Chapter 55: Unblind Justice

A/N: I'm posting this on my Birthday when I have a day off.

Vernal was happy.

She found a survivor from a place she once called home. She stopped mid-flight to turn back around, entered the Bullhead, and hugged a fellow orphan.

"That girl isn't the brightest," Hazel sighed from the copilot seat.

"Oh, I don't knooow! Was it taking a picture of a LIVE FEED or thinking Cinder guiding her through the scroll was just an AI," Tyrian jokes.

"I am no longer alone! Yaaaaaaa!" The spring maiden cheered.

Emerald just deadpanned at the scene and kept quiet. She wanted to say something, but it would have made her the target of a bone-crushing hug. She wonders if she is in way over her head. She quietly put Vernal's scroll away as a call was coming through.

"Urge to kill…raising," Cinder whispered quickly over Vernal squealing.

It would be this easy to stab her in the back…or front. The shock of it would guarantee Vernal would burn Cinder's face into the last seconds of life. She wouldn't even need to use the Grimm in her arm.

It would be that easy.

"Huh? Did you say something, Cinder?" She relaxed slightly.

"Ugh, you're killing me," She muttered.

"It seems we found our location. Both of you come here," Hazel headed the scroll over to the two girls.

The red dot stopped at a canyon. Vernal pointed at a red circle on the northern part of the coast.

"What's that?"

"The location they wanted to intercept you," Cinder answered.

"They were planning to ambush me near the coastline?" Vernal stared at the map.

The Spring Maiden also realized something. There shouldn't be a build-up of forces near her kingdom. It is the ground for a declaration of war.

The north didn't need as much protection because beyond that were Grimm-infected waters and the dark continent. It is too risky to have airships for an extended period. The only forces there are locals crazy enough to live there and huntsman squads keeping the Grimm population in check.

Unless…

Maidens are keeping the Darkness at bay.

That also means…

A worried smile twitched on the Spring Maiden's lips.

"We are going to stand and fight?" She asked Cinder.

"Congrats, You caught on but don't worry," the young woman moved past the Spring Maiden," We are going to ambush them back."

"What if it's an army?"

"It isn't. It's Maidens and a small strike force here for your head," Tyrian spoke up.

"I can beat them," She shrugged, suddenly gaining a burst of confidence.

"Don't get too overconfident," Hazel lectured," We have a plan in place and that's to kill one of the Maiden and give her power to-"

"Myself," Cinder placed one hand over her heart.

"Let me finish," Hazel sighed.

Before Cinder knew it, She was put in another bone-crushing hug.

"You could have it!"

Cinder looked over at her colleagues. They didn't expect it to be this easy. If this goes according to plan, They could claim all the maiden powers besides Vernal's. They didn't have to lie about it benefiting the tribe or how Cinder and Emerald were going to be working closely with them.

The wildcards need to stay alive until their use is no longer needed.

"But I'm under strict order not to cause too much bloodshed. Akame specifically told me to choose my target carefully! A whole strike force plus Maiden is a bit out of my range," She held a hand up.

Salem pawns look at each other wondering how an innocent professor qualifies for death. They couldn't care less about Peach, another of Oz's unaware minions. But it seems like an overreaction.

"Did you think she killed someone over cheese in their burger," Tyrian whispered over to Hazel.

"And you wouldn't?" He shook his head.

"Can I adopt her?" Tyrian tilted.

"Ask the boss and her boss," The larger man motioned for the scorpion to look forward.

Hazel knew how mentally damaged the child was.

There is no one around her to show what it means to be normal. A father figure who is very draconic toward criminals. A mother figure who is the most wanted terrorist in history. Their deceased spy, Lionheart, was the closest to being her grandfather. He was willing to throw his colleagues under the Goliath to save his skin. Akame isn't the paragon of virtue either.

That isn't getting into the massacres she did just to gain the approval of a tribe that didn't respect her.

"The only thing keeping that girl together is friendship and loyalty," Hazel observed." It's best if we do not betray it."

Tyrian knows she is just one bad day away from being a monster. He is excited to see the potential depravity that a girl can reach. He got a feeling she already did it. The rumors of what happened to the Ghar tribe spread like wildfire. No one knew what happened to them besides the kids surviving a 'Grimm attack'.

"We are here to make her 'better,'" Tyrian grinned wickedly.

A chill ran up Hazel's spine reminding him of the possibility all of them are going to die today.

"Let's hurry to the ambush point, Our second traitor is waiting," Hazel clenched his fist," And be wary of her."

