Halo, it's time for the newest chapter. Enjoy the reading.
In the cell of the academy, you couldn't hear much of Atlas's battle, but the explosions, which sounded more like muffled thunder, filtered through even the most secure prison. The silence was almost suffocating and the fact that it was impossible to tell whether it was day or night made it almost impossible to rest, but what drove crazy the prisoners the most was inactivity.
Suddenly, a larger thunder, which they all knew was actually an explosion, disturbed the silence and startled Qrow as he tried to sleep. The man looked around at his fellow prisoners, Watts, who was still grinding his fingers before he's going to bed, and Jacques, who was shaking more and more in fear with his arms crossed.
- Yes, - Robyn, who was sitting on the cell bench next to him, tried to sleep as well, but just like Qrow, she couldn't either. - I can't sleep much either. - Suddenly, a hum was heard. - What's out there sounds bad.
- Wait, - Qrow was familiar with the hum that was getting closer. - that doesn't sound like a... - The wall was breached by an explosion and a hole appeared in it, but the fire and debris hit the energy fields of the cells hard. - TO THE GROUND! - Qrow shouted as they all hid under the benches.
In order to avoid a debris falling on him, he turned into a crow at lightning speed and flew up into the air. Fortunately, the explosion destroyed his and Robyn's cell, so he was able to escape.
Looking back at Robyn's cell, he was relieved to see that she was unharmed, but began to croak loudly when he saw that another rock was about to fall on her.
Robyn didn't understand how this bird got here, but she felt that it wanted to warn her and when she raised her head, she knew that it was from the crumbling roof, from which she quickly jumped out.
- Did you hurt? - When she was safe, the bird disappeared and Qrow appeared instead and helped her up.
- But... how? - Robyn could hardly believe her eyes, Qrow can turn into a bird.
- Long story. - Qrow didn't feel the time was ideal for the afternoon of the story. - Let's get out of here first.
Qrow and Robyn left the prison, leaving Watts and Jacques behind, not caring about the cause of the explosion, their eyes were only on release.
Getting across the front in an unarmed aircar was no easy task for Lance, but failure wasn't an option, he had to get Penny to the Schnee mansion. Carefully maneuvering the car through the clouds, he dodged the Grimm whales and was ignored by most of the Grimm and the army was too busy to deal with an ordinary car.
The problem started when he was inside the city, because the Grimms who were running riot there already attacked everything that moved and several Razorwings and two Nevermores attacked the car.
Lance did his best to avoid the Grimm's attacks, but at least three Razorwings crashed into the unarmed car, which didn't do the little machine any good, but the real trouble was when one of the Nevermore shot its feathers from its wing, which had their pointed end tore through the windows and roof of the car.
A pointed feather stopped inches from the unconscious Penny's face, one by Lance's head, one into the dashboard and one into the engine. The car went off, the engine caught fire and the whole vehicle began to sink, but Lance still managed to land it relatively safely on a street.
There was nothing to do, the car wasn't going to make for long and it was going to explode soon, he had to get Penny out. Lance opened the car, but they were immediately attacked by Grimms, he quickly took out his pistol and killed at least three Sabyr Grimms.
He stood up and stepped back to get Penny on his back before jumping out of the burning car and running.
Bang
The car made a huge explosion, the force of which nearly knocked Lance off his feet, but he stayed on his feet and continued on foot towards the Schnee mansion. Unfortunately, the raiding Grimm didn't make it easy for him.
He raised his pistol and opened fire, shooting down two Sabyrs, three Razorwings, and four Beowolves. The pistol was empty and he had no chance to reload it now, so he put it away and took out his sword.
Lance doesn't even know how many Grimm he cut down, who wounded him several times, his armor was dented in several places, he lost his right shoulder plate, there were three large claw marks on his breastplate and his hand started to bleed, he gripped his sword with such force and he kept swinging with it, but he didn't give up.
He raised his shield, transformed it into a rectangle and activated the three spikes on it, which bulldozed through the Grimms, but a Goliath Grimm hit him in the head with its snout, causing him to fall to the ground and Penny to fall off his back. Lance had to lean on his sword to stand up, but this time the Goliath pushed him up with its tusks and he fell to the ground rolling.
