Intermission:

The Blood-Soaked Bull and the One-Winged Angel

The pain of a wound or scar is nothing

Compared to the suffering we have endured

I would gladly return all of the pain back onto them

And see if their humanity remains

()

I will

Never

Be a Memory

"Adam, run!"

He remembered running through the jungle, kids screaming all around him. He looked back, trying to see the woman who had called out to him, but she had been lost amidst all the screaming and panicking Faunus who had been brought here like him.

Brought here to die.

Red.

As he walked through the forest, a gentle breeze passed over him and red leaves flew past him. He ignored the beauty and serenity of the forest, focusing only on holding his sheath with one hand and the hilt of his weapon in the other.

A single leaf fell in front of him…

SLASH!

And in a mere instant, cut in two.

There was only a red flash, the sound of a sword being unsheathed and was then immediately placed back.

'Not good enough.' He thought as he continued walking.

He had come out here to train as he regularly did. The calming silence of the forest was a welcoming relief to him, allowing him to focus.

Focus on his skill.

Focus his strength.

Focus…his rage.

His pain.

And all of his sorrow.

"Huh?" Adam's eyes widened under his mask to see his Wilt had clashed against the glaive that belonged to one of Willow's bodyguards.

Ansem sighed as his image faded away, knowing any chance to resolve this peacefully was gone. Aeleus grunted and shoved Adam back. Adam jumped back, landed on his feet and sheathed his sword as he glared at the human who stopped him striking his target. He immediately squeezed the trigger on his scabbard, Blush and fired his sword right at Aeleus who blocked with his Centurion.

The hilt of the sword impacted the glaive, bouncing off of it as Adam rushed forward and caught his sword in mid-air. The force of the strike should have sent Aeleus back, but Adam was surprised to see he had barely budged. He shot at Aeleus, slashing at him but the sword was blocked by Centurion again. Aeleus was quick but careful as he blocked Adam's strikes.

Adam was expecting Aeleus to go on the attack very soon and he could use the kinetic energy that his Semblance would absorb through his sword to send it right back at this human. However, Aeleus was not so easily fooled. Even as a Nobody, he was patient and tactful, preferring to bide his time and plan things accordingly rather than simply attack, taking the time to increase his power level and study his opponent's attacks before finishing them off. Just as he caught Adam's sword with his glaive again, he shoved it aside and grabbed Adam, lifted him into the air and then tossed him into the nearby wall.

Adam let out a loud cry as he slammed into the wall and slid down, managing to stand up perfectly a moment later and grit his teeth as his Aura shimmered slightly. Aeleus remained composed as he gripped Centurion with one hand, silently beckoning Adam to come at him.

Adam had immediately attacked Aeleus again after Willow stopped Sienna from attacking him. Aeleus used his glaive to block Adam's sword and this time Aeleus was attacking, swinging his glaive and striking Adam's sword which briefly glowed red.

Ilia could see Adam was smiling and she knew it was because his opponent was unknowingly feeding his Semblance: Moonslice.

'His weapon glows when I strike it.' Aeleus thought as he and Adam clashed again. 'He is smiling and I feel his power growing. His Semblance must be from absorbing the energy from my weapon striking is. Perhaps I can confirm this theory…'

Soon enough they struck again with Aeleus' Centurion hitting Adam's Wilt and the blade flashing red again. Adam was smiling as he felt more and more energy fueling his sword and he was ready.

That was when things changed.

Aeleus suddenly switched tactics as Adam swung his sword, withdrawing his glaive in the last second. Aeleus stepped back as Adam swung his sword again. Despite his muscular frame, Aeleus was agile enough to dodge Adam's fast paced attacks and when he had a chance, he didn't attack with his weapon but instead moved with surprising speed and struck Adam in the face, sending him flying back. Adam grunted as he landed on his feet, snarling at Aeleus and charging at him, moving fast enough to leave after-images in his wake.

Aeleus would continue dodging, holding his weapon back except for when using it block an attack, waiting Adam out as he attacked, and he could tell Adam was getting frustrated by his inability to land a hit. His Semblance had absorbed quite a few but powerful hits but then suddenly his opponent had suddenly changed tactics and instead of eating up the energy of his attacks, Adam was suddenly expending it and he couldn't hit Aeleus or break through his defenses. Having enough, Adam's sword glowed red as he swung it down, aiming to unleash all the energy he had gathered and break through Aeleus' glaive and slice through everything behind it hopefully.

That was when Aeleus roared and swung his Centurion.