As they approached the canyon. They spotted the transport making a descent.

"This isn't right," Cinder uttered.

"All according to her plan," Tyrian whispered.

"Vernal," A familiar voice echoed through the comms," Come find me."

"Is that-" Hazel paused. Salem pawns look at Vernal. They all know who it is. She shouldn't be here this quickly.

Suddenly, it exploded in a ball of fire.

"Not part of the plan!" Tyrian panicked.

Vernal was the first to hop out and rush toward the wreckage. She wasn't expecting HER to be here.

The majority of Salem's inner circle got the rundown that a traitor was helping them but not who.

Tyrian knows it's the Haven headmaster. He didn't bother questioning why his Queen didn't tell the rest. He was told to dispose of Fang once the battle was won.

What they didn't expect was Flaxen arriving early. She was supposed to come from behind and crush any chance of retreat. She got seers watching her move.

The betrayal happened when a large explosive went off in one of the wings.

Fang planted a bomb ahead of time.

He watched as the bullhead spiraled into the ground, a trigger in his hand, and a smile on his lips. The headmaster dropped the trigger and raised his hands above his head awaiting a force of nature.

Vernal eyes met with fury as she rushed toward the man.

She couldn't believe it.

She was disappointed when Peach wasn't on the ship but was fully onboard teaching Atlas, Mistral, and the other Maidens a lesson.

Fang is going to give her a good explanation for what he did or she will...or she will…

She will…kill him?

No?

He helped the tribe out a lot. Miss. Malachite is shadowing his every move, preventing him from helping more. Even the funds needed to be laundered before reaching them. Fang can't directly inject money anymore.

They can't even talk over the scroll like they used to.

She stopped in front of him, turning off her power.

She wanted to be angry at him for potentially killing her comrades but all she could do was return a hug.

It was a swirl of emotion for Vernal since she trusted him. Yet…

He was the first to gently push her away.

"We have a lot to talk about but first, Do not trust those people," He breathed in relief," I need you to cover up this canyon. Right this instant!"

"Cover it up?" She questioned as he retreated deeper into the canyon valley," W-what-"

"I know you're capable of it! Do it now before your fake comrades recover. Trust me!"

He didn't expect the intense earthquake that happened next.

Vernal ripped the rocks off the walls, and the surrounding land, and moved it. A sandstorm accompanied the rocks as they formed a roof over the canyon and the sand disguised it further. It only took a minute to terraform the canyon into a desert.

"This must be the upper echelon of a maiden power," He spoke in awe.

She snapped her fingers and the walls lit up with flame.

The magically-created ceiling above them has intense heat melting the rocks together and massive pillars raising the ground for further support.

The topside is hidden and the inside is now stabled.

"Enclosed space, a lot of heat," Fang checked himself to see if he wasn't on fire," I'm not sweating."

"I'm controlling the temperature around us. Start explaining now, mentor," She growled, conjuring a spear made of stone and fire. The tip pointed at his face.

"Those people you were with aren't your friends. They work for Salem," He calmly explained," They are using you and the tribe to further their own goals."

She lowered the spear. Vernal didn't want to believe him but at the same time, Fang has proven to be trustworthy time and time again.

"It can't be."

"You just met them and you have known me for years. I know you're not the brightest but this," he motioned to the newly formed cavern," Isn't the work of an idiot."

"And? We are here to wipe out Atlas and Mistral for my people."

"Do they have a woman or two in that group?"

"Yes, Two actually-"

"And how many maidens are coming right now?"

"Two."

"Are you slowly understanding the gravity of the situation even if you WON?"

"Umm, no?"

"There is a chance that if it does go perfectly, You'll end up with two newly formed maidens who aren't on your side," The headmaster added," They're here to kill you."

The headmaster knows the situation doesn't favor the strike force and the maidens if the battle drags on. More Grimm will arrive and the locals will realize something is up. They figured out a way to counter Vernal semblance but wouldn't be able to pin her down if there were more hostiles to fight.

"But…Flaxen."

"Is here, my flower," A voice came from behind her.

A small section of the canyon walls collapsed revealing a tunnel entrance with a barely legible sign above it.

SDC AND CONSORTIA FRIENDSHIP PROJECT

"Consortia," Vernal uttered," Those guys."

They were the Cartel on the West Coast, which sold out Vacuo for profit. She lives in their mansion after the Crown eliminated them months back. Those traitors didn't escape the coast when she was done with them.

