Chapter 94 – War for a Future

Jaune

"The son of a forgotten Order of Brave Warriors… the daughter of long-lost Spartans, the child of a fallen settlement and daughter of humble beginnings." Salem said as she stared Team J.N.P.R down, staring directly into each of their eyes as she nailed each of their pasts.

"So you know our pasts, huh? Who gossiped about us?" Nora questioned, planting a hand on her hip, which made Salem chuckle. Like Vir Nominis Umbra, Salem could not help but admire their courage and ability to joke even amongst the darkest of times.

"I have heard many stories about you children… I rarely delve into the personal histories of my foes, but I must admit that all of you have earned my respect." Salem said, and in a strange way it was quite humbling. Especially for this team since all of them at the beginning of this story merely wanted to be simply Huntsmen and Huntresses to protect people. Not earn almost legendary statuses, and the respect of one of the most dangerous entities that had ever walked Remnant. "But it matters not. Whether I die tonight or if I kill you, you have already lost this war. You cannot stop Vir Nominis Umbra, he has already won." Salem assured.

"He hasn't won, not so long as we're all breathing." Jaune assured as his eyes glowed once again and the markings across Crocea Mors glowed brightly. Salem smirked sinisterly as she channelled dark magic through her body.

"The day will come where you pray you will join the fallen. And that day is coming soon, that I promise you." Salem assured; her eyes ignited with the Summer Maiden Power channelling itself through her body. They all readied themselves against Salem, and then she suddenly blasted towards them and slashed her clawed hand towards Jaune, but he ducked under her attack and smashed his Shield across her face. Salem staggered backwards but her black wings she formed opened outwards, she then blasted forward again and punched Jaune across the face. The impact knocked him to the ground, and Salem dug her heel into the ground. Nora ran forward and she yelled with rage, swinging Magnhild towards Salem, only for the Dark Queen to catch the head of the Hammer in her hand. She stopped it so suddenly that Nora genuinely staggered forward, and then Salem pulled the Hammer from her hands, and threw it into her chest. Nora grunted, thrown across the floor from that sudden and hard impact.

Ren sprinted towards Salem with Pyrrha, but suddenly she took off into the air, using her Grimm Wings to keep her body hovering above them with powerful swings. She laughed, and her voice became dark and almost demonic, as she started to use the full power of Salem against her enemies.

"If you venerate any of the Gods, start praying now!" She roared at them, and she flew directly towards them and she smashed her fist down into the ground. A powerful pulse of black and red energy erupted up from the ground, the shockwave knocked the Huntsmen and Huntresses to the floor and then Salem held out her hand, ripping chunks of rock up from the ground and launching them towards Pyrrha. She raised Akoúo to block the incoming boulder that exploded around her body. The impact pushed the Invincible Girl across the ground as the plume of dust surrounded her body. She then ran towards Salem who formed a pair of Swords in her hands, and she jumped and slashed them towards her descendant. Pyrrha blocked and parried the incoming blows with her weapons, being pushed back by Salem's aggressive attacks. She struck the blades so hard that they snapped against Milo, but Salem did not care about that. She hardly even needed weapons to beat them.

Pyrrha jumped and performed a flawless backflip, hitting Salem up her jaw with both feet. The Executioner of the Gods staggered backwards but then she suddenly blasted a powerful bolt of energy towards Pyrrha. The bolt blew Pyrrha across the floor, into Nora's arms who managed to catch her. Ren sprinted forward with Jaune, the Knight held his shield above his head and threw Ren up into the air. He soared above Salem and fired both Stormflower Pistols at her. She hardly even reacted to the bullets that punctured into her skin, she simply watched him, and she unexpectedly extended her arm towards him. The white colour blackened like a Nuckelavee's Arm, and she caught Ren out of the air and smashed him down against the ground.

She moved so fast that the ground could barely even keep up with her, leaving a scorched trail behind her with ever movement. She grabbed Ren by the throat and pummelled him against the ground over and over again. Until Jaune rushed towards Salem and slashed Crocea Mors across her body, however this time, unlike before – she yelled with pain and anger. There was a crackle of red energy – aura – where he struck, which meant that it was working. It was a Corrupted Aura, but an Aura, nonetheless.

The Sword can definitely kill her, they just had to break her aura. Jaune swung again but Salem ducked under the sword and then she punched Jaune in the chest. He hunched forward with pain, but then he backed up and used his shield to block her incoming punches and slashes. Her claws scraped across the armoured shield, throwing sparks everywhere. She then spun and swept Jaune off his feet, and she stabbed down towards him with her claws, only for Jaune to roll out of the way. She immediately blasted a beam of fire from her palm… and then her eyes started to glow bright red.

Uh oh…

"Guys! Get out of her line of vision!" Jaune called out, he turned and ran as fast as he could, and suddenly their surroundings turned black and red as she unleashed the power of her Corrupted Silver Eyes. It created a deep howling roar when she did that, and the air set alight, as if they were being thrown into the surface of the sun. Nora only just managed to avoid Salem's Gaze, sliding across the sand and they all took refuge behind both Pyrrha and Jaune's Shields when Salem turned and did the same thing. The dark magic burned across their shields, scorching the pain and Salem snarled as she continuously barraged them with the Gaze.

"She can't keep this up for long." Ren said to them.

