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by Marchester Candece

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2. 2

God of Darkness –

In the boundless expanse of the cosmos, two celestial beings wielding the forces of light and darkness stood over the planet below. The world they surveyed was a desolate wasteland, lifeless and barren—an echo of existence stripped of all mortal life.

The radiant entity, composed of pure, blinding light, gazed thoughtfully upon the landscape. His brilliance stood out starkly against the eerie stillness of the dead world. Meanwhile, his brother, the Lord of Darkness, was enveloped by a suffocating sense of boredom.

It felt like eons had passed since the two gods embarked after their first 'experiment'. Now, they drifted through the ever-expanding universe, their curiosity propelling them forward. They traversed from one solar system to another, gliding through the luminous distant galaxies.

Each new world they encountered unfurled before them, but none felt quite right. None truly captured what they had been looking for. From planet to planet, all in pursuit of crafting their perfect playground—a realm in which they could continue the entertaining game they'd once started back in the first world.

But each time they'd create mortal life and bless them with the power of magic, the idiotic mortals would rebel. Their arrogance would blind them and turn them against the two brothers in a matter of a few hundred years. It was bizarre. Did they not know just who they were fighting against?

The humans would call them tyrants, evil oppressors who enjoy nothing more than their suffering. And for what? Because they'd asked for a few offerings? Despite it being their right as creators? These mortals should be glad for the gift of existence.

He couldn't help but smirk at the dead world below him.

Oh, who was he kidding? Nebris was no delusional fool like his brother— he knew exactly why these humans would quickly grow to despise them. The gods' unreasonable demands, the wiping of countless towns and villages over imagined 'heresy', cursing and toying with kings and queens, and the public humiliation of these so-called heroes over the pettiest reasons.

And, of course, as the God of Darkness, Chaos, and Destruction, Nebris found it all so incredibly entertaining. It was in his nature, after all. To enjoy the death and suffering of those beneath him.

Unlike his brother, whose domain was one of Light, Order, and Creation. His opposite. His other self, so to speak.

"No, no, no…" Luxen muttered to himself. Despite being responsible for the immeasurable destruction of the world beneath them, he showed no remorse. Only confusion and frustration. "I do not understand. This is illogical."

But his brother was a clown. A naive idiot who only cared about 'Order' and 'Balance of the universe'. A god so easy to manipulate that even mortals could trick him. So hellbent on creating a perfect society, yet unaware that such a thing could never be achieved, because mortals were also fools.

Being given free will and then expected to be perfect worshippers—his brother truly was an idiot. Despite many attempts, he simply refused to see that. But, of course, he would refuse. There was no one more arrogant than Luxen. After all, he could do no wrong. He was the 'personification of goodness'. The perfect law. The ideal divine.

At the very least, Nebris was fully aware of his wickedness. He knew of the wrongdoings he had committed. The countless evils he'd done for the sole purpose of his own entertainment. To him, mortals were nothing but playthings.

So were they to his brother, but Luxen would never admit such a thing. He was utterly deluded into thinking he was a savior who could do no wrong. Only to be just as bad as the God of Darkness. It was laughable.

"What is it you do not understand, brother?" Nebris questioned, wanting to be entertained by his counterpart's delusions.

"How come mortals always view us as evil?" He wondered out loud. "We give them life, power, and the free will to do whatever they want, and yet, they turn against us."

"Oh, I wonder," The God of Darkness chuckled. "Perhaps assigning that corrupt priest as the king of the world wasn't quite the wise choice after all."

"Corrupt? He was not corrupt. That man was a wise and strong leader who worshipped me," He responded, showing naivete that Nebris found incredibly humorous. "He would never betray me."

In reality, that priest was a freak who killed, lied, cheated, and violated for power. An absolute piece of scum who was so angry at what the gods had done to his 'village of heretics', that it impressed the God of Darkness himself. Nebris had nearly turned him into a champion, but he knew letting everything play out without his interference would've led to a much funnier conclusion.

And he was right. That moronic mortal rallied the world against them, a mistake made by countless other civilizations before them, only to be wiped out in the blink of an eye. Truly, it was funnier each and every time. To see the despair and regret consuming them right before their impending doom…

"Unless…" Luxen turned to his brother, staring accusingly. "Was it you? Did you corrupt him and turn him against me?"

"Not at all."

"Then whose fault is it?" The God of Light said. "Don't lie to me, brother. It was you. You turned them away from the light. It's what you always do."

"Truly?"

"Indeed," His delusional brother nodded with a scolding tone. "When will you understand that mortal life shouldn't be toyed with? Just because they're not like us doesn't justify such cruelty."

Nebris glanced at the dead world, chuckling a little, then stared back at Luxen.

"Perhaps it was time you looked at the mirror, brother," The God of Darkness replied. "I'm not the one that wiped them out."

"Do not try to put the blame on me," Luxen responded. "With your revolting chaos, you've turned them into monsters. What else was I supposed to do?"

Always prepared with an excuse, pointing at Nebris for their failed experiments because a god of light and goodness could never do wrong. Of course, the God of Darkness did not find this annoying.

Trying to make Luxen open his eyes might turn him into one worthy of his namesake. And Nebris did not want that. He liked his brother the most when he was this delusional, self-righteous moron. He was so much easier to control that way.

"Of course, of course. You are right," Nebris said. "It seems I let my emotions get the better of me once again, brother. I've gotten envious of you, seeing how much the mortals prefer to worship you."

Pure nonsense, of course. True, he might've felt that once upon a time, but now? Oh, he'd grown disillusioned. Where once he'd found mortals to be fascinating— even considering them his and Luxen's greatest creation, he soon realized that they were nothing special.

They were just toys a tad more entertaining than his Grimm.

"I understand," Luxen replied, showing misplaced compassion. "But this is not how things should be done. We are gods. Our responsibility is too great to let things such as envy get in the way."

Nebris wanted to laugh. A fool through and through.

"Now, let us create another world," Luxen added. "One that can hopefully last more than two hundred years."

"Naturally," Nebris nodded. "Shall we look for a new planet?"

"No. Thankfully, this world is still intact," The God of Light, extending an arm toward the planet. "We can reverse the damage, and humanity may begin anew."

As Luxen restored the dead world to its former glory, turning it from the forsaken ball of ash and dust to the one teeming with life it once had been, Nebris paused, feeling something strange in the distance.

He glanced to his left, sensing a faint source of divinity that disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. What was that? Divine power? From whom? And where had it come from? The only other entity that was 'divine' in nature was the relics they had left in their first world.

Was this the call? After so long? But that energy felt foreign. It did not feel like it came from the relics being gathered together.

Was he imagining it?

"…Brother, do you mind if we visit Experiment Zero sometime soon?"

"You mean our first world?" Luxen questioned. "We mustn't. We've made it clear that we will not return until humanity has gathered the four great relics. We must stay true to our word."

"…Yes, of course," Nebris huffed. "I must've forgotten."

Disregarding his brother's wishes wouldn't end well because it would quickly lead to a fight. And with them being so equally matched, the God of Darkness did not want to test his luck. Not like it really mattered.

It meant nothing to him. True, he was curious to see how everything had turned out after their departure, but he also had no hopes for humanity. Not when Luxen had resurrected the hero Ozma, blessing him with endless life to stop his wife's tyranny.

And especially not when Nebris had gone behind his brother's back to sow the seeds of conflict by creating a second race.

After all, humans hated anything that didn't look exactly like them.

--

– Ruby –

Peering out from the bullhead's open door, she cast a cautious gaze over the landscape of Anima, her brow furrowing in concentration. The vibrant colors of the terrain blurred as she strained to detect any signs of the rampaging Titan Grimm, her senses heightened and Observation Haki working full force.

It was so sudden. One minute, she and her friends had been finishing up their training for the day before they had been contacted by Ozpin, telling them that a new Titan had been discovered tearing apart small settlements after some kind of strange event took place in Mistral. A pillar of golden flames that split apart the clouds.

Ruby had no idea what Ozpin was talking about when he spoke of it. For a moment, she'd thought it was Reid's doing, but her boyfriend almost always used blue flames, not golden. Besides, why would he even do such a thing in the first place? In the middle of Anima, too? Last she checked, Reid only did his funny experiments away from people.

It all sounded very vague, but the girls had no time to ask questions. They were needed on site as Reid had already beaten them there somehow, fighting the beast on his own without any help. Now, of course, Ruby trusted her beloved. He could handle it with ease, but this was their responsibility, too.

Yes, theirs.

Ruby turned to her squad— Weiss, Blake, Yang, Levi, and even Uncle Qrow. All of them were called to battle. Reid was incredibly powerful, but not all Titans were equal in strength. The Titan class was very clearly a very diverse one, ranging from something like Fenrir and Angelica to far more powerful Grimm like Thanatos or that Forest thing.

