Author's Note:

Rejoice ! another chapter has been finished still sick but here we are

So we are going with different route and next chapter should be near the end and we are doing start to upload this Story on AO3 pretty soon there

As always PMs are open and etc and hopefully next chapter is to your enjoyment as we all write this story

With our version of Volume 9

Till next chapter, Apzeta and Bishop

[ Ever After – Origami Acre ]

Akira, still clad in the Thouser armor, took a step forward, his visor gleaming in the dim Ever After light.

Akira: "I think it's time for a more physical lesson."

Without another word, Akira lunged forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. Jaune barely had time to raise his sword before—

CLANG!

Akira's Thousand Jacker clashed against Jaune's blade, the impact forcing the knight back.

The sheer force sent vibrations up his arms, but he held his ground.

Jaune: "Damn it...!"

Weiss and Blake immediately sprang into action.

Weiss summoned a row of glyphs, launching herself forward while Blake dashed alongside her, Gambol Shroud drawn.

Akira smirked within his helmet.

Akira: "Good, let's test how well this armor holds up."

He twisted his grip, parrying Jaune's sword to the side before swinging the Thousand Jacker upward.

CLANG!

Jaune barely managed to block again, but the strength behind Akira's strike sent him staggering backward.

Blake came in next, dual-wielding her weapon in a flurry of slashes. Akira deflected each attack with ease, his movements calculated, as if he were merely toying with her.

Weiss flicked her rapier, sending ice shards toward him.

Akira spun the Thousand Jacker like a baton, shattering the incoming projectiles with minimal effort.

Akira: "You're all so predictable."

Weiss: "Tch!"

Blake: "He's mocking us."

Jaune steadied himself, gritting his teeth.

Jaune: "We have to hit him all at once!"

But before they could coordinate, a golden blur shot past them—

BAM!

Yang, engulfed in fiery rage, slammed her fist against Akira's helmet.

The impact cracked the ground beneath them, sending a shockwave outward.

Yet, Akira remained unfazed.

He merely tilted his head, as if unimpressed.

Yang: "I've been waiting for this!" She reeled back, preparing another devastating punch.

Akira: "You should've thrown the first one harder."

Yang growled, her Ember Celica glowing with heat—only for Akira to swiftly sidestep.

SHNK!

Before she could react, Akira drove the Thousand Jacker straight into her side.

Thousand Jacker: [ Jackrise ! ]

A burst of energy surged from Yang into the weapon, the golden glow of her Semblance transferring into the Thousand Jacker.

Blake, Weiss, and Jaune's eyes widened in horror.

Wiess: "No—!"

Jaune: "He just—"

Blake: "He stole her Semblance?!"

Yang gasped, feeling an unfamiliar weakness wash over her.

Her Aura flickered erratically as if something had been forcibly drained from her.

Akira withdrew the Thousand Jacker, looking at the golden glow now pulsing through its blade.

Akira: "Interesting… Let's see how it works."

With a casual motion, he drove the Thousand Jacker into the ground and swung around it, mimicking Yang's combat style.

FWOOOOSH!

A blazing inferno erupted around him, flames roaring outward in a vicious cyclone.

Thousand Jacker: [ Jacking Break! ]

The firestorm surged toward the four fighters, engulfing them in intense heat.

They barely had time to brace before the explosion sent them hurtling backward.

Yang hit the ground hard, rolling several times before coming to a stop.

Weiss barely managed to erect a glyph barrier, but even then, the sheer force cracked its surface.

Jaune groaned, his armor scorching.

Blake coughed, gripping her arm where the flames had burned through part of her sleeve.

Thousand Jacker: [ Zaia Enterprise ! ]

Akira stood tall, watching them struggle.

Akira: "Pathetic."

Yang pushed herself up, panting, her vision swimming from both the pain and the realization that her Semblance was… copied.

Yang: "You bastard…"

Akira deactivated his Thousandriver, the armor dispersing as he walked towards Yang, his tone turning mocking.

Akira: "I have to admit, I'm disappointed. You burn with all this righteous fury, but the second I take away your crutch, you crumble."

Yang clenched her fists, shaking with rage.

Akira: "You're a hypocrite."

Yang's breath hitched.

Akira: "You let your own kin drown in despair. Your precious little sister was spiraling, and what did you do? Nothing. You stood by and let her shatter."

Blake: "Shut up!"

Akira barely glanced at her.

Akira: "Oh? Did I strike a nerve? And Blake your one talk"

He turned back to Yang.

Akira: "You only hate me because I killed a deadbeat who was barely a mother to you."

Yang's eyes went wide.

Akira: "Raven Branwen abandoned you. She left you. And yet, here you are, clinging to her memory, pretending she was worth mourning."

Jaune, Blake, and Weiss all tensed, expecting Yang to explode with fury.

Instead…

Yang froze.

Akira's voice dropped lower, almost sinister.

Akira: "You can try to justify your hatred, but the truth is… you lack self awareness.

Silence.

Then, without another word, Akira turned on his heel and walked away, joining Tsukasa, Sougo, Kaito, and the rest of his group.