The woman steps forward with an entourage of half a dozen men and women in white, with miners' face masks painted white.

She was a blonde woman with cat ears and a calm yet deceitful face—a half mask around her neck, a yellow scarf, and Atlas armor with shoulder pads painted red and yellow. The breastplate has a White Fang insignia. She carried a simple battle rifle and a saw-off shotgun.

The rest of her people looked battle-hardened; former Atlesian soldiers and mine workers.

"They're more in the cave but jeez!" She sighed," Do you know how hard it is to evacuate a whole branch overnight?"

Vernal brightened upon seeing her nanny again. She wanted to run and hug her, but a part of her mind told her not to. She had been tricked twice already.

"Easier with the witch's help," He revealed, confirming Vernal worries.

She didn't know how to react to the information. She heard Flaxen is in Atlas and hiding deep in the tundra's. The Spring Maiden refuses to believe she is in league with one of their biggest enemies.

"Both of you explain now!" She panicked and jumped back. She conjured more spears made of different elements.

None of them reacted to her anger.

"Come down, Ver. That's why we are here," Flaxen nodded. My situation is similar to this hypocrite's."

"Hypocrite?" He frowned.

"We are put on a leash by our respective slave drivers. Let's sum up our predicament: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. But Fang and I are never your enemies, to begin with," She stepped forward.

"Please, They're likely overhead right now," Fang commented," Hear us out and you'll decide what to do next."

"Decide?"

"Yes," they both answered at the same time.

They side-eyed each other and frowned.

At their core, they both wanted the child to think for herself.

She wanted Vernal to use her power to bully the tribe to comply. But the Maiden's own self-loathing and semblance amplifies her weaknesses. Flaxen wanted to see her little girl stand at the top demanding what she wanted from the world.

It was hard keeping things together with her selfish comrades. She is honestly glad Winter eliminated most of them. Even if she was the de facto leader initially the writing was on the walls as the conflict dragged on. They were fighting a losing war.

She needed to pull the same strategy Kurome did. Flaxen must work with the devil and distract the kingdom. She succeeded in delaying them for months. That intense blizzard helped out a lot too. By luck, Vernal was around to make sure none of them froze to death.

"I-I'll listen," Vernal meekly said.

"We need to hurry, they're going to realize the tracker is underground," One of Flax's men commented.

"I destroyed the tracker," Fang added," And left a red herring on Salem's bullhead."

"Nice," the Faunus leader gave him a thumbs up.

Fang can't help but be disappointed in Vernal. It breaks his heart to see her fall with the wrong crowd. He wishes she found the peaceful village he hinted at for her to settle down. Even becoming its guardian against the Grimm, bandits, and criminals. She'll be respected and loved by good people.

Children shouldn't be recruited and brainwashed at such a young age for an eternal war. They need to be nurtured and given a proper upbringing. That is what he sees in that four-year-old many years back.

"I'll start first," The headmaster softly said.

Fang wishes Vernal to listen to the truth and stop all this madness. Otherwise, He'll be forced to use his semblance on her. The perfect semblance for a man with his due process for criminals.

There were almost eighty of them keeping their distance. After neutralizing Grimm in the area, they ran to the signal hoping their comrades didn't die.

They choose to wear a desert-pattern uniform, a beige gaiter to hide their lower faces, a simple white cap, and Atlas-grade body armor hidden underneath their clothes.

The Exiles have body cams, drones, and optics vital to countering the Spring Maidens's semblance. They know her semblance isn't effective against technology besides aura sensors. She can't manipulate the perception of a machine with no soul.

The weapons, armored vehicles, and squad of gunships are also a dead giveaway that they're not locals. They couldn't care less at this stage because they're here for one reason only.

Vernal must die.

They send a small team in first to scout the last known signal location. The MIA and the Summer Maiden are not too far behind as they cover up the recent battle with the locals.

"Sector is still clear."

"Environment shows signs of maiden activities."

"Fall reported the surrounding areas are torn to pieces."

"Bullhead seems to have no one onboard."

"There's a tracker on it but intel said a transport should be our target."

"The only odd thing left is this rock."

The huge rock did its best not to move. From afar, The khaki-colored linen cover looks like a rock but the truth would reveal itself up close. This is why Emerald needed to use her semblance to trick the squadron poking around.

They held in breaths and ready their weapons. It would take a strong gust of wind to ruin everything. A maiden would be capable of doing it and there are two of them somewhere in the sky or the group.

They might leave if they play rock long enough.