A red and black Aura exploded from him as he swung his weapon, releasing a shockwave that blasted through Adam's own attack and slammed into him, sending him crashing back into the wall and shattering his mask and revealed the SDC brand over his left eye. He hit the ground and his Aura finally broke.

"Unbelievable…" Sienna grunted as she made her way to her throne. "That entire mission was a fiasco…"

"Willow Schnee and those two bodyguards were stronger than we had thought." Adam stated, stopping at the steps leading up to the throne.

"THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE!" Sienna shouted, banging her hands against the arms of her throne. "It only took three of them to force us to flee and we abandoned two of our brothers because we couldn't risk being captured!"

Ilia stepped back, feeling very fearful of Sienna's temper while Adam remained composed.

"And how they did even know we were coming? I made sure to keep our mission on a strict need to know basis from everyone outside you two and the others assigned to the mission." Sienna turned around, facing Adam and Ilia. "Were we compromised in some way?"

"You suspect a traitor?" Adam asked carefully.

"Your loyalties are not in question." Sienna sat down. "But the fact of the matter is, somehow they knew we were coming. The facility was empty of any people aside from those three and the androids we fought."

"Clearly the Schnees are more resourceful than we had anticipated." Adam stated.

"Resourceful? It is clear that despite her supposed age Willow Schnee remains one of the strongest Huntresses from Atlas." Sienna clenched a fist as she remembered the fight she had with the Schnee matriarch.

If not for Adam using the last of his strength provided by his Semblance they would have been captured.

"Ever since the White Fang was split, we have had to carefully plan out every mission carefully. Vale has fostered equality for years just behind Vacuo, Mistral has only started to embrace this change while Atlas has thus far refused to change and continues to foster anti-Faunus sentiment with the so-called exception of the SDC, but we can never be too sure, especially when we know some of its people have been funding the Wild Hunt group. Especially the Diamond Dust Company led by Jacques Gele." Sienna narrowed her eyes. "We have worked to show the Faunus will not be treated as slaves and that Menagerie will not be exploited by the other kingdoms like Vacuo almost was. Ghira has already limited our ability to recruit in Menagerie so we cannot afford to make mistakes like the ones we have just made tonight."

"So, what shall we do?" Adam asked. "If we are not strong enough-"

"Then we will simply have to become stronger." Sienna harshly cut him off. "The blame for tonight's failure does not rest the Schnees for stopping us…But with me for underestimating them."

"High Leader?" Ilia looked surprised.

"It seems my time as High Leader has caused me to neglect my training, considering how fast Willow Schnee figured out what my Semblance is and how to turn it against me." Sienna stood up from her throne. "And her bodyguard did the same to you, Adam."

Adam clenched the hilt of his sword.

As much as Adama hated to admit it, Sienna had been right. He had been caught unprepared for that battle with the man named Aeleus and vowed he would not make the same mistake again. That is why when he had free time, it was spent in the Forever Fall forest, far enough from the small White Fang camp stationed here where he could train in private. The Forever Fall forest took up a significant portion of the Kingdom of Vale, going on for miles on the north coast of Vale.

How could Adam improve himself given his skills were that of a Huntsman?

Be creative.

Adam took off his blazer and shirt, putting them to the side, neatly folding them before stepping into the water of a nearby stream. He did not stop until he was right in front of the waterfall. Under his mask, his eyes remained closed, Wilt and Blush at his side as always, fully sheathed with his other hand hovering over the hilt of Wilt but kept it concealed in the sheath that was Blush. He waited, remaining calm and composed, focusing on nothing but the sound of the waterfall in front of him.

"There they are!"

"I call the antlers on that one's head."

"I'll take the tail of that little freak!"

Adam's form blazed slightly, his red hair becoming brighter. As this happened, a log came down the waterfall. He knew it was falling and if things were normal he would have sliced it just as soon as it was on top of him.

SNAP!

If anyone had been watching, they would no doubt be shocked that Adam allowed the log to hit him, bouncing off his aura that literally snapped it in two, the broken pieces falling into the water to be carried down the stream. Adam groaned, staggering slightly but got back up into his kneeling position and adjusted Wilt and Blush back into the proper position, his right-hand hovering over the hilt once again.

Why do this, someone might ask.

Pain had been a very old friend to Adam since he was a child, and he learned the hard way that pain can be as helpful as practicing one's katas. Anything that he misses will strike him and he will remember the pain from each hit, growing stronger from it. Adam's Semblance: Moonslice allowed him to absorb or block energy from an enemy attack and re-emit it again in powerful red energy strikes.

However, it had a crippling weakness.