"No, when she stops, jump over Pyrrha and I. We'll all attack her at the same time. We need to break her aura and then I can kill her with the sword." Jaune said as she glanced at Crocea Mors.

"You're sure that little thing can do it?" Nora asked him with concern.

"Certain. Hell, Salem seems to be afraid of the damn thing now." Jaune explained as Salem still barraged them with the burning heat of her Midnight Gaze. Eventually though, Salem fell to one knee, snarling with anger at the exhaustion she felt. It was a gap in her defences, giving all of them the chance they needed to make their counterattack. "Now!" Jaune called out, both Ren and Nora vaulted over Jaune and Pyrrha's shoulders. They both sprinted towards Salem, and Nora swung Magnhild into the side of Salem's head, the impact threw the Dark Queen across and she tumbled, digging her hands into the surface of the soil. She stared back at them with gritted teeth as Ren and Nora ran at her, Pyrrha and Jaune joined them as well.

Pyrrha launched Akoúo towards Salem and it bounced off her face, rebounding to Pyrrha's palm. Ren jumped and he slammed his knee into Salem's face, and then Salem suddenly roundhouse kicked at Ren. But the skilled Huntsman slid across the ground, dodging her attack and jumping up behind her. He fired both Stormflowers at her as he soared over her head. She growled, feeling the bullets hit her in the face, she then raised her forearm to block the bullets from temporarily impairing her vision. Ren threw one of the Stormflower Pistols at Salem and it dug into one of her eyes.

Salem grunted with anger, ripping the gun from her eye and throwing it into the ground. Black smoke poured from her face and she growled with pain and stared at Jaune and Pyrrha who made their assault with Ren and Nora. The Valkyrie fired her Grenade Launcher at Salem, but the Dark Queen's wings folded up behind her back, using them as a shield against the explosives. Pink fiery explosions erupted behind Salem as she spun around and caught Ren by the throat and pinned him down against the ground. Pyrrha jumped and Salem and she drove her spear into Salem's shoulder, firing a round through the open spearhead. Salem staggered off Ren and the Kuroyurian Huntsmen threw himself back onto his feet and he slid past Salem's leg and slashed his Father's Dagger across the back of her leg. Salem fell to one knee and Jaune sprinted towards Salem with Crocea Mors pointed towards her chest to ram it into her heart.

Salem caught the sword and stared directly into Jaune's eyes, she then pushed Jaune back and twisted the sword, pushing it down against the ground, before suddenly summoning dark stormy clouds above them. Lightning and hail came crashing down from the sky, decimating the environment around them. She grabbed Pyrrha and threw her off her chest, alongside throwing Milo out of her body. She then held her hand up and stopped the falling Hail in the air, and then pointed her hand forward, launching the hail directly at Team J.N.P.R. Jaune raised his shield and so did Pyrrha but Nora was hit by the Hail alongside Ren, damaging their aura from the sudden impact of so much frozen rain.

Salem lowered her hand, but her eyes were still burning hot, constantly bringing lightning crashing down around them as they fought. Salem sprinted at Jaune as he charged towards her with his shield, he needed to get to Crocea Mors, but he could not reach it with Salem in front of him. But Sun, Ren, Qrow and Kassius had taught him a lot about Hand-to-Hand combat, and he rushed towards the Dark Queen and he smashed his shield into her chest. Salem staggered backwards, and as Jaune felt his Semblance channel through his body, he swung his fist up Salem's jaw. The impact created a deafening crack, a shockwave blew across the sand from that punch, staggering Salem from the attack. But she then immediately returned the favour with a punch directly into Jaune's face. He staggered back and as Salem went to deliver more blows, he raised his arms, using his forearms to block her attacks. He ducked under some of then and he hit her three times in the gut before upper cutting her again. Salem grabbed Jaune by his collar and swung him around and smashed him up against one of the large rocks, so hard that the rock cracked. Jaune swung his head forward, right into Salem's, which had her release him, and then he tackled her to the ground.

He punched Salem in the face repeatedly, his eyes glowed bright as he felt his Ancestors guiding him, showing him how to use this godly power within him. The ground shook with every single punch that he threw into her face, until Salem blasted lightning into his chest, throwing him up into the air. Salem caught Jaune by the heel and slammed him back down against the ground with great force. Jaune groaned, even with his aura protecting him from any real damage, that still made his head go fuzzy like he just suffered a concussion. Salem grabbed Jaune by the back of his head and dragged him towards one of the rocks.

"Just like the rest of you children, weak and undisciplined." Salem sighed, before she smashed him straight through the boulder so hard that the entire thing shattered around him. Salem turned when she channelled black and red lightning through her fist, hearing the yell of Nora Valkyrie as she launched forward at Salem with Magnhild drawn all the way back. She swung the hammer downwards into the ground, creating a powerful explosion that pushed Salem across the ground. She spun around and swung the Hammer into the back of Salem's leg which brough her down to one knee. Nora then swung around once again, bringing the heavy head of the hammer down into the side of Salem's head.

Salem dropped to the ground with a growl, staring up at Nora with a bloodied nose that quickly healed thanks to her Curse. Nora gritted her teeth and she went to strike Salem again, only for the Executioner to stop the Hammer in the palm of her hand, and then kicking Nora in the chest. Nora flew backwards but Pyrrha raised her shield, and she pushed Nora right back at her. Nora slammed straight into Salem and she pushed her hands down against the side of Salem's head, pushing her down against the ground whilst Jaune got back up. "Jaune! Kill her! Go for it!" Nora begged him as she used all of her might against Salem.