Lance's ordeal wasn't over, as soon as he stopped rolling on the ground, the Goliath Grimm stomped on his back and stepped over him, then stepped on him again with its back leg before a red flash appeared around him, depleting his aura completely.
The Goliath turned back to execute the helpless Red Knight on the ground, who was desperately trying to reach the sword lying before him, which had fallen from his hand.
Lance knew he wouldn't be able to reach the sword before the Goliath stomped on him and the knowledge that he couldn't protect Penny filled him with frustration.
Suddenly, a green light illuminated Lance's visor, the source of which was a thick laser beam that cut the Goliath in half. Lance quickly looked up to see that Penny had woken up, was on her knees and swung her 7 swords in front of her, firing the laser that saved her.
Unfortunately, she couldn't stay conscious for long because her wound, which started to pour the green liquid again, ruptured and she passed out again.
The world was already spinning around Lance, his vision started to blur, but he shook his head, held on, stood up with his shield, picked up and put away his sword, then staggered to the injured robot girl, whom he took in both hands and started walking.
He was panting in pain, writhing in a coma and driven by one goal, getting Penny to safety.
"Just keep going," he thought to himself. "Get her to safety. Protect her. Save her."
He felt neither fear nor anger, it didn't take long for him to collapse as he walked down the street and saw the Schnee mansion. For the Grimm, since he didn't exude any negative emotions, he was invisible and continued on his journey undisturbed, but it was still a cruelly difficult and trying journey.
Walking all the way through the long garden and driveway of the Schnee mansion seemed like an eternity and Lance was already afraid he would collapse before reaching the main entrance.
He didn't know exactly how, but he managed to get there and, like a madman, he started knocking loudly with one hand while holding the robot girl on his shoulder with the other.
The door slowly opened and Ruby carefully poked her head out, but when she saw the injured knight, her breath stopped completely.
- Help... - Lance moaned as he barely stood on his feet and felt that he might collapse at any moment. - Help her... - He showed Penny, who he held in his arms again, her body was sparkling and the green liquid that covered half of Lance's dented chestplate didn't stop. - Save her...
He couldn't take it anymore, everything was covered in darkness and he fainted.
Klein's arrival was a real miracle for the team hiding in the Schnee mansion, since the butler was also a qualified doctor and managed to treat Nora, who was out of danger, just in time.
Unfortunately, the trouble wasn't over yet, the appearance of the wounded Lance and Penny gave him another job.
Ruby, Weiss, and Whitley brought Penny together while May and Blake pulled Lance behind them and laid them both on a bed.
- She lost consciousness and... - Weiss worriedly looked at the green liquid flowing from the robot girl. - leaks.
- Lance isn't doing much better either. - Blake looked worriedly at the Red Knight, who took off his helmet and saw that blood was flowing from his nose and mouth.
- If he didn't have armor, he would have died. - May was amazed at how much he could endure. - Unfortunately, I can't stay anymore. - The Huntress left the room.
- It's unbelievable that he crossed the city like that to bring Penny here. - Ruby was also amazed at the boy's strength and endurance as they laid Penny down on the bed, but the green liquid went on her, Weiss and to his greatest annoyance, Whitley. - Can you help them? - She looked worriedly at Klein, who scanned the bodies of both of them with his Scroll.
- It won't be difficult for the boy, as his armor protected him from serious injuries and he is physically very strong. - Klein explained, soothingly, with blue eyes. - But the girl... - Klein shook his head, his eyes turned red and examined Penny with annoyance. - even based on what you've told me, I hardly know what she is exactly. - He cleared his throat, his eyes turned yellow and tried to remain optimistic. - But her basic anatomy looks pretty similar. At least I can clean and stitch up her injury.
Unfortunately, another explosion, which was already quite close to the mansion, disturbed the silence and the electricity went out, making the entire mansion pitch black.
- Well, that's really cool. - Whitley sighed in annoyance.
- Is everyone okay?! - May logged in on Ruby's Scroll. - I just saw the explosion of another bombing in the city!
- Apparently, - Ruby looked out the window and saw that the lights of the entire city had gone out. - the electricity went out in most of the city. But we're fine.
- I'm sorry that I can't stay, - May regretted that she couldn't stay with the team, but she knew where her duty bound her. - but everyone in the Crater is running out of time.
- No, - Ruby disappointed in herself. - we are sorry. As soon as we find out what's wrong with Penny, then... - Unfortunately, she had no idea. - we do something.
