Author's Note:

Rejoice ! another chapter has been finished as well a milestone 60 chapters almost done with Volume 9

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

Questions for you the reader:

1. What music thems for Akira and allies

2. shall we let Akira and Ruby Ascend

3. Neo fight ?

3. Your idea/Suggestions

Legend Ride form: We are debating if using Zi-O, Build or Decade

Till next chapter, Apzeta, Bishop, and Knight

[ Akira – Overlooking the Market ]

Akira let out a low whistle, watching the scene unfold below.

Akira: "Well, would you look at that," he muttered, arms crossed. "She's actually using it."

Little Red had the guts to use his gear. The Forceriser that sank into flesh like fangs, forcing its user to transform or break. He had to admit, he was a little impressed.

But the reactions of her so-called teammates? Now that was priceless.

Weiss' face was twisted with concern, arms tense at her sides as if she wanted to rip the device off Ruby herself.

Blake's ears flattened in clear discomfort, grip tightening around Gambol Shroud. And Yang? She looked furious, golden eyes burning like embers beneath her brow.

Akira: "Figures," he mused, shaking his head. "They hate it. Hate that she's using my tools. Hate that she might become something like him."

His amusement was short-lived as he caught movement in his peripheral vision.

A shifting of shadows, a rustle of unseen bodies.

Jabberwalkers.

Akira barely had time to react before they lunged. He twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the swipe of razor-sharp claws.

His fingers ghosted over the Ark Driver at his waist, activating it with a pulse of malice.

The air crackled. Deep red energy flickered around his form as the Ark Driver whirred to life.

From the shifting liquid metal of the Ark Driver's core, a weapon began to take shape—silver and black, lined with streaks of purple and yellow. It materialized in his grip with a metallic click.

Attache Arrow: [ Attache Arrow ! ]

A smirk curled Akira's lips. Perfect.

Without hesitation, he pulled back the Draw Extender, the arrow mechanism locking into place with a hiss.

His free hand reached into his belt, withdrawing the newly fabricated Progrisekey—a sharp, metallic red orange with the image of a falling feather embedded into its core.

The Fall Maiden Progrisekey.

He slammed it into the Rise Slot, the weapon vibrating as it processed the data.

Attache Arrow: [ Progrisekey confirmed. Ready to utilize. Fall Maiden's Ability ! ]

Akira could feel the power hum through the weapon. He exhaled slowly, letting his malice seep into the Attache Arrow before pulling the Attack Trigger.

A massive, glowing arrow formed at the tip, pulsating with raw energy.

He took aim.

Attache Arrow: [ Fall Kaban Shoot ! ]

The arrow launched forward, slicing through the air with pinpoint accuracy.

The moment it struck the first Jabberwalker, it fragmented—splitting into countless smaller arrows that shot out in every direction.

The creatures barely had time to react before the storm of projectiles pierced through them. But something was... off.

Instead of the black, inky remains he had expected, the Jabberwalkers burst into bright pink light, their forms dissolving as if they were never there to begin with.

Akira ( narrowed his eyes ): "Huh. That's new."

He had fought a Jabberwalker before. They bled darkness, their bodies twisted and wrong. But this?

This was an illusion with mass.

He tightened his grip on the Attache Arrow, scanning the surroundings. If these were fakes... where was the real one?

[ The Garden's Market – Team RWBY ]

Ruby panted, her grip on the Territory Scythe slipping as she struggled to keep her stance.

Her entire body ached, a deep, burning pain radiating from where the Forceriser latched onto her waist.

Everything felt wrong.

She wasn't used to fighting in armor—especially one that wasn't designed for her.

The weight distribution threw off her balance. The Fighting Jackal armor was sleek but rigid, moving in ways she wasn't accustomed to.

And Crescent Rose—her trusted scythe—wasn't with her. With the current scythe she had remained as it is an unfamiliar heaviness settling in her arms.

Ruby gritted her teeth, trying to push through it. No time to adjust. Just fight.

