Chapter-47

The facility was mostly empty but there was still old neglected machinery littered around, some of which was familiar. Lines of pods, of a similar make to the pair that had resided beneath Beacon immediately drew his attention. For a moment, he expected to see that young woman, Amber, slumbering within one of them; the previous Fall Maiden. As he looked away, his mind conjured a flash of red, a deep crimson that held no equal in the world. He ruthlessly crushed that thought and bottled that pain. There were also several tables and assembly stations, robotic arms stationary and covered in dust, as well as steel crates used for storage.

There was plenty of room for the coming fight.

Jaune had fought Cinder before but even at the time, he'd known she had been holding back. She'd toyed with him, taunted him, mocked his pain while effortlessly holding him at bay while he desperately tried to land just one strike. She hadn't even used her maiden powers, her own skills more than enough to deal with the forgettable fraud.

Things were different now.

Arcs of lightning cracked through the air, the scent of ozone thick and heavy as his ears rang from the thunder clap. Marrow had no time to employ his semblance, blasted in the chest and sent sprawling across the room as other members of the Ace-Ops engaged. Elm planted her feet and swung Timber, her massive hammer, the rockets on the backside of the head roaring to life. Cinder performed a pirouette in the air, avoiding the powerful strike before her glass blades swarmed. She would have been skewered if not for Clover, darting in with his weapon drawn, Kingfisher lashing around in unpredictable swipes. Penny approached from above, Floating Array spinning like a saw, steel clashing with glass.

She was surrounded.

It didn't matter.

Fire roared to life, an inferno fueled by a powerful gust of wind. Elm was forced to disengage, arms smoldering as she crossed them across her face to protect her eyes. Impossibly, Clover slipped through a gap in the wall of fire, his semblance nudging him in the right direction. He pressed the attack but it was only for an instant. That terrible Grimm arm lashed out and struck him across the face, throwing him back as Penny swooped, uncaring of the fire.

Maiden and android clashed blades.

"Blake," Jaune ordered. "Misdirect."

The word was barely out of his mouth before the cat faunus was on the move, several clones popping into existence. As Penny was forced back by Cinder's wicked swords, Blake took her place, twisting and flipping through her defenses as Vine swept the field with his aura arms, adding to the chaos. When she was impaled, another Blake took her place, a swarm of cat eared Huntresses.

"Ren – hit and run tactics," Jaune said. "Hard and fast, keep her under constant pressure."

StormFlower cracked as his teammate rushed in, a constant stream of bullets fired from the machine pistols. Cinder scowled as she was forced to defend, deflecting his bullets with a flaming hand while her blades contested with the wave of Blake's. Adding to the rush, several white Nevermore encircled her, striking with razor sharp talons and piercing beaks.

Jaune felt Winter land by his side.

"Go on my signal," she said and he nodded, legs tensing in preparation. They watched and waited, knowing what Cinder would do next. Predictably, they saw her weave flame and wind, incinerating the Blake's and forcing the real one back, obscuring Ren's vision, and slamming Vine aside with a powerful fireball. A glyph spun to life beneath his feet and Jaune calmed his racing heart, crouching.

"Go," Winter said and suddenly he was a blur of motion. He charged through the flames, so fast he couldn't even feel their heat and then he was in front of Cinder, her eye locking onto him in an instant.

He slammed into her like a rampaging bull and she grunted, lifted by the force of his charge. Kicking off his shield, she slashed at his head and he parried it with Crocea Mors. The force of his swing reverberated through her blade and up her arm, and she frowned.

"What's this?" she asked, exchanging several more blows until her glass sword chipped and shattered. Another formed before he could take advantage, blocking his overhead swing. "You're stronger."

He felt stronger.

Just like the night of the Grimm attack, his movements were swift, his swings powerful. His blade whistled through the air, a flash of silver, hungry for her blood. Cinder was more skilled than he was and yet he was keeping up, their swords clashing time and time again, sparks flying as he attempted to break through her guard. His shield tanked any that slipped by his sword, her feints rendered worthless.