No one dared to speak yet they understood what just happened. Tyrian knows the full details of the arrangement.

"Why are you so giddy?" Cinder hissed.

"Hhhehehe, Whether we live or die, it is by the will of my goddess," he quietly raved, "Let there be a monster."

Tyrian has confidence she'll make the worst choice.

Disappointment and fury.

Those are the words representing how the headmaster feels.

The damnable woman stood behind Vernal with her hands on her shoulder. Vernal refuses to look at him but the woman had no issue staring him down with a grin.

"Vernal was a desperate girl when I found her, half-starved to death and scared," Flaxen rubbed the girl's shoulder," You have been ignoring your little girl's crime and deferring it to those around her. While true initially, The choices she makes are all her own. She did horrible things. Mess up stuff!"

"Is it true? Those experiments? Killing even when not peer pressured?" He tightened his grip on his spear.

He understood killing in battle.

He understood punishing those who get out of line.

He understood Akame is careful with who needs to die.

He couldn't understand experimenting on an entire village to further a lab project. That isn't a battlefield, disciplinary action, or sanctioned by a superior. Vernal bought it up believing it was the right thing to do.

"It was a lesson you taught me," Vernal finally said," For what is right, any means is necessary!"

"Good…evil…subjective crap when survival is on the line," The woman chuckled," I'll admit I'm an awful person but what about you?"

"Vernal," He whispered," I'm sorry for everything you've gone through."

He dropped his spear and kneeled.

It got her attention, meeting his eyes with her own.

"You need to come to terms with what you've done. Only then will you understand the gravity of your situation," He closed his eyes.

He repeated how this is the right method. How she needs to come face to face with her crime. This is out of love.

So why is he going to hate himself for this?

Flaxen felt something was off but she was too late to stop it.

There is a semblance afforded to a man like him. It forces the criminal to relieve the pain and suffering inflicted on others. A horrendous semblance reserved for the most vile of criminals.

The horrors she committed were relatively recent.

A few months only need a few seconds.

That is the only crime she'll be forced to come to terms with.

Fang opened his regretful, gray eyes shining an ethereal glow.

"Unblind justice."

A bone-chilling scream echoed throughout the cavern, followed by gunfire, and clashing blades.

The impact of footsteps echoing through the halls sounds like it was made by two different people. One was a man with rubber boots. The other sounded like a sledgehammer.

James cursed his luck. He thought the secret could be kept hidden. He still has confidence his soldiers can pull it off despite the interference.

What are his enemies?

The handful of Salem pawns who are not equipped to fight an army. The scattered remnants of wild Grimm were weakened by Akame's force. White Fangs that could barely number in the 50s. Hui Fang is more of a schemer than a fighter.

Vernal isn't weak by any means. They can counter her semblance now. The Maidens can hold off her power. Finally, the Aceops will deal the finishing blow.

It's a desperate gambit that can end in war. Everyone knows it. The general hopes that if it does break out, Atlas will return stronger than ever.

As the heroes this world needs.

At the moment, He is more worried about Winter and Akari. If his top specialist gets killed, Akame better enjoys her permanent home in Vacuo.

A loud bang could be heard once he got close.

He pushed the doors open ready to call off the match.

"Oh? Finally arrived?" Akame welcomed him and crossed her legs on her seat.

Ironwood was aghast by what he saw. He looks beside him to see Akari slowly pick herself up. Meanwhile, Winter was toppled over with one hand on her stomach, another tightly gripping her saber.

Akame uses her back as a chair.

"Get the fuck off of me!" Winter screeched and swung back.

Akame backflipped away in an instant.

"I'm disappointed in you, General. I wasn't going to kill your dogs," She mocked," Fine, I'll get serious."

She drew both Rosetta in pistol form and Shūsen.

The battle commences as Akame matches both opponents in combat. Neither side is gaining an advantage as they fight their hardest.

One of Akame's bullets flew past Ironwood who stood unreactive to it.

He tightened his grip on Due Process as he observed further.

"Do you want to join?" Akame twisted her body mid-jump to avoid both blades attempting to bisect her.

In the same instant, Winter avoided getting kicked in the face.

"General, Step back," Winter stood in front of Ironwood," What the hell is the matter with you?!"

Akame pistol whipped Akari across the jaw.

"I wasn't aiming for him nor am I the one obsessed over a little girl," Akame was cut off as Winter bolted at her.

Akame felt heavy as the glyph appeared below her foot. Akame tried moving but it felt like she was anchored to the ground.

