Author's Note:
Rejoice ! another chapter has been completed
As always PMs are open and etc and hopefully next chapter is to your enjoyment since we are currently rushing this chapter since Knights place got flooded
Till next chapter, Apzeta, Bishop, and Knight and as always PMs are open and etc
Akira took a step forward without a word, he extended his palm outward.
The Ark-Driver, still active, pulsed ominously before materializing the Authorise Buster in front of him.
The weapon formed in midair, its structure assembling piece by piece with an audible hum.
Authorise Buster: [ Authorise Buster ! ]
The activation announcement echoed as the weapon completed its formation.
The gleaming metallic finish of the Authorise Buster reflected the dim light of the area, its intricate design exuding raw power.
Akira grasped it without hesitation, feeling the weight settle into his grip.
Amethyst smirked slightly. "A new toy for use to use, huh?"
Onyx huffed. "Show-off."
Adam, however, remained silent, his gaze locked onto the weapon for a moment before shifting to Akira.
Adam: "We're moving. No distractions."
Akira nodded once before lifting the Authorise Buster slightly. With a flick of his wrist, he scanned his Sting Scorpion Progrisekey across the weapon's Buster Authoriser.
Authorized Buster: [ Buster Authorise ! ]
The energy within the weapon surged, its systems calibrating as it awaited further input.
With precise movements, Amethyst, Onyx, and Adam retrieved their respective Progrisekeys, securing them back into their chain or coat pockets.
Together, the four of them stepped into the portal.
The transition was instantaneous yet disorienting. As they stepped through, the world around them changed drastically.
Instead of the familiar remnants of Atlas and Mantle, they found themselves in what appeared to be a vast corridor of reflective surfaces, shimmering like liquid glass.
The space around them twisted and pulsed with an otherworldly glow, akin to the Mirror World but distinctly different.
Amethyst glanced around, raising an eyebrow.
Amethyst: "Well, this is new. More of a... road to somewhere rather than a dimension of its own."
Onyx tapped his knuckles against one of the shifting surfaces, watching the ripples it created.
Onyx: "Feels like it's connected to multiple points at once."
Akira, however, wasn't focused on the surroundings. Using a Scope he analyzed the environment—specifically, the figures moving within the corridor.
Hundreds, no, thousands of people were present.
Atlas citizens. Mantle refugees. Faunus and Humans alike. Families, soldiers, injured civilians—all being transported through this space.
"They're evacuating…" Adam murmured, his voice quiet, yet there was an unmistakable edge of something unreadable in his tone.
And then Akira saw them.
At the center of it all, standing together amidst the evacuation, were familiar figures.
Team RWBY—Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang.
Team JNR—Jaune, Nora, and Ren.
And at the forefront, Penny Polendina, holding the Relic of Creation.
A slow, deliberate smirk tugged at the corner of Akira's lips.
Ruby was the first to react, her eyes widening as she spotted them. "It's them!"
Jaune instinctively stepped in front of Penny, his hand gripping the hilt of Crocea Mors tightly.
Jaune: "You have got to be kidding me."
Yang cracked her knuckles.
Yang: "Of course they'd show up here. Can't go five minutes without these lunatics crashing the party or committing murder."
Weiss's grip tightened on Myrtenaster, her posture rigid.
Wiess: "Why did they have to in here ?"
Penny's eyes darted between them and Akira's group, her expression unreadable.
Penny: "The probability of hostile engagement is—"
Akira: "—Inevitable."
Akira finished her sentence for her, his voice calm yet carrying an unmistakable amusement.
He lifted the Authorise Buster slightly, resting it against his shoulder.
Akira: "Though, given the circumstances, I'd say we're all a little out of place here."
Blake's gaze flicked between them, her expression wary.
Blake: "What do you want?"
Akira's smirk just slightly.
Akira: "Oh, you know me—I'm always after something." He then tilted his head, his eyes locking onto the Relic in Penny's hands.
"But, for once, it looks like you had your own plan."
The tension in the corridor was palpable, the space between the two factions feeling like a knife's edge.
The atmosphere in the pocket dimension thickened with tension as the two factions stared each other down.
The surfaces around them shimmered with the sheer energy radiating from the warriors gathered.
Team RWBY and their allies braced themselves, their hands tightening around their weapons, remained unnervingly calm.
Ruby swallowed, keeping her scythe at the ready.
Ruby: "You don't have to be in our way we can be work together ."
Akira chuckled, his grip tightening on the Authorise Buster.
Akira: "In your way? No, Red. We're just observing. But if you want to make this a fight… well, I won't complain."
Yang scoffed.
Yang. "Oh, shut up already! Every time you show up, something explodes, people die, and we end up cleaning up your mess!"
She shifted into a fighting stance, flames flickering around her fists.
Amethyst tilted her head, smirking. "Sounds like gaslighting to me. What do you say, Onyx?"
