I can practically hear the people clicking off after reading this.

Anyways, welcome to the second to final chapter of Arc 1! It was pretty short, but this was a introduction! To all of those who reviewed and Followed and Favorited so far; Thank You! You don't know how much it makes me glad someone wants to see this continue! Thank you! Also, because of you we're three Follows and Favorites off from passing up One Bizarre Adventure! I hope I don't fail anyone. (God I sound cliché)

I hate yet love writing fight scenes. I hope I live up to expectations. Btw, anybody who wants a fix that loosely follows the story of Re Zero and likes Superheroes should check out Batman X Re:Zero. I haven't read all of it yet, seeing as I try to avoid reading so I don't feel tempted to steal ideas, but from what I read it was good. Good luck Roger!

I tend to respond to all reviews at the bottom. Really appreciate it guys and girls!

P.S. I added in character stats and World Encyclopedia at the bottom.

Vale

Unknown District

Thirty minutes ago

When the people of the World think of their home, Remnant, they don't think of the vast landscapes, the sprawling seas, or the thundering mountains; they think of the Monsters that wait outside their door. Fearful and apprehensive, the world of man hid themselves behind walls of steel, trying their best to block the noise of the monster banging on their door. And with fear, came opportunists. Criminals from all walks of life gathered to form gangs, mafia's and whatever other slang you could think of. These gangs didn't care who they picked on. Man, Woman or Child, even the elderly were picked on if they hadn't paid their due. To them, it was business, not a luxury.

Out of this pit of crime and hate rose a few prominent figures and groups. While many groups fell under their peers, one if these groups just so happened to upgrade themselves from street rat punks to Terrorist Watch in a matter of years. This group, which claimed they fought for Faunus rights, had terrorized the whole world from top to bottom. Not one piece of Remnant went untouched as they pillaged and raped the countries to its bone.

This caused a number of things to occur. One of the more positive outcomes were that Faunus were now seen as equals, if only by fear alone. But to every positive in the world, there must be an equal negative. While Faunus had gained the respect and dignity they had claimed they deserved, Humans hatred towards these beings have only festered. Fights between races have become common place in the world of Remnant. Killings, muggings, and of course kidnappings. Each group bit and chew at each other, taking bites out of each other like it had become out of style. With this, their needed to be a group to combat the growing Faunus threat.

That came in the form of the Witch Cult.

The people of Remnant knew them by a different name however, 'The Black Fang.' Extremely unoriginal, right? But it fit them perfectly. Each member of the group dressed in the complete opposite of the of the White Fang. While the White Fang clung to their White and Red color scheme, donning armor made of the bone of Grimm, The Black Fang chose a more modest uniform to harness. Instead of Grimm masks, they chose from a wide array of animal skulls, a mockery to Faunus, and simple hoods. Instead of White armor or white clothing, they chose from dark cloaks and robes.

Of course, the wide variety for the Black Fang wasn't intentional. You see, as the group grew more and more in size, The Black Fang started using different masks and uniforms to signify their position. Behind the scenes, the Witch Cult had taken notice of this, causing some of the Archbishops of Sin to take action, namely Sloth. Sloth, the ever loving radical, set fire to Black Fang outposts across Mistral as a warning. Of course, The Black Fang, being a splinter group to the Cult, retaliated in kind. Without the notice of the public's eye, The Black Fang and The Witch Cult had a civil war. Blood covered the already stained streets of Remnant, and in the end, neither won.

The Black Fang and The Witch Cult both suffered major casualties. In a shocking twist, The Witch Cult held a hand of peace. As one would expect, The Black Fang hesitated, before finally shaking the hands of their creators. There was no back stab, as Betelgeuse declared this peace was by orders of the Witch herself. Instead of molding back into each other though, The Black Fang operated separate of the Cult. Even with this, their peace didn't shake, and life went on as it should. However, even separated, the Black Fang knelt to the Archbishops of Sin. If ever called upon, they would be there as needed.

Through all of this, only one man truly benefited from this bloodshed. From The White Fang fighting The Black Fang, to the slaughter of friends between Black and Witch, only one man saw a chance to capitalize on their mistrust and hate. To gain wealth and work his way up the latter of the underground world. A legend in the eyes of the underground, the man who cut a straight path of blood and tears. It didn't matter what stood in his way, for he would always be on top.

"So why is it that I am a lackey for a girl who is hardly ever here!?" Roman Torchwick yelled as he kicked a box near him. The groan of metal within resounded in the warehouse as White Fang members curiously looked at the distraction before resuming work. It annoyed him to no end how a man of his caliber was running errands for a girl twice as young as him. Plus the fact that she was never present for anything they did, making it all the more irritating. "On second thought, no, thank Dust she's never here. Her face is too annoying for me to get work done."

Truly, Roman Torchwick hated this gig. He hated the way everyone snuck behind each others backs and silently stabbed each other without anybody noticing. He hated the ever present air of animosity that hung around the White Fang grunts as he passed by to inspect their work. Roman missed the days when his men would greet him, not with hostility, but with respect. It felt like it was just yesterday he was dealing with a set of new recruits, fear running through their veins as Roman gave them a yelling. Ah, those were the days. Even if they were goons looking to stab you, they at least stabbed you from the front.

"Hoo~. At least she pays well." Roman admitted, passing a few grunts training together. He had a few comments on that, but saved it for later.

That was a positive to this crap gig of his. This little girl paid extremely well compared to his other associates. There was also no twist in her words too, making her at least a trustworthy accomplice. Well, except for the fact that she never told him anything of what they were doing this for. All she ever responded with was "You will know when the time comes. For now, work needs to be done, Torchwick." Which was acceptable. 'If you want to be melodramatic about everything, go ahead. Don't complain when your subordinates get lazy and complain about the work!'

So what does she do when Roman does everything she asks, and misses one tiny detail? Complain. Oh the mouth that girl has for words. And that wasn't even a compliment. Cinder didn't take failure nor negligence very well at all. Constant death threats and the occasional lashing out of Cinder had made him come to detest her. If it wasn't for the money or the promise of giving Vale to him, then he would have quit long, long ago.

Ah, the promise of Vale. Roman didn't understand why they needed all this dust, or all these henchmen, especially The White Fang, but Roman almost put that behind him if it gave him Vale. Roman couldn't help but think, however, that with all this Dust and henchmen, Cinder was thinking of invading Vale or some other Kingdom. If that was the case, it was admittedly an ingenious plan. You take away a Kingdoms source of firepower, then you have basically crippled them. With that you could practically take over the Kingdom in a day, with the right men of course.

'As long as she leaves Vale somewhat intact, I don't care what she does.' Roman thought to himself as he picked up the chatter of two grunts. Apparently they were making bets on which Kingdom would win in the Vytal festival. If Roman had to choose one, admittedly he would have gone with Vale. Indeed, there might be some bias in the presumption, but from what he had seen there was a good chance that Vale would win. Not only was there a promising (never speaking that out loud) young red character running about, but they also had the untouchable gladiator champion herself, Pyrrha Nikos. If there was any body more likely to win, it was Vale.

That's if Cinder and her crew didn't get involved, of course.

"Uh, Mr. Torchwick?" A shy voice spoke up. Looking to the direction of the voice, Torchwick took in the sight of the small Grunt, fidgeting nervously under his gaze. "U-Um, All the Faunus have gathered in the Warehouse, I-I came to get you as you requested."

"Ah," Oh yeah, Roman almost forgot why he was here in the first place. Letting a charming smile befall his face, he gave the girl one of his more kinder appearances. "Thank you. Wouldn't know what I would do without ya!" Glancing around, he looked for the familiar set of Pink and Brown hair that never failed to answer his call. Spotting her on top of the walkway, he gave a loud whistle, catching her attention. Motioning for her to follow, he watched as she hopped off the railing, gracefully falling from the cat walk, her feet barely making a noise as they touched the ground. No matter how many times he saw that, he was always left impressed by her skill in stealth. 'My, how far my little girl has come.' "Neo, dear, have you by chance seen our little cub anywhere?"

The Strawberry Chocolate hair girl didn't respond verbally. With a twist of her umbrella, a tap of her foot, and a smile that could kill, she pointed behind Roman. Watching with amusement, he gave a chance look behind him. Yet as he turned, his charming smile turned into a furious frown at the sight of the 'Cub.'

Lying on his back, his arms hanging uselessly besides him, was the most useless White Fang member. Useless, not to be mixed with worthless, Roman reminded himself. His blonde mop that he insisted was hair was sprawled out in every direction. His uniform, or what was left of it, was opened, showing his many abs. As if the tattered and destroyed uniform wasn't enough, the boy had insisted on going shoeless. His feet, which surprisingly didn't smell, hung loosely off the box he slept on, carelessly moving with the wind. Roman couldn't help but compare the boy to a wild beast. Well, that might be racist considering what he was, but it was a common enough saying to get away with it.

Irritably, Roman walked over to the boy, his snores getting louder with each step. Along with each step, Romans fury grew. Jealousy sprouted at how calm this boy could be, even amidst all this chaos in his own glorified gang. While Roman worked day and night to appease some teenage girl with daddy issues, this brat got to sleep… ON DUTY! As Roman stood over the Cub, he briefly thought of beating him with his cane to wake him up, but thought against it. Roman didn't want to be on worse terms with the White Fang as he already was.

Instead, Roman lifted his foot, planting it on the side of the crate, he gave a mighty push. The box tipped with minimal effort, tossing the boy and whatever was within to the side. The blondes arm and legs flailed in a comedic manner as he tried to stand up. Admittedly, it was a hilarious sight to see, but Roman kept his composure. If he were to burst out laughing right now, he may run the risk of being looked down upon. Honestly, Roman never understood that weird unwritten rule. Wouldn't seeing your boss laugh and interact with subordinates make him feel more welcoming than threatening? Not only should it boost morale, but also encourage followers to work harder. Ugh, this world worked in mysterious ways indeed.

"Are you awake now, Scar face?" Roman insulted, still perturbed by the grunts negligence. It might have been a little more than rude to insult someone's appearance like that, but Roman couldn't care less right now. He had a job to do, and that involved this brat. Sleeping during a job was a big No no. "After your done flailing like a chicken with its head cut off, meet me on stage. We got a ton of convincing to do if we want more Fang members."

"Gitty God damn you!" The boy slurred, still half awake. At times, Roman had to wonder if this kid was even speaking English. The boy tended to slur his words, or jumble them together half the time. Maybe it was how he was raised; but it brought up the question if he was ever educated in proper speech. "Ya coulda at leas' shookme awake! Pushin' me off the crate is a bit much, doncha think!?"