Tsukasa and Kaito gave Yang's group a brief glance—one of understanding, but also a silent acknowledgment that they needed to hear that truth.

Then, in a flash of light, the Riders and Akira's allies vanished bya a Aurora Curtain

Leaving Yang, Weiss, Blake, and Jaune alone.

Burned. Beaten. And with too many questions they didn't want to answer.

[ Meanwhile Peridot and Neo ]

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the empty forest, pink fragments scattering like deadly confetti as another Neo clone broke under the precise strike of Peridot's Buaruku Saber.

Peridot (grinning, erratic laughter): "Hehehe… Come on, Pinkie! You think your little mirror tricks can beat me?! This is getting boring! I'm not even warmed up yet!"

Neo, silent as ever, stood just beyond the last of her remaining clones, her parasol twirling lazily. Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

In a swift motion, Neo's semblance triggered again—multiple clones flickered into existence around Peridot, each one armed with a version of Neo's parasol.

They charged from every angle, aiming to overwhelm.

Peridot: "Hah! Numbers, huh?! Let's see how many of you glass dolls I can break before you actually matter!"

Peridot's synthetic grin widened as she darted forward, twirling both sabers in rapid succession—slicing through clone after clone.

Each shattering with a satisfying CRACK, sending shards skittering across the ground.

Peridot: "Two... Three... Heh—Four! Ooooh, I wonder if I get a prize if I break them all?!"

She lunged again, blades dancing like mechanical wings.

Still, more Neo clones appeared, endless, oppressive. The real Neo watched from the treetops, expression unreadable—but the tight grip on her parasol spoke volumes.

Finally, one of the clones managed to tackle Peridot from the side. Another grabbed her arm. Another swung low. The swarm piled on, pinning Peridot down.

Peridot (gritting teeth, dark laughter bubbling): "You think this...this is enough?! I'm made for worse than this..."

With a sudden jerk of her arm, Peridot slammed her hand down on the Force Executor of her Forceriser once. The device hissed.

Forceriser: [ Zetsumetsu Utopia ! ]

A surge of red lightning erupted from her body, frying the clones instantly. Pink shards burst outward in a wide explosion. Even the trees trembled from the force.

Peridot (laughing wildly): "HAAA! Checkmate !"

From the smoke, Neo's real form appeared, untouched—her body flickering as the illusion she'd used dissipated.

Peridot's grin froze.

Neo moved fast, faster than Peridot could process. Her parasol spun once—and stabbed straight through Peridot's chest.

Peridot (sparking): "W-What...?"

Neo's smirk was cruel as she twisted the parasol. Peridot staggered, metal grinding from within as sparks rained down.

Peridot (gasping, glitching): "Clever... Girl...Last minute… Dodge..."

Neo pulled the parasol free and stepped back gracefully, glass heels crunching over debris. Her smirk widened.

Peridot dropped to one knee, frame shuddering, overheating.

Smoke rose from her back as systems struggled to stay online.

Peridot (voice warped): "Heh...Hahaha...It was...fun…"

The glow in her eyes flickered. Then she laughed—a broken, manic sound.

Peridot: "All... as the Ark wills…!"

With a final surge of red sparks, Peridot's body convulsed—and exploded in a controlled blast of red lightning and fragmented metal.

Neo flinched as the blast pushed her back—but she landed lightly, brushing glass off her shoulder.

Silence.

Then Neo exhaled slowly, the smirk returning. She glanced toward the distance—eyes narrowing slightly.

There, beyond the trees… she could feel it. Ruby Rose was near.

Neo gave a dark chuckle, tilting her head.

No words, no need. The message was clear: Soon.

With that, Neopolitan turned on her heel, disappearing into the shadows—plotting her next move, her parasol resting gently on her shoulder.

Her eyes gleamed with cold revenge.

[ The Ever After Forest ]

The trees grow dense as Ruby Rose walks through the darkening forest, her red cloak trailing behind.

Slowly, a faint blue glow flutters past her — a butterfly, its wings illuminated in the gloom.

Ruby (quietly): …What the…?

Ruby watches the glowing butterfly pass, her brows furrowed. She continues walking.

Slowly, the ground beneath her seems to shift, her steps becoming heavy. A soft spotlight suddenly flickers on above her.

She glances upward, confused but keeps walking. A second spotlight appears ahead, Ruby walking slower now — her breathing shallow.

A third spotlight shines. Ruby drags her feet. The world around her feels dreamlike, as if time is bending.

Ruby crosses a fragile wooden bridge, the dark chasm beneath groaning, connecting the Origami Acre and the Abandoned Acre. The bridge creaks ominously with every step.

At the other end stands a gaudy, pink-colored manor — decadent, almost cartoonishly bright.

As Ruby steps toward it, everything plunges into darkness.

[ The Manor — Interior]

A lone spotlight flicks on. Ruby is now inside the manor, standing before a massive family portrait hung on the wall.

The painting shows a smiling family of three — a little girl with two loving parents.

Other spotlights flicker on around the room, each illuminating different portraits:

— A young Neo (Trivia Vanille) laughing with her parents, Jimmy and Carmel Vanille.