Jaune ran towards Salem and he grabbed Crocea Mors that was still in the ground and he pulled it out from the surface and ran at Salem. Her eyes glowed bright red when dark energy started to course through her veins, and suddenly she roared with a horrifying amount of rage in her soul. The explosion of raw power launched Nora off her back and then she stood tall, eyes bleeding with red energy as she stared them down. She blasted fire and red lightning from her hands at Jaune, and the Arc raised his shield to hold the energy back. But it pushed him across the ground.

Salem's Wings opened once again and she took off into the air, blasting lightning down upon them, before she swooped towards Nora and grabbed her by the throat and carried her up into the air. Nora punched Salem over and over again in the face, but Salem caught her wrist and slammed her head into Nora's. She then kicked her in the chest with both feet which sent her crashing back down. Salem suddenly landed on Nora's chest so hard it knocked the wind out of her, she gasped for air as Salem slowly stared down at her.

"All these actions? They are worthless… because no matter how hard you fight; you cannot defeat the Oncoming Shadow. You cannot end Infinity!" Salem yelled with rage in her voice as she stood atop Nora. Ren sprinted at Salem and she then grabbed Nora and launched her towards him. They both toppled to the ground and she turned back to Pyrrha and Jaune who sprinted at her. Jaune swung his sword and his eyes glowed bright blue, channelling the power of his Ancestors, sending Vyrryk, Constantine and Claudia's ghosts towards Salem. But she blocked their attacks with her Dragon Wings that folded over her chest, and then she drove her clawed hands through the bodies of the Brothers Arc, and then she cut Claudia's Apparition down.

She stared Jaune down as she walked towards him, he gritted his teeth as he stared at her. Pyrrha ran forward and she launched Akoúo at Salem, but she knocked it out of the air and caught Milo. Pyrrha went to punch Salem across the jaw but she caught her fist, twisting the girl around and slamming her against the ground. Salem walked over Pyrrha and approached Jaune as roots started to wrap around their bodies, keeping his team restrained.

Jaune tightened his grip, feeling his power building once again. He was still learning how to focus it all at once, sometimes he felt like he had the strength of a god, other times he didn't. "Throw whatever you want at them, fight as hard as you want… you will not be able to stop them. The Oncoming Shadow cannot be destroyed, they are infinite, and can never be defeated. Your downfall is inevitable… just like every Universe that has come before you." Salem assured as she let the darkness flow through her veins.

"Then we'll fight to the last soul if we have to." Jaune said, and Salem smirked, admiring his courage once again.

"There it is again… that blissful ignorance." Salem chuckled, Jaune looked up and his eyes widened as he heard the sound of the King Wyvern's wings flying directly towards both him and Salem. It suddenly dove through the clouds above with a deafening roar, grabbing onto him, and Salem flew up into the air and clambered up the scales across its thick neck. Jaune held on, looking back at his team as they broke free from the roots that bound them to the ground.

"JAUNE!" Pyrrha screamed as she reached out to him, Jaune turned to the Wyvern and Salem and he sighed.

"Looks like it's up to me." Jaune sighed, clutching onto Crocea Mors tight.

Ruby

Ruby shot through the battlefield in a flurry of red rose petals, slashing Crescent Rose through the bodies of multiple Grimm that were stood in their path. The red paint of Crescent Rose was smothered in the black smoking blood of the Grimm. Ruby erupted from her petals, and she slashed her War Scythe through the head of a Manticore that was roaring in front of her. Its head spun through the air, she drove the Scythe down into the ground, spinning and flipping through the air, landing on both her feet. Ruby smirked as she landed, turning as a Beowulf Pack charged directly at her. She blasted forward and slashed two of them in half with one swing, before she launched the scythe into the chest of an Ursa, killing it instantly. Ruby dropped and rolled underneath the claws of another Beowulf, and she swiftly drew her knife that was sheathed on her right boot.

She spun the knife through her fingers before she jammed the razor sharp blade through its jugular, hearing the Canine Grimm snarl and gargle from the stab wound, she then twisted the dagger, pulling it forward and rolling over its back, slitting its throat open in the process. Ruby threw her knife directly into the skull of the next Beowulf, right in between its eyes. The creature crashed to the ground, and the Huntress shot out of the path of the next Beowulf that lunged towards her from the pack, swirling through the air as a cyclone of red petals, and she caught Crescent Rose and she slingshot back around. She erupted towards them and she spun like a buzz saw, cutting one of the monsters clean in two. She slammed the scythe down into the ground and used it like an anchor, twisting around and slamming both her feet into the chest of the other Beowulf. She landed and she punched it in the chest multiple times before she performed an uppercut.

She reached back to the long handle of Crescent Rose and she swung it around her shoulders with one hand, beheading the last of the Grimm. It crumbled away into dust and she spun it around her back, smiling. Ruby looked back to see the rest of her team fighting as well.

Weiss slid through the black ash, stabbing an Ursa in the back of its leg. The huge Grimm Bear roared with anger and pain as it fell to one knee, but it still swung its huge paw towards the Ice Queen. She bounced up the air with her Glyphs conjuring them in perfect positions before she arched her Sword-Arm and fired herself down like a bullet towards the Creature of Grimm. The pointed blade punctured straight through the Ursa's eyeball and she pushed it down against the ground with all her might. Weiss ducked down, as a Wraith suddenly lunged towards her. They had not encountered these Lesser Geists in a long time, not since the Volcanic Chain Isles, Spectral Grimm were still just as deadly.