"Oh you're fine." Roman replied, brushing aside the boys complaints. "You're a big boy now in a big boy world! You need to be prepared for anything at every given moment!" Roman said, watching as the boy dusted his uniform off, a sneer apparent on his face. "Besides, with that ability of yours you should have been completely fine, right?"

"Yeah, but 'hat don't mean I don't feel no pain!" The boy yelled, shaking his fist at Roman. Shaking his head, Roman couldn't help but feel immense embarrassment at being around this kid. The cub was way too immature for this line of business. Turning around, he started to walk away, ignoring the profanity thrown his way. It would be a miracle if this kid even convinces one person to join their cause. It would be difficult, but Roman was sure that he could work this out somehow.

Neo gave him a calming smile, sympathizing with his inner plight. Roman couldn't help but think that if that kid was like Neo, then everything would work out perfectly. For Roman, Neo was the absolute definition for perfection in this line of business; besides himself of course. This girl, who grew up on the streets, was probably the best talent that Roman could ever come across in this life. It was amazing how much natural talent she had for stealth, fighting, and of course killing. It made him wonder why no one else spotted this diamond in the rough before him. Well, Roman did have a talent to see what others don't. Roman was able to see talent where others couldn't, and able to see the positive and negative of an individual to a T. Not only was she probably the best subordinate he could ask for; she was the best daughter he could ask for.

Roman wouldn't say that out loud though, as not only would it be weird for someone like him to say, it would jeopardize his work. If Roman were to admit something like that, he feared that he may start treating her as such. Roman would be hesitant to send her on missions, flat out deny her killing others, and would just treat her like she was a princess. He couldn't do that, as stated above, it would hurt his line of work. So Roman just settled with thinking that she would make for a perfect daughter.

Noticing that Neo had stopped smiling at him and was looking in a different direction, he followed her line of sight to the Cub doing rapid pushups in an attempt to impress the other White Fang members. Staring for a little, Roman couldn't help a very disturbing thought to cross his mind. Glancing between Neo and Cub, a bad sense of foreboding overcame his heart. She was at that age now, but there was no possible way, right?

"Ah, Neo, I have a question." Roman said, grabbing the ice cream haired girls attention. At the mute response to continue, Roman gave a nervous cough. "You don't happen to, perchance, have any 'special' feelings for our young Cub, do you?"

It took a minute for Neo to fully comprehend what Roman had asked of her. Her reaction, which was instantaneous, was that of pure disgust. Roman knew immediately what that meant, not that it took a genius to understand. Breathing a sigh of relief, Roman gave her a smile. Of course she wouldn't have developed any feelings like that. Neo was a professional, like him, so there was no doubt that she would treat her comrades professionally either.

"Ah, I just remembered." Roman said, clicking his tongue. Neo looked up at him curiously, her short stature problematic when it came to tall people. "How is our little merchant coming along? I'm sure he must have made a profit by now, correct?"

Neo shook her head, confirming his fears. Sighing, he couldn't help but feel bad for the poor merchant. Awhile ago, some information came up that a young Gray haired boy had been making rounds through the town, doing his best to sell items and equipment. The reason why this even concerned them was because one of the items was Dust. Roman thought of having some henchmen mug him, but a gut feeling told him that wouldn't be wise. Instead, he had Neo tail him, and as it turned out the merchant had extremely horrible luck. Not only was he unable to sell anything, he was unable to sell dust to a Kingdom that needed it terribly. It was like bad luck just gravitated to that merchant. So poor was this man that he actually felt bad for him, even if his bad luck benefited Roman.

"Well, I suppose that's good." Roman said as he turned to the entrance to the warehouse. The murmur of the crowd echoing throughout the area. Walking towards the warehouse, he tightened the hat on his head. "Well, no point in making the fans wait for us! Let's go, Neo, Cub! It's time to get to business!"

Let's give them a show to remember.

Vale

Same District

Same Time

Blake Belladonna wasn't always the worrying type. Sometime ago, last year to be exact, she was constantly on the move. Never needing to worry about where she went, how far she went nor the time of day it was. Danger wasn't even a thing for her to worry about back then, as Adam was always there for her. He protected her from the other hardships of life, like enemies and prejudice from others. Thinking back on it, all she ever really needed to worry about was when to eat, what to eat, and when to sleep. That last one was close to not even being on this list for it was only ever once when she worried about fatigue. Even enemies didn't make it on the list, for she and Adam were a perfect team. They were both dark, they were both Faunus, they were both White Fang, and they were both lovers.

Now days however? Not only was Blake and Adam a thing of the past, constant worry continually plagued her mind. Worry for what she had done and the lives she'd taken. Worry for her own wellbeing as Adam hunted her down. Worry for her friends wellbeing as Blake had dragged them into this mess. It constantly ate at her until she decided to take action. Even then, it worried her. All for one, tiny reason.

"Dang, there's a lot of Faunus here Blake!" Sun spoke up loudly next to her. This man was the reason why she felt such anxiety coming here tonight. Sun Wukong, a transfer student from Haven Academy, a person she barely knew, had tagged along on this near suicide mission. Blake could relax a little when it came to her friends as she knew their abilities, but when it came to Sun she was unsure. Blake has seen Sun in action, and while he seemed competent in combat, that didn't mean he deserved to be here. He had a chance of dying, and that was something Blake was unsure she could handle if it came to it.

"Of course there are, Sun." Blake responded quieter than he had. She needed to set aside her worries for now if she wanted to get anything done. As they both walked towards the crowd of White Fang supporters and recruits, she continued talking. "The Faunus people in Vale are angered and restless. Years of oppression and discrimination has made our kind hateful and seeking of a scapegoat. It also doesn't help that the Black Fang have been carrying out operations against the White Fang again. The Faunus are scared, scared for their lives and their families lives. They see the White Fang as a protector from the Black Fang and any brutality any other Humans try to do."

"Woah, that's really insightful." Sun admitted, as they came to a stop in the crowd. Looking around, he couldn't help but think about how they fit in with the crowd. "But isn't that really counterproductive? I mean, I get trying to get protection from the Black Fang by joining a bigger crowd, but doesn't that only make you a bigger target for the Black Fang?"

"That's what I'm confused about too." Blake admitted, watching as the guy on stage talked about oppression and discrimination. Honestly, he was making some pretty good points up there. "What would convince an already scared group of people to join the White Fang? I'm sure that they should know the consequences of joining such a group, so what kind of promises could they make to get so many Faunus to join them?"

"Now!" The speaker spoke louder, grabbing the attention of both Blake and Sun. "Let me introduce a very special comrade of ours!" and as he spoke, clad in white, red and Brown, was Roman Torchwick, the infamous crime Lord. Blake had some choice words to describe him, but refrained. Roman wasn't worth the words she had. The crowd seemed to share her sentiment though, as a round of boos and agitated Faunus shared their distaste for the man. "I can assure you, he is the key for what we have fought for, for so long!"

"Thank you! Thank you! Please, hold your applause!" Roman spoke, amusement clear in his voice. It disgusted Blake how he could find joy in doing what he does.

"What's a human doing here!?" A random voice called out. Sun and Blake couldn't help but agree with that question. What was a human doing here? This was a meeting for Faunus; for the White Fang! The White Fangs motives seem to be contradicting their own beliefs.

"I'm glad you asked, dearie!" Roman said as the crowd quieted down, allowing for the outsider to speak. "Now, I'll be the first to admit; Humans are the worst. Case in point!" Roman spoke, motioning towards himself. "So, I understand why you would all want to see us locked away… or better yet: killed!" And that was true. You could practically feel the bloodlust in the air. "But! Before the claws come out I would like to mention the fact that you and I ALL have a common enemy! The ones in control, the people pulling the strings, the dirty rotten humans that run our Kingdoms! Government. Military. Even the schools. They're all to blame for your lot in life." There was a mixture of applause and disapproval sounded around. Apparently some of the more hardcore haters detested the idea of working with a human. "And they're all pests that need to be dealt with. Fortunately, I'm the best exterminator around." Roman seemed to freeze at this, realizing something. "No offense to any rodents in the room."

With a snap of his fingers, Blake realized why the White Fang would stoop so low as to work with this man, as to why they would work with a human. The curtain fell, revealing one of the biggest man piloted machines Blake had ever come to witness. It was tall, so tall that it had to crouch just to fit in the warehouse. Blake could feel Suns nervousness as he stared at the goliath, and she couldn't help herself but feel intimidated as well. The whole room was dead silent at the sight, surprised and astounded Roman was able to get this sort of monstrosity.

"This!" Roman said, motioning to the giant robot "Is Atlas' newest line of defense against all the scary things in the world! And thanks to my employer, we've managed to snag a few before they, uh, hit the shelves." Roman said, his voice tinged with pride at the weapon he was able to get his hands on.

Roman proceeded to encourage the Faunus, giving directions to a base of operations in the south east. He spoke of how if they wished to stay in the city, that was fine, but if they truly wanted to fight for what they believed in, then they would head with him there.

"This is the arsenal I can provide you." Roman spoke glee in his voice as he practically won over the Faunus. Begrudgingly, Blake had to admit that this was extremely convincing. If Blake was willing to rejoin the White Fang, she knew that this would have been the perfect entrance ceremony for her. Turning to Sun, she was about to suggest leaving. "But wait, before you lot get all riled up, there's more to this than just some fancy toy you can get at your local toy store. Today, I brought along a little something extra for those in the fence about this fabulous deal!"

"Oh god, there's more!?" Sun complained, nervous about what was to come. It was reasonable too, seeing as what Roman had shown so far was frightening as it was. If he had more to show, it must be better than what he has already shown. That was the way Roman rolled.

"Alas, without further ado, I present to you tonight's main event!" As Roman held out his hand to the right of him, a man in a ruined uniform slowly walked out from behind the giant mech. The man stood still, as if getting in position to do something. "Allow me to introduce you! This is one of our many White Fang members, but this boy is much, much different. You see, we have Huntsmen and Huntresses bearing down our neck each and every day. Trying to quell our justified resistance. But don't you ever find it unfair? How people with Superpowers like them can just do as they please? To bully and pick on us just because we're weaker than them!?" A round of applause emitted throughout the room, Romans words resonating with the Faunus. "Luckily, my employer and I have found a remedy for this little problem. Let me introduce you, to the world of Magic!"

