Author's Note:

Rejoice ! another chapter has been completed and a new milestone 45 chapters a Special Hyper Battle Video is on the works

As always PMs are open and etc and hopefully next chapter is to your enjoyment

Also we might start uploading chapters around 8AM or 10 - 12 PM CST as well other sites that your ok with

Till next chapter, Apzeta, Bishop, and Knight

The dimly lit control chamber aboard their Manta hums with the sound of data streams and mechanical processing.

Akira stands before a digital interface, watching the schematics of the four newly completed Giger units.

The monstrous machines tower over the screen, their red circuits pulsing menacingly.

Onyx leans against the console, arms crossed.

Onyx: "So… we're sending these things against Monstra?"

Adam scoffs, resting his hand on the hilt of his blade.

Adam: "You sound doubtful."

Onyx shrugs.

Onyx: "Just making sure we're not wasting our best toys before we get to the real fun."

Amethyst, sitting atop a data terminal, swings her legs idly.

Amethyst: "Oh, don't worry. They're more than ready to rip apart Salem's pets."

Ark's voice hums through the speakers, its digital presence weaving through the ship.

Ark: "The Giger units will serve their purpose. However… we must first collect the necessary combat data."

Akira nods, his gaze shifting to another screen—one displaying a swirling mass of data linked to a single, terrifying entity.

Akira: "The Hound."

The image on the screen shifts, revealing the grotesque form of Salem's personal Grimm enforcer. Its black, tar-like flesh ripples as if alive, glowing veins pulsating with unnatural energy.

Akira: "It's unlike any Grimm we've seen before. And if I had to guess, it's made from someone."

Amethyst tilts her head.

Amethyst: "You think it used to be human?"

Akira: "I'd bet on it."

Onyx chuckles darkly.

Onyx: "So, let me guess. You want to take that thing apart and make something even worse?"

Akira smirks.

Akira: "Exactly. We gather the data, and then…" He taps a command into the console. The screen flickers, displaying the outline of a new Progrisekey. The ominous red shape of the Hound glows at its center. "...We make our own monster."

Ark's voice interjects.

Ark: "And for that, we require our new instrument."

The digital interface shifts, displaying the sleek design of the Zero-One Driver—but modified.

Attached to it is an angular, violet and black device—the Zetsumetsu Driver Unit.

The frame resembles the emblem when unfolded, its left side bearing an unmistakable resemblance to a Forceriser.

Ark: "This will be your tool, Akira. The Zetsumetsu Driver—the next evolution of our cause."

Akira steps forward, reaching out to grasp the device. As his fingers close around it, the Zetsumetsu Driver hums to life, its interface glowing with an eerie red light.

Zetsumetsu Driver: [ Zetsumetsu Driver! ]

Adam watches with a smirk.

Onyx grins.

Onyx: "About time."

Amethyst leans forward, eyes gleaming.

Amethyst: "Ooooh, now this I have to see."

Akira turns the device over in his hands, feeling the power radiating from it.

Then, he looks toward the viewing screen—where an image of Ruby Rose is displayed, captured from their surveillance feeds.

Akira: "Before we launch the attack… I think I'll pay a little visit to Little Red."

He clips the Zetsumetsu Driver to his waist, the glow of the driver reflecting in his eyes.

Akira: "Woz said Tsukasa had a test for her, right?" He smirks. "Well… let's see if she passes mine."

Ark: "Then take your Forceriser as well. Use it to compare the strengths of the Zetsumetsu Driver in actual combat."

Akira lifts it, weighing both belts in his hands.

Akira: "Two belts. Two tests." He turns to the others. "Let's see which one breaks her first."

Adam chuckles, stepping forward.

Adam: "And if she doesn't break?"

Akira's smirk widens.

Akira: "Then she'll have to prove she can survive."

As the ship rumbles beneath them, preparing for deployment, the Giger units activate—red circuits flashing in the dim light. The war for Remnant is about to enter its next stage.

[ Small Time Skip ]

With the Zetsumetsu Driver to his waist. His crimson eyes glint with anticipation as Amethyst hands him the Ark-Scorpion Progrisekey.

Amethyst: "You'll want this. Also, you'll find our sleeper agent inside. Someone's trying to hack her, but Ark already infected her long ago. They'll fail."

Akira smirks, flipping the Progrisekey in his palm before turning toward the Schnee Manor.

Akira: "Then let's go remind them why resistance is futile."