He needed his sword, Wilt, to absorb power from enemy attacks and relinquish it as deadly energy strikes. This let him avoid taking damage directly during absorption but left him highly vulnerable if disarmed. That man, Aeleus had somehow figured out his Semblance had worked and turned it against him in their fight, exploiting his strengths and then turning it against him just when his Semblance was at full strength.

To have been bested so easily like that…by a human…

Another log struck him, his Aura shimmering.

It made him angry at how easily his Semblance had been exploited and like the pain he was feeling right now that anger served to feed his resolve, to strengthen his mind, to make his will stronger.

'If my Semblance is only a hinderance to me now, then I will change that.' Adam vowed to himself.

It wouldn't end there.

Once he was done letting logs fall on him, Adam emerged from the stream, taking his blazer and shirt with him but he did not put them back on. He left them under a tree in middle of a clearing where four large wooden boards were located, deeply dug into the ground to keep them standing forming a square shaped formation with Adama in the center. Adam tossed four small fire Dust crystals, one for each stick pile and shot them with blush.

BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG!

With each hit, the Fire Dust crystals exploded, setting the stick piles ablaze and forming four wooden towers around Adam who remained in the center, taking the same position as he did under the waterfall. He was alarmingly close to the fires but remained calm.

He had nothing to fear from pain.

Even as a wave of fire picked up from one of the flaming towers, burning at his back. His Aura shimmered, protecting him but he still felt the heat.

It was a familiar sensation.

On the outside he remained calm, but on the inside, he imagined his sword striking the flames just before they struck him. He could recall the feeling of grasping the handle of Wilt, unsheathing just as the fire neared and struck, dispersing the flames before immediately re-sheathing Wilt.

How long could he handle this?

Remaining still while only imagining himself striking the flames just before they struck him?

Time had no meaning for him at the moment, he was focused only on remaining composed and being mindful of the surrounding fire.

"Look at that. The little bull boy thinks he's tough."

"Then maybe he's tough enough for this."

What came next was only the feeling of red, hot searing pain.

His Aura continued to protect him and lessen the burning damage. The pain did not harm him. It only served to sharpen both mind and body. Another wave of flames touched his right arm, but he did not falter. His mind remained focused, knowing when to strike and how to strike, each mental slash at the perfect timing.

By the time he was finally done, the sun had already set, and the night sky covered the red forest. Adam doused the flames with pieces of Water and Ice Dust, making sure to conserve the amount of Dust that he had as best as possible. Following a light dinner, consisting of a few protein bars he finished the day of training by practicing his sword skills against a large boulder. Holding Wilt and Blush at his side again, Adam closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

After a moment of silence, his eyes shot open and he delivered a flurry of fast slashes, cutting into the large stone and leaving cut marks all over it.

Adam exhaled and sheathed his sword and looked at the boulder, his fingers touching one of the small grazes on the surface. "…Not fast enough."

He flinched and pulled his back his hand, seeing red markings on the palm and fingers. He stared for a moment before returning to his signature stance, ignoring the stinging pain as he gripped the hilt of his sword again and once again slashed at the boulder. A few hours later he fell asleep against the boulder.

Adam grunted as he sent another slash against the boulder, sheathing Wilt back into Blush as he looked at the grazes on the stone. "…Better."

He had awakened early and again had a light breakfast before he continued a lighter training session, knowing he would be needed back at the camp soon. Satisfied for now, Adam turned away and began walking back to the camp. As he walked through the red forest, a soft wind blew past him and he stopped.

"Hm…" A voice softly came from behind. "You seem powerful…For someone from here. I can see it."

Adam turned around, his eyes gazing upon the newcomer that had suddenly appeared behind him, a few feet away. His senses should have picked up anyone who might have stumbled upon him but they felt nothing…until now.

The man…was a strange one.

He had long, silver hair with long bangs that frame his face, and wore a black leather coat. The coat had a large collar that reached his ears even when folded back and was kept closed by a black belt with a silver buckle around his waist. The coat had a red violet lining in the front. It was also noticeably tattered.

The man had blue eyes and the sleeves of his coat end in metal rings in place of normal cuffs, and he wore black leather gloves. For some reason there is an odd, black and red, fin-like growth on his right forearm.

The man's chest was exposed, showing that he wore some sort of grey strap around his abdomen with two black belts over it, as well as two brown, overall-esque straps that intersected over his chest. He wore black pants and knee-high boots of the same color, with two grey belts wrapped around each boot. Finally, he wore a silver pauldron over each shoulder.

In his right hand was an absurdly long sword, a nodachi.