As if practiced, or even staged, the floor beneath the blonde boys feet shattered and cracked, before a large crater was formed. The sound of silence was left behind as the crowd of Faunus watched in amazement of the spectacle that had just occurred. Of course, this was nothing to the few individuals in the room with their Aura's unlocked. With enough Aura concentrated in one focal point in the body, you could be able to see crush your surroundings in a blink of an eye. Almost always though, this took a considerable amount and the users Aura was always on display when in use.

This was not the case here.

"How is he doing that!?" Blake asked, astonished by the sheer power of the boy. The blondes Aura was nonexistent to Blake's eyes, yet not only did he crush the ground beneath him with ease, he created a crater large enough to be a swimming pool. 'Maybe it was his semblance? To increase his weight enough to cave in the floor he was on?'

"Now to those of you in the crowd thinking to yourself, 'Why is he showing off some kid who can break the ground? Anybody with Aura can do that!' Well, let me prove you wrong there!" Roman said, practically reading Blake's mind. Roman leaned on his Cain, getting comfortable. "This here, is Magic. Not to be confused with Aura. Now, Magic works similar to Aura, but at the same time quite different. Aura, in its simplest form, covers the user in a protective coating that defends and heals its owner. Magic, doesn't do that. Magic goes through the body, coming out and altering reality itself. Now here's where the similarities come into play. With enough practice, Magic and Aura can strengthen the body to a superhuman state. Speed, Strength, and endurance. It doesn't end there, as Aura users have Semblance, Magic Users have Divine Protections. Both work practically the same, but Divine Protections are a little different." Roman gave a mischievous grin, a sign that Blake nor Sun felt comfortable with. "For example."

Before anybody could stop him, Roman Torchwick lifted his cane and shot the boy in the head. A shocked silence filled the room as the body crumbled to the floor, his limbs a tangled mess. Both Suns and Blake's mouth hung open in surprise and shock at what had happened. Whatever they had expected, they hadn't expected Torchwick to straight up murder a White Fang member. Even a person who could wield Aura wouldn't be able to live with a bullet fired from point blank. Blake's fist clenched tightly in uncontrolled rage. She might have been against the White Fang and what they stood for, but she didn't want to see them die for their misdeeds. She wanted to convince them what they were doing is wrong, not lop off their heads because they were causing trouble. Opening her mouth, Blake was about to call Torchwick out.

"Ya god damn bastard!" The boy yelled, sitting up in a rage. The bullet fell out of the side of his head, the dent it left healing in seconds. That was inhuman, even for a Hunter. Getting up, he walked towards Roman, looking like he was about to kill someone. "What 'he hell do ya think your doin'!? That freakin' hurt! If you wanted a' example, you shoulda' warned me first! Now my head hurts and my ear is ringin'! Hey! Are ya even listen-"

"As you could see, this boy survived a bullet entering his head at point blank range. That itself should prove that Magic exists, or at least convince you this is a new power." Roman said, pushing the raging boy out of the way. "That being said, I can provide you with powers similar to this. All you have to do is join the White Fang, and it can all be yours." Roman smiled, putting a cigarette in his mouth. "Any questions?"

'Of course they won't!' Blake thought to herself, hopeful that the recruits wouldn't buy his propaganda. Yet, one by one the crowd moved forward, cheering and chanting for the White Fang. Blake couldn't help but be disappointed at the recruits, they hardly knew what they were getting themselves into. They will be made to kill humans, innocent bystanders that wouldn't even know what they did wrong. 'It just isn't right!'

"Those with Aura, go to the right side of the room. Those who haven't unlocked theirs yet step to the right! Those with Aura won't be able to use Magic!" The stage host yelled.

"Uh, hey Blake?" Sun spoke up, shaking Blake out of her daze. Glancing at him, she gave a silent 'What?' "I think we're about to be spotted!"

True to his word, Roman was staring right in their direction, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. Panicking, Blake looked around the room for a quick escape. Spotting a generator on one of the laws, she gave Sun a look.

"Get ready to run." Without waiting for a response, Blake pulled out her Gambol Shroud, firing a shot in the direction of the generator. Within less than a second, the generator blew, causing the lights to cut. Blake and Sun took this chance to make their Grand Escape.

A Few minutes Later

"So, we infiltrated a White Fang recruitment drive, successfully got some pretty neat information, and got out without any problems!" Sun summed up, Blake not really paying any attention. "So, do you care to explain how a FREAKING ROBOT AND HUMAN ROCKET ARE CHASING US!?"

"Less complaining, more running Sun!" Blake yelled as she hopped across another roof. Indeed, it was a wonder how Roman was able to tell where they went when the lights went out, but Blake had summed it up to chance. It was either that, or the monster of a boy lead Roman to them. It was most likely the second, as he was doing a good job on tailing them.

The whole reason Blake even considered him a monster was because of the fact of his they chased them. When Blake and Sun had made their escape, they had chosen to jump out of the warehouse windows. What did the boy do? Run through the freaking wall. While they gracefully jumped across buildings, what did he do? Projectile launched himself at them.

"God he's fast! And look at the size of that thing! It's like we're in some Mecha anime!" Sun yelled, frightful of the goliath that Roman was piloting. Admittedly, Blake was probably as fearful or more of the giant Mech. If she went up against that… Blake shuddered at the thought. "Hey! What are we gonna do!? It's catching up!"

'Crap! It was!' Thinking fast, Blake gave her surroundings a look. A nail salon. A sushi restaurant. A park. A dog- 'The Park!'

"Sun! Follow me, we're going to try to lose them in the park!" Blake yelled as she hopped down to ground level, Sun following close behind her. She could hear the thunder of metal pounding at the ground slowly come to a stop before picking right back up. 'Roman must have turned to get to us.'

Hopping into the trees, they started going in Zig Zag motions, doing their best to lose their pursuers. It was all for naught though, as for each move they did, the boy and Mecha followed without fail. Blake needed to plan. If they couldn't lose them, then they would need to fight back. Pulling out her Scroll, she rung up everyone, the only one to be unresponsive was Ruby. That was a cause of concern for her, but now wasn't the time for that.

"Everyone! We need back up-"

"HEEEEELP!" Sun yelled, taking over the call. "There's a giant freaking robot and freaky Magic man chancing us right now! We need back up ASAP!"

"Smooth." Blake rolled her eyes, Suns other side being… less than manly. It wasn't bad, but compared to his appearance it was a little off putting. Actually, it was because of his appearance that it was so off putting.

"Hey! Isn't that Ruby!?" Sun called out. Curious, Blake gave her surroundings a look around. Spotting a familiar red head, Blake could see her… Dancing!? "Hey, is she dancing? And who's that guy?" Sun gave a gasp of surprise, a look of disgust marring his face. "I didn't take her for one of those kinds of girls!"

"She isn't like that!" Blake defended, watching as Ruby continued to jump up and down, excitement clear on her face. Blake had only ever seen Ruby like that when Blake let her see her weapon. At the time, Ruby had called it one of the coolest weapons she ever saw. To see her like this obviously meant something similar must be going on. "Sun! Let's go grab her!"

"Right!" Sun replied as they dashed over to her. Flying over her, Blake gave her a shout, which she assumed she heard. Without looking back, Sun and Blake continued in their way. They couldn't afford to stop now, as they didn't have everybody yet. They would just have to hope she heard.

"Hey!" A voice spoke up behind them. Glancing back, she could see Ruby doing her best to keep up with both Sun and Blake. How she caught up to them so fast, Blake assumed she used her Semblance for. Speed was such a useful Semblance at times. "What's going on!? Why is there a awesome robot chasing you guys!?"

"You think that's awesome!?" Sun blanched, disbelief clear on his face. "How in the world do you think that's awesome!?"

"Well… I mean… look at it!" Ruby yelled back, defending her opinion. "It looks so cool! The lasers and all those guns just look so awesome!"

"But we're being chased by it!" Sun yelled back. "Doesn't that scare you at all!?"

"Of course it does, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate it!" Ruby yelled back, holding Crescent Rose closer to her.

"She's a weapon freak, Sun. Convincing her that machine isn't cool is like beating your head against a rock." Blake said, causing Ruby to have tears run down her cheeks.

"No one will understand us, Crescent Rose!" Ruby cried, hugging Crescent Rose closer to her chest. Sun snickered at her antics, while Blake gave a smile and rolled her eyes.

A resounding boom caught all their attention. Glancing in the direction of the noise, the could see debris fly in all directions. Rocks the size of boulders flew through the air before making a anticlimactic thud as they made contact with the ground. Truly, it was a strange sight to behold.

"Hey what was that!?" Sun asked, his mouth running without him thinking. But it was a good question. What could make such giant objects fly through the air like it was nothing?

Vale

Park

A Few minutes prior

Subaru gave a gasp of surprise, his eyes widening as he felt his soul grasp onto his body once again, death having failed to retrieve its prize once more. Subaru saw it from the corner of his eye; the monster that had killed him over thirty seven times. Sweat formed on his cheek as he heard the familiar grunts of The Beast as he shifted in his stance. A feeling akin to worry gripped his heart as The Beast stood at his full height, which was shorter than him but almost twice as intimidating. His abs filled Subaru with a sort of jealous loathing. The Beasts teeth shined with a uncanny sharpness that could only be described as inhuman.

Standing in front of Subaru, growling like a starved beast, was one of the toughest opponents Subaru had ever come across since joining the Cult. And that wasn't even a exaggeration. This blonde haired beast was one of the best fighters that he had seen besides Elsa. That wasn't to say that he was the greatest judge of skill, but if he was able to kill Subaru, the Archbishop of Pride, without even breaking a sweat then it must say something about his talent. The blonde was not only difficult on a level of strength but speed as well, jumping back and forth between the trees so quickly that Subaru was unable to keep track before a fist implanted itself into his lung.

If Subaru had to say, he would put this Beast somewhere on the level of Elsa, which he wished he would never have to face again. While he had survived the encounter with the Vampire of Gusteko, it was a gruesome string of events that even lead to that happy end. And this was no different.

It wasn't like Subaru could run away either, as the spawn point had changed to right as Ruby left, leaving him in an endless loop of "CULTIST" courtesy of deaths little baby maker, the blonde abstract. Constantly Subaru had to hear his killer drone on about how evil he was and that he murdered yatta yatta yatta many people. It's not like the dead had any place in this fight, so he didn't understand why this beast made such a big deal out of it. Well, Subaru really couldn't complain, for each time the beast went on his rant, it gave time for Subaru to think of a new strategy in killing him. All of them had failed of course, but Subaru hadn't gained nothing for his ventures.

