Atlas and Mantle

The hum of the airship's engine filled the cabin as the group sat scattered around, their earlier shock and turmoil now subsiding into a calmer, more reflective mood. The destination was Atlas, but their minds were still wrestling with the Crimson's earlier display.

Yang leaned back in her seat, arms crossed, her eyes fixed on Crimson, who sat across from her. "You know," she began, breaking the relative quiet, "it's kind of insane. You're really as strong—no, stronger—than when you went full demon back in Haven."

Nora nodded enthusiastically, leaning forward. "Yeah! And no creepy extra eyes or anything this time. I mean, that was cool in a terrifying way, but this is just cool cool."

Crimson chuckled softly at their enthusiasm, shaking his head. "I suppose I'll take that as a compliment. But honestly, I'd prefer to avoid comparisons to that form altogether."

Ruby, sitting beside Weiss, turned her attention to him, her silver eyes narrowing in curiosity. "Speaking of cool, what's the deal with your sword? During the fight, you were drawing and slashing so fast that I couldn't get a good look at it. But… it seemed different—almost strange."

Crimson glanced down at his side, where his sword rested in its sheath. A faint smile played on his lips as he drew the blade slowly, its soft hum filling the air. As the metal caught the dim light of the cabin, the group collectively gasped.

The blade was like no other they'd seen. It gleamed with a bluish-white hue, faintly glowing as if it were forged from a fragment of the moon itself. The light pulsed gently, almost alive, adding an otherworldly aura to the weapon.

Ruby's eyes widened as she leaned closer, practically vibrating with excitement. "It's… beautiful." She reached out hesitantly, and Crimson nodded, allowing her to take it.

As Ruby held the sword, she turned it over in her hands, marveling at its craftsmanship. The blade felt both ancient and impossibly advanced, with intricate patterns etched into its surface, reminiscent of constellations. "Where… where did you even get this?" she asked, her voice almost reverent.

Weiss, sitting primly beside her, folded her arms. "Yes, Crimson, I think we'd all like to know the origin of a weapon like this."

Crimson leaned back in his seat, his expression thoughtful. "It was a gift," he said simply.

"A gift?" Weiss raised an eyebrow, her skepticism apparent.

Crimson nodded. "From the god of harmony," he clarified.

The cabin fell silent again, everyone processing his words.

"So… it's another divine relic?" Yang asked, breaking the silence.

Crimson shook his head immediately. "No, not exactly. It doesn't have the magical properties or immense power of the relics. This sword is just… a sword." He gestured toward the blade in Ruby's hands. "Granted, it's far superior in quality to any weapon I've seen or used, but it's not imbued with any supernatural abilities."

Ruby glanced up at him, frowning slightly. "You mean to tell me you've had this all this time and never showed it to us?"

Crimson shrugged. "There wasn't any reason to. It's just a sword, Ruby."

Ruby pouted at his nonchalant response, her lips forming a dramatic frown. "Just a sword? This thing looks like it could cut through a Grimm without even trying! How could you not think it was worth showing off?"

Weiss chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand. "It's hardly surprising, Ruby. Crimson is not one for theatrics or grand displays."

Nora burst into laughter. "Yeah, but you definitely are, Ruby."

The group shared a round of laughter, lightening the atmosphere as Ruby puffed out her cheeks in mock indignation.

Ruby handed the sword back to him, still marveling at it. "Even if it's not a relic, it's amazing. It suits you."

Crimson sheathed the blade with practiced ease and gave her a small nod of appreciation. "Thanks, Ruby."

As the airship continued its journey to Atlas, the group settled into quiet conversation.

________________________

The hum of the aircraft's engines faded into a tense silence as the group stared out the windows. The horizon was dominated by the looming silhouette of Atlas, its floating city gleaming against the darkening sky. But what truly caught their attention was the aggressive display of military might surrounding it. Battleships hovered in rigid formation, their weapons trained in all directions, while fighter aircraft patrolled the skies like predatory birds. The once-pristine city of Atlas looked more like a fortress under siege.