Onyx crossed his arms. "Tch. Let them run if they want. They're not our problem."
Penny adjusted her grip on the Staff of Creation, eyes flickering with uncertainty.
Penny: "The best course of action would be to de-escalate."
Adam's eyes glinted with something unreadable.
Adam: "De-escalation? That's cute. I remember when I used to believe in things like that."
Jaune scowled.
Jaune: "You don't have to do this. None of you do. There's still a chance to make things right dispite everything."
Akira laughed, a dry, bitter sound. "Make things right? That's rich, coming from someone who helped keep Atlas' corrupt system running."
Jaune stiffened, but before he could respond, Weiss stepped forward, icy determination in her gaze.
Wiess: "This isn't about Atlas. Or Mantle. Or even Salem. This is about you four showing up at the worst possible time to make things worse."
Blake's ears twitched as she kept her eyes locked onto Adam. "I know you, Adam. You won't walk away from this. You're too stubborn."
Adam smirked, slowly unsheathing his sword. "And you still don't understand me, Blake."
The air grew heavier as Akira exhaled, finally raising the Authorise Buster.
Akira: "Well, I think we've had enough talking. Shall we?"
In perfect synchronization, MetsubouJinrai net activated their Drivers.
Forcerisers: [ Forceriser ! ]
Slashriser: [ Slashrise ! ]
Ark-Driver: [ Ark-Driver ! ]
Ruby and allies barely had a moment to process before the first attack was launched.
BOOM!
Cinder's flames erupted from above, forcing the heroes to scatter.
Akira lunged forward, his footwork precise, swinging the Authorise Buster toward Ruby.
She barely managed to dodge, skidding back as the blade cleaved through the air where she had just stood.
Blake and Weiss engaged Adam and Onyx, their blades clashing in a deadly dance of steel and sparks.
Yang found herself face-to-face with Amethyst, who grinned while using her Attache Shotgun
Jaune moved protectively in front of Penny, who held the Relic close. "We can't let them near Penny!" Jaune barked.
Akira's smirk deepened as he twirled the Authorise Buster, the hum of its power thrumming in the charged atmosphere.
Akira: "Well then, looks like we're past talking. Let's see if you've all gotten any stronger."
With that, he lunged, his blade clashing against Ruby's Crescent Rose. The battle erupted in a flash of steel and sparks, filling the pocket dimension with the sounds of combat.
Yang surged forward, fists igniting as she swung at Amethyst, who dodged with a laugh, flipping back before pulling out her Progrisekey.
Amethyst: "Getting right into it, huh? Fine by me."
Nevermore Progrisekey: [ Screech ! ]
She slammed the Nevermore Progrisekey into her Forceriser.
Amethyst: Henshin !
Forceriser: [ Forcerise! Screeching Nevermore ! ]
Forceriser: [ A scream that echoes through the void ! ]
Forceriser: [ Break down ! ]
As Amethyst's armor formed around her, Onyx and Adam followed suit, activating their own transformations.
Onyx: "Time to get serious."
Dynamaiting Lion Progrisekey: [ Burst ! ]
Onyx inserted the Dynamaiting Lion Progrisekey into his Forceriser.
Onyx: Henshin !
Forceriser: [ Forcerise! Dynamaiting Lion! ]
Forceriser: [ A beautiful explosive force like fireworks ]
Forceriser: [ Break down ! ]
Magenta energy burst around him as his armored form solidified, the metallic rods on his helmet resembling a lion's mane, shimmering with raw destructive power.
Burning Falcon Progrisekey: [ Inferno Wing ! ] (Falcon screeching)
Adam's expression was unreadable as he pulled out his Progrisekey, inserting it into his Slashriser.
Adam: Henshin !
Slashriser: [ Burnrise! Burning Falcon ! ] (Falcon screeching)
Slashriser: [ The strongest wings bearing the fire of hell. ](Falcon screeching)
Flames erupted as Adam's armor materialized, his crimson eyes glowing behind the visor.
His new form radiated intense heat, the air around him wavering from the sheer power he now wielded.
Jaune gritted his teeth, stepping protectively in front of Penny, his sword raised. He barely had time to react before Cinder came crashing down towards him, twin swords ablaze.
Cinder: "Protecting Penny again? Haven't you learned your lesson?"
Jaune blocked her strike, grunting under the force, but held his ground.
Jaune: "I don't abandon my friends."
Blake moved swiftly, her clones barely holding off Adam's rapid, fiery strikes. His Burning Scrambler wings unfurled, propelling him forward with relentless speed.
She parried as best she could, but Adam was faster than before.
Adam: "You always ran, Blake. No more running."
Blake: "I'm not running. I'm fighting."
Adam: "An what's the difference ?"
She ducked under his slash, countering with Gambol Shroud's ribbon, but he burned right through it.
Weiss and Onyx clashed, her glyphs struggling against his sheer destructive firepower.
