Author's Note:
Rejoice ! another chapter has been finished
Huge Apologies for not publishing there have been massive floods where I live and water got inside my house
As always PMs are open and etc and hopefully next chapter is to your enjoyment as this is made
Till next chapter, Apzeta
[Vacuo – Refugee District ]
The streets are alive with tension. Mantle refugees huddle together, speaking in hushed, reverent tones about them—MetsubouJinrai dot net
"We owe them everything," an elderly man mutters, hands clutching a battered Mantle emblem.
"They got us out when Atlas turned its back on us."
A younger woman nods.
"They didn't abandon us… they saved us."
Jaune, Yang, Weiss, and Blake exchange wary glances. The weight of the words unsettles them.
Weiss (muttering, bitter): "They don't know the whole story…"
But as they move deeper into the district, the other side becomes clear.
Atlas refugees—soldiers, former SDC workers, families—scowl at the graffiti, muttering curses under their breath.
"They're terrorists," one man spits, shaking his head at a painted MetsubouJinrai's symbol.
"They Probably killed our general. They let Atlas fall!"
A nearby huntress, exhausted and slumped against a crate, scoffs. "And Ironwood didn't? Face it—no one's a hero anymore."
The group presses on, navigating past hushed arguments and propaganda, eventually arriving at a makeshift relief center.
It is there they finally see them—Ren and Nora.
[ Refugee Camp – Makeshift Medical Area ]
Ren and Nora are seated near a fire, their bodies exhausted from battle. Their weapons rest at their sides, battered but still functional.
Nora's face is smeared with dust and dried blood, her arms wrapped in bandages. Ren's usual calm demeanor is cracked—dark circles under his eyes, his body taut with stress.
The second they notice their old teammates, their weary faces light up.
Nora (staggering to her feet, voice breaking): "No way—NO WAY!"
Before anyone can react, she barrels into Jaune, wrapping him in a crushing hug.
Nora (sniffing, voice shaking): "I thought you were DEAD!"
Ren, though less expressive, exhales in sheer relief, stepping forward and gripping Jaune's shoulder. His usual reserved demeanor briefly shatters.
Ren (softly, with relief): "You're alive…"
Yang grins, stepping in with arms wide.
Nora: "You two look like hell."
Nora (snorting, through teary eyes): "And you don't?!"
Weiss folds her arms, her voice softer than usual.
Wiess: "It's good to see you."
The warmth, however, fades as Ren's expression darkens.
Ren (grimly): "…Most of us are gone."
That kills the mood immediately.
Blake (brows furrowing): "What do you mean?"
Ren sighs, rubbing his temples. "Huntsmen. Huntresses. The ones who survived… quit."
Yang stiffens.
Yang: "Quit?"
Nora looks away, her grip on Jaune loosening.
Nora: "We lost everything. Vale, Mistral, Atlas… even Vacuo isn't safe. We fight and fight, but…" She swallows, her voice small. "…What's the point?"
Jaune feels his stomach drop. Even Nora… Nora—the strongest, loudest, most determined person he knew—sounds like she's given up.
Weiss (quietly, trying to hold herself together): "There's always a point."
Ren (soft, but firm): "Is there?"
Silence lingers for a moment—until Nora hesitantly asks the question.
Nora: "Where's Ruby?"
The air shifts.
Yang looks down, fists tightening. Weiss tenses. Blake looks away. Jaune clenches his jaw.
Nora's expression falters.
Nora: "Guys?"
Ren, perceptive as ever, notices immediately.
Ren: "What happened?"
Weiss exhales shakily, unable to look them in the eyes.
Wiess: "She… she quit."
Ren and Nora both freeze.
Jaune (quietly, regretfully): "Ruby's not with us anymore."
Nora blinks. "What… what do you mean she quit?"
Blake's voice is thick with guilt.
Blake: "She left."
Yang speaks next—her voice rough, bitter.
Yang: "She joined Akira."
Silence.
Ren's eyes widen slightly, shock breaking through his usually stoic demeanor.
Ren: "She did… what?"
But Nora's reaction is the most visceral.
Nora: "NO."