She then returned to her search. And considering that this was an 'undiscovered' Titan, it could be one of the more powerful Grimm. So, while Reid could hold on his own with relative ease, it was always better to be safe than sorry. She didn't want him to get hurt.

Besides… Ruby frowned in worry.

Ruby was a lot more concerned with how he had been acting these past two days. For a moment, she'd thought it was just her. That she was only imagining it and Reid was only a little stressed from work, but she knew better.

Perhaps it was her Observation Haki that had warned her, but Reid felt incredibly angry. So mad that he felt like he was an inconvenience away from blowing up. Ruby had never seen him like that before— even though he was trying so hard to hide it as to not worry her or the others. He was so angry at something.

…No, not at something. But almost like he was mad at himself. Ruby didn't understand any of it. Why was he feeling that way? Had something happened? If so, what was it? The last time she'd seen him before he started feeling that way, he'd said he was going to Teralos for a 'dangerous dungeon dive' as he put it. It was the reason that he refused to let her go with him.

Something must've happened there. Something horrible.

"Girls, I've just gotten a report," Ozpin suddenly said. "The Titan is of the Beringel type. It's proficient in fire magic and is still engaged in battle with Mr. Astera."

"If it's still alive, then it's nothing to scoff at," Blake responded thoughtfully. "Would it be reasonable to say that the Titan has some resistance to fire?"

"Apparently," Uncle Qrow nodded. "Titans aren't like weaker Grimm. They eventually gain an 'affinity' to one of the elements. Or so Reid once told me."

"Wait, isn't Reid's most powerful elemental magic fire?" Levianna asked in concern. "Oh, no. This isn't good. He might be in deep trouble."

"Don't worry— Reid can use light magic as well. The antithesis of Grimm," Weiss reassured her.

"Aw man, I'm so darn excited! I've never fought a Titan before!" Yang giggled. "Any sign of them, Rubes?"

"Not yet." She answered.

"Please be careful," Ozpin told them. "I know you've all trained for this moment, and your confidence is well-deserved, but do not let it blind you. Be cautious."

"Naturally, headmaster," Weiss responded, giving him a confident smile. "Team Wildberry has faced and triumphed over many powerful adversaries. We know not to get ahead of ourselves."

"Good," He nodded.

"By the way—" Yang glanced at her team leader. "We should do something about our team's name."

"What do you mean?" Blake blinked, looking inquisitive.

"The thing is, Ruby's basically part of the team, right? Yeah, she's not a Beacon student, but I feel she deserves to be part of Wildberry," Her older sister pointed out, making Ruby pause. "She trains with us every day, everyone likes her, and we even made a few team moves with her."

"Huh?" Ruby looked at her sister.

"Well, I suppose that does make sense…" Weiss muttered.

"I mean, even if she's part of the team, why would we change the name?" Levianna said. "Her name starts with an R. It'll be W-L-B-Y-R."

"Levi, that's WILBER, not Wildberry," Yang responded with a raised brow.

"No, that's not the point," The green-haired girl shook her head. "All we need to do is just rearrange the letters. So it becomes W-Y-L-B-R."

"Huh, that's true…" Yang crossed her arms with a hum. "…Doesn't that feel kind of awkward to you, though?"

"How?" Blake questioned.

"I mean, our team's letters are arranged Partners-Partners." The blond pointed out. "Weiss and Levianna. Blake and Yang. Changing the letters kinda messes it up."

"Why does that matter?" The team leader frowned in confusion. "Team Juniper's letters aren't arranged that way."

"I guess…" Yang huffed. "Okay, look, maybe I don't like the team's name, alright? Why can't we be renamed to something kickass like Titan Destroyers."

"Oh, but when I suggest Reality Consumer for your dragon, that's too childish!" Ruby complained with a scoff. "You're such a hypocrite."

"There's a difference between the name of a living being and the name of a squad, alright?!" Yang argued.

"That name doesn't even work," Blake said blankly. "You and Levi have never even fought a Titan yet."

"And I can still kick your ass," Her partner responded confidently. "Besides, I fought a dragon."

As the team of five continued to bicker, Ruby noticed Ozpin and Qrow's incredibly concerned looks, reminding her that they were on the way to fighting a Titan that even Reid might be having trouble with. It spoke of the group's morale to be able to speak about silly and stupid things, but it would probably help if they took this more seriously.

So, as Ruby was about to tell them off, her eyes suddenly widened.

"I feel it!" She said as she looked over the continent, shutting everyone up. "Over there! Girls, follow me!"

"Right behind you!" Weiss responded as the first to stand up.

"Finally!" Yang grinned, cracking her knuckles.

As Blake, Levi, and Qrow gave their silent nods, Ruby leaped off the bullhead, spotting the battle in the distance.

"Ruby," Senketsu spoke.

"Not now," She replied, admittedly not feeling the best about having to use the uniform's power in public. "We'll assess the situation first. If things turn out to be dangerous, lend me your strength."

"Understood."

In the distance, Ruby saw the explosion of magic from Reid and the Titan. Roaring blue flames engulfed the forests of Mistral, swallowing the crimson fire as the Beringel struggled to keep up with her beloved. This made her more confident. She knew Reid was doing well for himself.

He wouldn't fall to mere Grimm. He was too awesome for that.

Ruby used her Semblance, carrying her team with her toward the battlefield. Descending like a red comet of hope and heroism, they landed with grace, quickly spreading out in an attempt to surround the Titan and assist Reid in taking it out…

…Only to see something none of them expected.

The scene was a thing to behold— The gorilla-like monster was over twenty meters tall. A single arm was larger than the trees around it, and it was covered in thick armor from head to toe. It was much more threatening than any other Beringel Ruby had seen before.

It glowed red— intense crimson flames roaring from its mouth, head, arms, chest, and back. It was a Grimm worthy of being called a Titan. In fact, comparing it to Angelica, the Titan she fought tooth and nail to defeat, it was maybe twice or three times as powerful.

The heat of its flames, although not directed at them, felt fierce. Ruby knew that fighting something like this would push her to her limits, even with the reliable squad behind her, even with Senketsu's boost.

And yet…

"R-Reid…?" Ruby muttered, not sure if she was supposed to be happy or horrified as Reid, in silver armor she had never seen before, wiped the floor with the beast.

As the massive Titan swung its enormous fists in a futile attempt to land a blow, Reid danced with agility, evading each attack with almost effortless grace. When he countered, his strikes were powerful enough to create shockwaves, sending splintered trees crashing to the ground.

The Titan's flames roared menacingly, lashing at the air with their furious heat. Yet they were no match for Reid's armor, which shimmered against the inferno, or for the brilliant blue flames that surged from his own being, casting an otherworldly glow around him.

The Titan found itself trapped in a relentless struggle. Nothing it tried to do had done any significant damage, if at all. As for Reid? Each and every one of his strikes left the Beringel Grimm reeling as he first tore apart the thick armor stuck to its skin with his bare hands.

What should've been a heroic backdrop of the Titan Slayer dealing a powerful blow against the Army of Darkness stood as a horrific scene that Ruby never thought she'd see. Because Reid wasn't defeating a Titan.

He was toying with it. Torturing it.

The Beringel, utterly beaten and spent, glared at Reid, who floated right in front of it as his Conqueror's Haki threatened to tear down the entire forest. His fists were clenched tightly, waiting for the monster's attack.

An aura of blue flames roared, tendrils of fire thrashing around as the Titan tried but failed to summon its magic. None of them could do anything— Ruby and her squad watched this scene in pure silence, horrified yet morbidly curious to see how this battle would conclude.

The Titan bellowed in rage, trying a last-ditch effort as it swung its massive fist at Reid. But the Titan Slayer caught the attack, not even moving an inch from his position. And with one swift movement, Reid tore the monster's arm off, causing the Beringel to fall on its rear.

It wasn't given even one moment to recover before Reid grabbed its head and smashed it to the ground, creating a large crater. As the beast tried to defend itself, Reid caught its other arm and, just like before, tore it off with one move.

It tried to escape, but Reid pinned it down and began wailing on it. With his bare fists, Reid struck it over and over, again and again, tearing it apart inside and out as his Haki wreaked havoc in its body. Even as the Titan died, its body slowly disintegrating, Reid didn't stop. He continued beating its corpse.

He kept punching, going from its torso to its head. Each hit would widen the crater they were in, to the point where the squad was forced to back off. And although the helmet obscured his features, Ruby felt his anger. The overwhelming fury seemed to have only grown three sizes since she'd seen him earlier this morning.

No, it was more accurate to say that he wasn't hiding it anymore. This was what he truly felt, what he'd been trying to hide from them.