The Wraith looked like a Human Skeleton, or at the very least the torso, whilst the legs were missing, its body cloaked in a black smoky set of robes, a hood pulled over its skull with burning red eyes. The Wraith screeched demonically, holding a Lantern with a burning red flame inside, and in the other was a short sword. The Wraith swung the Lantern towards Weiss and then slashed the sword multiple times at her. Weiss rolled out of the path of the heavy Lantern it swung her way, and then she blocked and parried the strikes from its sword. Sparks flew as the Wraith's sword clashed against Myrtenaster, but Weiss was faster than the creepy Grimm. She slid across the sand, like she was ice-skating, before she suddenly pushed her feet against another Glyph, blasting forward at the Wraith.

Until it vanished into a puff of smoke, she had forgotten that they could teleport.

It was really annoying.

Weiss looked over her shoulder as the same puff of smoke appeared behind her and the Wraith roared, swinging its sword towards her. Weiss jumped and flipped over the Wraith's head, slashing her sword up its back. The Wraith snarled as the Grimm Smoke burst from its fresh injury. Weiss then rushed forward, and she jumped towards it, jabbing it multiple times in the chest with her sword before she twirled on the spot and beheaded the Wraith in one swing.

She then turned to the rest of the incoming Grimm that were charging at her, another pack of Sabyrs. She closed her eyes and then opened them as she traced her finger down the blade and drove it into the ground. She summoned a Nevermore that flew over her head and suddenly launched Fatal Feather down into the Beowulves. Weiss had learned a lot… Winter would be proud of her.

Blake sprinted towards the other Grimm as well, Gambol Shroud tightly in her grasp as she advanced towards the furious packs of Grimm. Centinels erupted from the ground, large Centipede Grimm that spat venom from their pincers. Blake slid across the ground, dodging the incoming poison that was fired towards her. She then jumped up from the ground and she launched her Grappling Hook forward. She pulled herself towards the Centinel and she then yanked the hook back, and her Katana extended.

Blake slashed straight through the head of the Centinel, slicing clean through the soft muscle in between the plates of white bony armour. It shattered into ashy remnants around her, and she slid across the ground. She vanished as Centinel clamped the pincers down at her head, and she appeared behind it, firing her pistol before she landed back on the ground. She cut the Centinels repeatedly with both her Katana and its Scabbard, they broke apart into clouds of thick black smoke as she slashed them.

Another lunged forward and snapped its pincers towards her, but Blake flipped backwards and she then drove her Katana into its open jaws, before she twisted the blade and ripped it out, swiftly cutting the head off the last Centinel that erupted out of the ground behind her. Blake looked around as she felt the ground rumple, when suddenly a large Creep suddenly blasted up from the ground with a deafening roar as it charged at her. Blake vanished, using her Semblance to trick the beast, and she slashed Gambol Shroud across its leg, the Creep topped over onto the ground. It slowly got back up, limping on its injured leg, growling with anger as it dragged its foot through the ashes before it charged towards her once again. Blake ran directly at the beast and she jumped out from her Shadow Clone, using Fire Dust to cause it to explode in a fiery eruption.

The Creep broke apart, and Blake gracefully soared over its dying body, before landing behind it, her long locks of black hair blew in the wind as the Creep faded away into a cloud of black embers.

Yang shot across the battlefield, smashing her cybernetic fist through the face of a Knights' Bannerman, shattering the helmet in one powerful punch. It collapsed into itself as Yang rolled through the ashes, and she quickly got back up and caught a Sabyr by the throat, lifting it of the floor before she smashed it down into the ground, firing Ember Celica into its unarmoured head. Yang turned and saw a Teryx diving towards her, landing before her and roaring viciously, flames pouring from its jaws, filled with razor sharp teeth.

"Hey, big guy… wanna dance?" Yang challenged as she tightened her fists.

The Teryx reared back, its long three clawed forearms folded back, and it roared up to the sky, its curved clawed toes stabbed down into the ground before it charged forward. Yang blasted out of the way, before she shot both Gauntlets backwards, riding the recoil towards the Teryx. She punched it in the side of the head so hard that the beast stumbled, but it swung its tail around towards Yang. She raised her hands up and stopped the huge tail from swiping her across the ground. Yang jumped up and she punched down the tail of the beast, breaking the bone in the long muscly tail, the howl it created echoed for miles. But it was not done yet, it turned and stared at her, charging the fire up its throat and into its mouth. It blasted a fireball at Yang, and it exploded into her chest.

The eruption of fire knocked Yang across the dunes of ash, and the Teryx screeched deafeningly before it charged towards her again, flying across the ground with its translucent membrane wings stretched outwards. Yang suddenly grabbed it by the leg and slammed it down into the ground so hard that she broke its leg in the process. Grimm however did not truly feel pain, what they registered as pain was merely rage. It dragged its broken leg behind it, limping on all fours as it blasted fire from its jaws.

Yang launched towards it as it opened its huge set of jaws, ready to devour her. Until Yang caught the jaws in her hands, twisting its head with all her might and breaking its neck. The roared of the creature faded and Yang slammed its head back down into the ground with a thud.