- Don't blame yourself, kid. - May was understanding and knew that there was no help here. - At this point, I don't know how much time we have left. - The broadcast ended and May's voice was no longer heard.
They didn't blame the Huntress, since it was practically the end of the world and she wanted to spend her remaining time with those she loves the most.
- This is all... - Ruby couldn't take it anymore, she was almost on the verge of crying. One of their friends is dead, three are seriously injured and Salem's Grimm army will destroy Atlas' army and the kingdom itself within days and they simply have no idea how to solve this situation. - too much. The Grimms, The Crater, Nora, Penny, Lance. - Weiss put her hand on her shoulder encouragingly.
Klein then sneezed and his eyes turned blue.
- One step at a time, dear. - He calmed the girls down, then he sneezed again and his eyes turned yellow again. - You can't worry about fixing everything. Just focus on what's in front of you. - He pointed at the injured Lance and Penny. - But if you want to do something, I'll tell you that I could work faster if you turned the electricity back on.
- And how... - Ruby was about to ask, but then a female voice from the door gave the answer.
- There is a generator on the edge of the estate. - It was Weiss' mother, Willow, who wandered into the room drunk with a bottle of hard liquor in hand. Everyone looked at the drunk woman in silence.
- It's very kind of you to join us, mother. - Whitley looked at his mother with contempt and crossed his arms.
- Believe it or not, - Willow raised the bottle in her hand. - I'm a fan of drinking in the dark. - She suddenly noticed the butler in the middle of the room, whose presence was a pleasant surprise. - Hello, Klein.
- Madame. - Thank you Klein politely.
- SDC leaders have their own backup power source, - Weiss remembered. - in case there is a power outage in the whole city. This... - She knows well that the rest of the city's residents aren't so lucky and she lowered her head in disappointment, even Whitley sympathized with those who are still forced to survive in the dark and without electricity in the city. - very unfair, but maybe now is the time to use our corporate advantages for something good.
- But we don't only have advantages! - Whitley had an idea, and everyone looked at him curiously. - We own the company! The people who are in the Crater need to evacuate, don't they?! Due to the embargo, our cargo planes just stand idle in the hangars!
- And our own automated robots who drive them! - Weiss understood perfectly what her younger brother was referring to. - Like the Snowshoe Delivery!
- We can order as many as we need to get our planes to the crater and get the people to safety while the Grimms and the general are busy with each other. - Whitley explained confidently.
- Can we do it? - Blake was worried.
- I can. - Whitley brushed away her concern, then folded his hands and thought. - All I need is dad's computer.
- Then we definitely have to turn the power back on. - Ruby's confidence has also returned.
The generator was on the other side of the manor's garden, so it had to be cut through. Ruby and Blake left while Weiss stayed behind to protect the others.
It was dark in the garden, the dark storm clouds still covered the sky, flashes of red lightning and huge thunders shook the silence, but the two girls didn't panic. They quickly ran through the garden and reached the gate of the small building that housed the generator and opened it.
Fortunately, the door was open and it wasn't much of a search for the generator, they just had to pull a lever to turn it on and light up.
- Oh, come on! - Ruby was annoyed by the charging process that appeared on the generator monitor.
- Don't worry. - Blake tried to be patient. - It will work.
- Nothing has worked so far. - Ruby lowered her head in frustration and thought about how much had gone wrong in the past day. Seeing that the charging process was only halfway through, Blake felt that maybe she could offer some comfort to her girlfriend's sister.
- I know you don't always know what to do, but that has never stopped you from doing something. - Blake has always respected Ruby as a team captain and knew what she was doing was right. - I was like that when I was younger, but time and many other things took a toll on me. - She remembered the time in the White Fang and what Adam had done and uncomfortably pinched her cat's ears. - And then I wasn't sure that a girl like that could really survive in the world, - Her ears perked up again and she smiled at Ruby. - until I met you. It was a little weird at first because you're younger than me, but I've always looked up to you, Ruby, and I still do.
- Thanks, Blake. - Ruby's eyes almost filled with tears from the emotion and joy that Blake's words brought.
A beep signaled that the generator had started and the lights in both the warehouse and the mansion came on and it was hoped that Whitley would now have access to his father's computer.