Ruby wasn't worried about him anymore.

She was terrified.

Just what the hell had happened to him? Why was he like this? Who was responsible for turning her beloved and kind Reid into someone so angry it made him nearly unrecognizable? She knew he was always brutal in real battles, but this?

Ruby didn't exactly feel bad for the Grimm. It was a Grimm; it couldn't feel pain, but that was why this horrified her. Reid knew that as well. Torturing them was pointless. The reason he was being so vicious wasn't to make it suffer.

Ruby wanted to go there— make sure he was okay, ask if there was anything bothering him, but her trembling legs didn't respond. She almost couldn't believe what she was seeing or feeling. A primal fear prevented him from getting any closer.

None of her squad members moved, either. Every single one of them shared her feelings—what they were looking at wasn't Reid. It felt like a completely different person.

But Ruby knew what this was. She didn't fear Reid. She could never fear him. Angry as he was, she knew he would never lay a finger on her.

She felt scared for him.

With responsibility at the forefront of her mind, Ruby gritted her teeth and made her first step. She had to stop him. Reid hadn't even noticed them despite how sharp he always was. He was lost in his own anger. And he needed to snap out of it.

But before she could get any closer, someone beat her to it— the large man that Reid brought to the mansion last night. He grabbed her boyfriend's arm, stopping him from mutilating the Titan's corpse any more than he already had.

For a split second, Reid whipped his head at the man, almost directing his anger at Eero before he quickly calmed down. The large man quietly said something to Reid, something that made Blake's breath hitch as her cat ears twitched.

Reid didn't respond, and as his helmet 'melted' away for the lack of a better word, it revealed his tired expression of pure misery, making Ruby's heart twist. It was a look she had never seen before. A look that nearly made her tear up.

He looked hurt, almost on the verge of sobbing.

That expression quickly disappeared as he finally noticed them, turning into his usual grin as he waved at them.

"Heh, guess the backup was a bit too late this time, huh?" He chuckled. "Sorry 'bout that, Yang. I know you were looking forward to fighting a Titan."

"N-no, it's okay…" Her sister muttered, equally put off by that brutal show as the rest of the squad. "There's always next time…"

"True enough. Anyway—" He paused as another bullhead arrived— The press was here. "Tsk, I really don't feel like dealing with them right now. Weiss, can I count on you to do that for me?"

"Um, yes, of course."

"Great! I'll catch up with you guys later," He winked. "I still needed to do something before I was rudely interrupted. See you at the mansion!"

And with a farewell wave, her beloved flew away somewhere, leaving the squad. Eero looked at them with an expression of acknowledgment before he walked away himself, perhaps wanting to catch up with Reid.

The group was too stunned. None of them spoke for a while, likely taking a moment to gather their bearings and recompose. The first to recover was Ruby, who addressed Blake with a look of concern before the press' bullhead landed.

"What did you hear Eero say?" She asked, making her flinch. "When he spoke to Reid."

"H-he um…" Blake took a moment, showing an expression of bewilderment. "He said something about Reid 'still grieving'."

"Grieving?" Weiss parroted, stunned.

"Grieving about what?" Qrow added.

"I-I don't know," The faunus shook her head. "And the thing is, he didn't even call Reid by his name. He said 'Alaric'."

As Ruby heard that name, it dawned on her, eyes going wide. Ever since she met him last night, Eero had always seemed strangely familiar. Not just in looks, but his name rang a few bells. At first, Ruby didn't make much of it as she'd been quickly distracted by other things.

But now, hearing that name…

It clicked.

"Alaric?" Yang blinked.

"Yeah. He said, word for word—" Blake said. "'You are still grieving, Alaric. Calm yourself.'"

"Alaric is Reid's Leviathan name," Ruby answered, drawing everyone's attention to her. "Alaric Delmar. Reid Astera is his human name."

"Wait, Delmar?" Weiss was the first to realize it, eyes widening. "That man is a Delmar. That's what Reid introduced him as, didn't he?"

One by one, her friends started to realize who that man was, who Reid brought back to Remnant.

"I know who he is," Ruby responded. "Reid once gave me a book explaining general Leviathan history. Its last few sentences were about Reid's birth. Eero is his dad."

"Hah…" Qrow rubbed his neck. "Now that you mention it, they do look alike, don't they?"

"They share a lot of features as well," Levi nodded.

"Waitwaitwait, I don't get this," Yang said. "If that's his dad, then why is Reid so mad? I mean, wouldn't he be happy that his own father came to Remnant with him? It's not like they hate each other. The guy might look scary, but he feels like a decent person. It's not like a me and Raven situation. Or I don't think so, at least."

"We don't know, Yang," Blake replied. "But if there's anyone who knows what happened to Reid and what's made him so angry, it has to be Eero."

"We have a lead," Weiss nodded. "Let's regroup after this and figure out a way to approach him. Do we know where he lives?"

"He did sleep at the mansion last night," Ruby said. "But if it turns out he lives somewhere else, let me be the one to search for him. I can cover the most ground, and even if I don't find him, I can ask Reid. He gave me the book. He should know that I'd figure it out eventually. I'll just say that I'm interested in meeting him."

"You know Reid can sense when someone's lying, Rubes," Qrow agreed.

"He can, but he can't read minds," Ruby pointed out. "He'll think it's weird, but knowing him, I don't think he'd care much. Reid still has no idea that we know something's wrong with him."

"I dunno, Rubes…" Yang looked a little apprehensive.

"We can figure it out later," Blake quipped, watching as the Bullhead landed near them. "Smiles for the camera, girls…"

Ruby's fists clenched, faking a smile as she let Weiss take center stage. In reality, Ruby hid a look of determination and anger. She'd never been a person who would accuse anyone so willy-nilly. After all, a real hero was wise and didn't let her emotions get the better of her.

But if it turned out that it was Eero who had made her beloved feel like this, then she would never forgive him.

Her narrowed silver eyes gleamed, concealing a simmering rage within. Anyone who harmed her precious Reid would meet their end by the blade of her scythe.

Of that, Ruby Rose swore on her mother's name.

--

– Reid –

Stepping through the dungeon's door, I sigh deeply. Then, I look over at Gwyn next to me and give him a tired but appreciative smile.

"Knew I could count on you, buddy," I tell him, making him nuzzle my face. "Things kinda escalated way too quickly."

With Salem feeling cute and kicking me while I was down, casting that fucked up spell that nearly killed me, which also tracked me universes away, then me having to use Sentry's divine energy twice in a day, and finally, a Titan showing up out of nowhere, one has to wonder if I've pissed off fate somehow.

I've barely had any time to breathe. All after that fucking dungeon, too. Just what the hell is going on? It's just one thing after another…

And I would've struggled against that Titan if I didn't have my armor and if it used any other element other than fire. Thankfully, it wasn't really anything special. A straightforward fight with a Grimm that only knew how to throw punches and spew flames.

Granted, I had to take off my rings, but that's because I wanted to finish it as quickly as possible. I could've beaten it with the limiters. I just didn't want Ms. Sleeping Princess here to wake up and come for my head while I was too busy dealing with a raging gorilla.

I look down at the Divine Champion in my arms, wearing one of my much larger shirts, seeing that Salem's magic crushed her armor. And the clothes she wore beneath it were both ruined and stained with blood.

I felt bad taking them off, but I really didn't know what to do.

"At least she's still asleep," I sigh. "Which is a miracle, all things considered."

Elves, like Leviathans, are sensitive to magic, even more so than us. So even though infusing my fire with divine energy and releasing all of it somehow didn't wake her up, my fight with the Titan should've done it. But I'll count my lucky stars and not question it.

It's good that Gwyn managed to get her away before Salem… 'respawned'. Turns out there was a common dungeon southeast of Anima, which was on the other side of the continent. Why a common dungeon? Because the girl is still unconscious, and I don't want to leave her somewhere dangerous.

Though, an uncommon and a rare would've done the trick, too. She's very powerful and can probably take care of herself when she wakes up, even without her weapon. Besides, I was gonna leave her with a few golems to protect her.

Getting the common dungeon quest popup minutes after entering, I mentally order Gwyn to wipe out the one hundred monsters in the swamp as I find a place to put the girl in. It doesn't take too long for me to stumble on a small abandoned shack right above a pond.

I float toward it, make sure nobody is inside, and then lay the girl on the small dusty bed. I exhale and take out a few spheres made of dust-infused steel, take out my gauntlet, and use the circle drawn on my palm to create a few small golems to guard the shack.

Before the golems can take their positions, I'm suddenly hit in the back with a powerful magical blast, tearing a chunk of the shack and launching me outside. I grunt in pain and suspend myself in the air, clicking my tongue as I see the elf girl awake and scowling at me with a red face.