She walked away from his disintegrating body to return to her team. "Good to see we've all still got it." Yang chuckled.

Kragen

The Leader of the Silver Eyed Warriors walked towards the Grimm that were charging directly at him and he spun Ebony Duchess through his fingers, his silver eyes glowed bright as they made their attack. He ducked under the leaping Beowulf and then he immediately punched the second up its jaw. The beast crashed down against the ground and then he punctured the pointed blade attached to his staff through the side of its head before he pulled it out and he deflected the blows from three Knights' Bannerman that rushed forward. They slashed their swords hard and fast in his direction, sparks flew from every strike made against the Isomacium, but Kragen moved like he was not fighting against multiple creatures at once. It was like he was fighting against two Training Dummies; he had no stress or fear whatsoever, just focus.

He blocked every single strike that came his way, before he slammed the blunt end of his staff into the gut of the Knights' Bannerman, causing it to hunch forward. He then struck it again, across the side of its helmet, breaking off chunks of metal in the process. The other jumped at him with its Halberd with a demonic scream, but he turned, and he held his Staff horizontally, locking into position against his enemy. He pushed back against the Demonic Soldier and then he swept it off its feet before he drove the spear down into the helmet of the entity, finishing it off.

It collapsed into itself behind him, he then held up his arm and blocked the claws of a Grimm, using his armour to protect himself. He then spun around and rolled his staff across his shoulders, knocking both the Beowulf and the Knights' Bannerman backwards. Half of the Bannerman's helmet was broken apart from Kragen's formidable strike he made earlier, but it was still fighting, nonetheless. The Bannerman staggered back from his strike but then it charged forward and jumped up with a dark roar, stabbing downwards at Kragen, but he slid backwards, and he grabbed the Beowulf and used it as a meat shield, taking the sword of the Bannerman. He then kicked the fading corpse of the Beowulf into the Bannerman, and as it crumbled away, and caused the Bannerman to stagger backwards, Kragen suddenly thrusted forward, and he drove the spiked end of Ebony Duchess through the skull of the Bannerman.

It howled, the armoured body cracked and snapped as it started to collapse into itself. Kragen turned and he saw a swarm of Ravagers flying towards them, his silver eyes shimmered and he stared at them. The white light erupted from his irises and the predatory bats vaporised in the air, disappearing completely. Kragen spun his staff through his fingers and he turned to see the Architect fighting alongside him. The Architect was not his only partner here either, both Yenna and Ozpin were here as well.

The Architect sprinted towards the Grimm and he slammed his shoulder forward, knocking the Grimm down to the ground as he refused to stop. He then caught one of the Thralls by the face, it bit violently into his robotic hand, but it did absolutely nothing. He crushed its skull against the rock beside him, and then he fired his Rifle up the chest of the Bannerman that swung its Axe at his head. The blue bolt of energy carved a hole clean through its body and it bellowed, collapsing just like they all did. He then transformed his Rifle into its sword form, spinning it through his fingers as he ran towards them Grimm. He swung the blade hard and cut the head of a Beowulf clean in two, splitting its head. He then channelled electrical dust through the blade, and he drove it into the ribs of the Apathy, cooking it alive. It roared with pain as it faded away, unlike the others he was a machine, and the Apathy could not affect him.

He rushed towards the rest of its pack, and he slid underneath the first one that slashed its claws at him. It slowly turned and stared at him with its jaw snapping and hanging from sinewy muscle. He chuckled and he rushed the Apathy, and he grabbed it by the throat and smashed it down against the ground. Another grabbed onto him from behind, but he drove the sword straight through the creature's skull. It roared with pain as he twisted the blade, cutting its head in half. The sword transformed back into its Rifle Form and he aimed it directly at the next Apathy that walked towards him, knocking each of them down with precise headshots.

The Last Apathy reached out with a roar, but he grabbed it by the head and pushed the barrel down into its open screeching jaws, pulling the trigger. The electrical round burned straight through its body and out its spine.

Yenna flew overhead, blasting lightning and fire from her hands, her violet eyes were burning bright purple as she soared high in the air. Lancers, Griffins and a Lesser Wyvern were pursuing her. They all roared and screeched as they pursed her. She opened her hands and she formed a pair of swords, and she dropped down towards the Griffin that lunged for her with its jaws open. She stabbed her swords into the thick hide of the beast, cutting two deep gashes into its hide. It roared with agony as it started to fall from the sky, and then Yenna threw herself from its body as it plummeted down to the ground. She hovered and threw her sword towards one of the Lancers, nailing it in its abdomen. The huge wasp snarled in anger as it plummeted down towards the ground with a heavy bang. The next Griffin flew directly at her and snapped its beaked jaws down towards her, but she drove the sword directly down its throat and the Griffin choked as the sword protruded out the back of its neck.

Yenna hovered back and she kicked its body aside, until she turned, and her eyes widened as that Lesser Wyvern banked around and flew directly at her. It breathed fire and she swiftly flew out of the way and she launched a sharp icicle into its back, but that was not enough to knock the Wyvern out of the sky. It turned and flew directly at her again and blasted another pillar of fire right at her, only for Yenna to grin at the creature.