A Jabberwalker lunged at her. She tried to react, but the stiffness of the armor made her a fraction too slow.

Claws raked against her side, sending her stumbling backward.

Wiess: "Ruby!" her voice was sharp, filled with alarm.

Ruby: "I-I'm fine!" forced out, shaking off the pain. She lifted the Territory Scythe, aiming for a counterattack

—but Weiss was already moving.

Wiess dashed in, Myrtenaster flashing as she unleashed a glyph beneath the creature's feet, freezing it in place before slashing it apart with practiced precision.

Weiss turned to Ruby, eyes flashing with frustration. "What are you doing?! That thing isn't meant for you!"

Yang: "Yeah, this is Dangerous, Ruby!" Yang added, taking down another Jabberwalker with a burst of shotgun fire.

"You're not Akira, and you sure as hell shouldn't be using his garbage!"

Ruby's stomach twisted at her sister's words.

Ruby: "I don't have a choice!" she shot back. "Penny's gone, the Cresent Rose mission, and—"

Blake's Gambol Shroud whipped around, slicing through another Jabberwalker as she cut in, voice tense.

Black: "That doesn't mean you should be using his tech. That thing hurts you, Ruby. We can all see it."

Ruby faltered.

She knew they were right. The Forceriser wasn't meant for her—it wasn't meant for anyone who wasn't prepared to endure its brutal enhancements.

But she needed something.

Before she could argue further, a chilling laugh echoed through the market.

The remaining Jabberwalkers suddenly stopped, their movements going eerily still.

Then, one by one, they faded—the same bright pink light that Akira had witnessed.

A voice followed. Smooth. Amused.

Curious Cat: "Oh, dear."

Ruby's breath hitched. She knew that voice.

The Curious Cat stepped forward from the shadows, tail flicking lazily as it regarded them with a knowing smirk.

Curious Cat: "Such reckless." The Cat tilted its head. "And you..." Its gaze landed on Ruby, pupils narrowing.

Curious Cat: "Wearing the malice of another. How very... fascinating."

The Jabberwalkers froze for a brief moment, their eyeless masks tilting as if listening to something unheard.

Then, as if on command, they all moved at once—faster, sharper, lunging toward Team RWBY with renewed aggression.

Ruby barely had time to react as one leaped at her.

She swung the Territory Scythe, but her movements were sluggish, the armor's weight throwing her off.

The Jabberwalker slammed into her, sending her skidding across the ground.

As she struggled to rise, the armor and weapon starting flickering

Ruby's breath caught.

Ruby: No, no, no—

Golden cracks raced across the Fighting Jackal Armor, flickering like static before shattering into countless red and gold data fragments.

Her body hit the ground beneath her, completely exposed—no armor, no weapon. Just herself.

A Jabberwalker loomed over her, claws raised to strike

Curious Cat: "Ruby! Follow me!"

Before she could react, the Curious Cat darted past her. Instinct took over. Ruby rolled onto her feet and ran, following the Cat through the chaos.

The Rusted Knight leaped over a Jabberwalker on his Jackalope mount, his sword slashing downward as he landed.

Jabberwalker: DETECTING… SEARCHING… FOUND.

Weiss quickly reacted, summoning a black glyph beneath the creature, locking its limbs in place.

It snarled, attempting to swing its tail, but Blake was faster—Gambol Shroud's ribbon wrapped around its appendage, stopping it mid-swipe.

Yang seized the moment, launching herself onto its back and delivering a barrage of fiery punches.

Yang: "I said… I wasn't done with you yet!"

With a sharp cry, Weiss lifted the Jabberwalker into the air with a powerful gravity glyph.

Blake swung overhead, delivering a midair kick that sent it hurtling back down—

—right into Yang, who slammed a semblance-powered punch into its gut.

The Jabberwalker let out a distorted shriek, before—

—BANG!

A burst of pink light erupted from the creature's form as it dissolved into glowing particles.

The team barely had time to register what had just happened before Blake's eyes widened in realization.