She laughs at first—a hollow, disbelieving sound.
Nora: "No, no, no—Ruby wouldn't do that. She hates him! She knows what he's done!"
Jaune sighs, eyes heavy.
Jaune: "She made her choice, Nora."
Nora stares at them, waiting for the punchline, for the joke to end. But it never comes.
Her breath catches.
Nora: "No… no, she wouldn't…"
Weiss (softly, bitterly): "She did."
Nora's expression shatters.
Nora: "No…"
Ren, meanwhile, is silent—processing. He's always had doubts about Akira. Always questioned whether his actions were truly as black-and-white as they seemed.
Ren( Thinking ): But this…? Ruby, of all people, choosing him?
Ren (whispering): "She… left on her own free will?"
Weiss nods. "Yes."
Nora takes a shaky step back, looking at all of them as if they're strangers.
Nora: "How… how could you let her go?!"
Yang's jaw clenches.
Yang: "She's not a child, Nora! We couldn't force her to stay!"
Nora's face twists in anguish. "But it's AKIRA! The guy who nearly killed Jaune! The guy who—who—"
She chokes on the words.
Nora: "She's supposed to be with us…"
Ren (soft, uncertain): "Maybe… she found something there that we didn't."
Nora whirls on him, her voice sharp.
Nora: "Are you DEFENDING him?!"
Ren shakes his head.
Aren't "No… but maybe we don't understand everything."
Nora lets out a shaky breath, rubbing her temples.
Nora: "I can't— I can't believe this…"
Weiss' expression darkens.
Wiess: "Believe it. It's reality."
The weight of the truth crushes them.
Jaune, Yang, Weiss, and Blake lead them back to their allies, their hearts heavier than before.
[ Small Time Skip ]
Weiss embraces Winter, Whitley, and Willow, her heart aching at the familiar warmth.
Blake is pulled into a fierce embrace by her parents, their relief palpable.
Yang stands with Taiyang and Qrow—both men overwhelmed with emotion.
Tai (eyes wet, voice shaking): "You're alive…"
Yang (smirking slightly): "Yeah."
Tai grabs her, pulling her into a crushing hug.
Tai: "I thought I lost you both…"
Qrow stands beside them, his eyes softer than usual.
Qrow: "Missed ya, kid."
But the relief doesn't last.
Tai (gently, hesitantly): "Where's Ruby?"
Yang stiffens.
Tai (worried, desperate): "Yang…?"
Qrow frowns, sensing the tension. "Where is she?"
Yang exhales shakily. "She's… not with us."
Tai's smile falters. "What?"
Yang (quietly): "She's with Akira."
Tai's entire body freezes. Qrow's breath catches.
Tai (whispering, in disbelief): "No…"
Qrow's hands curl into fists. "You're joking."
Yang swallows. "I wish I was."
Tai's face crumples.
Tai: "My little girl…"
His youngest. His daughter… in the hands of a terrorist group.
Tai (voice breaking, trembling): "Akira executed Raven… And now Ruby is with him?"
He staggers, as if the weight of it all physically hurts him.
Qrow stares at the ground, his mind racing.
Qrow (quietly, horrified): "What happened between all of you ?"
The silence following Qrow's question was suffocating.
Then—
Click.
The distinct sound of a camera shutter echoed through the air.
Jaune, Yang, Weiss, and Blake immediately stiffened, their blood running cold. They knew that sound.
Casually walking towards them, camera in hand, was a man in a magenta coat, snapping pictures as if he were merely sightseeing.
Tsukasa Kadoya.
Kamen Rider Decade.
He smirked as he lowered the camera, observing them with a critical eye.
Tsukasa: "Tsk, tsk, tsk… What a miserable sight. The legendary Team RWBY, reduced to this."
Weiss clenched her jaw, already furious. "What do you want?"
Ignoring her, Tsukasa glanced at Qrow, his voice sharp.
Tsukasa: "You asked what happened between all of them?"
He gestured towards Yang, Weiss, and Blake before looking at Jaune.
Tsukasa: "They let the kid drown."
The words hit like a blade to the gut.