She formed one of her swords and she launched the sword into its wing. The blade cut deep into the shoulder and it started to spin out of control, she twirled through the air with a smile and she launched a powerful Ice Spell upon the creature, freezing it solid. As the Wyvern crashed down into the ground it shattered into a thousand pieces of cold ice, killing it instantly. She blew out a breath of relief, until she turned and suddenly the terrifyingly familiar Nevermore of Death erupted through the smoke towards her, swiftly shifting from Nevermore form and grabbing her by the neck.

Yenna stared at Death, seeing his burning red eyes that glared into her violet ones, and he launched her down against the ground, and she crashed. She groaned in pain and looked up as Death suddenly landed in front of her, his huge wings splayed out behind his back, like the Archangel of Death.

Ozpin shot through time, smashing through the Grimm with Mihi Vindicta in its customised Cane Form, he then rushed towards a Boarbatusk and he grabbed it by the tusk. He yelled with fury and he threw it like it was made of nothing, smashing it through one of the boulders. The Grimm Pig tumbled through the ground and then he turned, double taking at the sight of seeing the Knight of Death confronting Yenna Azula. He darted over to her side and Death stared at him.

"Wymerus…" Death greeted.

"Krekras." Ozpin replied. "The man I once was died a long time ago, surely you – a man of honour – you know that what is happening here is wrong? I know you, and I never forgot how you felt about what the Congregation of Dawn did to all those people. You hated them for all that unnecessary death… your whole purpose was to prevent unnecessary slaughter. Yet now you are the one dishing it out! You know this is wrong, help us help you! You know the curse can be lifted… Kragen and Architect managed to do it for me." Ozpin said to Krekras Blackridge.

"This Death is necessary… if you honestly believe I enjoy what I do… then you are blinder than I thought you were. You never did comprehend the importance of our mission." Death said.

"Do you? I hate to tell you this, but Umbra never deigned to fill me or any of us in on why he is doing this. I have my suspicions about why, but he never said it outright." Ozpin said, and Death stared directly at him. Ozpin scoffed. "Have you no answer, Krekras?"

Death clearly was trying to fight the curse, just like the other Knights of Grimm were, but just as Ozpin said – his curse was a harder egg to crack. It seemed to be linked to his honour, and that was not going to be easy to get him to break free from. The others seemed to be linked in some way to their Emotions – Sadness, Fear and Anger.

But Death?

Honour was the closest thing Ozpin could come to when it came down to how to help him break his curse. At the end of the day, it was not a matter of you physically breaking them out. Only the Knights of Grimm could free themselves from their curse, something had to click for them… they needed to have that push.

They just needed to figure out what specific thing was required to give them that push.

Death pointed Ferrum Arctus at him, Ozpin had a fairly good feeling that talking to him would not break the curse – but it was noticeably clear that constantly laying on these talks was having an affect. The other Knights were breaking in and out of their curse more often.

In order?

Loss was the closest to being freed, then it was Fury, then Fear and then Death.

They could be saved – that was one of the few things Ozpin was certain about – they just needed to do it soon. Before their Universe would be eradicated.

Kragen smashed Ebony Duchess across the face of a Beowulf and the Architect shot down one of the Griffins. Then they looked through the crowds of Grimm… to see him walking towards them. He walked down the burning wreckage of a Hellfire Tank and he thrusted his cybernetic arm downwards, priming his cannon and his Hook Hand transformed from his hand. He gritted his teeth with anger at him.

"Kannix…" Kragen softly said as he looked at him.

"You always were the stubborn kind. I had hoped you would have died atop that mountain… seems you have surprised me yet again." Kannix snarled with hatred in his eyes.

"What can I say? Death's cold hands haven't taken me yet. Speaking of which…" Kragen chuckled, looking back at Death as he charged towards Ozpin and Yenna. He turned back to Kannix.

"You know I'm not gonna stop until you're dead?" Kannix asked him.

"As I said… you always were stubborn." Kragen sighed, he was done trying to apologise for his mistakes. At the end of the day… no apology would ever forgive Kannix's crimes. The boy he once knew died on the Volcanic Chain Isles – only Vir Nominis Umbra's pawn remained.

The Architect stood beside Kragen and they both were ready to fight Kannix this time. Kannix sprinted down the flaming wreckage towards them, and they charged forward as well, and Kannix roared with fury as he jumped towards his former Mentor with his blade extended from his cannon arm, slamming it down upon Ebony Duchess.

Jaune

The King Wyvern soared through the clouds as Jaune tried to break free from its massive clawed feet, he stabbed its foot over and over again and it roared with fury. It started to release him, but he drove the blade of Crocea Mors into its leg. The Wyvern snarled with anger as it continued to ascend up into the clouds, so Jaune started to climb up the huge bony scales that covered its titanic body. He reached up and jumped, grabbing onto some of the spines, and then…

… the Wyvern broke through the cloud layer…

… and they were now above the clouds themselves. Jaune looked around with awe, and it was freezing all the way up here. But he did not stop, he kept on climbing, seeing the Drift of Wandering Star and his fleet of Dreadnaughts alongside the many Fighter Jets in the sky, battling the hundreds of flying Grimm that were wreaking havoc up there. Jaune climbed up the hip and stood atop the back of the King Wyvern.