Blake: "(Shocked) …Neo?!"

Weiss gasped.

Yang: "(Confused) Huh?"

A low growl sounded from behind them.

They turned.

Another Jabberwalker emerged from the water. Then another. And another.

Rusted Knight: "What?! There's only supposed to be one!"

More and more began to appear, surrounding them from all sides.

Jabberwalkers (in unison): DETECTING… SEARCHING… FOUND.

The Rusted Knight tensed, before urging his Jackalope mount forward.

Rusted Knight: "Run! This way!"

Blake and Yang followed without hesitation, cutting down any Jabberwalkers that got too close.

Weiss, however, hesitated—her eyes scanning the battlefield.

Then she spotted her.

Ruby.

Hiding near a booth, eyes darting around in panic.

Weiss: "Ruby, come on!"

But before she could move—

Curious Cat: "Go! We'll hold them off!"

The Curious Cat and Hawker rushed past, engaging the Jabberwalkers.

Ruby hesitated, looking back just in time to see Hawker get thrown to the ground.

The Jabberwalkers swarmed him.

His dying screams echoed through the air.

Ruby flinched, but forced herself to keep running.

Team RWBY and the Rusted Knight reached the upper levels of the marketplace.

From their vantage point, the destruction was clear—Ever After denizens screamed as they fled, the once-vibrant marketplace now filled with rising smoke and scattered debris.

Weiss stopped, staring in horror at the chaos below.

Then, her gaze landed on a familiar figure.

The Teapot Lady, kneeling amidst the wreckage of her booth, cradling what remained of her belongings.

Cracks lined her ceramic form.

She was sobbing.

Weiss clenched a hand over her chest, her breathing unsteady.

Weiss (softly, pained): "…I am so tired of leaving places in ashes…"

A gentle hand rested on her shoulder. Ruby.

She didn't say anything—just looked at her with quiet understanding, before helping the Teapot Lady to her feet.

Weiss swallowed hard, nodding in gratitude.

They had to keep moving.

[ Upper Level of the Garden ]

From his vantage point, Akira watched the scene unfold below, perched comfortably on the upper level of the Garden.

Akira: "Well, well. What a mess."

He leaned against a broken stand, eyes flicking toward the retreating forms of Team RWBY and the Rusted Knight.

Then, for the briefest moment—

Ruby looked up.

Her silver eyes locked onto his smirking face.

She froze.

Akira simply gave her a knowing tilt of his head—like a spectator enjoying the show—before turning and walking away, disappearing into the shadows.

Her breath caught in her throat.

He was with them and mostly what… was he planning?

[ The Ruined Market – Akira's Perspective ]

Akira walked through the shattered remains of the Ever After's market, the destruction around him painting a bleak yet oddly serene picture.

The echoes of battle and the dying screams of the denizens had faded into a hollow silence.

His boots crunched against broken debris as he moved, scanning the ruined stalls and cracked pathways with cold indifference.

Then, his vision flickered.

The wreckage before him shifted into a sea of dark red binary digits, cascading like an endless waterfall.

The air itself seemed to distort as the world around him faded into the digital plane—The Ark's interface.

A black void stretched infinitely, with lines of red data forming intricate shapes and structures, constantly shifting and evolving.

At the center of it all, the Ark's interface flickered to life, its crimson binary digits swirling into formation.

Akira: "Ark."

The symbols pulsed in acknowledgment.

Ark: "Connected. Query?"

Akira exhaled, folding his arms.

Akira: "What do you think of Little Red's combat performance? She managed to use my Forceriser and the Fighting Jackal Progrisekey."

A moment passed. Then, the Ark's interface glowed with amusement.

Ark: "Analysis: Beginner-level proficiency. Inadequate control. Insufficient experience. Tactical adaptability… low. Conclusion: Entertaining yet inefficient."

Akira: "So, in short, she's just fumbling around with tools she doesn't understand."

Ark: "Affirmative. However, data gathered remains useful. Adapting. Optimizing."