He was holding his own.

Then Winter appeared over his shoulder, lashing out. Cinder was forced back, scowling. They moved as one, Jaune defending with his shield while Winter probed with lightning quick thrusts and stabs. Planting her feet, air swirled around Cinder's body, Winter's next thrust thrown off target. Then that Grimm hand lashed out and grabbed her by the face, Winter crying out as it squeezed and pulled her in before slamming her into the floor, head first. Jaune tried to slash at the black appendage but it twisted unnaturally, avoiding the edge of his blade before using Winter as a weapon.

Cinder swung her like a club and Jaune was forced to duck. Elm had rushed in to help but with a grunt, Winter's body slammed her aside with a sickening crunch. When Vine approached, he met the same fate, rocked as Winter was swung into his face. Releasing her hold, Winter was tossed aside like a ragdoll before Cinder surged forward with a blast of fire, her knee slamming into his face with punishing force. Brain rattled, Jaune staggered. If not for his aura, his nose would have shattered beneath the impact.

Before the Fall Maiden could press on, a black ribbon looped in and tightened around her arm. Pulled off balance by a sharp tug, Ren darted in and chambered a kick, his shin pounding into Cinder's ribs. Aura flared as she groaned in pain, Ren flowing into another strike, and another, and another, a combination of sharp, short kicks and punishing straight punches, his movements flowing like water.

When he went to strike again, planting his foot and turning for a roundhouse kick, Ren screamed as lightning raced up his limb, body locked in agony. Jaune forced them apart with a blast of gravity dust but the damage was done, Ren slumping as his aura flickered but held.

"Ren!" he shouted, Blake moving between them.

"You're going down!" Blake hissed as she mecha-shifted her sword into its pistol form, unloading into Cinder point blank. The first two bullets struck her in the chest but the rest were swallowed by her palm, wreathed in flame.

"I highly doubt it, little girl."

Shifting her weapon back into its blade form, she slashed at Cinder's throat, only for it to be deflected time and time again. Summoning a clone, she darted in low but was met by a stream of pressurized water. It was almost like it was alive, her body enveloped by swirling currents until a perfect globe surrounded her. Blake thrashed, unable to breathe.

"Stop!" Cinder ordered as Jaune stepped forward. "Unless you want your friend here to die."

Jaune paused, fear heavy in his heart as he watched Blake struggle wildly in her watery prison. Panic was quickly settling in, her movements erratic, eyes wide and fearful.

"Let her go," he thundered.

"I don't think so," she smiled chillingly, voice coy. "Where is the Winter Maiden?"

"If you think I'm going to tell you anything , then you're insane."

Cinder clucked her tongue in disappointment. "If you don't, then what do you think is going to happen here?"

Arcs of lightning sparked from her eye, the threat clear. Not only was Blake drowning but Cinder could fry her at any moment, whenever she wished. They were completely at her mercy.

"Now talk ," Cinder commanded. "Or you'll be burying another one of your little friends," she paused, his mouth twisting into a vicious smirk. "My mistake. I didn't leave much of a body last time, did I?"

Anger coiled in his stomach, body tense. His hand tightened around the hilt of Crocea Mors, shaking with his rage. She was mocking Pyrrha, and his blood roared for him to act, to cut her down, bring her low, to show her that she was nothing but no matter how much stronger he felt, how much faster he was, he couldn't stop her. Not in time. Not before she could harm Blake. That familiar feeling of uselessness welled up inside, toxic.

Why did it always go like this? His teeth gnashed, jaw tense, a muscle in his neck throbbing.

Why did this bitch always come out on top?

There was a hum like that of a running current and then something white slammed into Cinder's back, the Maiden crying out. Harriet continued the assault, her fists a blur as they pounded into Cinder's back in a relentless flurry. Blake's watery prison lost form and collapsed around her, Jaune hearing her desperate gasps for air as she splashed onto the floor.