The Beast seemed to never take his feet off the ground. Now, that might sound stupid to just assume that had any relevance, but it did. During the many loops Subaru had suffered, he had come to notice a difference in combat prowess when he was mid flight and on the ground. It was like his body tensed itself midair, while on the ground he almost seem open to any form of attacks. Which, by the way, Subaru had yet to land one.

That was another thing that made this man so much more terrifying to fight. While he seemed to be full of openings and chances that Subaru could take full advantage of, it was not that case at all. Every move that this beast made, every step, radiated power and precision. Every move Subaru made was like taking a step closer to his own personal doomsday. Subaru felt like he was a puppet connected to a puppeteers string.

'Don't fool me with that Bull crap!' Subaru thought to himself in his head, sneering with distaste. Frustration for the beast and this world finally bearing fruit. 'I didn't do all those atrocious things just to end up in a dead end! I didn't leave that forsaken mansion to just give up now! I didn't make the friends I have just to keel over like some dead pup in some back alley! I didn't join the Cult to lose!'

"Cultist!" The Beast yelled again, his teeth flaring with unkempt hatred. Turning his body to the beast, Subaru gave him a look full of spite. He wouldn't let this rage control him however. Subaru needed to think of a way to get out of this. "What is a cultist doing here!?"

"I'm just traveling around the world." Subaru answered, readying his body for the fight to come. Subaru needed to get his body off the ground, and that was going to be no easy task. He would need to play dirty. "This is my first time visiting a Kingdom, and I thought I would take in the sights. What about you? From what I can tell, you must be a Magic user."

"Huh? How did yo-" The Beast started, only to be interrupted by Subaru as he ran up to him, using the Unseen Hand to pull cement out of the ground to use as a cover for his next attack. This had the desired effect, as the beast used his arms to cover his face. Thanking whatever God there was looking out for him, Subaru gave the Beast an Unseen Hand enhanced uppercut. The Unseen Hand had a son of uses other than squishing people to death, as Betelgeuse was so adamant on doing to every one of his victims. The special thing that nobody ever noticed about the Unseen Hand was that physical objects didn't stop it. It was able to go through a Lugnica Knight without any difficulty, cutting through flesh and bone with ease(1). So, using this knowledge, Subaru used his two Unseen Hands to give a triple uppercut.

The attack connected, but this didn't satisfy Subaru at all. If anything it made him fearful. Flying back, doing spins along the way, the Beast landed on all fours, skidding to a stop. Subaru couldn't help but blanch at what he had witnessed. Subaru thought he had a good read on this beasts skill, but now he could truly tell how outclassed he truly was.

"You… you leaned back to reduce the damage?" Subaru questioned, unsure if he was seeing things. The Beast rubbed his chin, a small bruise forming before quickly healing. 'Great, so he has healing powers too!'

"Damn! You saw that!? You must got some pretty good eyes if you saw me do that!" The Beast complimented, which seemed extremely out of place from the previous loops. Normally all he would do is cuss and curse Subaru's very existence. To do a complete one eighty like that must mean something… right? "But I won't let you get in a punch like that again, you hear!? That freaking hurt and I'm gonna make you pay for that tenfold!"

"Please, don't." Subaru begged, internally crying at the thought of dying again. It hurt so much to die, but this wasn't only dying in a normal way. This was brutalization. 'At least I haven't been squished yet! I'm happy for that!'

Almost like he was readying his mind, The Beast stomped on the ground. A big chunk of the earth suddenly became unearthed, appearing to float above the ground. This chunk of earth blocked Subaru's view of the Beast, making him all the more nervous. Suddenly, the rock started moving, spinning. It was only on the final spin that Subaru understood what the Beast was trying to do. Thinking fast, Subaru used the Unseen Hand to push himself into the air, narrowly dodging the boulder thrown his way.

"Gotcha!" Looking up, Subaru felt himself shrink in fear. Above him, spinning rapidly, was the beast. It didn't take a genius to realize what he intended to do, and it only took an idiot to not feel the chill of death as it creeped up on him. Wordlessly, Subaru cursed his own luck at what was bound to happen next.

'I don't want to be crushed!' Subaru thought to himself as he frantically thought of a way out of this. He was unable to move midair, he was unable to cast any spells unless he was close range. He was unable to att- 'That's it! This is my chance!'

Grinning, Subaru reached out to the beast, too far from his reach. Using the Unseen Hand, he grabbed onto the beasts leg, who let out a surprised yelp. Squishing the leg in his hand, Subaru heard the satisfying crunch of bone followed by a panicked scream. Subaru would have continued, if not for the beasts quick thinking. The Beast, who didn't know what was going on, ignored his pain and gave Subaru a kick to the jaw on pure instincts. They both fell to the ground, mangled meats of flesh and bone.

Groaning, Subaru rubbed his sore chin. Even though he got hit, he couldn't help but feel happy. His theory on his opponent was right. When he's on the ground, he was much more stronger than anyone he faced. His punches were like stone, and his kicks felt like a thousand blunt swords weighing down on him. This, however, wasn't the case here. As the Beast made contact with Subaru, he could tell that the kick was weaker than it was before. Much, much weaker. In previous loops Subaru's head would have been disconnected from its spine; this time all he felt was a headache.

Not to say it didn't hurt. God's no, it hurt like hell. While it wasn't on par with those of before, it still had a kick(2) to it. Grunting, Subaru did his best to stand, the world spinning without a care in the world. With a stumble, Subaru covered his mouth, his lunch not sitting right with him. Swallowing his bile, Subaru did his best to focus on his opponent.

Wait. Where was he?

"I'm gonna kill you!"

'Above!?'

It was only on pure instinct that Subaru wasn't crushed by the kick the Beast sent. Using the Unseen Hands, Subaru pushed himself back, the kick mere inches from his face. With a resounding crack, the Earth where Subaru previously occupied caved in. The Beasts left leg limply hanging onto the rest of his body. He must have been in extreme pain, if the way his mouth was moving was any indication. Due to the excessive movement, Subaru wasn't able to hold in the contents of his stomach anymore. Tasting the undigested food was as disgusting as it sounded coming out. Wiping his mouth, Subaru gave a glare at the Beast, the world still spinning. He needed to buy time so the effects of the kick wore off.

"What's your name?" Subaru spoke up, his voice slurred, asking the confused Beast, who proceeded to shift his leg back into place. With a grunt, the Beast stood on one leg, the other an inch off the ground. The Beast gave a sneer, the expression strong enough to tell him a thousand words within an instant.

"Why should I tell a villain like you?" The Beast questioned, not declining. He was just merely inquiring what the purpose was to lending his name out. Subaru smiled at this; of course he wouldn't share his name so willingly as he. It was no matter; it gave Subaru more time to think of a plan. Shifting his body in a comfortable stance, Subaru continued.

"Because you're a good fighter." Subaru complimented, purposefully stroking his ego. Everyone caved in when their ego was stroked long enough. "You're one of the toughest opponents I have ever fought one on one, and I've went up against some of The Volakia Empires finest (I hope so). So the least you could do is share your name with me, so I may remember it the rest of my life."

"Who says yer gonna be making it outta this alive!?" The Beast yelled, his teeth flaring the knives he called teeth. Subaru was wondering why such a Human looking Demi-Human was in the White Fang. Actually, Subaru was still curious, but he'd have to work on him if he wanted to learn why. "I'm gonna kill you right here and now!"

"I never said I was going to make it out of here." Subaru spoke honestly. Subaru was fully aware that he might not make it out of here, even if the headache subsided. Not that he had any intention of dying here. "I am just wondering what your name is, is all. If I'm going to die here I would like to at least know my killers name."

The Beast seemed to stop at this, his anger subsiding for just a second to take on a thoughtful expression before reverting back to its normal angered expression. The Beast gave a 'Tsk' sound, tapping his foot and looking in multiple directions. With a weary sigh, he gave Subaru a cheerful grin, his attitude shifting to a one eighty. Subaru couldn't help but think, by a stroke of luck, if they weren't on opposing sides they would have made for great friends. Too bad that day will never be.

"Th' names Garfiel Tinsel!" The Beast revealed, pointing to himself like he was the next big thing. Subaru looked at him, surprised. He honestly didn't think that The Beast would have revealed his name so carelessly. If Subaru was Gluttony, then that would have been endgame for Garfiel. "A' Huntsmen in trainin' an' occasional White Fang member! Yer ass better remember tha' on yer way t' hell, Cultist!"

Subaru couldn't help but smile at this. This guys cheerfulness was contagious. It made him want to forget about his hatred of The White Fang and set aside their differences just to have a drink with him. However, as much as he wished to, Subaru knew it was impossible. They both detested the others group, and them by extension. As regrettable as it was, only one of them would be leaving here alive tonight.

'Maybe in the next life, Garfiel, we can be friends.' Subaru thought hopefully. Subaru was by no way religious, even if he was in a 'Church.' He believed in a higher entity, but not in a way traditional religion saw it. Something must have created life, and by mistake, them.

"I am a Archbishop of the Witches Sect representing Pride, Subaru Natsuki." Subaru revealed, much to the shock of Garfiel, who couldn't help but take one step back. Subaru grinned at this; so he was infamous even down here? "Nice to meet you!"

"Y-You're a' freakin' Archbishop!?" Garfiel asked, unconvinced. Understandable, since Subaru was probably the weakest Archbishop there was in existence. If Garfiel had fought any of the other Archbishops he would have most likely died by now. "What in the hell is'a Archbishop doing here in Remnant!? I thought you guys didn't come down here!"

"I told you, I'm just exploring." Subaru repeated with a shake of his head. Why didn't people listen to him more. Oops, that sounded a little too much like Regulus. "I'm not always looking to kill people left and right, you know? Most if the time I like to explore the world, and take in its sights. It's only when I go on missions when I kill."

"Bull shit!" Garfiel yelled, denying the facts. Not like it mattered, seeing as one of them would be dead soon. "You guys created the Black Fang! Do you know how many Faunus have died because of those psychos!?"

"Hey! I didn't create the Black Fang! That was all Bete- Sloth!" Subaru defended, disgusted at the notion that he would take credit for that freaks work. Truly, Betelgeuse was tasteless when it came to killing, as he tore people limb from limb, torturing them to death. Subaru just cut them down, not wanting to prolong someone's death. Subaru knew how that felt, so he wouldn't wish that upon someone else. "Also, that's a pretty hypocritical thing to say, Garfiel. I'm not sure what the Black Fang does, but I'm pretty sure that the White Fang kills humans and kidnaps kids to ransom them. Isn't that equally as vile?"