Yang's fingers curled into fists. "Excuse me?"
Tsukasa chuckled bitterly, shaking his head.
Tsukasa: "Ruby Rose. Your leader. Your little sister. Your best friend. And you just stood there as she fell apart."
Taiyang's breath hitched, looking between the four.
Tai: "What is he talking about?"
Before anyone could answer, another voice entered the conversation.
???: "You all took her for granted."
A figure in a long coat with a blue scarf stepped forward, adjusting it his scarf.
His gaze was unreadable, but there was no mistaking the disappointment in his tone.
Kaito Daiki.
Kamen Rider DiEnd.
Qrow narrowed his eyes.
Qrow: "And who the hell are you?"
Kaito smirked.
Kaito: "Someone who understands how easy it is to focus only on the now and forget about the people right in front of you."
He shook his head, sighing.
Kaito: "You should've seen the signs. She needed someone. Needed something. But all you cared about was the now and then, the next step, surviving the moment."
Yang's face darkened.
Yang: "That's not fair."
Tsukasa stepped forward, standing in front of Yang.
Tsukasa: "Isn't it? You were supposed to be her big sister. You were supposed to be there for her."
His golden eyes bore into hers, the weight of his words pressing down on her like a mountain.
Tsukasa: "I have a sibling too. And even I didn't screw up this badly."
Yang's breath caught in her throat.
Tai shook his head, refusing to believe this.
Tai: "No… You're twisting things."
Tai: "Ruby—Ruby wouldn't—"
Tsukasa: "She did. And now she's seeing the reality of the situation."
Tai took a step forward, his hands shaking.
Tai: "You don't know anything about my daughter."
Qrow had heard enough he lunged at Tsukasa, fist raised.
Qrow: "You son of a—"
The world froze.
Everything except for Kaito.
Qrow's movement came to an abrupt halt, his fist inches from Tsukasa's face.
Kaito sighed, reaching out and lightly pushing Qrow back.
Time resumed.
Qrow stumbled backward, barely catching himself, looking at Kaito in shock.
Qrow: "What the hell—?!"
Kaito simply adjusted his scarf again.
Kaito: "Calm down. I was just making sure you didn't embarrass yourself."
Tsukasa scoffed, shaking his head.
Tsukasa: "Typical. Always reacting, never thinking ahead."
Weiss, still seething, gritted her teeth.
Wiess: "If you're just here to insult us, then get out of our way."
Tsukasa turned to all of them, his gaze shifting to something colder.
Tsukasa: "I'm here to tell you the truth. Your world is heading for destruction."
The air grew heavy.
Jaune's eyes widened.
Jaune: "You don't mean—"
Tsukasa tilted his head.
Tsukasa: "Oh, I mean exactly what you think I mean."
Weiss's blood ran cold.
Wiess: "No. You can't—"
Blake: "You're going to destroy our world, just like the Ever After…?"
Tsukasa smirked.
Tuskasa: "Now you're getting it."
Tai looked between them all, his patience finally snapping.
Tai: "Will someone please explain what the hell is going on?!"
Before anyone could answer, Tsukasa turned, looking into the distance.
His gaze locked onto Shade Academy, standing tall in the horizon.
A knowing grin spread across his face.
Tsukasa: "I think I have a hunch where to find a certain someone."
Jaune's fists clenched.
Jaune: "Oscar…"
Qrow's breath was unsteady, his mind racing.
Tai looked at them, desperate. "Is my daughter—?"
Tsukasa turned over his shoulder.
Tsukasa: "Ruby Rose is already beyond your reach."
And with that, he started walking.
[ ZAIA Enterprise ]
Inside a sleek, high-rise building overlooking Vacuo's ever-expanding refugee settlements, Akira sat behind his desk, his eyes scanning through stacks of documents.
The office was dimly lit, save for the soft glow of holographic monitors floating around him, displaying financial reports, prototype schematics, and media coverage of his newly formed company.
Amethyst stood nearby, leaning against the desk with her arms crossed, idly scrolling through Schneeter
Amethyst: "Seems like we're getting a lot of attention. Some people want to sign up, others want to burn the place down. Standard reception for any company, really."
