gleaming under the flickering lights of the factory.
He held it above his belt area, his expression cold and calculating.
Akira (calmly): "Let me show you what true power looks like."
Akira activities the Forceriser, causing a surge of red electricity to arc across his body. The Forceriser's activation announcement echoed ominously.
Forceriser: [ Forceriser ! ]
The tension in the room grew as Akira revealed his Sting Scorpion Progrisekey, pressing the Rise Starter. The Progrisekey emitted a sharp, metallic hiss before making its announcement.
Sting Scorpion Progrisekey: [ Poison ! ]
With a burst of speed, Akira jumped into the air, sliding the Sting Scorpion Progrisekey into the Rise Vice.
The Forceriser roared to life, producing its standby sound, a deafening industrial siren punctuated by a drumbeat rhythm that resonated like a countdown to destruction.
Akira: Henshin !
Gripping the Force Executor, Akira pulled it, forcibly opening the Progrisekey.
The Force Factory activated, materializing a colorless, mechanical scorpion.
The construct enveloped Akira, disassembling into spinning armor pieces that latched onto his body. His undersuit became visible, its segmented design brimming with lethal precision.
Forceriser: [ Forcerise ! Sting Scorpion ! ]
The transformation reached its climax as Restraint Cables shot out, locking the armor pieces into place.
A final surge of energy coursed through Akira, completing his transformation.
He landed with a resounding impact, dust and sparks scattering around him. The Forceriser gave its final announcement.
Forceriser: [ Breakdown ! ]
When the dust settled, Akira stood revealed in his Sting Scorpion Armor.
The scorpion motif of his design radiated an intimidating presence. and the segmented Chain Blocker armor gleamed under the factory lights.
Team RWBY, Team JNR, and Qrow stared in awe and dread, their previous encounters with this form still fresh in their minds.
Winter's gaze was unwavering as she processed the sheer menace emanating from Akira.
Winter (quietly): "Incredible… This is the origin of the power we've been fighting against ?"
Qrow (gritting his teeth): "Yeah. That's what we're up against. And trust me, it's going to hurt."
Ruby: "Akira! Stop this! You don't have to do this! Please surrender."
Akira turned his gaze toward her, his voice cold.
Akira: "You still think this is about choice? There's no turning back. For you, for me, or for this world."
Amethyst sauntered up, clearly enjoying the reactions.
Amethyst (mocking): "There's our leader, finally putting on a show. What's the plan, boss? Do we crush them now, or let them squirm a little longer?"
Onyx (grinning): "I vote for the latter. Watching them struggle is far more entertaining."
Adam, his blade still clashing with Blake's, glanced over briefly.
Adam: "Stay focused. We have a plan remember."
Blake (snapping): "Plans to destroy everything? You're as blind as ever, Adam!"
Akira raised a hand, silencing the chatter.
Akira: "Enough. The time for games is over. Winter Schnee, Qrow Branwen, all of you… you're standing in the way of progress. The Ark's will lead this world to a new era, whether you like it or not."
Winter stepped forward, her composure icy.
Winter: "You think this… chaos… is progress? You're nothing but a terrorist hiding behind technology."
Akira chuckled, a low, humorless sound.
Akira: "Call me what you like. History will remember me as the one who tore down the old to build something better."
He activated the Acid Analyzer on his arm, the sharp stinger glowing with purple energy.
Akira: "Let's see if you can stop me."
Winter drew her blade, stepping into a combat stance. The area tensed as Akira leaped into action, his Scorpion Scope locking onto her.
Qrow: "Winter, wait! You don't know what you're dealing with!"
Winter (firmly): "I don't care. He's not leaving this place alive."
Akira lunged forward, his movements swift and calculated. The Sting Scorpion's armor glinted as he clashed with Winter's rapier, their weapons sparking with each strike.
The others scrambled to regroup, realizing they had no choice but to face the full might of Akira and his allies.
The battle for survival had begun but unknown to them this was all planned and predicted by the Ark