He rushed to her side as Harriet finished with a brutal kick to the back of Cinder's head, sending her flying.

"I've got this," she told them, face serious. "Help her."

Then with a blur, she was gone.

"Blake," he knelt and cupped the back of her head. "Blake, are you okay?"

She nodded, eyes unfocused as she continued to gasp. The relief he felt was indescribable.

"I-I'm okay," she finally said, coughing up water. "Don't worry about me. Go."

He wanted to argue but she was right. Taking down Cinder was of the utmost importance.

Leaning in, he pecked her on the lips before standing. Harriet still had the advantage, Cinder off balance and out of sorts. Penny had joined in, cutting through swaths of aura with cleaving strikes as the pair forced her back. Whenever she tried to mount a counter strike, it was brutally stopped. Harriet delivered a punishing uppercut, Cinder's aura pulsing as Penny kicked her in the chest.

She tumbled across the floor and slammed into one of the aura transfer pods, the glass shattering. Several of Penny's swords buried themselves in the floor around her, creating a loose cage. Thin wires twisted around Cinder's body, digging into her skin and restraining her.

It wasn't enough.

The wires hissed and smoked, and then before their very eyes, melted into slag as a wave of oppressive heat issued from Cinder's body. There was no fire or flame, and yet it felt like they were standing in the presence of the Sun. The pod behind her warped, the steel folding as it lost form and glowing, melted steel dripped across the floor.

Cinder's head rose and fury was plain across her face.

Clove, Elm and Vine joined them, five against one – four Huntsmen and an android with a soul against one Maiden.

Jaune frowned, remembering something.

Where was General Ironwood?

He was meant to be here.

"I tire of this," Cinder rose into the air, voice like ice in sharp contrast to the heat that poured off her. "I will have the Winter Maiden."

Jaune saw the air distort and suddenly, the world was on fire. It was almost like a bomb had gone off, the shock wave slamming into him and forcing him onto his back, air driven from his lungs. Ears ringing and eyes blinded, Jaune writhed as his skin crawled with agony. His aura flared in response, protecting him from any significant damage but the pain... he'd never felt anything like it.

It was like he was being cooked alive.

Jaune heard the others screaming and then the sound of something charging up, a loud whirl and then Cinder shouted her own pain. Almost like someone had flicked a switch, the heat vanished, though the remnants of agony remained. Blinking blearily, Jaune forced himself up on his elbows and saw Penny floating above him, her swords spinning in front of her. They were warped, half melted – but a glowing green light pulsed in the center, the fading energy of her beam attack.

"Oh, Penny," he gasped, throat dry. Her clothing had been reduced to ash, her flesh melted and fused with her steel frame. Her rocket boosters sparked and suddenly she was falling, hitting the ground with a crash. A quick glance showed that Elm and Clover were down, flesh scorched but still alive. Vine had managed to cover himself with his semblance, saving him from the worst of it but he was utterly drained, barely conscious. Harriet writhed, her weapon melted around her arms and back, aura no longer protecting her from the worst of the pain and heat.

Thankfully, Blake and Ren were mostly unharmed, having been so close to the ground but their aura had been sapped protecting them. Where once she had been drenched to the bone, Blake was now dry, the water having been vaporized. Everyone else was down for the count.

It was just him.

Pure luck. Because he had so much aura, and because of his semblance, he'd weathered the attack the best. Even so, a quick look at his scroll told him that he was almost empty. Pushing himself up onto his knees, he concentrated and felt his aura well up inside, replenishing at an astonishing rate. He watched the bar go from red, to orange, to yellow and then green in less than a minute, rapidly filling until he was full.

He was going to need every scrap of aura he could muster for this fight.

