Uncertainty

"Why… Why is he here?" Both Raven and Pyrrha stared up at Shen asking themselves the exact same question. Information about Shen's death was kept very confidential meaning they weren't aware of it.

To them Shen had simply been reclusive over the past few years, not wanting to get his hands dirty. But for someone like Taella who knew the truth? Her mindset was on an entirely different track.

"But he's… That's impossible." Taella was confused beyond belief. On the other side of the battlefield close to Vacuo's wall, Jaune, Ren, and Nora all looked at Shen with widened eyes. Why the hell would he be here? Of all places at a time like this?

"Did he know our plan was to deal with Taella?" Hearing Ren, Jaune frowned. If he did that would mean he was watching them. He had known what they were going to do and let it reach this point.

'No… Even if he's here it's too late.' The DR-Cannon had finished charging. Firing and maximum power a beam of pure energy flew towards Taella and the others. Shen transformed into lightning appearing directly in front of the beam's path as Gae Bolg appeared in his hands.

Pulling the arm hold Gae Bolg back red energy erupted from the spears tip curling through the air like a vortex.

"Gae Bolg!" Throwing Gae Bolg it flew through the air like a missile. Striking the beam of energy the two forces ground against one another before fracturing. Stray beams of energy and mana were sent flying through the air creating small craters wherever they landed. At the same time, a massive gust of wind like that of a hurricane swept across a mile-wide area.

The ground trembled under the clash as Jaune looked on in shock.

"That- That's impossible… The DR-Canon is powered from energy siphoned from the Relic of Destruction." Yet Shen's attack was actually matching its power, showing no sign of giving. In fact it was the opposite, slowly Gae Bolg was moving forward.

'I'm surprised it can equal Gae Bolg when it comes to sheer power. But still it's not enough.' Shen smirked as the red energy coiled and exploded into the air around Gae Bolg suddenly doubled in intensity. A shockwave of magic power shot in all directions as it began to move. Like a fish through water Gae Bolg began to rip through the beam of energy.

Any resistance it was experiencing was completely gone. It shot directly into the cannon's barrel creating a deafening silence. A second later the entire DR-Cannon's exterior bulged before a massive crimson explosion arced into the air. The cannon along with the gate and a portion of the wall was immediately blown away.

The ditches close to that area were covered and sand and the people in them buried. It was like the sandstorm had started up again. What remained when it was all over was a hole dozens of feet deep and a crater close to a hundred meters wide. A cloud of smoke rose into the air as the ice barrier covering Taella and the others fell.

Jaune, Ren, and Nora all slowly stood up while shaking their heads. They were completely covered in sand. As they looked on, their eyes took in their surroundings. Scattered scraps of metal belonging to the RD-Cannon littered the ground.

"I can't believe it, he destroyed it." Staring on at the destruction, Ren sucked in a deep breath. It was at that moment that the three of them heard a crackling flash. Their bodies froze as they slowly looked up. Shen stood over them as he held out his hand. Gae Bolg flew from the crater where the cannon one stood, into his hand.

"No god could be so cruel right? I agree, luckily I'm no god." Jaune didn't speak, only staring at Shen as he grinned down at him.

"Since you destroyed my army, I think it's only fair I return the favor." In that instant, the three of them felt their hearts stop. Pushing their fear aside they all leaped their feet to attack Shen. But it was too late, all they hit was air as he disappeared from sight.

The few soldiers who were still alive on Vacuo's side struggled to their feet. One, in particular, shook the sand out of his hair while holding his head. Pain echoed through his body as he looked around. His comrades that had survived were few in number, if there were over ten thousand of them before that had dropped to a three or two.

"I can't believe this… Why is he here? It wasn't supposed to go down like this."

"It never is." He didn't have a chance to turn around like a red glint of lice sliced through his torso. The other soldier's nearby witnesses as his upper torso slid and fell to the ground. Terror penetrated deep into their souls as they didn't even bother to fight. In a panic, they ran letting out screams of panic.

Shen's body cracked as he got started. He was like an unstoppable force, no-kill took longer than half a second before he moved to the next. All the while the scent of death wafted into the air as the kill count rose higher. Looking at Nora, Ren, and Jaune all felt a sense of helpless. He was too fast for them to even track with their eye's let alone stop.

All the soldiers they had just saved were being slaughtered one by one. Watching this Jaune's mind couldn't help but flashback to Pyrrha's words. It was like a recorder playing over and over again in his mind. From a distance, Raven looked on silently as Pyrrha glanced at Jaune. She whispered something to herself as she lowered her head.

The next ten minutes felt like hours until once again Shen appeared in front of Jaune and the others. Seeing Shen's clothes soaked in blood caused Jaune to grit his teeth. The calm disposition he had been holding shattered in a burst of fury. It was so sudden even Ren and Nora didn't expect it.

"Damn you!" Using all of his strength his Aura spiked as he rushed Shen. His sword's edge was just about to graze Shen's head as it suddenly stopped. Shen's fingers flexed themselves as red strands of Life Fibers became visible. They hovered in the air seemingly attached to nothing, yet still creating a crimson web.

No matter how much force Jaune exerted he couldn't move an inch. Shen was right in front of him, the person responsible for everything. But he couldn't reach him. The more he struggled the deeper the Life fibers dug into his flesh. Seeing that Ren and Nora finally lept into action.

However Raven and Pyrrha were faster on the draw. The two of them crossed the distance between them in a matter of seconds. Using the shaft of her spear Pyrrha blocked Ren's kick. Nora's swing on the other hand was stopped in its tracks by a blade nearly double her size formed from Raven's Maiden abilities.

"Tell me something." Not even paying them any mind Shen spoke to Jaune.