[ Schnee Manor ]

The grand hall is in chaos. Penny, her body rigid with conflicted programming, stands at the foot of the staircase, her mechanical fingers twitching

Ruby, Weiss, and Blake stand protectively in front of her, weapons drawn. Whitley and Willow are frozen near the railing, watching the horror unfold.

The Hound's grotesque core—its twisted, decaying Faunus face—gurgles its command once more.

The Hound: "Take. The. Girl."

Then—

Zetsumetsu Driver: [ Zetsumetsu Driver ! ]

The sudden announcement cuts through the tension like a knife.

Everyone turns toward the entrance just as the heavy doors creak open. A wave of malice seeps into the room, thick and oppressive.

Akira steps inside, his presence sending a chill down their spines. The progrisekey in his grasp clicks open, its power surging.

Ark-Scorpion Progrisekey: [ Ark Scorpion ! ]

Weiss' breath catches in her throat. Blake's grip tightens on Gambol Shroud. Even Ruby, for all her conflicting feelings, feels her stomach sink.

Akira: "Henshin."

Zetsumetsu Driver: [ Progrise ! Ark ! ]

A pool of malevolent energy forms beneath him, bubbling with despair. From its depths, the Ark-Scorpion Rider Model emerges, stinging Akira.

The molten metal engulfs him, shifting and hardening into his sleek, nightmarish armor.

Zetsumetsu Driver: [DESTRUCTION! RUIN! DESPAIR! EXTINCTION ! ]

Zetsumetsu Driver: [ Ark Scorpion ! ]

Zetsumetsu Driver: [ The conclusion after evil climbs the top of the highest mountain of rock. ]

The transformation completes, revealing Akira clad in dark, segmented armor, his visor gleaming with predatory malice.

The metallic tail-like protrusion on his back curls, primed for destruction. Weapons rise from the ground, formed from the very malice of his transformation.

A tense silence follows.

Ruby swallows hard, shifting her stance.

Ruby: "Akira..."

Weiss' grip on Myrtenaster tightens.

Weiss: "You! Monster Why are you here?!"

Blake glares, shifting to a battle stance beside Weiss.

Blake: "Let me guess. Here to finish what you started?!"

Akira chuckles darkly, rolling his shoulders as his armor flexes.

Akira: "Now, now, let's not be so hostile. I was merely passing through."

His gaze flickers to Penny, whose glowing red eyes are shifting between Red and Green remain fixed forward, her body still.

Akira: "Besides… I believe I have a friend here."

Penny twitches. A low, static-filled hum emanates from her, as if something within her is awakening.

Weiss notices immediately, stepping in front of her.

Weiss: "Stay away from her!"

Akira tilts his head mockingly.

Akira: "Oh, Weiss… you should know better. She's already ours."

Ruby clenches Crescent Rose tighter.

Ruby: "No… Penny is still Penny! She won't listen to you!"

Akira smirks.

Akira: "Won't she?"

A sudden shift. Penny's frame stiffens, then—her head tilts up. The red glow in her eyes intensifies.

Penny: "Objective… recalculating… processing new directive…"

Weiss spins around, eyes wide.

Weiss: "Penny?! No!"

Penny takes a step forward, then another, her arms rigid at her sides.

Akira: "That's right. Come now, Penny. It's time to fulfill your purpose."

The tension in the room explodes. Ruby's silver eyes flash for a moment as she moves, Crescent Rose snapping into scythe form.

Ruby: "I won't let you take her!"

Akira laughs, shifting into a stance.

Akira: "Then try and stop me but we have something to worry about first

The Hound proceeds to rush Akira,

The Hound lunges, its grotesque, sinewy form stretching unnaturally as it charges straight at Akira.

The monstrous creature's Faunus-like face gurgles with a twisted mix of hate and hunger, its claws gleaming with dark energy.

Akira doesn't flinch. He merely clicks his tongue in mild annoyance before swinging his hand behind his back.

Attache Shotgun: [ Attache Shotgun ! ]

A metallic case materializes in his grasp, unfolding instantly into a sleek, high-tech shotgun. He levels it in an instant.

BOOM!

The first shot slams into the Hound's shoulder, making it stagger, but the beast barely slows down. Akira narrows his eyes and fires again.

BOOM! BOOM!

The force of the blasts pushes the Hound back, its inky black mass rippling from the impact, but it refuses to fall.