Standing, he saw Cinder crawl out of the deep trench Penny had blasted her into. She looked rattled, hair frizzy and wild, her clothes ripped. She staggered and then spotted him, her eye widening in surprise.

"How...?" she uttered, taken aback. "How are you standing?"

She had every right to be surprised. Everything around them for dozens of meters had been obliterated, reduced to ash or melted into slag. All that remained were the downed forms of his comrades, aura the only thing that had protected them from death. Even then, it had been a close thing.

"You pest," she continued, scowling. "If you think you can stop me—"

He didn't let her finish.

Body amplified, he charged. The floor cracked beneath his feet, boots pounding as he crossed the distance in an instant. Black glass formed a barrier in front of her, swords crossed together, catching his swing. The first strike cracked them, the second shattering them in a shower of glass. Shards tumbled around him as he punched with the edge of his shield, aiming for her face. Cinder swerved out of the way and lashed out with a kick, her foot slamming into his ribs, right under his left arm. Her look of satisfaction quickly morphed into pain as his body flashed white, recoil paralyzing her limb. Crocea Mors bit into her chest as she staggered, and then she was gone, fire launching her back out of range.

He followed.

More black blades formed, striking him from every angle. He felt the pain acutely as they attempted to bite into his flesh, repelled by his aura. Charging through the storm of blades, he closed the distance and thrust. Cinder parried his attack and returned the favor, the pair trading blows. He saw the frustration build on her face as every strike she landed was brushed off, while every hit he landed on her drew forth a cry of pain. He was a literal tank, weathering the storm.

But not even he could brush aside everything.

He continued to press the attack, activating his shield. He met fire with fire, oppressive heat washing over him as he was forced to divert his eyes. Something cold raced up his legs and with panic, he saw that his feet were frozen to the floor, ice creeping up to his knees. He tried to pull free but even his enhanced strength wasn't enough, the ice cracking but holding him in place. Wind howled, swirling around him in a vortex, picking up speed. It was difficult to breathe, the winds only getting faster. And then within the blink of an eye, lightning blasted him in the chest, leaping from her hand eagerly. His aura tried to repel it, flaring brightly but not even his semblance could stand up to such unleashed might.

Jaune screamed as his body locked up, muscles spasming as he was thrown across the room, careening through several steel crates, tumbling through the air until he crashed into a wall. The steel buckled and groaned at the impact, his vision flashing as his body fell to the floor, limp.

"This is beginning to bore me," Cinder glanced at her surroundings, unimpressed. "It appears that your little trap failed."

Jaune attempted to struggle to his feet but his legs shook, unwilling to cooperate. He pushed himself up only to flop on the floor like a newborn baby. He felt numb, a metallic taste in his mouth not unlike blood. Ozone was thick in the air, and he thought he could smell his singed hair.

Looking up, he watched her rise into the air and begin ascending – higher and higher she went, approaching the hole she had blasted in the roof. She was getting away. Their best chance at stopping her, and they'd blown it.

Jaune grit his teeth and forced his limbs to obey.

"Coward," he muttered, nearly falling again. Only his hand against the wall kept him standing. "Coward!" he roared louder and he saw her pause.

She hung in the air, suspended. And then slowly, she turned.

"If you think childish insults mean anything to me," she said, voice carrying, enhanced by the magic coursing through her veins. "You are nothing to me. A mere pest, a gnat; I could snuff your life out at any moment, just like I did your partner. At least she was a warrior, a peerless combatant. Crushing her was worth the time it took. Crushing you? What would be the point? No matter how much you struggle and claw, you will never beat me."

And yet she remained, glaring down at him like a vengeful goddess.

Jaune smirked.

"You are nothing without those powers," he said, knowing she could hear him. "Stolen in the night like some petty thief. Pyrrha Nikos was twice the woman you are, even now."

"These powers are my destiny! Pyrrha Nikos knelt at my feet, defeated ," she thundered and he knew he'd struck a chord. "As good as she was, even she groveled in the end. All she could do was burn ."