"Wretched savage," She spat out, tightly grabbing the hem of her, or my, shirt. She seems embarrassed, humiliated, and ashamed, making me realize she got the wrong idea.

"I know this looks bad, but whatever it is you're thinking of right now, you're wrong," I say quickly. "You were in bad shape, your armor and clothes were destroyed. I had to do something."

"What a convenient excuse," She growls, hands glowing with magic. The elf girl scans the room, eyes darting around before landing on me again. "Where's that demon? I do not sense her presence. Where are you hiding her?"

"She's not here," I respond. "Just know that we got away from her."

"We?" Her eyes narrow. "Are you not her accomplice?"

"No," I shake my head, the thought of being Salem's ally pissing me off. "She's a monster."

"And you are not?" She scoffs. "You, who had committed the ultimate sin? Don't make me laugh."

"I had to, alright?!" I snap at her, my fists clenching tightly. "It was the only choice I had! I needed to do that ritual!"

"What could possibly be so important that you would risk disrupting our plane of existence?!" She fires back. "Do you have any idea what your recklessness could've done to Teralos?!"

"Someone was in danger— a kid needed me to save him! He needed MY help!" I argue, feeling my boiling fury bubbling. "But I was stuck. Any other choice I could've taken was compromised. I-I was forced to do it!"

"Forced?! Are you insane?! You've broken divine laws just to save a single life?! At risk of MILLIONS?!" The Divine Champion's right hand glows before a blade appears in it— the one she dropped in the other dungeon with Salem. One filled with divine energy. "You should've left this child to his fate."

My eyes widen at her cold response. I almost can't believe my ears, but now that I know she is serious, blue flames burst out of me, making her take a stance.

"How fucking dare you?" I snarl. "And you call yourself a Divine Champion?"

"You must be put down," She responds. "Like the vile, bloodthirsty beast you are."

As I'm about to attack, another popup interrupts me. Gwyn had just finished clearing the dungeon, thus making a door to Remnant about fifty meters behind me materialize. This makes me take a deep breath. Gamer's Mind works wonders to calm me down.

"I don't have time for this," I mutter.

And with a quick swipe of my hand, I cast a great wall of fire between me and the girl. With that distraction spell, I kick her out of the party and fly toward the door as fast as I can, knowing this won't keep her off me for long.

"You will not get away!"

And I predict right as I see her swing coming. The elf girl leaps through the flames and swings her sword at me, which I easily avoid before kicking her away. But then, all of a sudden, I feel like I'm being cut several times— each strike bypassing my armor entirely.

"What the—?!" I grunt. "How did she—?!"

Knowing I don't have time to ponder what kind of fucking magic she can do, I growl and cast two giant fireballs, one thrown at her and one directly below me. The Divine Champion avoids the one aimed at her, but the other spell causes smoke, dust, and debris to fly everywhere, and as I lower my magic, I'm able to mask my presence from her entirely.

"Tsk…" She swings her arm, creating a gust of wind that clears everything, revealing me to her. "You think I'm so easily tricked, Leviathan?"

My eyes narrow.

"You tell me."

The Divine Champion blinks at my choice of words, eyes widening as she finally notices the presence of the giant wolf behind her. The elf girl twirls around and blocks Gwyn's pounce with her sword, giving me the window I need to end this fight once and for all.

The moment she pushes my familiar away, my haki-infused fist connects with her cheek, sending her crashing through the shack, destroying what was left and flying even further than that. It's definitely not enough to kill her or knock her out, but it's all I need.

"C'mon, Gwyn!" I call for my giant wolf, who barks in affirmation. "Before she has a chance to recover!"

With that, Gwyn and I exit through the dungeon door and close it behind us, clearing it and putting the girl in the world she belongs in. I sigh deeply, then give my wolf some well-deserved chin scratches.

"You did great, buddy. Like always," I chuckle quietly. "Honestly, I didn't think that plan would've worked so easily."

Overwhelming her senses with big spells definitely helped with Gwyn's surprise attack. Guess that's a negative of having sensitive magic sensing.

"Let's uh…" I rub my eyes. "Continue with this dungeon spree, eh? We still have about a week. I reckon that's enough to clear out all Epic and below dungeons in Anima and Eastern Sanus. Hopefully, we'll find a second and third Legendary, too."

And with the power limiters, I'd be getting a whole lot more stats. Once I get it over with, then I guess I can…

I take a moment to think about it, realizing that I have no idea what to do afterward, but then I shake my head.

I can decide later. I have a mission now and don't need to be distracted.Quest completed

And that's that. Final dungeon in Anima. Hopefully. I could've missed one or two, but I doubt it. I double-checked by flying around the continent twice. Sentry made my life so much easier with its flight ability.

It wasn't fun when I had to fly around the desert, but oh well. I had the equipment to deal with the dry heat.

Even then, it felt like it took me ages to get to this point, but only about ten days have passed since my meeting with Salem. I don't know how many dungeons I completed, and to be honest, I wasn't keeping count, but it has to be above a hundred. Granted, a lot of them are common tier and whatnot, but I did complete a few epics and rares here and there.

I have enough materials to last me months now, which is a nice bonus.

"Ah, thank you! Thank you so much, Warrior!" The old chieftain shakes my hand, thanking me profusely after I've killed the Cyclops terrorizing his village. "How could we ever repay you."

"It's my pleasure, Mr. Frath. You don't owe me anything." I respond, glancing at the village children petting my giant wolf. "I saw people in need and jumped to help. Wouldn't anyone?"

Besides, I already got the Cyclops eye for myself. That's practically all I want for a reward.

"Oh, how I wish that were the case." He shakes his head. "Not many would put their lives on the line for the sake of others, my boy. Especially against a Cyclops. That takes courage."

It really wasn't that tough. Or, well, I guess it did have an annoying gimmick where its gaze drains stats, but that was easy to handle, too. I just blinded it with a flash of light, then took its head off with a single swing, which was to be expected. This is only a rare-tier dungeon. I'm way too over-leveled for it. I need Legendary and above if I want a challenge.

Speaking of legendary dungeons, I found three more, which are huge enough as is. There are not many, only fifteen, if I recall correctly. So, with the one I finished, I'd already be more than a fourth of the way there. Obviously, I've not dared to go in any of the new ones I found yet. I don't think I'm ready. Equipment-wise, at least. I have Sentry and all, but the last one proved that it's not enough. I have to be more vigilant. Better prepared. Stronger and smarter.

I must never let something like that happen ever again.

"I suppose you're right." I nod, beckoning Gwyn to come. "Anyway, we'll be off now. The golems I gave you should be more than enough to deal with similar threats in the future. Just make sure to maintain them, alright?"

"Wait, are you sure you don't need any—"

Before the old man can finish his sentence, he's cut off by a loud yell that makes me hiss in a mixture of annoyance and exasperation.

"DELMAR!" The divine champion elf hollers with a frustrated scowl, sprinting toward me with her sword drawn. "COME FACE ME, YOU COWARD!"

"And that's my cue to leave." I tap the old man on the shoulder before running to the dungeon door as Gwyn returns to his spirit form. "Farewell!"

Vaeri gets dangerously close to slashing through me with her weird divine sword, but I manage to ram through the dungeon door with my shoulder and return to Remnant, stumbling forward. The door closes behind me and vanishes in an instant, making me sigh in relief.

"That was close," I mutter to myself, covering my face with my hands and groaning. "I really don't want to deal with her, man…"

Every single time. I have no idea how she does it, but she's found me in nearly every single dungeon I've been to. Thankfully, right after I finished them, so I have never been forced to face her, even though I was confident enough that I'd win. I mean, honestly, she has every right to hunt me down.

And with how many times I've juked her, I'd be really fucking mad if I was in her place too. Admittedly, it is getting kinda funny at this point. Almost like a game. Will I be able to finish the dungeon and escape before Vaeri can stop me? The answer is yes, considering I've never fought her.

And as I said, I'm confident enough that I'd win if it ever came down to it. Handily, even. Especially after the massive boost I got after finishing so many dungeons.

Name: Reid Astera

Title: Titan Slayer

Age: 17

Race: Human/Leviathan Hybrid

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Level: 355 (2%)

Professions: Gardener, Chef, Teacher

Mentors: Kazuma Kiryu

Students: 5

HP: 62,500 [Regens 6250 per minute]

MP: 125,00 [Regens 10,000 per minute]

AP: 88,750 [Regens 8875 per minute]

STR: 1200 [840]

VIT: 1000 [700]

DEX: 1000 [700]

INT: 1000 [700]

WIS: 1000 [700]

CHA: 750

LUK: 400

Points: 404

[Unbreakable Will] – 1000 VIT

You become stronger the more resolute you are.