Salem was waiting for him with her fists clenched, staring him down and she chuckled with a smirk. "I was hoping you would break free." Salem said, she suddenly blasted forward and punched Jaune in the face. He tumbled across the scales but quickly got back up and rushed Salem. He swung Crocea Mors hard and fast, slashing the glowing blade across her aura, damaging it with his powerful strikes. Judging by the Visionary Book's Memory of the Stranger killing Salem with the same Sword, he had been fighting the Giant Spider for quite a long time, which therefore meant he still had to break her Corrupted Aura.

Beating her was still going to be just as hard as any other battle, but only this blade could truly kill her. Salem blocked his other attacks with her arms and her wings that were still grown out from her back. She punched him in the gut and then uppercutted him. Jaune staggered back and the King Wyvern continued to fly around the sky, blasting beams of fire towards the jets that were bravely risking their lives. The fire blew some of them apart as it pursued them. Salem stood her ground but Jaune stabbed Crocea Mors down into the plates of armour, steadying himself, the Wyvern had hardly even noticed his sword cutting into the hide really, it was too preoccupied with butchering the brave pilots up in the sky.

Jaune pushed forward and he tackled Salem, lifting her off the Wyvern's scales and he slammed her down against the armoured back of the beast. He slashed across her face with his sword and crackles of red energy coursed over her. He then drove the sword downwards towards her face, but she moved her head aside and punched up at him. But he caught her hand and twisted it around, and he started to punch her over and over again in the face. His eyes glowed bright blue as he beat her over and over again.

"YOUR! REIGN! IS! OVER!" Jaune roared as he pummelled her over and over again, before he suddenly formed another one of his Ancestor's Semblances, extending his Aura and he launched her off the side of the Wyvern. He turned to the beast and he ripped his sword from its hide, and he ran towards the back of its head to try and bring the beast down. Until Salem suddenly flew right back at him, using both her wings and her Maiden Flight to catch up, and she slammed her armoured knee against his face. The attack knocked him back down and they both slid across the back of the Wyvern.

She then grabbed him by the throat and punched him in the face over and over again with fury in her eyes. "Your power is impressive! But you are still no match for me, boy! Just like Vyrryk, you are nothing but one more short-sighted fool, destined to face the same fate!" Salem yelled as she punched him over and over again in the face. Jaune suddenly drew Crocea Mors and he drove it straight through her fist and arm. Salem roared with agony from that clever move, and Jaune kicked Salem off his chest, and he rolled backwards, pointing the sword at her. Salem stared at the hole in her arm… it was healing… but much slower. Her aura was the only thing keeping that from being healed by her Grimm Essence.

If it were not there, the damage would have been permanent. "Damn you…" Salem snarled. Jaune smirked at her.

"Maybe I am a fool… but I can still beat you." Jaune assured.

Salem roared with fury and she launched fire towards Jaune, and he raised his shield, opening it to block her attack, the fire burned against the surface of his shield, but he rushed forward. Just as Pyrrha taught him he jumped and spiralled around and slashed downwards with Crocea Mors, digging it into Salem's shoulder. She roared with rage from the pain she felt, and then she punched him in the face again as Black Blood poured from the wound. She pushed him back as the red aura crackled across her wounds, and she ripped Crocea Mors from her hand, and she launched it towards him.

Until he heard another one of his Ancestors. "Reach out…" The voice whispered, and the sword glowed bright gold and faded away, suddenly reappearing in his hand.

"Oh wow… that's a useful one." Jaune chuckled, since he kept getting the sword thrown from his hand. Jaune sprinted at Salem once again who blasted lightning into his strong aura to try and hold him back, her teeth were gritted together tightly as she pushed him back, until Jaune suddenly drove Crocea Mors into his Shield and he stabbed the massive Sword down into the back of the Wyvern. The King Wyvern felt that one, and it roared with agony, jolting and the sudden movements threw both Jaune and Salem around.

Jaune tumbled across the scales, and Salem, launched herself at him, grabbing Jaune and smashing him against the scaled of the titan. She punched him in the face again and again, until Jaune slashed the sword across her stomach. Salem winced with pain and she staggered back, suddenly lifted Jaune up with her Telekinesis, and throwing him off the King Wyvern.

Damn it!

Jaune plummeted back down towards the ground, and he saw it growing closer and closer. "Ready yourself…" Another Arc Ancestor whispered in the back of his mind, he felt their aura lock around him, and he opened his shield and pushed it forward. He crashed down into the ground with a heavy boom, his aura was weakened, but it did not shatter – one of his Ancestral Semblances showed him how to lock his aura. Judging by how it worked, it must have been similar to how Mazen Locked his Aura but in a Crystallised Form. All of the gifts he had used so far.

The Super Strength, the summoning of weapons, extending aura, locking aura, lightning, fire, they were all once semblances. But where his Semblance was unique? He did not gain all of them at once, it was as if… they were all watching over him, granting a slither of their power to him through the sword. In a similar way to Adam, his Semblance was tied to Crocea Mors since the Arc Ancestral Memories were tied to the sword… he could simply call upon them whenever he needed their help.

Unlike any Arc before.

Which made him a force to be reckoned with.

Jaune looked up at the sky as the King Wyvern flew through the sky, Salem was definitely recovering from their fight. He turned and his eyes widened as Oscar suddenly shot towards him. "Jaune!" Oscar called out, with Sun and Neptune beside him. He quickly helped his friend back up to his feet. Neptune plunged Trishula up the gut of a Beowulf, pushing it over their heads and slamming it down into the ground with immense force. "You okay? What the hell happened?"