" Get fucked you lying bitch! "

Jaune felt his heart stop as he saw a familiar figure drop through the ceiling, her voice twisted in anger. Cinder whipped around but it was too late. Nora fell upon her like the fury of the Gods, lightning sparking from her skin, Magnhild high above her head. She swung her war hammer with everything she had, Cinder desperately raising her hands to defend. The steel head cracked against her arms, a trigger pulled. An explosion rocked the room, pink smoke filling the air as Cinder was launched down into the ground with shattering force. Jaune felt the ground shake from the impact.

Nora fell – but she wasn't alone. Rose petals streamed in and raced to his side, Ruby appearing in a panic, her hands grabbing at his body. He rested against her as she fussed, silver eyes worried.

"Jaune! Are you okay?"

He nodded. "A little sore but I'm fine."

"Blake?"

He pointed.

"She's over there. She's okay."

The floor trembled and Cinder rose, fire pouring off her body in waves.

"You'll pay for that," she promised darkly, glaring venomously at Nora.

Nora met her look with one of her own, hands tightening around the haft of her hammer.

"Bring it, bitch."

Cinder made to attack when the roof shrieked, something large and white forcing its way in. A shadow passed over her and Cinder was forced to retreat, a massive knight cleaving the ground with its massive greatsword. Glyphs appeared and then Weiss bounded down a staircase of her own making, floating the last couple of meters and landing primly by their side.

"I apologize for the delay," she said haughtily, giving her braid a playful flick. "Our transport could only move so fast."

The last to enter was Yang, dropping down and landing with little fanfare.

"Damn it," she complained, hands on hips. "You guys got to do the cool entrance thing and left nothing for me."

She looked around.

"Where's Blake?"

"Over there, with Ren," Jaune pointed again. "Things... aren't going so well."

"Penny," Ruby gasped, noticing the state of her friend. A hand covered her mouth, chin trembling.

Weiss followed her gaze and scowled, eyes narrowing in anger. "I see."

Yang slammed her fists together, hair erupting in flame as her eyes shifted red.

"Then let's finish this."

"Cute," Cinder glared at them, eye lingering on Ruby. "It seems that fate has gifted me with an opportunity. One that I will not squander."

"Get me over to them," Jaune whispered, nodding to their downed friends. "And keep her off me. I'll have them up in no time."

"Got it!"

Jaune felt weightless as Ruby pulled him into her semblance, the pair racing across the room in a streak of red and gold. Within a blink, they were by Blake and Ren's side as Nora leapt at Cinder with Yang, the Fall Maiden meeting them in the middle. Weiss' giant summon charged with heavy steps, the former heiress following in its wake.

"Go, I've got this," he told Ruby. "They'll need your help."

"Right," she said, and then she was gone, scattering across the battlefield.

As Jaune grabbed Blake's hand and began feeding her aura, Nora engaged Cinder with wide, cleaving swings, molten swords forming around her body. Nora grunted with the effort, muscles bulging as loud shrieking cries filled the air, the sound of glass scratching against steel piercing their ears. A gust of wind halted her momentum but then Yang was there, fists pumping, shotgun blasts pelting Cinder's defense, chipping away at the swarm of swords.

Darting back, Nora shifted her hammer into its launcher form and peppered Cinder with grenades, Yang jumping away as explosions rocked the area. The ground shook and a large earthen spike erupted from the ground, narrowly missing Nora as she hastily dodged.

Pink smoke cleared to reveal Cinder, unharmed. With a loud hum, the Arma Gigas stepped forward and swung down. She moved at the last moment, greatsword slamming into the ground and sinking in deep. Spinning, a bolt of lightning leapt from her hand and struck the summon in the head, blasting it to pieces. White motes of light showered them as it fell apart, the damage too great.