When a limb is broken or becomes unusable, its power will be equally distributed to other healthy limbs.

Only works when the user is determined

[Ultimate Precision] – 1000 DEX

From aiming a gun to doing difficult surgeries, your precision will be perfect.

[Exceptional Casting] – 500 INT

All spells can be upgraded one level beyond the maximum for every 100 INT you have.

[Master's Reservoir] – 1000 INT

Your mana pool rivals that of master wizards

Your MP is increased by 150%

[Proficient Core] 500 – WIS

Due to continuous use, your mana core has evolved.

MP regen is doubled

[Spiritual Specialist] – 1000 WIS

When hit by magical attacks, a small percentage of the damage is absorbed into your MP instead.

You're able to share your magic with others to empower them temporarily.

Before I dived into the Necrosidereus dungeon, I think I was level 255. I leveled up about 100 times. One hundred levels. Most of my stats are now in the four digits when none were before. Do you realize how big of a boost this is? As I am right now, I barely need my potions to handle any threat on Remnant, except for the obvious, of course.

By all means, with this incredible power, I should be more than strong enough to handle more Legendary dungeons by myself. Had I been this powerful when I was fighting the Necrosidereus, I would've annihilated it without having to resurrect Eero to help.

Staring at my fist, I sigh to myself as I slowly make my way home. But even so— even with this tremendous growth, I don't feel confident about myself. After I've seen what Salem is capable of, I now know that all of this is just not enough. I need more power. Way more power, if I want to stand a chance.

But if all of this isn't nearly enough, then when will I ever be close to her power? How long would it take me? Months? Years? Decades? Will I really be able to match her even after I complete every dungeon? After I run out of things to kill? I'm pretty sure I've already finished half the available dungeons and destroyed half the Titans on Remnant, and I'm still nowhere near her.

I knew she was strong— she's the ultimate 'bad guy', the 'demon king' as she described herself, but she… really does feel like an unscalable mountain.

…I always thought the system was the ultimate path to power. An unrivaled instrument that'll bring me immense strength with barely any effort. I genuinely thought that it was a cheat item that made everything way too easy. But with my recent failures, I'm not so sure anymore.

It's either not as strong as I thought it was or…

I pause my advance, stopping on the western beach of Anima. I watch as the gentle waves roll in, shimmering under the sunlight before they crash softly against the shore. My hands clench into tight fists, and my jaw tightens with a mix of frustration and restlessness.

I'm just fucking useless.

"God…" I exhale, trying to keep my temper in check. "What the hell am I supposed to do now?"

…Fuck, I really understand what Ozpin's going through now. After getting a taste of Salem's power, it's a wonder the guy never lost his mind. To think all this time, it's just been a game from her perspective…

As I shake my head and prepare to dive into the sea, I hear someone walking on the soft sand behind me. I don't sense any malicious intent, magic, or evil, so I slowly turn toward them, spotting a somewhat familiar figure that I don't immediately recognize due to the large black cloak they're wearing.

It takes me a few moments, but I identify her after she pulls the hood back, showing me her face. It's the short faunus girl with white hair that I met a while back before I challenged my first legendary dungeon.

"Hello." She greets me again, her tone soft and emotionless.

"You again." I acknowledge, giving her a small smile. "What are the odds, huh?"

The girl hums in agreement as she stands beside me, looking at the horizon in front of us. Standing side by side makes me realize the height difference between us, and it's honestly a little funny. She doesn't even reach my chest.

She doesn't say anything, almost content with just staying next to me. Strangely, I find her company slightly comforting. It's kind of a vibe. Maybe it's because I appreciate her quietness, or perhaps it's because she's not here to ask me for autographs or anything like that since it's what most strangers ask for when they see me. Regardless, it's nice.

I like the fame, but it can get annoying sometimes. It makes it a little tricky to make regular friends.

I pause and narrow my eyes, glancing at the girl with suspicion. Then again, something definitely feels off about her.

So, just to be safe, I use 'Observe' on her.

Name: Zenith

Title: Unbound Wanderer

Age: 25

Race: Faunus [Monkey]

Level: 84

HP: 1000

MP: N/A

AP: 15,000

STR: 191

VIT: 123

DEX: 183

INT: 100

WIS: 125

CHA: 50

LUK: 10

Of course, the tiny girl is somehow older than me.

…Huh. Aside from the bizarre name, her stats seem normal. If anything, as a hunter, she's a little below average. Besides, her title doesn't reveal anything that makes me think she works for Salem. I mean, I'm not entirely convinced yet, but—

"What is it?" She asks without looking at me. "Why are you staring at me?"

"Oh, um…" I rub my neck sheepishly as I look for an excuse. "It's just uh… You know, back when we first met? I was just wondering how you were able to up and vanish so suddenly. Kinda caught me off guard."

Instead of verbally answering me, the girl suddenly lifts off the ground, floating up a few centimeters, her large black cloak fluttering in the wind. I hum in slight intrigue as she shows me how. I guess she flew up when I wasn't looking?

"Your Semblance is flight?" I ask, making her nod. "That's so helpful. I imagine you wouldn't need a Bullhead to go from kingdom to kingdom with that kind of ability."

It probably helps a lot with expenses.

The girl nods again as she lowers herself to the ground.

"So you've never told me your name, Miss." I point out, offering a handshake. "I'm Reid Astera, though you probably already knew that."

"My name is Zenith." She gently but firmly takes my hand. "You can call me Zen. Most people do."

"Zenith, huh?" I let go of her much smaller hand. "Kind of an odd name. I think you're the only person I've met who doesn't follow the color rule."

Hell, even I follow it. Kind of. Not counting my Leviathan name, 'Reid' is pronounced like 'Reed'. Which is a green plant. Weird, considering my color scheme is white and blue, but I didn't choose to name myself. Also, I don't really care much about names.

As for 'Astera,' I think it's some kind of a flower. Or close to the name of one. I remember Ruby telling me about it.

"So I've been told." She says. "My guardian was eccentric."

"Eccentric is one way to put it." I chuckle. "So, what are you doing out here?"

Zen pauses for a moment before answering.

"Wandering." She says. "I do not have a specific destination in mind."

"That right…" I hum. "It sounds nice. To be free like that, I mean."

"What about you?"

"Oh, I just had a few things to deal with in Anima." I shrug, technically telling the truth. The dungeons are in Anima. "Nothing serious, really."

To be honest, this dungeon spree felt a little liberating in a strange type of way.

Zen looks behind us and then at me, and although her expression doesn't show anything, I can pick up on her confusion.

"…In the middle of the wilderness?" She questions. "I thought you were a businessman."

"Hero first. Businessman second." I reply with a wink. "Clearing out a few Grimm nests here and there helps make the world a little safer, don't you think?"

She grunts in acknowledgment, becoming quiet all of a sudden. We share a nice silent moment as we stare at the horizon, and as much as I want to enjoy it, the bad thoughts slowly come back as I think about what I should be doing right now.

Should I try to extend my dungeon spree? I've not visited Solitas yet, so there's bound to be a whole lot of dungeons there. Granted, it's not as big as Anima or Sanus, but that's still an entire continent's worth of dungeons.

I jumped a hundred levels by clearing everything here, and that's without messing with any of the legendary tier dungeons. I could possibly jump another hundred level or at least fifty if I do the same in Solitas. Maybe then I'd be confident enough to take on the higher-tier dungeons.

Maybe then I wouldn't be such a big fucking failure.

But I have duties here. Other responsibilities. My potion business, inventing new artifacts, creating more golems to spread around the world, and so much more. I can't ignore these things any longer— the world is relying on me.

I really don't know what to do.

…I miss the girls.

"What's worrying you?"

Zen's sudden question makes me pause in surprise, and I feel a little startled as she keeps staring into the distance. I wasn't that obvious, was I?

"…It's nothing," I answer after a moment.

"So you say." She replies, glancing at my tightly clenched fist.

I quickly relax my hand and then sigh.

"It's uh… it's just hero troubles." I chuckle mirthlessly. "But it's fine. It'll pass. It always has. It has to."

Some things should be kept to myself. I've learned to keep my mouth shut this time around.

Zen stays quiet for a few seconds before speaking up again.

"I see." She says, leaving it at that.

I almost audibly exhale, very grateful that she's not trying to press me into answering anything. I get she's trying to help, and I appreciate that. I really do. But she's a random hunter who probably has enough problems on her plate as is. What kind of person would I be if I dumped my problems on her?

I don't want to think about these things anymore, so I take a deep breath and enjoy the humid air on my skin.

"Weather sure is nice here," I mumble, stretching my back and arms with a satisfied groan. "It's already October, huh?"

"Here."

"Hm?"