- What is it? - Ruby looked confused at Blake, who was looking at her as if she saw a ghost. The faunus girl turned completely pale, her eyes widened and she even pulled her ears back in horror as she started to back away.
To the sound of thunder and lightning, Blake noticed a giant, dark figure in the window behind Ruby, with several red lights near her head.
- Behind you! - Blake shouted and with a loud crash, the creature broke the window and Ruby managed to jump aside at the last moment.
- Ruby? Blake? - Weiss's voice was heard on their Scroll.
- Weiss! - Blake and Ruby started backing away from the Hound, since even they had never seen such a Grimm. - There's a Grimm here that... - The Hound was about to pounce on Ruby. - Watch out! - There was no time to chat, Blake immediately rushed to Ruby's aid, but it pushed her aside and managed to push Ruby out of the building as well.
The Hound wasn't interested in Blake, heading straight for Ruby as it sniffed. It stood on all fours and howled loudly like a predator that has found its prey.
Blake didn't give up, leaving the building through the back door to join the Hound's side, but the monster, even if it had no eyes, had excellent hearing and heard Blake attack from above. It knocked the girl aside, and she landed in a corner of the garden, but she was on her feet and ready to continue the fight.
The Hound was still looking at Ruby and was about to strike at her when she dodged it with her Semblance and landed next to Blake.
- What is this?! - Ruby was also horrified at the sight of Hound.
- Just another Grimm! - Blake didn't let herself be scared and went on the attack. She opened fire with Gumbo Shroud and ran towards the Hound. - Just concentrate!
It occurred to Ruby that this might be a perfect opportunity to test her Silver Eyes for real.
Meanwhile, Blake jumped up on the wall and rushed to continue firing at the Grimm, then lunged to attack it, but it knocked her aside again.
- Take - The Grimm spoke in a creepy, dark and otherworldly voice and turned to Ruby. - the girl. - It jumped like a predatory beast and threw itself at Ruby, who could hardly move from the shock. She dropped her scythe and a red flash indicated that her aura had turned off and she passed out.
- Ruby! - Blake looked at her worriedly as the Hound grew wings. It sniffed Ruby thoroughly before grabbing her and flapping its wings to carry her away.
Blake hooked the Gumbo Shroud into the Hound's leg to stop it and began to pull with all her strength, before splitting it in half and driving the blade into the ground.
Fortunately, Weiss arrived in time, but, like her teammates, she was stunned by the unusual sight of the Hound.
- Klein, there's a Grimm here! - She warned the butler. - There may be more nearby! Keep everyone together and call me if there's a problem!
- Of course!
There was a tense silence in the wounded ones' room, but Weiss's message startled Willow into pouring herself another glass of her alcoholic beverage, but her hand was shaking so much that she dropped both the glass and the bottle, which shattered on the floor.
- Madame, - Klein turned to Willow after he was done treating Penny and Lance. - please try to calm down.
- I... - Willow shivered. - I can't do it! - She ran out of the room in terror.
- Willow, come back! - Klein tried to talk to her in vain, she was already far away. When he turned around, Penny was standing by the bed. - Goodness, try not to... - Penny's eyes were red and she pushed the butler aside.
- No, - Penny's eyes changed back to green, which then began to glow and a huge windstorm began to swirl around her. - not again! - Screaming, she tried to resist the virus implanted in her.
- Penny! - Lance woke up hearing Penny's screams, his armor and helmet were taken off to bandage his wounds and he didn't have any weapons, but he immediately ran to the girl who was trying to fight herself.
Meanwhile, Team RWBY battled the Hound with all their might, Weiss summoned runes and fired ice projectiles at the flying creature, but it evaded them. Fortunately, she only meant this as a distraction until she summoned an ice Razorwing, which was instantly destroyed and evaporated as two Centinel Grimm appeared and caught the summoned creature.
A third Centinel poked its head out and attacked Blake, who was holding the Hound, who was forced to release Gumbo Shroud, holding the creature back, to jump away from the attack.
- No! - Blake was horrified to notice that the hound took advantage of this and flew away with Ruby, but she couldn't go after her because she had to fend off another blow from the centipede Grimm.
The Hound took off and it didn't take long to fly with Ruby when it sensed something unusual and turned its eyeless head towards the mansion. A blinding green light emanated from one of the windows, which could have been Penny Maiden's power.