"Yeah, why did you fall from the sky?" Sun asked.

"Oh you know, Salem wanted to take me for a ride. But we can do this, I did a bit of damage to her with Crocea Mors. We just need to break her aura, then she can't heal herself." Jaune explained.

"She has an aura?" Neptune questioned with disbelief.

"Seems like it, or at least some version of one. It seems unnaturally made to be honest." Jaune shrugged his shoulders. "We just need to get her out of the sky."

"Which means killing or at least grounding the King Wyvern." Oscar sighed.

They looked around and saw another Grimm Spire suddenly erupting from the ground. "Well… we've got company. We'll figure that out later." Sun said as he spun Ruyi Jingu Bang through his fingers, and Jaune stared at them as he spun Crocea Mors through his fingers, ready for whatever the Grimm could throw at them.

Ruby

Team R.W.B.Y fought together against the hordes of Grimm, Weiss formed multiple Glyphs that Blake and Yang both used to their advantages. Yang bounced off hers and Blake threw her Gambol Shroud and launched Yang towards the King Taijitu that roared at them, knocking both of its heads off in one punch from her cybernetic fist. As she landed, a huge Theropod Grimm suddenly charged towards her with its massive jaws filled with razor sharp teeth open, until Ruby suddenly slashed straight through its thick neck and cut its head clean off its shoulders.

Ruby looked back at her sister with a smile, and Yang nodded back. Until they all heard the sound of an Umbrella opening behind them. Ruby turned around with Blake beside her as they stared at Neo as she floated down to them and landed before them. But she did not attack them immediately… which was odd. Ruby stared at Neo, and even though she could not say a word… Ruby could read it all on her face.

There were doubts… all over her face.

Hearing Ruby tell her the truth about what really happened to Roman truly had changed something in her. "Neo… you don't have to do this. You don't have to be on their side anymore, I can see it on your face." Ruby said to her and Neo stared at her, and she backed up as Ruby reached her hand out to her. "It isn't too late…"

Neo stared at her and she closed her eyes and looked away. Yang went to go help Ruby… until they heard it.

The caws of a Raven.

Both Yang and Weiss slowly turned around, and saw the Raven flying towards them, transforming back into her human form, hand held on the hilt of Omen. "You…" Yang snarled with anger in her voice as Raven stood before her… and the sister of the woman she murdered in cold blood. Weiss immediately pointed Myrtenaster at her as she stared at them with those piercing red eyes. "How could you?" She snarled.

Ruby looked back at Neo, as if to ask her to help them. But Neo was so afraid… so afraid of betraying them… she had seen what happens to those who disobey Vir Nominis Umbra. She hadn't forgotten what Kannix was put through when he disobeyed Umbra. She reluctantly pointed Hush at them… tears in her eyes. "Neo… please… I don't wanna fight you. Let's just forget about the past… we can put this all behind us. We can beat him." Ruby begged her, but Neo closed her eyes, and then she hardened herself, and her gaze.

Ruby knew… they were gonna have to fight her… but she did not want to kill her.

Neo could still be saved.

Just one last fight.

Raven stared at Yang and Weiss. "Yang… you don't have to die for a suicidal cause. Join with me, and you will survive."

"Survive? With Umbra? How stupid could you possibly be?" Yang snarled with anger as she activated Ember Celica.

"He promised us a better future if we joined him… I will not die like your father." Raven stated coldly, and Yang scoffed.

"He would be so ashamed of you. To know he loved such a coward." Yang told her and Raven narrowed her eyes.

"I am not going to ask you again, daughter." Raven said.

"I'm not your daughter… not anymore. I thought you were my mom… when you saved us after Ruby lost her eye and I actually thought you wanted to make amends. But you showed your true colours – you're nothing more than a pathetic coward." Yang snarled with anger. "I may die fighting this war, but I'd rather fall fighting with the people I love than survive whilst they all die. So yeah – I've made my choice." Yang snarled, she looked at Weiss who… looked angrier than anyone had ever seen before.

"What about you?" Raven asked, as if she had not murdered Winter.

"What about me? I'm gonna fucking kill you… for what you did to my sister… you bitch." Weiss snarled, and Raven sighed.

"I figured as much." Raven agreed.

Ruby and Blake Vs Neo.

Weiss and Yang Vs Raven.

Author Note - Here we go... Raven has finally entered the field

Always love writing some cool action packed chapters, I mean the Grimm are just great cannon fodder for really cool action sequences for the heroes. Plus it is always fun to mess around with other Grimm I rarely get to use, like the Teryx. Also - Spring Maiden and Ozpin Vs Knight of Death, that is gonna be one awesome and unique battle to witness. And of course, Yang and Weiss Vs Raven is gonna be one powerful fight, considering everything.

Let's hope Neo can see the light and push past her fear to betray Umbra. At the end of the day you can't blame her for being scared after what Umbra and the Higher Demons did to Kannix when he betrayed them, making him feel immense pain over and over again like that. Umbra does not tend to hold back when it comes to disobedience.

Plus Kragen's fighting style is so cool.

And fair play to Jaune, he really held his own against Salem, sure his Semblance gave him an edge but even if he did not have that power, he ingenious strategy gave him an advantage above her. Plus that fight between Salem and Jaune atop the King Wyvern was just really cool to do.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!

Stay tuned for the next chapter!

- Matt