I glance at Zen, seeing her offering me a wooden sculpture of some sort resembling a boat. I blink in bewilderment and take it, surprised at how detailed it is. I mean, I'm no expert at wood carving, but I've never seen anything like this before.

"Uh…" I blink again, looking at her.

"I made it for you." She says. "It's a gift."

"You made this?" I raise an eyebrow, a little impressed yet still confused. "For me? Why?"

"No reason," Zen answers. "I thought you'd like it."

"I mean, it looks nice." I nod. "That just kinda came out of nowhere."

I don't think I ever got a gift like this. A sentimental one. First time for everything, I guess. I don't know what her deal is, but perhaps she is a fan of some sort. Maybe she's just a little awkward or shy. Trying to help in her own way.

…Which is why I can't let this world wither away.

"But thanks anyway, Zen. I can tell you worked hard on it." I give her an appreciative grin. "I promise I'll take care of it."

Her expressionless face breaks into a tiny smile, reminding me that despite how she comes across as a little creepy and how blank she almost always looks, she's still very adorable. This exchange between us is unfortunately cut short as my scroll begins ringing, making me frown in annoyance.

I pull it out of my pocket. Fucking Ozpin…

"Sorry. I guess it's time for me to go." I tell her. "It's been nice seeing you. I hope we'll meet again one day."

"I hope so as well." Zen nods and walks back from where she came from. But right before I can swim back home, she stops in her tracks and calls my name. "Reid."

I pause and turn my head to meet her gaze.

"There's no shame in confiding in those you trust." She says. "And it's not a sin to ask others for help when you're overwhelmed."

I look away and frown.

"The people you surround yourself with— their hearts are full of love for you. They would do anything for you." She adds. "For both your sake and theirs, share with them the weight you've taken on by yourself. Wouldn't you do the same for them?"

I take a sharp breath and stare back at her, noticing the look of concern and sadness on her face. I don't know how or why she knows these things, but instead of questioning her, I respond with something else entirely.

"I can't," I say. "I'm the only one who can do this."

"Perhaps." She replies. "But what will you lose if you try?"

I open my mouth to argue, but no words come out. Zen stares at me with an almost pleading expression before she walks away, going deeper into the forest until she's out of my sight. I stand there in silence, almost tuning out the ringing scroll in my hand before I decide to answer it.

"Ah, Mr. Astera," Ozpin says. "Where were you? Your friends are worried about you."

"…I've been busy," I reply quietly.

Ozpin pauses for a moment before continuing.

"I see." He mutters, not pressing me for information. "Well, do you have a moment? I'd like to discuss with you about the Vytal Festival. And your position as a new professor."

"Sure. I'll drop by Beacon in a few hours."

"Excellent," Ozpin responds with a pleased tone. "Be seeing you."

Silently, I end the call and send the scroll and the small wooden boat to my inventory. I stare at where Zenith went before turning away and swimming back home.

…

--

– Ruby –

"Any news on Reid's father, Ruby?" The SDC heiress asked through the scroll's screen.

"None." Ruby clicked her tongue, trying to enjoy her afternoon in the garden of Reid's estate with a few snacks. "It's like he disappeared off the face of Remnant."

For a man that huge, he was really good at hiding. It wasn't that surprising, admittedly, but Ruby still felt very frustrated that she hadn't made a lick of progress in ten whole days. This situation was of utmost importance to her. She wouldn't let anyone hurt her precious Reid and get away with it.

Granted, she still had no proof or evidence that Eero was responsible for anything, but if he had an idea, then she still needed to find him. Ask him what happened to Reid and how she could help. Ruby couldn't stand seeing him hurt like this.

But truthfully, Ruby hadn't been counting on finding him so easily. Realistically, how could she? He was either back in Teralos, which she couldn't access unless Reid wanted her to, or hidden in some base her boyfriend had probably made.

For someone with a speed Semblance, covering all of Vale still wasn't exactly the easiest thing ever. Yes, she could use all the aura potions in the world, but that was still the equivalent of trying to find a needle in a haystack if the haystack was the size of a mountain.

Ruby had her hands tied. She had no leads. No idea where Reid's dad could be. What was she supposed to do?

Naturally, the easiest way to come in contact with Eero was through Reid, but her boyfriend had suddenly gone off the grid for the past few days. Suddenly, he'd disappeared with no way of contacting him as each time they tried to call him on his scroll, he'd be in a place where there was no signal.

Meaning he was most likely doing something in Teralos. Having adventures without her, which would've pissed her off had she not been worried sick about him. Yes, Reid did tend to go on these 'dungeon sprees,' as he called them, every once in a while, but for this long? That never happened.

And Ruby wasn't an idiot. She knew why he was doing that— this was his way of distracting himself from whatever it was that bothered him so much. What these few days had revealed to her was how serious this situation was.

From Eero saying something about him grieving to Reid taking so much time just to distract himself. Something had happened in Teralos that had utterly broken his heart, and not knowing what it was drove Ruby mad. She wanted to help so much, but how could she without having any idea what happened?

To make matters annoying, Ruby knew that asking Reid directly would make things worse. She knew the kind of person he was—he would take on the weight of the entire world three times over before ever thinking about sharing some of that responsibility with anyone.

And admittedly, it hurt her greatly. She knew why he would do that, of course, and Ruby could see herself doing the same thing in his place, but did he have to do that? Did he really have to suffer alone in silence? Did he not realize how much it hurt her? How much it hurt everyone around him?

She loved him. She loved him so damn much. Ruby was willing to do anything for him, but gods, did he get on her nerves. That idiot.

"Reid must be hiding him, then," Weiss said, coming to the same conclusion. "Likely in Teralos."

"Yeah, probably." Ruby agreed. "Meaning there's no way to get to him without Reid."

"This could be a problem." The heiress muttered. "What about Reid? Has he responded to your messages yet?"

"Nope." The younger girl shook her head. "I mean, if he responded to my messages, he'd respond to yours too, wouldn't he?"

"I suppose." Weiss sighed. "Well, I guess we'll just have to wait. I'll return to training now. I'm confident enough in our abilities, but arrogance won't do us good. I wouldn't want to disrespect our rivals in the Vytal tournament."

"Got it." Ruby smiled. "Good luck! I'm rooting for you! You girls are gonna crush the competition!"

Weiss smiled back and waved goodbye before ending the call. Ruby then exhaled and threw her scroll away, lying on her back as she munched on a strawberry. She'd go train with them, but she didn't feel like it. Lazing around in the mansion was so much more fun.

Admittedly, it was becoming a problem. Ruby was starting to get complacent, but it was really because she enjoyed training with Reid, especially. Yes, he was very harsh, but honestly, she liked it even more than she was training with Uncle Qrow.

…Not in a lewd way, even though she liked it when he went rough on her during sexy times, but that was different! She liked the harsh training because she started to enjoy challenging battles, and Reid was the toughest there was.

Ruby closed her eyes.

Even with how fast she was, how skilled and strong she had become, he was still stronger than her. It was motivating how each time she measured up to him, she'd see the progress she'd made and how she'd pushed him to be more powerful as well.

They were helping each other to be better versions of themselves.

Ruby wondered if he ever felt the same way.

…Honestly, a nap in this cool weather wouldn't be so bad. Who needed air conditioning with a gentle breeze like this? It reminded her of Patch a little. She used to take naps during picnics with her dad and Yang. Right after filling her tummy with cookies and strawberries. Even the sun wasn't annoying her all that much.

Seconds away from falling asleep, Ruby felt something was blocking the sun, prompting her to open her eyes and spot Reid looking down at her with a grin.

"Had a nice nap?"

Ruby leaped up in surprise and relief, having missed him for the past ten days, as she tackled him in a hug. Reid laughed and spun her around, clearly equally happy to see her again.

"I missed you!" She declared, giving him several smooches on his cheeks and jaw before gently hitting him on the chest. "Jerk! How could you make me worry like that?!"

"Sorry, sorry." He chuckled, putting her down. "You know me, Rubes. Saving people across space and time. Nothing new."

"Yeah, well, how about you take me with you next time, huh?!" She pouted. "It's boring here!"

"Haha, maybe next time." He said, patting her on the head before embracing her tightly. "God, I missed you so much, you know?"

"You better have." Ruby giggled, returning the hug. "What kind of boyfriend would you be if you didn't miss your girlfriend?"

"The worst ever."

"Exactly." She agreed. "…Please don't do it again."

"Huh?"

"Disappearing that long without even texting or anything." She explained, backing off to look him in the eyes. "Everyone was so worried about you."

Reid paused before replying.

"Why should I?" He blinked in confusion before smirking confidently. "Come on, it's me! I wouldn't let anything—"

"Reid." Ruby cut him off.

Reid stared at her for a few moments before his confident expression changed into one of mild remorse.