"But it was you humans who started this! Ya have discriminated th'Faunus fer centuries, an' when we finally get our rights you try t'force us onto a crowded island!" Garfiel reasoned, their debate heating up. This was probably never something Subaru expected to have in a fight to the death. "Not jus' 'hat, but we are still picked on! I saw Faunus beaten on the street jus' because they had different ears than humans! Ain't that justifiable for retaliation!?"

"Sure, but let's look at the Black Fang then." Subaru offered, defending his side. "The Black Fang are a group of Humans that fight against the White Fang because they don't feel safe. They join this gang to protect themselves and their families from international terrorists that kidnap children to ransom them. Isn't that justifiable too?"

"Ugh- Why you!" Garfiel growled, cornered. It was obvious that he wasn't used to verbal arguments. Apparently his skill for combat didn't transition well with words. Standing, Garfiel gave a growl, bending his legs in preparation for a jump. "Lets fight, Pride!"

'Wait! His leg should be broken! How is it-' Then Subaru remembered, Garfiel could heal. He was able to take a enhanced fist attack, and heal it within a second. Cursing, Subaru prepared himself to dodge.

"Not so fast!" Garfiel yelled as he punched the ground. At first it seemed that held no purpose, but as the seconds ticked down, Subaru had realized what Garfiel had done. With a mighty shake, the world around Subaru tipped over. The ground below him became a crater.

Grinning, Garfiel jumped, ready to tear Subaru to shreds. Surprise filled Subaru's face as he realized he had lost. Cursing his luck, he tightly closed his eyes, hoping it would be painless.

"Cowabunga!"

Both Garfiel and Subaru gave a surprised gasp as a foot implanted itself onto Garfiel's cheek, sending the Demi-Human flying. With a flip, Garfiel skid to a to a stop. Subaru landed on his back, letting out a pained gasp as a rock hit his tail bone.

"Hey! Are you alright!?" His savior asked, his eyes never leaving the shaken form of Garfiel. Subaru looked up at the man before him, his white colored shirt wide open for the world to see. His pants were rolled up to his knees, making him wonder why he would wear them in the first place. He held a red staff, gold ceremonial markings lining the weapon from top to bottom. He had golden blond hair, similar to Garfiel, and a golden tail that waved wildly. "Dude, you're worrying me here! You don't know how ticked Ruby would be if you got brain damage here!"

"Ruby?" Subaru asked, his brain collecting the pieces of information of who that was. With a start, he remembered the over excited Silver Eyed girl, all to eager to learn more about him. How he forgot about her was a mystery, but considering it had been hours for him since he last saw her, it was a reasonable excuse. Getting up, he kept an eye on Garfiel, who seemed to be panicking about something, probabky the mask the mask falling apart. "Did she send you?"

"Huh? Oh! Yeah!" The Blonde Faunus said as he watched Subaru out of the corner of his eye. Shifting his Staff into a defense stance, he continued his talk. "Yeah! She wouldn't stop freaking out that you might be killed, so I volunteered to help you out! You actually saved my skin too! I really didn't want to fight a giant robot! Names Sun Wukong by the way!"

"Giant Robot?" Subaru asked, modern technology being lost on him(3). Having come from Lugnica, which was still in a primitive age, concepts like Cars and Robots were a thing of rarity for him. The only modern concepts he knew about were guns and boats. "What's that?"

"You don't know what a Robot is!?" Sun yelled, astonished by this revelation. "You know, those giant things made of metal that make loud sounds as they walk and have a ton if guns on them!? One was chasing us earlier when we passed by!"

"Um… I'm not re- OH!" Subaru said as he put his right fist in his palm, his eyes widening in realization. "You were that guy who was with that girl jumping in the trees! Ugh, now I'm getting all jealousy again."

"Yeah! And how did you get Ruby to dance like that anyways? Blake said it was because she's a weapon freak, but you don't look like you use a weapon." The Monkey noted, impressing Subaru with his observations. "You didn't pay her… did you?"

"What? No!" Subaru defended, waving his hands as The Monkey chuckled. "I just showed her a ability of mine and she started freaking out! Besides, I don't think she's some common prostitute you could pay for services."

"Well, that's good! Now I don't have to worry about Yang coming to kill you!" The Monkey said as his body stiffened. Standing besides the blonde Faunus, Subaru watched as the mask of Garfiel crumbled to pieces, revealing jaded eyes, and a terrible scar across his face. Subaru could hear the Faunus gave a groan. "This guy looks like serious business. Please tell me that this isn't going to be as hard as it looks."

"This might be harder than you expect, actually." Subaru replied, Sun groaning heavily. Subaru smiled wryly at him. "I think I have a plan though. I wasn't able to pull it off before, but I'm sure I'll be able to now. All I need you to do is give me a chance to grab him."

"Wait! We're actually going to fight him!?" The Monkey asked, freaking out. "I thought we were just going to run, not take on this human rocket!"

"Of course we are! I used up thirty seven loops for this! I want my revenge!" Subaru yelled back, confusing the poor Faunus. It wasn't like he needed to know, or could know, so Subaru didn't bother explaining. "Just give me a chance to grab him and we'll win! Can you do that!?"

"Ugh. I got a feeling I don't have a choice here." The Faunus groaned, readying himself for a fight. "Just don't take too long, ok!?

"Don't worry." Subaru said as he readied himself, a familiar pleasure coursing through his body. He hadn't used this power in a long time, cause there was really no need to. Subaru had traveled with Regulus since he joined the Cult, so there was really no need for him to use Magic. Now, however, Regulus wasn't with him. Regulus was the one who, begrudgingly, did all the heavy lifting. Subaru just watched as the hot shots were slaughtered. Now, however, Regulus wasn't here. He needed to use his own powers and skills. Skills he spent years honing for the sole purpose of standing on par with the rest of the Archbishops. All that training Purpura gave him would finally bare fruit.

"Alright… well, here I go!" The Monkey said, as he charged at Garfiel headlong. That wasn't something Subaru expected, as he thought he would go for a more strategic approach. Subaru didn't care much for Suns life, but he needed him so he could use his spell. It would be a hassle to do this all over again if he were to fail now.

The Monkey ran, a grin clear on his face. Garfiel, in response to the incoming threat, stomped on the ground trying to trip him. Instead, the Faunus used the staff to launch himself off the ground before it crumbled to pieces. Going over Garfiel, Sun landed in a crouch, his grin having a mischievous tint to it. Lifting the staff, he hit Garfiel's back side, making the Beast budge. Following that, Sun hit Garfiel on multiple parts of his body; right rib, left rib, left knee, right shoulder. Each hit making the Beast flinch and cave in. Until finally, Garfiel caught up to the Monkeys speed and grabbed the staff.

Instead of this being the end for Sun however, the staff unhooked itself. Guns connected to chains revealed themselves to everyone in the vicinity. With a grin that could make the coldest heart in the world beat, he started firing shot after shot into Garfiel. Garfiel in turn had been struck by multiple rubber rounds, but that didn't last for long. Apparently Subaru had been right in adjusting Garfiel's skill, as he casually adapted to the raging monkey. Solid shots soon became missed blanks as Garfiel pushed and deflected the guns out of the way. Rounds passed Subaru's shocked face as he did his best not to get hit.

Grunting in pain, Garfiel focused on the ground, caving in the cement below him. This startled Sun, who did his best to not fall face first. It didn't matter however, as Garfiel's fist rammed itself into his face. Knocking Sun back, rocks and debris followed in his wake by the force. Sun came to a stop by a tree, it's wood splintered and shattered by the ongoing battle.

Garfiel didn't let up however. Focusing on his legs again, he launched himself towards the downed Sun, rocks and leaves following in his wake. Just as he was about to rip his fellow blond to shreds, Sun rolled himself out of the way, using his Staff to launch himself in the air and land in a tree. Garfiel's fist implanted itself in the wood, clearly dead by the amount of abuse it had received.

"Dude! You're freaking scary!" Sun said as he crouched on his branch, the leafs fell due to his weight. Garfiel growled, using his foot to unhinge his hand from the tree. "Like, I have met some scary guys, but you definitely take the cake! Roman Torchwick might dress like a bad guy, but you have the face and teeth to just pull off that 'Ultimate Villain' slot!"

"Why're ya helping 'hat punk!?" Garfiel questioned, ignoring Suns insults. "That guy is t'true bad guy 'ere! He's a member of the Black Fang! An enemy t'us Faunus! Y'should help me kill him!"

Sun's eyes widened in surprise. His head snapped to Subaru, a pained expression set upon his face. Watching, Sun started noticing the similarities between the Black Fang and him. While he hadn't ran into any of them personally, Sun had heard of the horror stories about them and what they wore. The skins and bones of the wildlife within and outside the Kingdom, a mockery of all Faunus alike. The killings and atrocities they committed reached all the way through the Underground to the public.

They were not good people. And he was one of them?

"You… You're a Black Fang?" Sun asked, Garfiel allowing for the conversation to take place. Sun watched, as Subaru looked away, unresponsive. Sun stood shocked, unsure how to take this response. Honestly, Sun detested the Black Fang; they were racist, oppressive and insane. Although, the same could be said about the White Fang. They have done as much, if more, atrocious things to this world the the Black Fang has. "Are you really?"

Subaru grimace, not wanting to admit it. He technically wasn't part of the Black Fang, and had no business with them, but in all honesty that was a lie. Subaru actively supported the Black Fang, if only part of his petty revenge. Gritting his teeth, he looked directly at Sun. He detested lies.

"I hate Faunus." Subaru admitted, surprising Sun by the bluntness of this revelation. "I detest them with every fiber of my being. I hate every non-human. They are liars, they manipulate and murder without a care in the world! They think that they rule the world when in reality they walk the same soil we do! What right do they have to kill families and ruin friendships just because they exist!? Faunus never keep their word, they cheat you out of your money and Will backstab you without a second thought! I hate every Faunus and Demi-Human that exists!"

Sun didn't respond immiedstly, Subaru's words holding so much emotion and belief in them that even someone like him understood Subaru had meaning to say those. That if he were to lie about it, Subaru would have probably killed himself. As dark as that was for Sun to think, he didn't doubt it one bit. The look in the eyes of the dark haired one was cold and merciless.

"Ya see now!?" Garfiel yelled, catching the attention of Sun. Subaru watched, prepared for the betrayal. "He's a'racist an' murderer! As Faunus, we need'a kill him before he kills more of us!"