Myrtenaster's rotating chamber clicked into place and Weiss pulled the trigger, and her own arc of lightning cracked from the tip of her blade in a flash. It lanced through the air faster than you could see, yet Cinder caught it in the palm of her hand, the energy bucking as she tightened her fingers around it. It writhed like an angry eel, lashing at the ground, sparks flying but then with a flick of her wrist, it raced back at Weiss with a hiss.

A black glyph weathered the storm, a red line of extreme heat carving across the surface. Cinder followed it up with a stream of fire and Weiss hastily moved, the glyph melting.

"Oh, the poor little Schnee," Cinder mocked, gathering water in her hand in the shape of a spear. With just a thought, it froze in an instant. "I was sure that I put you down for the count. It seems I was mistaken. This time you won't be so lucky."

Yang blasted forward and slammed into her, fists flying. Cinder deflected each blow with her new weapon, the frozen spear spinning and parrying her punches before she ducked, sweeping Yang's legs and blasting her in the chest with a point blank fireball. Yang tumbled through the air, clothes smoking, only for Nora to replace her, hammer striking the floor as Cinder backtracked. Using her weapon as a springboard, Nora flipped over and kicked at her head, missing by an inch.

Cinder lashed out with the spear, the frozen shaft digging into Nora's side and blasting her away. Before she could follow, a series of steel crates and machinery was tossed at her with extreme force, white glyphs spinning wildly as they were propelled through the air. The first one Cinder managed to deflect before the second slammed into her. With a shout of rage, she waved her arm and they were cast aside by hurricane force winds.

The loud crack of a rifle sounded and Cinder's head rocked back, a high caliber round punching into her face. Staggering, another one hit her in the stomach and shoulder, aura flaring in protection. Cinder scowled as she spotted Ruby, perched up high, eye down the scope of her sniper rifle.

Rearing back, she let the ice spear fly and Ruby exploded from her position with speed, racing in as Weiss dashed in close. The former heiress attacked with precise, thrusting jabs, her sword a silver blur. Cinder met each thrust with a newly formed blade, parrying and retaliating with swift slashing strikes. Executing a picture perfect riposte, Cinder went in for the kill only for Crescent Rose to intercept, knocking her sword aside before looping around and attempting to take her head. Ruby advanced with sweeping, swift slashes, weapon spinning in her hands as Weiss joined her in pushing Cinder back.

The fight continued to play out behind him as Jaune saw Blake shift, her eyes blinking open. She stared at him in confusion for a moment, uncomprehending – and then she tensed, sitting up as he continued pumping her full of aura.

"What..." she saw that her team had arrived. Yang and Nora had rejoined the fray, and now Cinder was well and truly on the defensive. "They need me."

"Wait," Jaune focused and his semblance flared for a final push, and he saw her own aura blaze. "There – go!"

Jumping to her feet, she gathered her weapon. The blade was slightly warped but it was still good to go, and she leapt into the fight, clones springing up around her. Jaune then reached out and seized Ren's shoulder.

Cinder grunted as Yang's fist pounded her in the chest, blowing her back with growing strength. With every attack she landed on the blonde, her strength grew to new heights. Nora spun like a top and swept her aside with a powerful swing, the Fall Maiden slamming into one of the old pods. Ruby appeared in a flutter and slashed at her rapidly, the curved blade biting into her body. When Cinder exploded in a wall of fire, blasting them all back, several of Blake's clones jumped eagerly into the inferno. Infused with wind dust, they combusted and blew the fire aside as it fed the flames, allowing the real Blake to flip through and slam her feet against Cinder's face.

" Enough ," Cinder roared, voice distorted. Her body glowed a blinding white and lightning arced from her in all directions unpredictably. Blake was clipped and she spasmed, a shout passing her lips but her aura held, enhanced by Jaune's semblance. Ruby managed to activate her semblance and avoid it, a stream of rose petals erratically flying around the battlefield. Unfortunately, Yang and Weiss were struck flush. They screamed as they were blasted away, bodies writhing through the air.