It was as along as the man was tall, approximately six-to-eight feet long. The design and color of the guard and hilt were black.

What stood out about him was the single large, navy blue wing sprouting out from his back behind his right shoulder.

Was he some kind of Faunus?

Adam turned around, one hand on the hilt of Wilt. "Who are you?"

The man looked amused. "I am looking for someone. Have you seen anyone…carrying a large sword?"

"No one comes here." Adam answered before asking a question of his own. "Are you a Faunus?"

"A Faunus?" The man questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Your wing. Only a Faunus would have something like that." Adam stated. "You're certainly not human."

The man's lips curled into a smile. "I see. Those horns on your head."

Adam gripped the hilt of his weapon.

"Given your statements, I can only surmise that Faunus are people with noticeable attributes. Such as horns, wings or some trait that resembles something found on an animal." The man surmised. "Interesting."

"I said…who are you?" Adam repeated, his hair flaring slightly.

"I am…Sephiroth." The man introduced himself, raising his nodachi and holding the hilt in both hands. "And I sense a strange power from you. Show me."

(Kingdom Hearts II OST One Winged-Angel)

Seeing this man was a threat, Adam dashed forward, unsheathing Wilt and slashing at Sephiroth who easily blocked the first three slashes before Adam stepped back, aiming Blush and pulling the trigger.

BANG!

However, Sephiroth easily blocked with his nodachi, not even blinking as he went on the offensive. Adam found himself dodging, his speed and reflexes pushed to their limit as ducked under the first slash that was swung in a bisecting motion. Adam stepped to the side but before he could counterattack, Sephiroth swung again, the long nodachi moving so fast that might as well have weighed like a feather in the man's hands. Adam ducked again, reaching under Sephiroth's guard and slashed at his chest but Sephiroth surprisingly blocked the strike, bringing his sword up to meet Wilt.

CLASH!

Wilt glowed red as Adam sheathed it and Adam followed up with another strike, aiming at Sephiroth's head.

CLASH!

Sephiroth noted Adam's sword glowing red as he angled his sword over his shoulder to block. Sephiroth launched a horizontal slash at Adam who ducked and spun behind Sephiroth who spun and slashed horizontally at Adam who jumped and somersaulted over the blade. Adam landed on his feet and launched his own offensive, unsheathing Wilt to meet Sephiroth's sword, sending sparks flying while Wilt continued to flash with red light. Adam moved noticeably faster, leaving black and red afterimages in his wake as he tried ducking Sephiroth's sword and struck at his chest.

However, Sephiroth was not only strong but fast, catching Adam's strike and with a surge of amazing strength shoved Adama back and followed up with a kick to the chest. Adam flew back but instantly recovered, somersaulting through the air and landed on the ground. Hair flaring with fiery red light, Adam shot forward at Sephiroth who raised his nodachi to block the incoming slash.

Only that wasn't what Adam did.

Just as it looked like he was about to launch a flurry of slashes, Adam threw Wilt and Blush up into the air. Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, realizing that it was a distraction as Adam threw a fist forward, but Sephiroth easily blocked. Sephiroth then vertically slashed as Adam who side-stepped, spinning and catch Wilt and Blush as they fell back down.

He aimed Blush at Sephiroth's chest and fired. The hilt of Blush slammed into Sephiroth's nodachi, the One Winged-Angel blocking the strike, but the force of the hit still made him slide back. Adam shot forward, catching Wilt while it was still spinning. Grabbing the hilt, he spun and launched a spinning horizontal slash at Sephiroth who blocked but Adam slid behind Sephiroth, leaving an afterimage behind and tried slashing at Sephiroth from behind.

'He's moving so fast, even his afterimages can attack.' Sephiroth noted, remaining calm. 'His speed and strength are increasing each time I strike his sword.'

However, Sephiroth's speed and reflexes were superior to even Adam's and he was able to block and parry each hit, no matter how fast Adam moved or how many afterimages he left behind. Adam started using Wilt in one hand while occasionally shooting at Sephiroth with Blush in the other hand. Just as he caught Sephiroth in a blade lock, he shot up, leaving an afterimage and then swung his sword down, unleashing the stored energy inside in the form of a red glowing crescent shaped arc. Sephiroth raised his hand and an actual forcefield projected itself around him, blocking Adam's attack. The blast flung Adam back, but he managed to land safely on the ground.

Lifting his head back up, he watched as the dust cleared to reveal Sephiroth standing perfectly fine, his sword held in a reverse grip.

"What was that?" Adam stood up. "Your Semblance?"