"Nah, I'm good!" Sun declined, squatting on the tree, his grin resembling a monkey's.

"Huh?" Subaru and Garfiel both sounded at the same time. Both Hazel and Jaded eyes watched as the monkey scratched his cheek sheepishly.

"Well, I mean, look at you two!" Sun said, pointing to Subaru. "You're part of a group that actively hunts down Faunus like we're the next big game! I don't like the thought of that, but even a kid could tell you have your reasons!" Sun then pointed the staff to Garfiel. "And your no better! You joined a group of Human killers that actively kill and ransom children! Not cool, man!"

"So, yer not gonna help m'kill this freak?" Garfiel asked, his brain not processing fast enough. Nobody could say that Garfiel was the sharpest tool in the shed without being a complete liar.

"Nah, I'll stick with him this time!" Sun said, as he stretched his legs, getting ready to get back to fighting. "I mean, I did make a promise with Ruby, and if I don't keep it she'll be upset. When she's upset, Blake will be upset."

Garfiel bristled, his anger clear on his face. Without meaning to, he round house kicked the tree right next to him destroying its base. Grabbing the tree itself, he spun around and tossed it at a very surprised Sun, who narrowly dodged the incoming threat. Landing on the ground, he had to back flip to avoid a downwards kick sent Garfiel. Not letting up, Garfiel sweep kicked Sun, successfully landing a hit. Fortunately, Sun was able to use the staff to launch him further back, avoiding a side chop Garfiel sent.

For Subaru, this fight was too much for him. Sure, he had went up against the likes of Elsa and some of Volakia's finest, but whenever he had he always had someone with him. He was always with Regulus or his own grunts, who protected him with their lives. He had always used the powers of others to further his own goals, not his own. Now that he was alone, it made him realize how powerless he truly was.

Even with Sun, an Enigma to him, Subaru felt completely useless. Sure, he was probably going to be the one to finish Garfiel, but that was still due to the help of Sun. He didn't have the moves or abilities that these two monsters had, and that sent a bout of jealousy through his body.

So as he watched the two blondes jump and attack with a strength no normal human can attain, he swore to himself that he will one day gain that skill and power(4).

Sun sent an uppercut with his staff, stunning the raging blond. Following up, he sent his Staff downwards, aiming for Garfiel's face. Garfiel in turn grabbed the staff between his hand, attempting to pull it out of the monkeys hands. Sun didn't falter however, knowing that he would die if he did. Not letting go of the weapon, he used the force of the pull to jump over Garfiel and push him forward. Landing, he poked Garfiel in the back, who gave a roar of rage.

"Fine! 'F y'want t'fight like that then I won't hold back!" Garfiel yelled, throwing off his vest. Sun watched skeptically as Garfiel relaxed his body. With his eyes widening with adrenaline, Garfiel's body bulged and convulsed, golden hair grew all over his body. His teeth, as sharp as knives, turned into daggers as his legs cracked and bent back. His circular pupils turned vertical, and the ground around him cracked and deformed. Rocks floated in the air at the sheer power Garfiel was displaying.

"Dude! You were scary enough as you were! Please don't do this to me!" Sun begged as he watched the scene in apprehension. While it may be awe inspiring, Sun never wanted to ever see this again. From the core of his being, he felt like running, but couldn't. Shaking knees and chattering teeth was all he was able to do.

So when Subaru came out of nowhere, grabbing onto Garfiel with a victorious grin, he couldn't help but feel his fear dissipate. Garfiel didn't seem to notice until it was too late, as Subaru chanted the words of binding.

"Ur-Shamak!" Subaru yelled, the words containing a deep, dark magic seeping out from his body. Instinctively, Sun hopped away from the mist, able to tell being in it would be in a world of trouble. As the mist dissipated, Sun saw Subaru standing in front of Garfiel, his eyes cast downwards, drool seeping from his mouth. Walking forward, he gave Subaru a curious look.

"What did you do?" Sun asked, Subaru watching him from the corner of his eye.

"I removed all of Garfiel's senses. He's unable to tell what he's doing, where he's standing, or if he's even breathing." Subaru explained, Sun shocked by the revelation. That was a heck of a useful ability.

"He can be broken out of it, right?" Sun worriedly asked, not wanting a fellow Faunus death on his hands. Subaru glanced at him, before sighing. As stated above, he had a distaste for Non-Humans, but this one had at least saved his life. He would play kind for now.

"Of course." Subaru said as he cocked back his fist, two Unseen Hands forming inside his fist. "But I'm gonna knock him out of the game before then."

With that, Subaru let his fist fly, a direct uppercut with his regular fist. Next, his second fist enhanced that, letting him fly. The third hand however didn't punch him. No, it sunk its claws into him, tearing at his insides. Subaru watched as Garfiel flew through the air, landing out of sight of both Sun and Subaru, dead.

Sun didn't need to know that though.

"Holy crap! You hit hard!" Sun said in amazement, as he watched the body fly through the air, not knowing that he was dead. Again, it was better if he didn't know. Sun yielded his weapon to his back, Subaru gave him a look as Sun started tapping his foot. "So~ what now?"

"Isn't a giant Robot chasing Ruby and that other girl?" Subaru said, not a hint of amusement in his voice. Sun flinched at the tone, a total one eighty from the hyperactive voice during the fight. Something must have changed with that fight. Or was it because he was a Faunus? Something told Sun he didn't want to know.

"Uh, yeah." Sun said as he scratched the back of his head. "Are you sure you wanna go fight that thing though? From what I've seen of the girls, I'm sure that they'll be ok."

"Lets go just to make sure then." Subaru suggested. He started following the trail, his hands in his pockets and his face downcast.

"Awe god Dang it!" Sun said as he followed behind him.

"Freeze!" With a sudden flash of light, Subaru and Sun were blinded, the voice echoing throughout the are. "Put your weapons on the ground! Get on your knees with your hands in the air; NOW!"

"Well… crap!" Sun whined.

Vale

Downtown District

A Few Hours Later

What did it mean to be alive? Was it to live in the wealth of the world? Or struggle against a world that would like to see you dead? Or was it just moving forward, doing your best to survive? What was the meaning? Why does life even exist?

That was what Penny Polendina questioned herself as she ran from the church, a fire of hate and anguish brewing as she distanced herself from it. In her hands a child of unknown age, malnourished and beaten. A tinge of regret and panic filled her heart as he cried for the young Nun left behind in that burning building.

Penny had miscalculated by many digits. She had thought she was facing only one opponent, yet as the battle had dragged on, she was greeted with many other hooded figures, each as skilled as the last. While by no means was she unable to deal with the growing threat, she had to also protect the child in her arms. So with quick thinking, Penny had ran out the building, the hooded figures setting fire to the run down church. It filled her with sadness that she was unable to save those within, but her main concern right now was the Child.

With another jump, she landed on a cars hood, startling the occupants within. She needed to plan. She needed to find a way to get this child to safety before these criminals get to them. Using the GPS implanted in her head, she looked for the nearest police station or Atlas Outpost. While this was indeed Vale, due to recent events Atlas had taken occupation in the Kingdom, bringing their military arsenal to show the world how Atlas will bring peace to the world.

Unknown to Penny, this had the opposite effect. The locals saw the floating ships in the Sky as a declaration of War. Apprehension ran through the air of Vale as they waited for the first set of bombing to take place. Families strayed from Atlas personnel, street rats harassed the local outposts, and an over all chaos had erupted between Vale and Atlas. Of course, this had been covered up to stop fear from escalating to other Kingdoms, as with fear came the creatures of Grimm.

"You should really pay attention to your surroundings." A voice spoke up above her. Dashing forward, Penny narrowly avoided three daggers being imbedded into her back. The person in the car however was not as lucky. The honk of a horn sounded as the once living body landed on the wheel. Landing on another car, Penny looked at her opponent. Masked in all black, a cloak covering her features, was a woman who went by the name Purpura. In Latin, that would translate to purple. Yet, Purpura was also a name of a rash, that Penny couldn't help but to attribute to this woman. "Now look what you made me do. This poor man could have went home to his family, yet because of you he had to meet his untimely demise here."

Penny didn't respond, feelings of sadness and regret gripped her steel heart as she heard the cries of pedestrians who saw the atrocious crime the woman had just committed. Pulling out the bloodied dagger, the woman smiled at Penny, not thinking twice of the blood she had spilled.

"I'll make you an offer." Purpura said, catching Penny's attention. "If you hand over the boy, we'll let you go. Our mission was to quiet him, not kill random bystanders." Purpura lifted the dagger to her face. "Of course, if you intend to continue this farce then I would be happy to oblige."

"No." Penny responded without any hesitation. Holding the child closer to her protectively, she glared at Purpura. Wordlessly, Swords came out of her back, and shot out behind her latching onto building far behind her. Pulling her back, she could see the surprised gasp leave Purpura mouth as she continued to distance herself.

"Crap!" Purpura yelled as she dashed towards the mechanical girl. If she lost sight of them, there was no guarantee that they would be able to track them down again, unless the Witch decided to step in. "We need to kill them!"

Almost like magic, a few Cult members appeared besides her, tossing daggers at the girl. Swords of levitation struck down those daggers though, the girl controlling them. When Purpura had first started her attack on the robot, she thought that this would be a fun battle, toying with her until she ran. Instead, the girl had proved to be not only a worthy opponent, one that could beat her if she truly tried. It scared her how someone so young could be so skilled. Was every child in Remnant like her?

Penny watched as her attackers drew farther away from her, yet she felt no happiness. Many had lost their lives tonight, and she could not save those who moved on. Her sole purpose in life was tarnished in a matter of seconds, yet this feeling would last a lifetime.

Hearing the distinct sounds of clothing moving in the wind, she gave a chance look up, and ended up grateful. As what laid in wait above her was none other more of the hooded beings, their arms drew back in preparation of throwing the spears of death. As the daggers flew through the air, a whistling sound penetrated her ears as they cut through air. Using three of her swords, she cut past the daggers. Gasping in shock, another dagger was hidden behind of its brother. Not having enough time to deflect the attack, she pulled herself towards a skyscraper, receiving damage to her right leg. Luckily it wasn't anything serious, just her skin being peeled off, revealing metal underneath.