And then there was Nora.

Lightning coursed through her body, her voice crackling as her semblance drank deeply. Ginger hair standing on end, she weathered and absorbed the incoming lightning, Cinder's face crinkling in confusion before a light went off in her mind, the Maiden hastily cutting off the flow of power.

The damage had been done.

Nora shook with power, eyes sparking as she clenched her fists. Then the ground crumpled beneath her feet, legs tensing as she vanished in a streak of light. Cinder raised her arms in protection before a shockwave blasted through the building, Nora's fist slamming into her. Cinder cried out in pain as she was lifted off her feet and propelled into a wall, the steel plates buckling under the force.

Amped up to the max, Nora followed after her.

While she engaged Cinder in single combat, Ren stirred and slowly sat up. He took stock of the battle immediately, a quick glance all that was needed.

"Thanks," he said, reaching for his pistols.

"No problem. Now come on, Nora needs our help."

Though it sure didn't look like it.

Cinder was on the retreat, fire streaming from her palm in a powerful blast. Nora charged through it with a yell, hammer cutting through the air with a wail. Cinder hastily avoided each swing, inches between escape and defeat, air blowing back her hair on every near miss. Ice formed on the floor, slick and deadly, Nora's next step sliding as she slipped. Her wild swing swung off target and hit the floor, pulverizing cement as Cinder suddenly went on the attack.

A shove kept Nora off balance, the Maiden lashing out with a kick to the head. Rocked by the blow, Nora could do nothing as Cinder spun, elbowing her in the chest before grabbing a fistful of her jacket and hauling her back in. A knee struck Nora in the stomach, driving the air from her lungs before an orb of fire formed in Cinder's hand. It compressed and detonated, Nora crying out as she was flung away, Magnhild spinning away from her grasp.

Jaune and Ren rushed forward as one but before they could reach her, a familiar figure appeared from the darkness. Pink, brown and white, the small woman twirled her parasol cutely, skipping towards Cinder without a care in the world. Ruby appeared by their side, hands tight around Crescent Rose as Neo stopped next to Cinder and gave her an elaborate bow, presenting...

"What?" Ruby gasped.

The Relic of Knowledge dangled from her hand, offered up to Cinder Fall. At once, the Fall Maiden's mood improved, a happy, dark laugh escaping her.

"Well, well, well – it seems you took care of the Tin Man without much trouble," she reached out and grabbed the lamp, removing it from Neo's grasp.

Had they been betrayed?

Jaune stared at Neo. Why now? It didn't make any sense!

There was a subtle shift, Neo tilting her head slightly to show him her face. Then she winked, her mouth curling into a cunning smile.

Something didn't feel right.

"The Winter Maiden isn't here," Cinder declared. "But we have the relic. Come. If we have to tear apart the entire kingdom, we will find her."

"She betrayed us," Ruby said, voice filled with anger and despair. "Yang was right. We shouldn't have trusted her."

Neo rose from her bow and pointed a dainty finger in their direction. Cinder made a sound of recognition.

"I suppose you do deserve a reward for your outstanding work," Cinder smiled, the expression filled not with joy but hatred. "You want the little Rose? You've got her."

Jaune felt his heart still.

What?

Neo turned their way and gave them a cute smile, skipping towards them. Jaune tensed, Ren readying his pistols. Ruby twirled her scythe, crouching, ready for the fight to come.

The small woman spun her parasol as she approached before stopping several feet away from them, tilting her head. Jaune's eyes met hers and he watched as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small rectangular device. It almost looked like a remote control of some type with a single red button.

Then she poked out her tongue before pressing it.

A harsh, blinding light erupted, blinding them all. Almost like a flashbang had been triggered, without the accompanying blast.

And then came a scream; one of pure, unadulterated agony.

Cinder Fall collapsed to her knees, the Relic in her hand glowing a deep, violent red.