"Semblance? Hm?" Sephiroth hummed softly. "I suppose that would be something similar to what you just did. Your sword, it glowed with each clash and your speed and strength increased each time. This ability, it centers around your sword absorbing energy when it meets the attack of your opponent."

Adam narrowed his eyes.

He had figured out how his Semblance worked just like the Aeleus human.

"A rather impressive if simplistic ability." Sephiroth stated. "I wonder what its limit is."

With a mere gesture, dark orbs surrounded Sephiroth and were then launched at Adam who had to run while blocking them with Wilt. The orbs followed her like homing missiles and if that wasn't enough Sephiroth teleported in front of him, his long sword swinging through the air. Adam hastily blocked but Sephiroth shoved Wilt aside and delivered a hard punch to Adam's face, shattering his mask.

Adam crashed into the ground but Sephiroth paused, seeing the branding scar on his face. "Oh…And what is this?"

Adam snarled, his hair, shirt and the red markings on his gloves glowing.

"I see. Your 'Semblance' is also connected to your emotional state, especially your anger." Sephiroth noted. "I presume it has something to do with the mark on your face."

"SHUT UP!" Adam snarled, the red light around him intensified.

All of his training meant to sharpen his mind and skills…

While it had been useful in keeping him alive, the rage he felt from how Sephiroth was treating this duel that he stated was infuriating.

Adam hated it.

He hated being talked down like this.

He hated how little Sephiroth seemingly regarded his skills that he had worked to hard to perfect.

He hated how the mask broke, revealing the scars he kept hidden.

Only a handful of people had ever seen those scars.

No one…

NO ONE HAD THE RIGHT TO SEE THOSE SCARS!

Adam dashed at Sephiroth, his Semblance and anger enhancing his speed and he attacked Sephiroth from multiple directions in quick succession. Sephiroth blocked or dodged the majority of hits but he noticed something.

It wasn't just Adam's speed and strength increasing.

His afterimages were moving like they were separate copies, easily disposed of but still briefly acting on their own. Adam's rage was powering his Semblance but there was something else…

'Perhaps it's not so limited after all.'

Adam pointed Blush, which was now glowing like Wilt and red glowing bullets shot out, shattered into shards of red light against Sephiroth's sword. Adam shot forward, horizontally slashing at Sephiroth with enough strength to push his sword aside, leaving him wide open as Adam stabbed Wilt forward right at Sephiroth's forward….

Only to be caught by Sephiroth's hand.

"Impressive." Sephiroth grinned at the surprised look on Adam's face.

Sephiroth kicked Adam in the torso, seeing a red aura shimmer around his form as he flew back. Adam skidded back but plunged his sword into the ground, coming to a halt. Adam looked up, watching as Sephiroth approached.

"I see now." Sephiroth mused. "A tortured heart, filled with bitterness and rage. Your scar marks not only your face but the path you've chosen. Your 'Semblance' as you call it reflects your true heart. You wish to take all the pain you feel and return it to those who have inflicted it on you."

"Shut up." Adam growled, panting slightly now.

"But you fail to realize the one important truth." Sephiroth continued, lifting up into the air, a purple aura surrounding him. "You'll never let go of the darkness."

"Shut up!" Adam barked.

Sephiroth raised his sword, holding it in both hands over his shoulder. "You'll never let go of your past…"

"SHUT UP!"

Adam stood up, his hair, his shirt, the red flower on his back, symbolizing the blooming and wilting of the beautiful flower as the last beauty in the world dies, all of glowed red as he swung his sword…And from it exploded dozens of red glowing sharp blades shaped like crescent moons.

Sephiroth readied himself as the blades neared him, a halo of light surrounding him. "Descend…"

The blades came within striking distance.

"Heartless Angel."

There was an explosion of blinding light and the last thing Adam felt was his Aura shattering as he was thrown back, his vision blacking out before he even hit the ground.

(Kingdom Hearts II OST One Winged-Angel Ends)

"A…am…. Ad…am…...Adam!"

When he opened his eyes again, he was on something soft.

"Adam?"

He managed to lift his head and see his Crimson Fang brothers and sisters, looking down at him with concerned faces. He was in a tent, likely back at the camp. His chest was heavily bandage and it hurt to even move.

"Wh-What…What happened?" He managed to speak.

"We found you near what could only be described as the aftermath of an explosion sir." The nearest member, the camp's medic reported. "You've been out for three days."

Adam grunted trying to move but his body still ached. "Where…where is he?"

"Who?"

"…The man with a dark wing." Adam managed to say before he slipped back into the realm of dreams and bliss.