Ruby, who had woken up, saw the Hound hesitate to take her, she remembered that the creature was blind and noticed that her clothes were covered in the green liquid that had flowed from Penny and she found out the truth.
- It's not here for me! It wants Penny! - The Hound immediately threw Ruby and flew towards Penny, in the direction of the light.
- Ruby! - Weiss didn't even have time to react when, in the context of a painful landing, her aura was exhausted and she fainted again.
- Help the others! - Blake ordered after the Centinels were cut down. - I'll take care of her!
Weiss didn't have to rush to the mansion to the aid of her family and friends.
Blake immediately regretted sending Weiss away because as she rushed to the unconscious Ruby, a nasty alpha Centinel, a Cenitaur Grimm, emerged from the ground. This Grimm was much larger and thicker than its other smaller centipede counterparts, it had two arms that ended in sharp bone blades, its chest was green and puffy all the way down to its belly, but on its back there were rows of short beetle legs that were ended in spikes.
The Grimm's loud roar could be heard throughout the mansion.
- Penny! - Lance tried to go through the green wind shield that Penny put up, but his injuries and lack of armor made it impossible and pushed him back.
- Everything will be fine! - Klein tried to calm her down, but he was afraid that she would destroy everything. - Please!
- I... - Penny's eyes kept switching between red and green, as if something from within wanted to take control of her. - I don't want to do it!
- Hey. - Nora, who had been lying unconscious in the bed until now, gently held the burnt hand of the robot girl, causing the light to go out in her eyes. - No one can force you to do something you don't want to do.
- But... - Penny still couldn't command herself and her eyes turned red and then back to green more and more often. - a part of me... - Painfully, she held her head. - forces me!
- Just a part of you. - Nora reminded her, the same thing Blake had told her, causing the windstorm to subside. - Don't forget the rest. - She confidently squeezed Penny's hand, who crouched next to her.
- Are you all right?! - Lance, worried and limping, went to the girls.
- I think so, - Penny calmed down for now and was able to keep herself under control, - thanks, both of you.
- Klein,- Weiss' voice came through the Scroll. - it got into the building! Keep quiet. I'm already on my way.
- Hurry up, please. - The butler was worried about how long Penny would remain herself and Lance, who was in no condition to fight with the Grimm. - Whitley and Willow haven't returned yet.
- What?! Where did mom go?!
- Where's my sword and shield? - Lance was looking for his weapons.
- Lance, you're not in a condition to... - Klein tried to stop the injured Knight, but he didn't want to hear about him lying in bed while the girls risked their lives.
- As long as I'm alive and on my feet, I'll fight! - Lance strapped Scarlet Rook to his left arm and took Golden Sting in his right hand. - I hope you feel the same way about this. - He stepped next to Penny as they heard the clinking of glass, which was the sign that the Hound had entered.
- Of course. - Penny stood up firmly.
- Good, - Lance went towards the exit and Penny followed. - then we'll find Willow and Whitley.
Weiss returned to the mansion and the shards of glass on the floor of the hall suggested that the Hound was ahead of her and a small puddle of green liquid that was supposed to be Penny's blood gave her an idea of the monster's route.
Holding her breath, the girl started in the building that served as her home, knowing that the Hound could pop out at any time and from anywhere, holding Myrtenaster in front of her and moving forward slowly.
- Above you! - Her mother warned her on her Scroll.
Weiss looked up and if her mother hadn't warned her, she wouldn't have had a chance to jump back from the Hound that appeared in front of her in the blink of an eye, but she still managed to knock the girl out and hit a piano.
Weiss stayed on her feet, but barely and the Hound was about to deliver the final blow when suddenly, she began to sniff and turn to the side. This gave Weiss a chance to pull herself together, summon two runes from which she shot ice projectiles, but the Hound dodged them, climbed a marble pillar and was upstairs for a second floor, before heading down one of the corridors.
- Mom? - For lack of a better idea, she hoped that her mother could give her some guidance.
Overcoming her addiction to alcohol and fear, Willow successfully convinces herself to use her Scroll to enter the surveillance system she secretly installed to help whoever she can. At the best time, because she saved her daughter's life when she warned her, but she was afraid because the monster she was fighting escaped and is somewhere in the mansion.