The swirling numbers intensified, shifting to display probability graphs and combat trajectories.

Ruby's fragmented performance was mapped out in brutal detail—errors, weaknesses, openings she had failed to capitalize on.

The Ark's ability to learn was already refining strategies to counteract her should they meet again.

But Akira had other priorities.

He reached into his coat and pulled out a Progrisekey.

A crimson emblem adorned its surface, pulsing with latent power. The Fall Maiden Progrisekey.

Akira turned it over between his fingers, before glancing back at the Ark.

Akira: "We're alone here. No Amethyst, Adam, or Onyx. I think it's time I changed that. Do we have enough liquid metal to fabricate an android?"

Ark: "Material sufficiency: 89.4%. Additional resources may be required for prolonged sustainability. However, android fabrication remains within operational parameters."

Akira smirked. "Good enough. And if I use the Fall Maiden Progrisekey?"

The Ark's digital pulses slowed, calculations shifting rapidly.

Ark: "Projected outcome: 97.6% probability of the android manifesting characteristics resembling either Cinder Fall or Pyrrha Nikos. One dominant trait will take precedence."

A sharp chuckle escaped Akira.

Akira: "That could be interesting."

[ Reality – The Ruined Market ]

With the decision made, Akira activated the Ark-Driver.

A crimson wave of data pulsed outward, distorting the air around him. Black liquid metal began pooling at his feet, bubbling and rising, taking form through an accelerated fabrication process.

It molded itself into the silhouette of a humanoid figure, sharp and sleek yet eerily organic.

The framework settled, and Akira stepped forward, holding up the Fall Maiden Progrisekey.

With a click, he inserted it into the android's left earpiece.

Fall Maiden Progrisekey: [ Fall Maiden's Ability ! ]

A rush of data surged through the android's frame, causing it to tremble as the integration process took hold.

Layers of synthetic skin materialized over its form, solidifying into flesh.

Black hair sprouted, streaked with golden highlights. Its eyes opened—vibrant green irises, eerily mechanical yet unsettlingly human.

The android's frame jerked as the final sequences completed. It blinked once. Twice. Then—

It grinned.

???: "All as the Ark wills."

Akira tilted his head, looking the android over. It was a perfect blend—Cinder's sharp features, Pyrrha's physique, but an unnatural and unpredictable presence.

A fitting creation or abomination

Akira: "Peridot."

The android's gaze snapped to him.

Akira: "That's your name. Peridot."

She processed it for a moment, then her grin widened.

Peridot: "Peridot, huh? Cute name."

Her voice was light, playful—but there was something inherently unhinged about it.

She stretched her arms, rolling her shoulders as if getting used to her new body.

Then, her synthetic fingers twitched. In an instant, she snapped forward, pressing herself into Akira's space, eyes flickering with unstable energy.

Peridot: "So… what's the game, Boss?!"

Akira didn't react to the sudden proximity. If anything, he smirked.

Akira: "Game?"

Peridot: "Yeah, yeah! Game, mission, objective! You made me, so what's the fun part? Are we breaking things? Killing people? Stealing something? Ooooh! Are we exploding something ?!"

Her entire frame vibrated with excitement, her synthetic body displaying an unnatural fluidity.

Akira chuckled, stepping past her.

Akira: "For now, we observe. The real game hasn't started yet."

Peridot: "Boooring~"! She groaned, dramatically flopping onto a nearby broken stall, swinging her legs like a child.

Then—her green eyes flickered as if something clicked in her artificial mind.

She suddenly sat up straight, her expression shifting into one of intense focus.

Peridot: "…You're planning something, though. I can see it."

Akira smirked but said nothing.

Peridot's grin returned. She leaned back, resting her arms behind her head.

Peridot: "Ohhh, this is gonna be fun."

As the ruins of the market smoldered around them, Akira simply gazed out toward the battlefield—where Team RWBY had fled.

His smirk remained.

Akira: "Yes. Yes, it will be."