Akira barely spared her a glance, uninterested.
Akira: "I don't care about public opinion for now. What matters is production. It's time we start manufacturing our first products."
He pushed back his chair and stood, grabbing his Ark-Driver from the desk as he made his way toward the door.
Amethyst followed, still scrolling through her feed.
Amethyst: "You should at least pretend to care. The more people we win over, the smoother things go.
There's already talk about Ironwood's remnants regrouping in Vacuo. If we don't control the narrative, someone else will."
Akira: "That's exactly why we move now."
They exited the office, stepping into a private elevator. Akira pressed a button, and the elevator descended deep beneath the main building, opening into ZAIA Enterprise's Experimental Division—a massive underground facility filled with cutting-edge technology and automated assembly lines.
The centerpiece of the facility was a colossal industrial-grade 3D printer, its mechanical arms tirelessly constructing a structure reminiscent of Amity Colosseum—but this was more than just a communications tower.
It was ZAIA Terminal—a self-sustaining, floating city meant to serve as both a technological hub and a power base.
As they approached the command console, Akira removed the Ark-Driver and connected it to the system. A wave of red energy pulsed through the machinery, and an eerie synthetic voice echoed through the chamber.
Ark: "Processing… Systems online. Akira… What is your plan?"
Akira smirked, looking up at the towering construction project.
Akira: "Vacuo is overflowing with refugees. People with no homes, no security, no future. The world is already broken; I'm simply offering them something better."
He uploaded a blueprint to the system—a sleek, cutting-edge eyepiece with a red circuit-like design.
Akira: "Step one: We introduce the ZAIA Spec to the public. A device that enhances cognition, allowing them to think at the speed of supercomputers. No more reliance on Scrolls."
Amethyst raised an eyebrow.
Amethyst: "And Let guess there's hidden features?"
Akira: "Those stay between us. The ZAIA Spec can manipulate emotions, and through it, we can influence the people of Vacuo. They won't just accept our leadership—they'll beg for it."
The Ark processed this, its red eye pulsing.
Ark: "An efficient strategy. And the next phase?"
Akira swiped through another set of blueprints—this time showcasing a black and red transformation belt with a slot for Progrisekeys.
Akira: "The Raidriser. We mass-produce them and sell them to the public. We make sure people see our forces as the real heroes—stronger, faster, superior to the current Huntsmen."
Amethyst smirked. "Giving power to the people… but only the ones who buy in."
Akira: "Exactly. By the time Salem makes her move, the world will already be on our side. And once she's out of the way…"
He turned, his eyes gleaming with something darker as Malice starts radiating from him
Akira: "I'll finish what I started. I will reset this world and see it rebuilt pice by pice."
Then, the Ark's synthetic voice hummed in amusement.
Ark: "Very well… Let us begin."
In another section of the facility, away from the grand schemes of Akira and the Ark, Ruby, Onyx, and Adam were finishing their own tasks.
Adam sat at a workbench, cataloging the various Zetsumerisekeys they had collected while simultaneously drafting plans for the creation of new ones.
His cybernetic eye flickered with subtle red light as he meticulously analyzed each key, occasionally jotting down notes on a datapad.
Adam: "With the right modifications, we could produce Zetsumerisekeys at a more efficient rate. Mantle was a testing ground, but here… here we can build an army."
He glanced toward the other side of the room, where Ruby and Onyx were working on a different project entirely.
Onyx stood next to a smaller 3D printer, its reinforced casing humming as it worked.
A transparent panel allowed Ruby to watch as her own personal Forceriser was being fabricated layer by layer. She stared at it, hands resting on the table, her expression unreadable.
Ruby: "So this is it… my own Driver."
Onyx, the android, nodded as he observed the process.
Onyx: "Indeed. Your in quite the surprise."
Ruby: "You say that, but knowing Akira, he probably left some fun surprises in the design."
The printer let out a sharp beep, signaling completion. The chamber unlocked with a mechanical hiss, revealing the industrial transformation device.
Onyx carefully lifted it and handed it to Ruby, who took it with purpose.