Akira clicks his tongue in irritation. "Persistent little mutt."

Without a second thought, he tosses the Attache Shotgun aside, its frame folding back into a compact form before clattering to the ground.

Instead, he reaches behind him and pulls out something far more interesting—

Thousand Jacker: [ Thousand Jacker ! ]

A cruel, jagged weapon extends outward, crackling with parasitic energy. The silver and black design gleams under the shattered moonlight filtering through the windows.

Akira grips the handle with a smirk. "Alright, let's make this quick."

Ruby, Weiss, and Blake exchange glances.

Ruby tightens her grip on Crescent Rose. "We can't just stand here—he's dangerous, but the Hound is worse!"

Weiss grits her teeth.

Wiess: "Tch. As much as I hate to admit it, we need to stop that thing first."

Blake nods, Gambol Shroud shifting into its kusarigama form.

Blake: "Fine. But the moment that thing is down, we take him on next."

The three launch into action.

Blake's shadow clones flicker into existence as she moves, confusing the Hound before she slashes at its hind legs.

Weiss follows up by stabbing Myrtenaster forward, ice dust freezing part of the creature's side. Ruby blurs forward, scythe spinning in a crimson whirlwind as she cleaves into the monster's back.

The Hound howls in frustration, lashing out wildly—but that's when Akira strikes.

With a single, calculated motion, he drives the Thousand Jacker straight into the Hound's chest.

Thousand Jacker: [ Jackrise ! ]

Dark energy surges from the weapon being crimson and black lightning crawling over the Hound's body.

The monster convulses violently as Akira extracts its power, its form beginning to deteriorate.

The Hound lets out a final, wretched screech before its body is completely drained—its corrupted essence flowing into the Thousand Jacker

The beast collapses, its lifeless husk dissolving revealing a Faunus with Silver Eyes that in seconds turns into a skeleton and disappears

Akira chuckles, examining the energy coursing through his weapon. "Not bad. Not bad at all."

But before anyone can react—

SNAP!

A single snap of Akira's fingers sends another wave of tension through the room.

The heavy doors creak open once more. This time, the figure that steps inside makes Ruby, Weiss, and Blake stiffen in pure dread.

Amethyst.

She walks with an elegant, almost casual grace, hips swaying slightly as her crimson eyes scan the room. The synthetic skin covering her metallic frame gives her an eerie, uncanny resemblance to Raven Branwen.

Weiss swallows hard, instinctively stepping in front of Penny again. "No…"

Blake's expression darkens. "Not her."

Ruby barely whispers, her voice trembling, "Yang is going to lose it when she finds out…"

Amethyst smirks, stopping a few steps away from them.

Amethyst: "Oh? What's this? Did I walk into a reunion?"

She raises her hand, revealing a sleek device. A Zetsumeriser.

Ruby's breath hitches.

Amethyst is already moving.

With inhuman speed, she dashes toward Penny, the Zetsumeriser clicking into place against the android's waist. The moment it latches on, belt shoot out from the device, sinking into Penny's frame like parasitic roots.

Penny's body spasms. Her fingers twitch uncontrollably.

Penny: "Connection… established… with MetsubouJinrai dot net…"

Ruby shakes her head in horror. "Penny, Please fight it!"

Amethyst ignores her, smoothly pulling out a Zetsumerisekey—a dark, foreboding device marked with a purple case and bat symbol.

Onycho Zetsumerisekey: [ Onycho ! ]

She smirks, shoving the key into the Zetsumeriser and pressing it's activation button.

Zetsumeriser: [ Zetsumerise ! ]

A surge of energy floods Penny's system.

Her green eyes flicker—once, twice—before shifting completely to again red.

Penny: ( Screening )

A violent transformation erupts around her.

The elegant greens and whites of Penny shatters, replaced by the sinister black, purple, and silver of the Onycho Magia.

Metallic, bat-like wings unfold from her back, their razor-sharp edges gleaming under the dim light. Her fingers elongate into deadly, talon-like claws. Her once-bright aura is now laced with malice.

The Onycho Magia stands before them.

Ruby's hands shake, her world crashing around her. "No… No, no, no… Penny!"

Penny's head tilts slightly. Her voice, once filled with warmth, is now truly robotic.

Penny (Onycho Magia): "Processing… mission parameters. All as the Ark Wills."

Akira watches the scene unfold with a satisfied smirk.

Akira: "Perfect. Now, shall we begin?"