With a swing, she turned, using the GPS to find the fastest way to the Atlas military Outpost. Onlookers below watched in amazement, not realizing the dangers that that awaited them if those daggers fell. A hard turn as she swung around another building, the boys shriek of fear frightening her. Holding him tighter, she flew, only to be stopped as more cloaked individuals jumped from the shadows, blocking her way. Throwing more daggers, she repelled them once again, prepared for the one that hid behind the other.

Instead of moving however, Penny stayed stalk still, two of her blades in two adjacent buildings suspending her in the air. It wasn't like she could move however, as she was surrounded by hooded men and woman, all wielding daggers. The crowd below them became more prevalent as time passed, civilians getting out of their cars, taking pictures and making videos. Penny had an internal crisis at this, as with more people formed around them, the more danger she was bringing to Vale.

"You could have just given him to us." Purpura said as she slid out of the shadows, her smile twisted and corrupted. It didn't take a genius to realize she was enjoying this, nor did it take a good Samaritan to detest her for it. "Now we have all these citizens as spectators, but that won't do. If word gets out of our deeds, then it would cause trouble for my husband." Her smile grew more demented. "So like good Shepherds, we must clear the herd!"

As those words left Purpura's mouth, the hooded threats all threw their daggers at the pedestrians down below. Panicking, Penny used her eight remaining blades to continually deflect the daggers that rained from the sky. If she could sweat, she would be sweating buckets by now at how much stress was being transmitted through her receptors. Sparks flew as the sound of metal meeting metal sounded out in the air. Most Daggers were deflected, but the unlucky few that made it through hit their mark, causing the sound of tearing flesh and screams of pain to fill the air.

As the daggers ceased their fall, Penny concentrated on finding a way of this situation. She couldn't stay any longer as the reason the pedestrians were being killed was because of her. It only took nanoseconds to find a back alley that would lead to the Atlas outpost. Dashing, she landed on the ground, the wires in her legs pumping and forcing her to move forward.

"Perfect." Purpura said from afar, the plan working quite well.

Penny heard the distinct sound of cloth in the air again, and the Screech of metal against wind. On instinct, Penny used the swords to pull herself back, avoiding the daggers.

"Ahhhh!"

A screech reached her ears. A bloodcurdling, pained screech that was all to near for her to bear. Fear gripped her metal heart as she shakenly glanced down to the boy in her arms. A dagger, as wide as her arm, was embedded in the boys stomach. A silent scream coming out of his mouth, his face contorted in pain and agony.

"No…" Penny painfully said, disbelief in her green eyes. Moving ever so slightly, she did her best not to move the boy, yet that seemed to be the most he could endure. His eyes rolled into the back of his head, and Penny could sense his heart come to a stop. Agony gripped her heart, as his lifeless eyes stared into oblivion.

"I believe I did tell you to give us the boy." Purpura said as she walked behind Penny. A smile of demented glee and sadness graced her face. She didn't take joy in killing kids, but she did enjoy watching someone break. She hated continuously torturing someone when you could just kill them, sure, but this wasn't that case. This girl willingly broke herself by getting involved. "If you hadn't gotten involved, you may not be feeling this regret right now. The regret of failure. The regret that because of you that child will die. Finally, regret that you ever involved yourself with us." Purpura said, walking in front of Penny, who held the child close to her chest. "I am sorry, but now that you've seen what we can do, and who we are, I must send you to the other side. May your soul find rest in the ever spanning abyss."

"I will protect you…" It was with these words that Purpura realized her mistake. A mistake she will regret for the rest of her life. While Purpura had been talking, praying for her soul to pass with ease, Penny had been moving. Ever so slightly, her blades had crept up on Purpura. And in a flash of words, three cut through her stomach. The rest to the Cult members around her grunted in pain as more blades entered through their backs.

"I will protect you…" With these final words, Penny dropped the kid, and began her rampage.

Vale

Beacon Academy

Same Time

General Ironwood was having a very, very stressful day.

It all started from a call from Glynda Goodwitch, a comrade in the ongoing war against Sa-… Grimm. News from Qrow had come in, and it had been less than reassuring. While most of the report had been gibberish only able to be understood by Ozpin, one small detail had indeed been troubling news.

The Witch Cult was on the move.

Apparently it wasn't only Qrow who had reported this either, as other informants across the world of Remnant had reported the same. Assassinations of important political figures, village purging and more had been noted by Ozpin. Usually this was a problem for the World Above, as the Cult was not of this world. Yet as the barriers between this world and that slowly crumbled, a worrying thought seemed to cross Ironwoods mind.

What if the Cult was working with the enemy?

The Cult was a unpredictable and terrifying force. They never seemed to have one leader to coincide with, not one vision to rally behind, even disputes between themselves being common place in the World Above. That was the only reason why the World Above hadn't already been torn asunder. So when the thought that they may be coming together under one mind came to his attention, a deep fear gripped his heart. Stress and fatigue seemed to take his mind.

Then news that his latest project, Penny Polendina, had went missing. Again. That did the job of causing bags to grow under his eyes. Ironwood had immediately sent out an order to find and bring her back. To this very moment, he had yet to receive an all clear.

"I really need to put a tracker on that girl." Ironwood said, pinching the bridge of his nose. Sighing, he looked into the distance, the shining lights of Vale flashing in an incandescent light. It was truly alluring, how beautiful the city was in this time of War. While the citizens rested peacefully, those in the shadows protected them from the dangers of the night.

"I hope that didn't mean what I think it did, Ironwood." Looking behind him, Ironwood gave a charming smile to the blonde beauty of Vale, Glynda Goodwitch.

"I'm sure you are just misinterpreting what I said." Ironwood said, Glynda standing next to him. It was calming standing up here, like none of the world's problems existed. "I was just thinking about Penny Polendina."

"Ah, you're current 'project'" Glynda remarked, distaste in that last word. "I don't understand your need to keep a eye on her twenty-four-seven. The girl is fully capable of protecting herself as demonstrated with the battle against Torchwick. If anything, she deserves a little space after that."

"Personal Space isn't the problem, Glynda." Ironwood said, walking along the cliff of Beacon. The slight sound of a heel tapping against metal indicated she was following, so he continued. "Penny isn't a normal girl. She's an android created with Atlas science. She's over trusting and over curious. Even if she can protect herself, she isn't ready for the real world yet."

"The more I hear you talk, the more I see an overprotective father." Goodwitch teased, a small blush adoring Ironwoods face. "Don't worry so much about her, Ironwood. I'm sure that she just wants to see the world she had been birthed into. To see what the other Kingdoms have to offer." Goodwitch looked downcast, a saying which Ozpin said not too long ago running through her head. "This may be the last chance she may ever get."

Ironwood didn't respond. Silence overtook the area as he delved into deep thought. He knew what Goodwitch said was right, but he couldn't help but be overprotective. While the honor of being her father went to the scientist that created her, he couldn't help but see her as a daughter himself. It may have only been a year since her creation, but she had been such a breath of fresh air that Ironwood came to enjoy her company. Even if at the time she was a little problematic. Worry was a thing when she disappeared, as no one would know what happened to her.

It also wasn't just a parental worry that grabbed at his heart either. On a logical level, Penny Polendina, even though she was but a year old, was probably the most skilled of her generation. With no exaggeration, Ironwood was sure she could give Pyrrha Nikos a run for her money. If that was possible, imagine the years following, when Penny realized her true abilities and put them to use. She would be a formidable force against the creatures of Grimm, and the ones in control.

With a sigh, Ironwood turned to the sprawling city once more, a face full of calm. Maybe Glynda was right. In the coming years she may not experience this happiness again. She would just become what Ironwood initially wanted: a emotionless killing machine.

"You may be right." Ironwood admitted, swaying to her words. Glynda smiled as she turned to the city, content with her work today. A few minutes passed before Ironwood gave a nervous cough, his stomach growling. "U-Um. Ms. Goodwitch, I know it's a little more than late, but would you care to join m-"

A series of beeps caught his attention, as his watch flashed a bright red. Bringing up his left hand, he clicked a series of buttons. Eye's widening in disbelief, he reread the alert on his watch, confirming what he read was right. Without warning, Ironwood stomped off in a panic, heading for the nearest Atlas airship.

"Hey, Ironwood! What's wrong!?" Goodwitch asked, keeping up with his brisk pace. Ironwood glanced over, the face he held being enough to tell her nothing good had happened. Looking forward, Ironwood continued his speedy pace.

"Penny Polendina has activated a secret phase in her programming." Ironwood admitted, shocking Goodwitch. "While her Aura confirms that she does have a soul, at first I didn't want that. I wanted a killing machine, so I had a backup program installed to cut off all emotional attachment when introduced to extreme stress or sadness. She would become the ideal killing machine against the Grimm. So much so I'm not sure if I could win a fight against her."

Ironwood looked at the city through the corner of his eyes, a foreboding feeling of despair overtaking him. Why did he have that program implemented? Looking back, it was a horrible decision. To mess with a living beings emotions like that was only something a person of the night would do. To manipulate them to benefit others… it was truly vile.

"We call this program: Marionette."

Vale

Downtown District

Same Time

"Where are those useless, selfish chess pieces!?" Regulus said, stomping as he followed the path of destruction left by the fight. Blood and glass littered the street, as bodies laid here and there. From the looks of it, this could have been described as a war zone, but Regulus knew better. He had set fire to many towns and capitals in the past, so this was no different. Sure, to the average person, this would have been disturbing, but to him this was business. There was no need to cry over spilled milk. "Seriously! They could have at least left me a Grunt to harass! Purpura knows I'm not able to use most of my abilities right now!"

That's right, since Regulus only had one wife left, he wasn't able to use any of his abilities. Well, that technically wasn't true. If he so wished it, he could use all of his abilities, but it would have put strain on Purpura, who was his last pair of batteries before he needed to get more. If she died while outside of combat, he would be no better than Subaru. Actually, considering the circumstances, he would be worse off than Subaru. He had stolen abilities from Betelgeuse, which made him formidable to a point.

Looking around, he did have to appreciate how empty the streets were. Due to the battle that had taken place, civilians had decided to take shelter inside or flat out run away. Of course there were a few stragglers who decided to take this chance to loot the city. Honestly, it was disgusting how greedy people could be in times of need.

The daggers of Cult members ingrained in the sidewalk brought him to a stray alleyway. Slash marks littered the walls, indicating the battle had followed through here. Sneering, he couldn't help but take in the disgusting sight that it held. Trash and beer glasses littered the sides, even though a dumpster was right next to it. Daggers laid in the ground and walls, as Cult members bodies lied dead.