Alongside the Forceriser, two Progrisekeys were also completed—one was the Fighting Jackal Progrisekey, the very same model Akira had once used.
The other was new, its casing adorned with the image of a cheetah.
Onyx handed them to Ruby.
Onyx: "Your secondary Progrisekey—'Rushing Cheetah.' Designed for speed enhancement. You should be able to reach incredible velocities mid-combat."
Ruby turned the Rushing Cheetah over in her palm, watching the orange glow progrisekey
Ruby: "Huh. Rushing Cheetah. Speed enhancement, huh? Guess that suits me."
She clicked the key experimentally.
Rushing Cheetah Progrisekey: [ Dash ! ]
A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. Despite everything, she felt something familiar in this—like wielding Crescent Rose for the first time all over again.
Onyx: "It should integrate with your combat style naturally. Your reflexes are already far beyond standard human limitations."
Ruby: "Then I guess there will be a time to test it."
The door to the lab slid open with Akira and Amethyst.
Akira strode in, followed by Amethyst. Both carried an air of purpose, with Akira holding a familiar key in his hand the Dodo Zetsumerisekey.
Adam turned, his single organic eye narrowing as he saw what Akira was holding.
Adam: "So you're finally bringing her back."
Akira: "Of course. Peridot is an asset—one that needs to be restored immediately."
He stepped forward, handing the Dodo Zetsumerisekey to Adam.
Akira: "Load up her backup data. I want full restoration."
Adam nodded, moving to a terminal connected to the 3D printer. He inserted the Dodo Zetsumerisekey, causing streams of data to flood the screen.
Simultaneously, Akira took out another key—the 'Fall Maiden Progrisekey'—and slotted it into the system.
A second stream of data and energy merged with Peridot's framework.
The lesser 3D printer hummed as it began fabricating a new body for Peridot, constructing a fully synthetic humanoid form.
Sparks danced across the chamber as metallic components, synthetic skin layers, and steel were pieced together in real time.
As the process neared completion, a low hum filled the room—an eerie, almost rhythmic pulse that echoed through the lab.
And then, in an instant, the 3D printer door slid open.
A figure stepped out, surrounded by mist from the cooling chamber.
Standing before them was Peridot.
Her new form was nearly identical to Cinder Fall, but with distinct differences—green highlights in her black hair, glowing green irises that resembled a camera shutter, and her signature black-and-white attire.
Peridot blinked, stretching her fingers as if getting used to the sensation of her reconstructed form.
Then, a familiar grin split across her face.
Peridot: "All as the Ark wills."
She looked around the room, eyes gleaming with recognition as she spotted Akira. Immediately, she took a few confident steps toward him, standing at attention.
Peridot: "I'm back, boss! You miss me?"
Akira merely smirked, arms crossed.
Akira: "No. But your efficiency is necessary."
Peridot pouted dramatically, placing a hand over her synthetic heart.
Peridot: "Ouch. That hurts. I work so hard for you, and you don't even pretend to care?"
Adam rolled his eyes.
Adam: "You died in the Ever After. Try to avoid that next time."
Peridot spun around, giving Adam an exaggerated mock salute.
Peridot: "Yessir! I'll try not to get disassembled by some Wonderland BS next time."
She then turned her gaze toward Ruby, tilting her head.
Peridot: "Ohhh? You're still here Valkyrie ?"
Ruby: "Looks like it."
Peridot grinned wider.
Peridot: "This is gonna be so much fun we're going to be the best of friends."
Onyx stepped forward, unfazed by Peridot's antics.
Onyx: "Her systems are stable. All data from her previous form has been fully restored."
Akira nodded in approval.
Akira: "Good. Then we can move forward."
He turned away, already walking toward the exit.
Akira: "Vacuo awaits. We have a world to change."
Peridot laughed, throwing her hands behind her head as she followed.
Peridot: "Ohhh, I love that part when you get all serious! This is gonna be a bash!"
As the doors closed behind them, Ruby clenched the Rushing Cheetah Progrisekey tighter in her grasp.
She knew, deep down, that the battle ahead wasn't just against Salem anymore but everyone in the near future