- I... - Willow looked at the camera footage with trembling hands. - I see it. It's in front of Winter's old room. Can... - She was still terrified. - can you kill it? Right?
- Just tell me what it's doing? - Weiss tried to calm her mother down, but time was pressing.
- I... I don't know. - Willow, if she hasn't met Grimm in person, but she's heard a lot about them, but she's never seen Grimm like this before. - It's acting strange. - Panic began to take control of her again. - Why is it here?
- It doesn't matter. Just keep an eye out so I can find it.
- All right. - Willow started breathing heavily and tried to calm down. - Okay. - It was done with a sigh. - Okay. It's moving again, straight... - Her eyes also widened when she saw where the Hound was. - Oh, no.
Suddenly, the door opened and she looked in her direction in horror, only to be greatly relieved when it was only Lance who walked in.
- Are you okay? - Lance asked, though he was clearly in a much worse state than Willow.
- Please help. - The woman begged.
- Don't worry, - Lance held out his hand to help. - I'm here to help you. Together we go back to...
- My son! - Clarified Willow, who showed her Scroll, on which the Hound is sniffing in front of her husband's study, where Whitley is also working on the computer. - Save him.
- Immediately! Come Pe... - Lance had already turned around when he realized with shock that he was alone, the robot girl had disappeared. - Where...
He left the room and looked around. He saw Penny on the right side of the corridor, but only her back and couldn't tell if she had lost control of herself again and needed help. Then he looked to the left, where Jacques' study was, where the unsuspecting Whitley was.
He had to choose where to go, who to help, Whitley or Penny.
Whatever he chose, he was going to let one of them down, but he knew he couldn't hesitate and headed in one direction.
For the first time in a long time, Whitley felt like he was doing something right. Fortunately, his father trusted him enough to grant him as his heir and give him full access to his computer. It wasn't hard to get into his father's system to give the order for all the robots in the company to evacuate the people of Mantle from the Crater with the company planes.
- Okay, it's almost there. - Whitley was confident and nearing the completion of writing the order.
- Whitley. - He heard his mother's worried voice on his Scroll.
- You're the last person I need right now! - Whitley didn't even want to hear his mother and continued typing angrily. - All that's left is to...
The door opened and Whitley turned angrily, believing that his alcoholic mother was trying to disturb him, but what he saw made his blood run cold. The Hound poked its head in the door and started sniffing.
Whitley, whose shirt was stained with Penny's green blood, hid under the table in terror and crouched trembling, hoping that the monster would move away.
He could hear the Hound coming closer to him with slow, heavy, pounding steps, as he stiffened more and more and could feel his heart pounding in his ears. The Hound continued sniffing the entire study, clearly looking for something or someone, and came closer and closer to the table, under which Whitley was also hiding.
Whitley plucked up the courage to look out from under the table, but was almost shocked to see the Hound sniffing around.
- Credentials verified.- Whitley's heart even skipped a beat when the computer accepted the command. - Click continue to finalize the command.
The Hound kept sniffing and getting closer to Whitley, who knew that it would only take one push of a button to send hundreds of planes to the Crater and save thousands of innocent lives. The only thing that stopped him from doing so was the fear of being caught by the Hound.
- I know you're here. - Whitley was once again rooted to the ground by the eerie sound of the Hound and couldn't move. The monster's face was already there, right next to his and Whitley's eyes widened and he nearly passed out in fear as the Hound looked directly at him.
Help came literally at the last moment, when an ice Boarbatusk slammed the Hound against the wall.
- RUN! - His mother and the summoned creature of his sister rushed to his aid.
Whitley didn't need more, but he stopped, as he still had to give the order to the robots. Seeing that the Hound was still pinned against the wall by Weiss' ice monster, he mustered the strength and courage to go back to the computer to press the "Continue" button.
- Thank you. - The command went out from the computer and the robots and planes were already on their way to help Mantle.
Whitley immediately turned and ran out of the study with his mother by his side.
Unfortunately, the Hound quickly defeated Weiss' ice Boarbatusk and immediately headed towards the two escapees. Whitley and Willow reached the end of the hallway and quickly closed the door. Unfortunately, the door didn't last long, as the Hound easily broke through it and continued to chase them.
They ran with all their might, but to no avail, the Hound was faster, quickly caught up with them and was about to jump to catch the two prey when a huge wall of ice wall formed in the corridor, separating the Hound from Willow and Whitley.