She got ready to defend but Winter passed by her without engaging.

She looked behind her in confusion only to instinctively react to the oncoming threat.

A casual aura slash and the summoned Beowulf was sliced in two.

Two more glyphs appeared beside winter and now a horde of small nevermore came at Akame.

She fired and slashed at the oncoming horde but it reached her nonetheless. They pecked and scratched at her dense aura in an attempt to break it.

Akame hissed at the annoyance and was about to throw a slash at the summoner standing perfectly still.

She raised her arm only to feel off balance. One of her ankles Is wrapped by strings with a hook at the end. The huntress' eyes widened as the source of the string belonged to Akari.

The Nevermores disputed and a Glyphs appeared above her. Even the glyphs holding her down disappeared. She attempted to cut the strings but was met with electricity coursing through her body.

A large mass rushed toward Akame who was helpless to stop it even as she threw another aura slash upward. Even as electricity was frying her cognition.

It did cut through the 1st Ursus.

But not the Goliath rapidly falling towards her.

She attempted to throw another slash but it was too late.

The airship shook as the Goliath landed on Akame.

Akari rushes over to Winter's side as she drops her weapon. She wasn't going to untie the hook on Branwen's ankle anytime soon.

"Exo and hammer!" She ordered and one of the soldiers tossed a replica of Elm Ederne's war hammer and Harriet Bree's arm brace and glove.

Winter almost collapsed until a gentle hand on her chest and back held her up.

"Our plan worked," She cheered.

"No, This isn't over yet," Winter dispelled the Goliath on top of Akame. A massive crater is left at the center of the hanger.

Akame is lying flat on her stomach after the attack, pushing herself back up. They couldn't see her face but the sway of her movements made it clear. She was injured badly.

In any other circumstance, That would kill most people. Akame isn't like most people.

It is universally agreed upon by experts that to stand a chance against her, preplanning is a must.

Atlas wanted to win but even if they lost this round.

Vale must prove she could be defeated.

It's the thought Ozpin had about the whole 'exam' being so high profile.

Akame lost a portion of her aura but still stood in defiance against her foes.

Both sides got something to prove even if it would be beneficial for Akame to cut her losses. Forfeiting would be enough to feed Atlas's ego.

"48% entering and 40% now," Akame growled," And it was only the first few minutes."

"And we will drop it to zero," Akari stepped forward.

Winter: 90%

Akari: 85%

Akame: 40%

It would have been worse for Akame if she hadn't lowered her aura at the last minute besides her mask, head, and weapon.

Akame felt her bones pulverized and her inside squished. The body healed yet the pain lingered. She was graceful in her mask staying mostly undamaged because a bit of black blood left her mouth.

Akame felt all her effort to regain her stamina being undone from that attack. Akame waited for her legs to amend and her spine to realign. She felt like death but not in a good way.

"You're dying," Akari paused.

Even Winter waited to see what happened next.

The pain labored breathing, violent shaking, and awkward stance. It is impossible to tell if she's bleeding internally or externally with all the black clothes hiding her skin.

"I'm not done!" The red-eyed girl screamed.

Before she knew what happened, Winter felt the tip of Akame's sword pressed into her stomach. Winter got launched into the walls on the opposite side of the hanger.

"H-how?!" Akari blocked a strike.

The girl-no monster went from dying back to combat ready.

There wasn't a response, only an angry, animalistic snarl beneath the mask.

A/N: Aaaaaaa, I'm finally done.

Sorry, so sorry. Holidays are hitting hard again.

I'm going all in with the strongest concepts. RWBY does need one or another since Oz was that person long ago. The biggest downside is that Akame will be forced to fight even the most disadvantaged battles.

I came to realize I made Atlas come off as fodders. That's only true against Akame and Vernal. Even Vernal and Flaxen's victory is due to the rainforest allowing for full usage of her semblance and magic while damaging Atlas tech.

Vernal and most of the tribe were doomed to fail if they never retreated.

The same can be said with Malachite's infiltration of Vacuo. If Akame hadn't led the tribe, conquered the Crown, and worked with the locals, The MIA would have won. They would have put half of Vacuo under Malachite influence once Theodore realized what was happening. Akame aligning herself with Shade early on means she lacks the resources to fight them off later.

I thought long and hard about every step of the story to avoid accidentally writing myself into a wall. Even the interference of the Gods and Akame figuring out how to send them away took me weeks to deliberate.

I'll also admit. A part of it is luck being on Vernal and Akame's sides.