"…Yeah, you're right." He said. "I'm sorry. I won't let it happen again."

"Good." She smiled. "Now, you better tell me all about your adventures that you went on alone. Without me."

"Sure, sure." He sighed in exasperation. "Let me just take a shower first. I stink."

"I don't mind," Ruby said with a matter-of-fact tone. "You always smell nice to me anyway."

"First of all, I mind, so I'm going to shower." He replied, walking toward the mansion. "Second, that's a little weird to say to somebody."

"You'd say the same thing to me." She pointed out as she followed him.

"No, I wouldn't."

"Lies!" Ruby called out boisterously. "My female pheromones are too powerful for you to resist!"

"That's not how it works." He disagreed.

"It is. I read it in a biology book." Ruby puffed her chest proudly, entering the mansion beside him. "Maybe you should try to be as well-read as I. Also, it's extra true for you cuz you have a super sense of smell."

"Ruby—"

"Admit it~" She teased. "You are a slave to my feminine charm~"

"What's with you today?" He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Real talkative, aren't you?"

"I've always been talkative."

"Yeah, about weapons, not smells."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Anyway—" Ruby entered the bathroom with him. "I think you smell like vanilla and lavender."

"What?"

"And maybe ash? Or smoke. Probably cuz of how much you like burning things. And also a dash of the ocean. Weirdly, no fishy smell." Ruby wanted to laugh as she saw the embarrassed look on her boyfriend's face as she went into detail. Good. That's what he gets for worrying her so much. "What about me? What do I smell like? Is it good?"

"Can you stop?" He frowned, taking off his shirt. "I'm taking my shower. Get out."

"Well, I'm taking one with you." She undressed, throwing her clothes aside as she hopped into the shower with him, pressing her breasts against his chest. "Now answer my question, bozo!"

Reid sighed deeply before begrudgingly answering her.

"…Strawberries, freshly baked cookies, a hint of iron…" He listed off. "And obviously, roses."

"Aaaand?"

He was visibly annoyed by her antics, but he knew she would continue to be annoying until he cooperated.

"And yes, I like how you smell." He admitted. "Happy?"

"Very." Ruby nodded, smirking smugly at him.

Reid stared at her in silence for a few moments as neither of them acknowledged his hardened member poking her belly.

"I'm going to fuck your brains out now."

"I would be disappointed if you didn't." But she wasn't intimidated as she gave him a wink. "I told you you can't resist me~"

Before long, Ruby found herself loudly moaning his name as he lifted her leg and took her, thrusting his huge cock into her and reshaping her insides. After so many days without contact, both lovers were more pent up than they had been in a long time. And so enjoyed every second of their love-making even more than usual.

With her beloved taking the lead, of course. She loved the rough treatment, after all. Why would she try to frustrate him so much otherwise? However, at the end of the day, one fact would remain, and although neither of them would verbally acknowledge it, she knew it would annoy him for the next few weeks.

Ruby had finally defeated Reid in his own game.

--

– Cinder –

Impatiently waiting for the mansion's owner next to the nervous Emerald, Cinder huffed in frustration. She was truly beginning to regret taking Astera's offer. Not only had he put her in this humiliating outfit he called a 'French Maid dress,' but he'd made the insufferable mercenary her direct boss. She couldn't believe it.

Was he out of his mind? Titania, a head maid? All that bitch was good at was killing and clogging her useless metal leg with blood. Why the hell should she order Cinder around? What right did she have? A weakling cripple like her should be honored to be polishing Cinder's boots with her tongue.

At least Cinder had genuine experience in doing housework and chores, as much as she hated to admit it. She should've been made Titania's superior, not the other way around. Gods, it pissed her off just thinking about it. To make matters even worse, Titania was having the time of her life. She'd make Cinder do most of the work and spend every waking moment mocking her and criticizing her for every mistake she made as if she had nothing better to do.

…But even then, this was still better than starving and freezing in Solitas. Besides, she'd been prepared for the worst when she had come here, and when she accepted Astera's offer, it wasn't for the free meals, salary, and place to sleep, even though those were nice.

It was purely for power. Power so she could one day be free from this life of servitude she'd led her whole life. If that meant having to deal with an annoyance like Titania, then Cinder was willing to deal with it for as long as she physically could.

Contrary to what idiots like Watts and the deceased Hazel thought, Cinder knew how to be patient and bide her time. She'd worked under Salem for years without ever smelling a crumb of power. She could do the same under Astera.

But she digressed. She'd been told by the blond girl to wait for Astera in the living room for some reason, and Cinder had a decent guess as to why he'd want her. It had been ten days since their first meeting, so now that he was back, he probably wanted information about Salem.

After their first meeting, he'd up and vanished for a while, and Cinder had felt curious enough to ask. The smaller girl, Ruby, had told her that he had a tendency to go around Remnant undercover to clear out dozens of dangerous Grimm nests before coming back.

Which she had found incredibly odd. Why would he do that? Didn't he have those Golem things to do such a pointless task for him? And why undercover? Wouldn't he gain positive publicity otherwise?

To tell the truth, Cinder thought Astera was strange. And although she wouldn't admit it to anyone, she found him ever so slightly fascinating. For a while, Cinder had thought it was just a front he put on to hide his greed and hunger for power. Did he truly think he was some kind of savior or a hero? Was he really that naive?

It was pathetic. A little intriguing, yes, but still pathetic. Someone like him should know that the only thing that mattered in this world was one's own strength.

However, that ultimately didn't change anything. Whether he was sincere or not, she was still working under him until she got her hands on this bizarre magic of his. Then, she'd get his trust, backstab him, then take all of his power. After that, Cinder would be unstoppable. Not even Salem or Ozpin would be able to threaten her.

As Cinder waited in silence for a few more minutes, the door opened, and Astera walked in—finally.

Her satisfied expression immediately disappeared as she saw Titania beside him, staring smugly at Cinder and Emerald. Cinder scowled, but before she could say anything, the former killer-for-hire gestured for her to do her job as a maid and properly greet her master as she'd been… 'trained' to do.

Cinder swallowed her pride and stood up. Alongside Emerald, the two women put one foot back, raised their already short skirts, and bowed respectfully.

"W-welcome home, Master Reid," Cinder said, barely composing herself for this humiliating ritual. "We're honored to be in your presence."

Cinder wanted to die.

"Huh?" Astera blinked, his voice filled with confusion. "Um, yeah, thanks. What's this?"

"W-we're greeting you," Cinder replied as if it wasn't obvious enough. Isn't that what he was asking for anyway? "Tita— I mean, the Head Maid told us that, as the Titan Slayer and owner of this estate, we're to show you the utmost respect."

"Ah…" Reid cleared his throat. Almost awkwardly so. "Yeah, you really don't have to. She doesn't do that. Why should you?"

"What?" Cinder raised her head, staring at Reid. Now she's confused. "She doesn't?"

"Nope. I never asked her to, and I wouldn't ask that of you either." He shrugged.

Cinder turned her gaze to Titania, who was red in the face as she tried her hardest not to laugh. Cinder's own face turned red out of anger and embarrassment. This fucking bitch… she'd sworn up and down that doing this was mandatory. Now, she looked like an absolute fool in front of him.

As she was moments away from blowing up on the crippled whore, Reid took the seat in front of her and immediately drew her attention to him, making her take a deep, calming breath, doing her best to ignore Titania's quiet snickering. This wasn't over. She'd have her revenge eventually.

"So anyway—" Reid started. "How have you two been? Getting used to the place?"

Cinder took a moment and almost didn't answer such a pointless question before deciding to act nice for now.

"We've been well, I suppose." She responded, dropping the gentle maid act Titania had put her up to. "I can't complain."

She could, but all that was really bothering her was Titania's existence.

"That's good to hear." He glanced at Emerald. "What about you?"

"Oh, um, same thing." Em nodded, looking surprised that he'd ask her directly. So was Cinder. Why would he care about a street rat's opinion? "Work's been pretty simple, and Ruby and Yang are nice to us."

"They better be." He grinned. "Anyway, you probably know why you're here."

"Salem." Cinder guessed.

"Correct." He confirmed. "Truthfully, I've actually met her recently."

Cinder paused. He'd met her?

"And you're still alive?" She wondered out loud.

"I'm surprised myself." He chuckled. "So what can you tell me about her?"

For a moment, Cinder hesitated and even thought about feeding him lies in case… Salem somehow knew of her betrayal. But she knew that the moment Reid figured out she'd been lying to him, he'd kick her out immediately, and she'd lose her opportunity to gain power.

Without his protection, Salem would kill her because something told Cinder that the Immortal Witch wouldn't care for her show of loyalty. This was the time to choose sides. Should she remain with Salem and hope she'd show her a shred of mercy? Or take the safer option and join up with Reid Astera in hopes of one day backstabbing him and taking his power for herself?