— An older Neo, standing proudly with her parents.

— Another, far more chilling — Neo beside Cinder, both flanking Salem's throne.

Ruby stares, heart pounding, until her gaze locks on the largest portrait: Roman Torchwick standing beside Neo, their parents' bodies lying cold and lifeless at their feet.

Ruby (whispers): …What is this?

Suddenly, Roman's painted eye moves — twisting unnaturally to stare directly at Ruby.

Neo-Roman (grinning): Hello, Red.

Ruby (gasping): What…?!

Neo-Roman steps down from the portrait frame, landing with a casual thud, twirling his Melodic Cudgel.

Neo-Roman: Been a while. He smirks, strolling forward. How's the hero biz treatin' ya? I gotta say, you're not looking too good.

He gives Jimmy's painted corpse a light kick.

Ruby (trembling): Where's Neo?!

Neo-Roman (mock gasp): Yeesh, no manners. And after everyone came out to see you! His voice echoes hauntingly.

With a loud snap, the lights burst to life, revealing a grand dining table.

Seated, calmly sipping tea, are Penny Polendina, Pyrrha Nikos, Leonardo Lionheart, Clover Ebi, Ozpin, and General Ironwood — all pale, serene, their eyes dull.

Neo-Penny (saluting): Salutations, Ruby!

Neo-Pyrrha (warmly): Hello again!

Neo-Lionheart fiddles nervously with his tail before sitting stiffly.

Neo-Clover (adjusts his badge): Heh…

Neo-Ozpin (pushing up his glasses): Miss Rose.

Neo-Ironwood (smiles thinly, gestures to the empty chair): Why don't you take a seat?

Ruby recoils, horrified.

Ruby (shaking her head): How… How is she doing this?

The group bursts into laughter — cruel, mocking, unnatural.

Ruby: Stop it! This isn't real!

Neo-Roman (grins, appearing beside her): Is it real?

Ruby yelps, stumbling back and falling hard.

Neo-Roman: You're the one following a talking cat around a fairy tale, sweetheart.

He strides toward the table, twirling his cane, hops up, landing lightly among the tea cups.

Everyone immediately stops laughing and locks eyes on Ruby.

Neo-Roman: Reality's gettin' fuzzier by the minute, kid.

Neo-Roman walks along the table, pausing as he nearly steps on a tea cup. With a playful hop, he clears it, spinning back to face Ruby.

Neo-Roman: Y'know… once Neo realized where she was, everything changed. Always loved the idea of a place to run away from it all… do whatever you want.

He flops down, cross-legged between Lionheart and Clover.

Neo-Roman (frowning): I offered that to her back on Remnant. But we all remember how that ended.

Ruby (furious): Is that seriously what this is all about? You still blame me for what happened to Torchwick?!

Neo-Roman's eyes flash with fury. A low growl rumbles in his throat.

Ruby: If you're looking for an apology… you've wasted your time!

Neo-Roman (darkly): They say everyone thinks they're the hero of their own story.

The group grins. Their eyes shift — all now bearing Neo's heterochromatic colors. A twisted reflection of Neo's soul staring her down.

Neo-Roman (low): But… I knew what I was.

He stands slowly, his shadow looming over Ruby.

Neo-Roman: And deep down… you know what you are too.

Ruby breathes heavily. Her fingers brush against the Forceriser strapped to her waist.

With a sharp motion, she draws the Fighting Jackal Progrisekey, thumb pressing the Rise Starter — the mechanical voice roaring to life:

Fighting Jackal Progrisekey: [ Hunt ! ]

Ruby's pupils shrink, glowing red — Malice overtaking her as the air grows heavy. She glares at Neo-Roman.

Ruby (low, resolute): …I'm done playing games.

Ruby slams the Progrisekey into the Forceriser. The device hums to life — a loud, grinding industrial sound paired with a rhythmic drum beat shakes the room.

From the Force Factory, a mechanical Jackal Rider Model forms — medium-sized, colorless, yet menacing.

Ruby grips the Force Executor.

Ruby: Henshin.

Forceriser: [ Forcerise ! ]

The Rider Model shatters, black liquid metal engulfing Ruby. Cables whip out, binding to her limbs, pulling on armor plates as they slam into place.

Forceriser: [ Fighting Jackal ! ]

The armor is a sleek blend of black, silver, and gold. Red electricity arcs violently as the Territory Scythe materializes in Ruby's hands.

Her helmet locks into place — sharp, jackal-like golden ears jutting upward, the red slitted visor gleaming with predatory malice.

Forceriser: [ Breakdown ! ]

The finishing pulse sends a wave of force across the room — the tea set shattering, the walls creaking under the surge of energy.

Neo-Roman smirks, standing slowly.

Neo-Roman: There she is… the real you.

The table occupants sit still — their eyes blank, silently watching. Ruby twirls the Territory Scythe, the blade humming with lethal energy.

Ruby (coldly): If I'm the villain… I'll play the part...

Ruby: An since is that what you want right as well me dead, then come get me !