"Cult Members?" Regulus asked himself, ignoring his disgust for the horrible alley way, he walked in to evaluate the scene. Five bodies laid out in total, more being on the other side. At first glance, they were all Cult members, blood pouring out of their uniforms. However, as he looked over one of the bodies, he noticed that it had a smaller figure, and his face was revealed. A dagger hung from his stomach, unlike the other members. Looking him over, he noticed that it was a child. "Ah, they succeeded the mission. Congratulations Cult, your sacrifice was not in vain."

"R-R-Regulus?" A familiar voice spoke, her tone weak and desperate. Golden eyes widened as he turned to the many desecrated bodies in the alley, one of which was shaking furiously. Running over, he rolled the familiar cloaked figure over, her uniform wide open, revealing burn marks on multiple parts of her body. The smell of burnt flesh hit his nostrils, telling him that this was recent. "A-A-Ah… you're ok… I'm glad…"

"Purpura!?" Regulus called, unbelieving. This was his final wife, the one who stuck by him when all else betrayed him. For him, it didn't matter if she loved him or not; she stayed by his side when no one else would. Whoever did this was going to pay. "Don't move! I'll fly us to a nearby hospital, so just hold onto me!"

"N-n-No!" Purpura said, pushing away Regulus, even if it didn't have that much force. This was worrying for Regulus, as she never disagreed with him before. "I-i-I-I c-can tell m-my time has come. I-I was able to burn m-my wounds close, but I c-can feel my i-insides destroyed. T-there is no hope for me…"

"Shut up, Purpura!" Regulus commanded, his voice shaky. He had never felt this kind of emotion before: Sadness, anger, and denial. Grabbing her hand, he looked at her cloaked face. "You are going to live! I am going to make sure of that! Now just hold on while I fly us to th-"

"My Love." Purpura interrupted, a normally grave sin for those who did so. Regulus breath hitched, having never been interrupted by Purpura before. "I-I am dying, and no amount of healing will stop the wounds. My organs are a mess, and my heart is fading. I can feel the end creep up on my very soul." She tightened her grip on Regulus' hand, a smile on her face. "Use the last of my strength to finish our mission."

"W-What!?" Regulus asked, a lump forming in his throat. Why was he getting so choked up by someone replaceable like Purpura? "I-I… but-"

"No buts, Love." Purpura said, her smile widening, a softness that could only be granted when looking at a loved one. "We mustn't fail our mission. If we do so, then Sir Pride would have been right in assuming we shouldn't have split up. For now, focus on the task at hand."

Regulus stared, wet stains marking his face, disgracing his holy visage. Purpura smiled at this, he lilac eyes holding unshed tears that she refrained from letting out. She mustn't be weak now, not when they were almost there. Another step closer to Regulus' true desire. Swallowing her greed, she smiled once more to the man she swore her heart to.

"Go, my love, use me to your hearts content. This is my final gift to you, my heart. Find the girl, and kill her. Make as many wives as you need to, live forever, and find your true desire." Purpura smiled at him, the lump in her throat growing. "I'm happy you kidnapped me from my castle. I'm happy you treated me like I was no one special. I'm happy I came to know you, and you to I. I love you, my sweetest."

Regulus couldn't help the hiccup that accompanied that speech, as he finally realized that this was the end. The long journey between them Finally coming to an end. He could still see it, the first night with Purpura, him and Subaru chatting away about their lives over a bonfire. Laughter filling the air in a joyful moment of peace and solidarity. The smell of cooked meat as the Cult chugged and ate with glee. Regulus could tell those happy moments were finally coming to an end.

And it hurt so, so much.

"I love you too." Regulus said as he leaned down, kissing the second woman he ever truly fell for. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he left that tender kiss, placing her hand on her bare chest, a memory of peace flashing through his eyes once more. Closing them, he stood, and slowly floated away, in search for his prey.

Purpura laid there, feeling her heart beat faster as each second that passed. Her god known as Regulus floating away to the distance, to finish the mission that was assigned to them. It broke her heart, how he cried for her. While Purpura did enjoy the knowledge that her love would cry for her (who wouldn't), it also hurt to see such a pained expression. Regulus was the representation of Greed, he shouldn't be making such a sorrowful face.

"Maybe I'm being to greedy." Purpura thought to herself, her mind a jumbled mess of memories. Pride, her and Regulus walking along the path, chatting intimately. Those were truly good times; memories of when she wasn't the princess trapped in that castle. The day when Regulus came and kidnapped her was the day when she started to truly feel alive. It may have been caused by Stockholm syndrome, but she could care less. She was happy, right down to her spoiled bone.

With that, she closed her eyes, passing with glorious bliss.

Vale

Downtown District

Same Time

It hadn't taken too long to find his lovers murderer. Having the ability to fly and go through objects had its uses. Spotting the battle raging on below, he nose dived towards his opponent, not bothering to make any grand speech. One of his wives had died and he was seeking revenge.

Landing in the ground, he could see that all of the Cult members had been cut down. No matter where he looked, blood, bodies broken glass, and daggers littered the streets. If he was anybody else, this might have been a scene straight out of hell. For him? This was Sunday morning practice.

A lone girl sat in the middle of this, rocking back and forth with tears trailing her eyes. Blood covered her dress, soaking in crimson, making it reflect off the light that surrounded the area. Truly, a pitiful sight, but Regulus didn't share that sentiment. This was of her own doing. If she had stayed away from them, then maybe she might've lived. Maybe Purpura wouldn't have to die.

His eyes widening in anger, he wordlessly lifted his hand, ready to slash down. This was for himself. For the Cult members. This was for Purpura.

With that, he brought down his hand, the wind traveling in an instant, cutting her in half. The building behind her sustaining damage, as well as the ground near her. Blood sprayed everywhere, Regulus' revenge having been completed, leaving only a feeling of emptiness.

That was how it should have happened. Instead, only the ground and building sustained any significant damage. The girl however, had dodged, using her blades to latch onto some buildings to drag her through the air. Regulus' surprised gaze watched in fascination as she floated upwards, similar to his own ability. Except she was physical, and he was in a completely different dimension.

The song of blades against wind reached his ears, causing him to glance to the left. He only had a split second to see the object, the blade that cut through his body without any resistance. Looking to the right, he was surprised by how fast the blade had traveled, being much faster than in the Chapel. He knew, if he was physical, he would have been dead by now. Watching the girl, he knew how much of a threat this girl was to the Cult. If she were to go against Pride, Sloth, Gluttony, or even Wrath, they would be done for in an instant. She needed to be eliminated tonight.

With that in mind, Regulus floated into the air, the glare he wore being enough to kill kings. Raising his hand, he once again made a slashing motion. Even before he did that, she dodged out if the way, predicting his move. Regulus sneered at that. This lowly excuse for a being knowing what he would do disgusted him. In retaliation, eight blades raised themselves in the air, slashing and stabbing at where he was. The girls futile attempts to kill him fruitless.

With another raise of his hand, he slashed horizontally, aiming to cut her in half. As expected, she dodged. The blades continued to cut at where he was, but to no avail. It continued to irritate him that she still lived, flying without a care in the world.

Thinking of a strategy, he held his right hand over his head, while his left was near his pelvis. Grinning, he made a wide circular motion with the two, left ending up over his head while the right was near his pelvis. In an instant, the wind currents dashed forward to the girl, aiming to cut her to pieces. Predicting this, the girl drew in her swords, and balled herself up to avoid the currents. Regulus grinned, the girl falling right into his trap.

Dashing forward, through her blades, he grabbed her face. Continuing forward, he dragged her along one of the many skyscrapers in the city. Sparks flew as her body was shredded, glass shattering upon impact. Yet she did not scream, a fact that irritated Regulus beyond belief.

Coming to a stop on the roof, he held her up by her face, her glowing green eyes staring at him through the cracks in his fingers. Tears soaked his hands as he floated, both wanting nothing more than to kill each other here. Bringing up his hand, he was brought back by all the memories of Purpura. How he stole her from that castle in the mountains. How he treated her before and after his wives betrayed him. How their journeys together were some of the most fond memories in his long life.

"I hope you go to hell." Regulus swore, bringing down his hand in rage and sorrow.

Blood covered her dress even more, a splash of paint that would stain this world forever. Yet, it wasn't her blood that stained, but his. Shaking, he glanced down to the eight swords sticking through his gut. He could feel his arms give out as a silent scream passed his mouth. Looking at his killer, he could see the tears flowing endlessly, yet her eyes were lifeless. It filled him with loathing that a girl this young would be the end of him. With shaking arms, he grabbed her neck, attempting to choke her. He was forced to let go however when the swords penetrating his body left his back, leaving him to fall to his death.

'So, this is it?' Regulus thought to himself, all emotion leaving his body. The feeling of the wind against his back felt good, but terrifying at the same time. 'After all I've done in this long life, this is how my tale comes to an end? Battling in a World not of my own, out matched by some girl who could kill all the Archbishops? What a horrible way to kill off such a important figure like me.'

Yet Regulus couldn't find it in himself to be mad. All he felt was emptiness. Like something precious had been ripped from his heart. With a small smile, he realized what it was. It was the reason why he was falling to his death right now. The reason why this past year had been so fun. The reason why his selfishness was slowly becoming selflessness.

Purpura had moved on already.

His heart had returned to him, cutting off all ties to power in that split second. He could have continued, but he doubted his heart would be able to handle the strain. It felt weird having his own heart back in his body, as it hadn't been like this for centuries. The feel of wind, the need to breath, it was so strange for him.

His long, long life flashed before his eyes. His childhood crush forced into wedding by him, the bullies and villagers he killed for her. The many, many wives he had taken over the years. The battles over the decades just for survival. The day he kidnapped Purpura. The day Pride had joined the Cult. The day they bad been cornered and he was betrayed. The many memories of traveling with Purpura, Subaru and the Grunts, singing and chatting along the way. He couldn't help but smile, even through the bad.

'Ah! I forgot!' Regulus thought as the ground quickly approached him. 'I won't get to talk to you about the Silver Eyes, Subaru. I hope you can forgive me for this.' Regulus thought, the feel of wind pressure hitting his back. 'Please, don't avenge me. Follow your hearts desire. For you and Purpura have already granted me mine. I'm sure we will meet again, and Pururpa, you and I can go on another grand journey.'

With that, the Archbishop representing Greed of the Witches Sect, Regulus Corneas, passed away, his last thoughts being a selfless wish for a friend.

Vale

Interrogation Room at the Local Police Station

Same Time

"Ugh, I'm bored." Subaru said as he laid his face on the table within the interrogation ro