- I haven't forgotten you. - Weiss gasped in relief as she realized that both her mother and brother escaped unharmed.
Unfortunately, they couldn't stop because the Hound had already started to break through the ice wall and it was clear that it wouldn't last long.
- Go! - Weiss ordered her family while she stayed behind to fight the creature.
Blake was still fighting the Cenitaur, desperately parrying the blows from its claw blades.
- Why do they have to be more and more disgusting?! - Blake jumped back to lure the ugly, puffy caterpillar-like Grimm away from Ruby.
The Cenitaur took a deep breath, then a green slime spewed out of its mouth, which Blake dodged in time, then once again moved further and further away from the creature. Worried, she noticed that the mucus that was shot was acidic and had eroded the ground.
- I don't know if you can hear me, - Blake ducked back from the Grimm's blades that flew inches in front of her face, then attacked again before she parried the blow with her katana. - but I need you, Ruby! - She looked towards the unconscious girl, hoping that she would hear what she was saying and wake up. - We all need you!
The Cenitaur again spat acid slime at Blake, who was right in front of it, but she used her Semblance and jumped back, leaving a fire clone behind and the clone exploded straight into the Grimm's face.
Blake knew that this wasn't enough against an alpha Grimm, so she charged again, but the Grimm caught Blake's katana with its blades and slashed her to the ground. The Cenitaur was about to deliver the final blow, but Blake rolled left and right to avoid the monster's blows until the Grimm decided to slash at her with both blades at the same time.
Leaving behind an ice clone at the last moment, Blake broke free from the grip and the Grimm's blades were stuck in the ice sculpture. Blake charged again, but the Cenitaur slashed her own statue at her and slammed her against the wall. A purple flash appeared around her, signifying that her aura was drained.
- Please, - Blake panted, knowing she couldn't fight anymore. - get up.
The Grimm caught her with one of its claw blades, lifted her up and was about to bite her head off when a huge gash appeared on its upper body and the entire Cenitaur evaporated.
- I heard you. - Ruby chuckled weakly after rescuing her teammate and helping her up.
Blake sighed in relief, then accepted Ruby's hand and stood up.
They couldn't stop because they heard Penny's screams from the mansion and rushed to her aid without delay.
Penny couldn't take it much longer, whatever it was, a virus that was taking over her body more and more, it was getting harder and harder for her to resist and she had no idea how to fight it. She broke away from Lance and went down the hall stairs.
- Penny! - Lance, who ran after her, grabbed both of her shoulders and shook her. - Fight it!
- I can't! - Penny fought more and more with herself and her eyes turned red and then back to green more and more often, but finally she knelt down and didn't move. - I'm sorry.
- What... - Lance was horrified when Penny opened her red eyes and pushed him aside, then continued on her way down the stairs. - What are you doing now?! - He shouted after her.
- I need to open the Chamber and then activate my self-destruction process. - Penny answered emotionlessly and robotically.
- NO! - Lance didn't accept it and threw himself at the girl, with whom they somersaulted down the stairs. - I won't let... - Lance was still tormented by his injuries and, since his aura was still drained, nothing protected him from falling. - I won't let you die after what I went through to save you!
- I have to remove all obstacles that stand in the way of purpose. - Penny took out her swords and pointed them at Lance. Lance, being injured, had neither armor nor aura, and couldn't defend himself properly. He did raise his shield, but he couldn't resist her blow and found himself on the ground.
- You can't... - Lance grabbed Penny's ankle in desperation. - Just because a stupid program says so?! PENNY!
Penny turned towards Lance to execute him when the Hound appeared behind her to grab her, but the robot girl stopped her with her amazing strength. Penny wasn't just on the same level as the Hound, but she was also able to push back.
The monster didn't give up, a third hand came out of its back, grabbed Penny by the head and slammed her to the floor.
- Take! - It slammed her to the floor again. - The! - Then for the third time and Penny didn't move after that. - Girl!
The Hound grabbed to take Penny with it and Lance laid helpless on the floor.
- Penny! - Thankfully, Ruby, Weiss, and Blake arrived in time.
Knowing that they wouldn't risk their friend getting hurt, the Hound held Penny towards them and planted one of its claws at her throat. Nobody moved.