"The Relic of Destruction isn't in Vacuo anymore is it?" This was a conclusion he came to after looking over the situation. They had been holding a stalemate for over a year but never tried to break it. Their biggest offense was them trying to kill Taella and even then why didn't they just use the Relic itself?

Was it too dangerous? It was doubtful they would hesitate considering Vacuo itself was in danger of being taken over. The only logical option was that the Relic had been moved. And there was only one other safe place on the planet that wasn't under Shen's control.

"You moved the Relic of Destruction to Atlas… No wonder you've been trying to hold out for so long." His words caused Juane's expression to grow grim. Atlas now had the Relic of Creation and the Relic of Destruction. Of all the relics they were the most powerful, that's how they created the DR-Cannon.

Shen took a step back, a look of concern descending on his face. Atlas was surely the most difficult Kingdom to take over by force. If they used the Relic of Creation properly there was nothing they couldn't make. Holding off in a war that cut themselves off from the world was no issue.

"Four Years…" Shen came out with his thoughts as he looked up at Jaune.

"For four years we've been compiling our efforts, doing whatever we can to survive. At the same time, we've put all of our hopes and dreams for the future onto Atlas. I- I'll gladly die here knowing that we managed to give them more time." It was over for Vacuo now, but still, Jaune found solace in what he said.

Ren and Nora who had heard what Jaune said slowly loosened themselves. Nora's hammer fell to the ground while Ren sat on the ground. Fighting now was pointless, they had done what they had hoped to accomplish.

'The rest is up to Ruby and the others now.' This thought appeared in all of their minds similarly. However, the silence was broken when Shen spoke.

"You know that's the problem with you heroic types. You think death is the end when you lose." Jaune looked up at Shen staring into his amber eyes, slowly he looked over to Pyrrha and Jaune's eyes followed him. At the same time, Life Fiber's descended from Shen's fingertips slowly.

Leaning in he whispered to Jaune.

"You were interested in why Pyrrha changed, right? She gave you her reason, and she's free to believe that. But I already took root in her mind a long time ago. Even if she wanted to kill me she couldn't. Of course, she doesn't know that." Pulling away, Jaune stared in Pyrrha's direction.

"It's sad really, she grows stronger in hopes of killing me. Yet it's a dream that will never come true. All the blood she spills on the battlefield fighting for me will never be rewarded with what she wants. A fate worse than death, wouldn't you agree?" Jaune felt his throat tighten up.

"You- You're a monster… How could I do that to someone? Don't you feel any kind of remorse!" Shen stared at him before shrugging.

"Can't say I do. So let's call this game of twenty questions here." Jaune couldn't ask another question as he saw Shen's hand block out his vision. Seeing what he was doing Ren and Nora were going to act, however, the next second they were struck in the back of the neck. The two of them plopped onto the sand unconscious.

"Well this situation is handled, so I think I can leave Vacuo up to you three. Still, the fact I needed to get involved and you were so close to death shows you've grown complacent. You do know if you turn into a liability I'll have to get rid of you right?" Shen glanced at Taella before leaving.

Taella crossed her arm in annoyance once he was out of sight.

"You know this is your fault right? All because you wanted to play with our food. Now he's mad at us." Her tail twitched as she shook her head.

"No, we can't kill them now, to make up for it. We can't kill him either, did you forget? The last time we tried he nearly broke our arm. For now, just shut up, you're giving me a migraine."

…

A week later the fall of Vacuo and its Capital escaped into the world's news. Another layer of dread fell upon the world of remnant, with Atlas standing as its last beacon. Back within Neo's office, Shen was relaxing on a couch.

"We- We didn't manage to get in contact with our northern forces in Atlas, but Sienna Khan and Roman Torchwick have been alerted of Lord Shen's return as requested… Mam." The officer delivering the report was practically trembling just standing there. His eyes kept glancing over to Shen who was lying on the couch.

Neo just had to glance at him and he immediately bowed before bolting out of the room. After he left Neo stood up looking in Shen's direction with a concerned expression on her face. She walked around her desk and towards Shen while speaking through their link.

"Are you sure about this? They've had years to prepare for your arrival. If something goes wrong you- what if-" She didn't finish what she was trying to say.

"Are you worried I'm going to die again?" Neo didn't say anything but Shen noticed her fist tighten.

"Looks like I was wrong. Colder on the outside, sure, but you're even more emotional than before." She didn't refute him, a similar scene played out as Shen gestured at her with his finger. And just like the time before Neo obediently walked over to him sitting down on his lap.

'Blake is dangerously unstable emotionally. Taella is hardly sane no matter how you look at her. Sienna, while useful, is still acting in the interest of the Faunus behind the scenes. Venti's assistance has made things go smoothly, but in the end, they are still fallible. Torchwick is by far the most stable and reliable, but he's a criminal down to the bone.'

He was surrounded with uncertainties on all sides yet they also made the foundation of what his so-called empire was built on. The thought made him shake his head silently. He was really surrounded by both the best and worst at the same time.

'Still, I cant help but wonder which one of them is going to end up betraying me first? That's going to be interesting.' Shen's eye's slowly drifted towards Neo while he was thinking.

She was shorter than him, but at the moment she was straddling his lap and arching her back. Staring down at him her hair was flowing down covering them both. The office wasn't extremely well lit despite the lights being on, yet her eyes still shined. The atmosphere quickly got to the point of intoxication.

"An inhuman body but a human mind, I guess I still have my faults. I suppose you're happy about that though…" Neo's face slowly drew closer to Shens, coating them both in a shadow. The light flickers before turning off and outside the moon were rising into the sky.

It was a quiet and slow night with only soft noises coming from the office. The finale was nearing ever closer.