Onyx laughed as he hurled his Dynamite Sticks into the air, detonating them in a stunning display that forced Weiss back.
Onyx: "Try and keep up, Schnee!"
Weiss: "I'll do more than that."
She creates a massive ice wall, using it as a springboard to launch herself at Onyx, rapier aimed for a decisive strike.
Meanwhile, Amethyst hovered above the battlefield, her wings beating ominously. With a chilling grin, she unleashed a deafening screech that sent shockwaves through the area.
Amethyst: "Time to shake things up!"
The sonic waves distorted reality itself, sending RWBYJ staggering as they clutched their ears in pain.
Yang forced herself to push forward, her eyes blazing red.
Yang: "I've had ENOUGH of you!"
She launched herself into the air, aiming a fiery punch straight at Amethyst.
The battlefield was chaos, an all-out war between the warriors of Remnant and , each side refusing to back down.
[ Scene Change ]
The battlefield was a chaotic storm of fire, steel, and shattered resolve. Team RWBY found themselves locked in a desperate struggle against Cinder Fall.
Flames spiraled as Cinder drove her twin swords into the ground, launching herself into the air on a fiery vortex.
Cinder: "I knew your plan would be bold, but I never could have predicted all of this... At least, not without a little help from Jinn. I suppose I have all of you to thank for one last lesson."
As the battle raged, a citizen with short brown hair walked into view, her calm demeanor standing in stark contrast to the panicked civilians fleeing around her.
A briefcase swung at her side, and the Relic of Knowledge gleamed at her hip. Ruby focused on Cinder, her silver eyes beginning to glow.
Cinder: "Sometimes, if you want to win—"
The brown-haired woman lifted her gaze, revealing heterochromatic eyes. Yang, amidst the fighting, noticed her approach.
Cinder: "...You simply can't do it alone."
The briefcase shimmered and transformed into an umbrella.
Neopolitan, now in disguise, whipped out her hidden blade and darted toward Ruby, who was fending off Akira.
Yang: "Ruby!"
With a burst of fury, Yang's hair ignited, her eyes turning crimson. She rocketed forward, shoving Ruby aside just as Neo's blade slashed across her torso.
Yang's Aura shattered instantly. The impact sent her tumbling backward, her body rolling off the platform into the abyss below.
Neo grimaced, frustrated that her attack had missed its intended target. Weiss and Ruby stood frozen in shock while Blake sprinted toward the edge.
Yang's barely conscious form flickered in and out of view as she plummeted. Blake threw Gambol Shroud, but the ribbon ran out before it could reach her.
Blake: "YANG!!!"
Tears streamed down Blake's face as Yang's form shimmered into nothingness. Her ears drooped as her grief turned to rage.
Penny, just steps away from the Vacuo portal, hesitated upon hearing Blake's scream.
Her Maiden flames flared up as she turned away from the portal, concern etched across her face.
Ruby: "Yang...?"
Neo, unfazed, lunged at Ruby again. Ruby barely managed to parry, her strikes lacking their usual force. Blake, blinded by fury, dashed forward, slicing at Neo.
Her weapon caught an illusion, shattering it instantly.
Blake: "Stop hiding!"
Weiss, meanwhile, deflected a hailstorm of fiery projectiles with her glyphs as Cinder targeted her from above.
Penny: "Why'd you have to come back?"
A figure bathed in green flames appeared. Weiss gasped, reaching toward Penny.
Weiss: "Penny, no!"
Penny: "Why didn't you just learn your lesson?!"
Cinder smirked but was caught off guard as Penny slammed into her with tremendous force.
Cinder flipped back and summoned another sword, tweaking her nose in amusement.
Cinder: "Oh, Penny..."
Penny raised her hands to summon her floating swords, but then she froze.
Her eyes widened in horror as she realized—her robotic parts were gone. Her swords were missing.
Cinder: "I did."
A fiery blast sent Penny crashing into the platform below. She recovered swiftly, conjuring Maiden-made swords instead.
Weiss ascended to higher ground using her glyphs, dodging obsidian shards launched by Cinder.
The battlefield was shifting rapidly, and the weight of the battle was starting to take a toll on everyone.
Then, a pulse of malevolence rippled through the battlefield.
Ark-Driver: [ Singurize ! ]
Ark-Driver: [ Hakai, hametsu, zetsubō, metsubō seyo. ]
Ark-One: [ Conclusion one. ]
A dark figure emerged, clad in sleek black, white, and red armor—Ark-One.
Akira, standing amidst the Trilobite Magia, had transformed, his presence exuding raw malice.
The pure unfiltered Malice emanating from him sent chills down the spines of both allies and enemies.
Cinder, momentarily distracted from battle with Penny, turned toward him and felt something she hadn't in years—unease.
In the crimson glow of his singular, glaring red eye, she swore she saw something eerily familiar.
For a fleeting moment, she saw Salem standing where Akira was.
Her smirk faltered.