- That's it! - Ruby shouted, closing her eyes.
With every nerve she wanted to save Penny, who had already suffered a lot, the Maiden power was given to her, which she didn't want, both the army and Salem are chasing her, she almost sacrificed herself so that she and Amity could send a message to the world that they had installed on her a virus that can be used as a puppet, then forced to self-destruct and is now being used as a hostage by this abnormal monster.
As soon as she opened her eyes, a blinding white light engulfed the entire hall, burning the Hound's body, releasing Penny, it backed away in pain, then fell out of the window.
- Penny! - Lance, he struggled to his feet and limped after the robot girl who rolled down the stairs, but Ruby, Weiss and Blake got there first to see if she was okay. - Is she still alive? - Lance stopped in front of them half dead, exhausted and desperate.
- She's fine for now, she just passed out. - Weiss stated.
- Thank gods. - Lance collapsed in relief, partly from exhaustion and partly from pain.
- You look terrible. - Blake was at least as worried about Lance as she was about Penny.
- You shouldn't have been a hero. - Ruby also felt sorry for the Red Knight.
- Yeah, who's talking? - Lance laughed, although his whole body ached, he remembered how many times Ruby risked her life, without thinking, for a good cause.
Suddenly, the Hound climbed up through the broken window, but Lance could no longer fight or stand up, just as Penny was also unconscious. The three girls prepared to face the hideous monster again, but as it reared up, they noticed something terrible in its Blood.
- Take... - The Hound spoke in a weak, human voice, but when he fully climbed up, in the place of his head, there was a man, his skin was pale gray, he had short, brown hair, in which you could discover a pair of brown, wolf ears, which hinted the man's faunus origin. White veins covered the right side of his face and covered his right eye, but what was most interesting was his left eye, because it was silver, just like Ruby's. - the... girl. - The Hound didn't stop, it kept going towards the girls, with the sole intention of taking Penny away. - Take. The. Girl. - The Grimm's body began to gather itself and gain strength again. - Take the girl. - No one dared to do anything, since this Grimm is a human being, but there was nothing human about it, neither in its voice nor in its behavior. - Take the girl! - He walked past Lance, completely ignoring the injured knight and only targeting the three girls who had lifted Penny up to take her away from this thing. - Take the girl! - Finally, they were cornered and prepared, human or not, they weren't going to let it take their friend, so they drew their weapons to finish it off. - Take the girl! - The Hound's face had grown back completely, covering the human head, and it was about to attack, when the huge knight statue it was standing in front of was knocked forward by Whitley and Willow and then fell on the Hound.
The statue's sword pierced the Hound's chest, surely destroying it, as only one of its clawed hands was visible from the statue's ruins and it began to vaporize like all Grimms do when they die.
It was over, the Hound was dead, but no one was relieved by that.
- What was that? - Weiss could hardly believe what she saw after the Hound completely evaporated.
- It... - Ruby herself couldn't comprehend that after the Hound's protruding hand completely evaporated, a blackened, human skeletal hand was left behind. - it was a person.
Underneath the debris, a blackened human skeleton remained, which meant that this abnormal Grimm was once a human, and a Silver-Eyed warrior at that.
Just like Ruby.
For Cinder, it was child's play to get through the front, since the Grimms, thanks to her spare body part, saw her as one and the army was too busy with the battle. Anyone who stood in her way, she executed mercilessly.
She arrived in less than a minute and blasted a hole in the prison wall, damaging several cells, including the prisoner she was looking for.
- You know, - Cinder smiled sheepishly, running her right human fingers along her chin when she saw that the prisoner was alive. - maybe this is the first time I'm glad to see you.
- Cinder? - Watts could hardly believe that Salem had sent Cinder to save him, but he wasn't picky when the one eyed woman extended her left Grimm hand to help him up. - What are... - Before he could finish, Cinder quickly covered his mouth.
- Now it's my turn to ask. - Cinder, surprisingly strong, got the scientist on her shoulders, but a group of Atlasian soldiers tried to stand in her way.
- That's her! - One of them shouted, with a rocket fist in his hand.
Cinder just waved at their pathetic attempt and before the soldier could fire the rocket fist, she flew past them in a flash and was already in a cold place in the prison. With Watts on her back, she flew fast and far, knowing that he could lead her to the Winter Maiden's force.
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