Cinder didn't really have to think too hard. The choice was obvious.

"Salem has the Summer Maiden." She revealed, making Reid's eyes widen. "She's currently with Arthur Watts on standby near Vacuo. They'll be trying to take the Relic of Destruction during the spring of next year."

"You don't say…" Astera leaned back, frowning in thought. "Huh. She is taking her sweet time, isn't she? Spring of next year? What's she waiting for?"

"I don't know the details, and there's likely more than one factor, but I know one thing," Cinder said. "The day she takes the relic is the day Thanatos destroys the kingdom of Vacuo."

"Thanatos, huh? Also known as the Eater of Worlds." Reid hummed. "That's the oldest known Titan, isn't it?"

"Yes. A Death Worm larger than a skyscraper." She confirmed. "I've never seen it myself, but it's far stronger than any of the Titans you've faced."

"That could be a problem," Reid muttered. "Do you know how Salem is planning to wake it up?"

"I don't." Cinder shook her head. "I don't even know where it's hiding."

The Titan Slayer remained quiet for a few moments, processing the information. He didn't exactly look pleased, but everything Cinder had said was the truth. Or rather, what she knew. There's a chance that Salem had changed or tweaked her plans since her former subordinate's desertion.

"Right…" He exhaled. "I'll be sure to relay this to Theodore. Anything else?"

"Yes. There's a spy in Beacon."

"Oh?" Astera raised a brow.

"I don't know much about them. Salem mostly kept it to herself." Cinder quickly added. "I just know that whoever they are, they have a Grand Soul."

"Oh." His eyes widened. "That's… okay, wow. For real? Since when have they been at Beacon?"

"Since the start of the year." She answered. "Before you ask, I don't know what their Semblance is, but she likely sent them there to look for the relic. Salem seems convinced it's somewhere in Beacon and that the spy was the best for the job."

"Yeah, makes sense. That's good information. Thank you, Cinder." He nodded. She didn't know why he was thanking her; wasn't that what they agreed on anyway? "Anything else? Any schemes she may be cooking up? A weapon she's working on? Allies I should be worried about?"

"Not that I know of," Cinder replied before pausing. She put a hand on her chin, frowning in thought. "Hm, actually…"

"Yeah?"

"There's this… I hesitate to call 'man' who visits her every once in a while. He looks similar to Salem. Snow white skin, red eyes…" She recounted. "He looked like a humanoid Grimm. He spoke like a human, held himself like one, and looked like one. But I'm certain he isn't. Not even in the same sense as Salem."

"Do you know his name?"

"No, but Salem once called him a 'parasite'." Cinder said. "That's as much as I know."

"No magical knowledge to share?"

"No. Salem strictly kept it to herself." Cinder shook her head. "Maybe it's still not obvious to you, but Salem never liked sharing what she knew. Sorry to disappoint."

"No, no, that's plenty of information. I'm satisfied." Reid nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Cinder. Seriously."

"I'm just doing my part of the deal," Cinder muttered before sighing. He was weird. "So? Am I free to go?"

"Yup." He said with a wave. "You can take the rest of the day off, too."

Cinder said nothing, only nodding in acknowledgment as she stood up and walked away with the silent Emerald in tow. She glared at the smirking Titania as she went past her, but before she exited the living room, Astera stopped her with one final question.

"One more thing." He said. "Is there a female monkey faunus that works for Salem?"

"Pardon?" Cinder blinked.

"You know, tiny, short white hair and red eyes?" He described. "She wears a large black cloak."

"…No. I've never seen or heard of her." Cinder shook her head, a little confused at his question's specificity.

"Right…" For some reason, Astera looked relieved. "That's all, Cinder. Thank you for your time."

Cinder stared at him for a few more moments before exiting the living room. She didn't know what that was about, but at least she got the day off out of this. She didn't know what she could do with her free time, seeing that she was not allowed to leave the mansion, but…

… Sunbathing in this weather didn't sound so bad.

--

– Reid –

"A spy?" Ozpin's eyes widened. "Here?"

"Yeah." I nod. "And she said they had a Grand Soul too. So we're not dealing with the average spy here."

"Goodness…" The Headmaster of Beacon leans back on his chair. "To think she'd infiltrate our ranks so easily…"

"You're fine," I tell him. "Whoever they are, they've not found the way to the chamber underground. And now we know for sure that there's a spy, we'll easily be able to counter them."

The biggest problem here is their status. Now, as I said before, nothing here can actually threaten me besides Salem herself and the high-tier Titans, but those with Grand Souls aren't exactly like the rest of the human fighters on Remnant.

First, they have an absurd Aura pool compared to their peers. Even a veteran hunter with a hundred years of experience pales in comparison to a newbie with a Grand Soul. The difference is vast, but even then, that's not enough to pose a challenge for me.

What's actually worrying is the kind of Semblance they might have. A Grand Soul's Semblance is so strong that it goes against the rule of individuality and becomes hereditary. For example, Nicolas Schnee had a grand soul, which is why all his descendants have the same semblance.

And I might hear someone say that while Glyphs are very powerful, they don't compare to what I can do with magic, and that's true, but here's the thing. The Glyphs Weiss and Winter can cast can be considered knock-off versions of what Nicolas could do. Theirs are inherently far weaker than his.

If Weiss's current limit, even after training under me for months, were only a handful of Arma Gigas, Nicolas could summon an army of five hundred in an instant. That's the difference.

Naturally, I'm still confident I can take them on, whoever they may be, but I must be careful here. Figure out their Semblance and its weakness, then take them out as fast as I can. Large aura pool or not, I can still tear them apart faster than they realize it.

The fact that they're in Beacon around so many students is the biggest issue right now.

"I suppose you're right." Ozpin nods. "How fortunate. The news came at a perfect time."

"How come?"

"Did you forget? The Vytal Festival is only days away." He tilts his head. "And you said you wanted to be a professor after it's done, didn't you?"

"Ah…"

…That completely slipped my mind. Fuck, that's gonna take too much of my time. Being a professor, that is. But I already promised to do it.

Fuuuuck…

"You seem hesitant," Ozpin says.

"Uh, yeah…" I sigh. "Thing is, I… met Salem recently."

"What?!" His eyes widen as he stands up. "Salem?!"

"Calm down, nothing happened," I add. "It's just… seeing her, I–"

I take a deep breath.

"…I felt helpless," I confess. "I knew she was strong. She was dangerous. But that? What the fuck am I supposed to do against that, Oz?"

Should I really waste my time playing teacher when there's a monster like that running around? Is that what I should be doing? Is that the right thing to do? I don't know, and it's driving me nuts. What should a hero do in this situation?

I've been training the girls in case they get targeted. So they can take care of themselves in case I'm not there to help. But at this point, is it really wise to create more openings by getting more students? I'd have to train them from the ground up all over again. Can I really afford that?

Ozpin says nothing.

"All the progress I thought I made feels pointless now," I admit. "She does feel unbeatable. That there's nothing we can do."

He frowns almost sorrowfully.

"How do you do it?" I ask, my tone unintentionally desperate. "You've been in this hell for thousands of years. How did you handle it, knowing you'd never stand a chance?"

"Reid…"

At his look of sympathy and understanding, I exhale and shake my head.

"…Nevermind. Look, I'll do the job." I say before he can speak. "Someone has to find the spy and get rid of them, and I'm the only one who can do it."

I can't risk Beacon students or staff doing something that dangerous. We know nothing about the spy and what their Semblance could be, and as much as I trust Wildberry, it's better to be safe than sorry. I can return to my real work once they're out of the picture.

"…I understand." Ozpin nods. "Though, I suppose there's something else you need to do first, yes?"

"Yeah," I confirm. "It's about time I got rid of the pig."

I've been putting that off because he and his little slave market had stopped completely. But Roman confirmed that the big auction will be happening during the Vytal Festival. I don't know where exactly, but locations are easy to find with thousands of golems patrolling Remnant 24/7.

"Have you figured out who it is yet?"

"No, but I have suspicions," I say. A man with immense political power like, say, a councilman. "I'll have his head on a pike soon enough."

"I would like him alive, Mr. Astera," Ozpins says as he adjusts his glasses. "He must face prosecution first."

"He's gonna get executed anyway." I snort. "I, or, well, the Black Phantom, might as well save you the trouble."

"Mr. Astera—"

"No, Oz." I cut him off. "He will die."

Ozpin doesn't argue, but his disapproving stare tells me that he's not okay with that plan. Sorry, but I'm not willing to spare someone like him. He who would take the freedom of the innocent for profit deserves none himself.

After that?

I'll hang that spy with his own innards.