"This… doesn't look okay," Ruby muttered, her eyes darting between the patrolling ships and the city's towering defenses.

"No kidding," Qrow added, looking worried. "What's James doing?"

"Or maybe something happened in Atlas," Oscar offered hesitantly.

Before anyone could reply, a sharp beep sounded from the aircraft's console. A voice crackled through the communication system, cold and authoritative.

"Mantis-013, this is Atlas Control. Welcome back home. Please land in docking bay Mega-12. Security team will meet you there. Over"

Blake frowned and said. "If we land there, they won't let us anywhere near General Ironwood." She crossed her arms. "Especially since this aircraft is, you know, stolen."

Weiss sighed, pulling out her scroll. "Then we'll have to contact Winter. She might be the only one who can get us through this mess." She glanced at Qrow. "Fly toward Mantle. I'll need some time to reach her."

Qrow gave a curt nod and adjusted the controls. "Got it."

Qrow grimaced, gripping the controls tightly. "Not sure. Starting to wonder if heading to Atlas was even the right choice."

As the aircraft descended toward Mantle's lower atmosphere, the group spotted a massive screen mounted on the side of a skyscraper. It displayed General Ironwood, his face pale and gaunt, addressing the people of Atlas and Mantle. His voice didn't carry into the aircraft, but his body language was rigid, his movements mechanical.

Ruby leaned closer to the window. "He… he looks so tired."

Weiss, still trying to reach her sister on her scroll, frowned in frustration. "Winter will help us. She has to. I just need to get through to her—"

"Not so sure about that," Qrow cut in, pointing to another massive screen.

The group turned their attention to the display. Winter Schnee, clad in her Atlas military uniform, stood at attention as she addressed the citizens of Mantle. Her voice carried a commanding tone as she instructed people to follow orders from Atlas military personnel or they will be punished.

Weiss's hands trembled as she lowered her scroll. " Winter…" Her voice cracked, betraying her growing anxiety.

Before anyone could offer reassurance, the aircraft's console beeped again.

"Mantis-013, we noticed you detoured to Mantle. Return to docking bay-12 immediately. over"

Yang's fist clenched as she stood. "We can't keep this up. Let's ditch the aircraft and figure things out from the ground."

Pyrrha, sitting next to Crimson, turned to him with a look of uncertainty. "What do you think we should do?"

Crimson rested his chin on his hand, looking out the window at the sprawling city below. "It's easier to head straight to Atlas and cause enough of a scene to get Ironwood's attention. But if we want to avoid violence, staying in Mantle and continuing to try to reach Winter might be our best option."

The group exchanged uncertain glances before Qrow made the decision. "Alright, we'll ditch the ship in Mantle. Keep a low profile and figure out our next move from there."

The aircraft descended further into Mantle, and the group abandoned it in a quiet industrial zone, slipping away before any patrols could arrive.

________________________

As they walked through the streets of Mantle, the grim reality of the city hit them hard. The air was heavy with negativity, the shadows filled with despair. Homeless people huddled in alleyways, their eyes hollow and lifeless. Others shuffled down the streets, their faces etched with worry.

Ruby clutched Crescent Rose tightly as she looked around. "This… this isn't what I imagined. It's so…"

"Broken," Yang finished grimly, her gaze scanning the streets.

The sound of laughter caught their attention, but it was not joyful. A group of drunken Atlas citizens staggered out of a nearby bar, their voices slurred and angry.

"They're all ungrateful pieces of shit!" one man shouted, waving a bottle in the air. "Atlas tries to help the other kingdoms, and this is what we get? Blamed for everything!"

"Damn right!" another agreed. "Let 'em rot for all I care!"

The group tensed, instinctively ready for a confrontation, but Crimson raised a hand, shaking his head. "Not worth it. Let's keep moving."

They quietly slipped past the drunkards, their steps quickening as they moved deeper into Mantle. The streets of Mantle grew darker with every step, and it wasn't just the fading light of day. The deeper the group ventured into the city, the more apparent its despair became. Neglect clung to every corner: crumbling buildings, flickering streetlights, and hollow-eyed citizens trudging through the streets. The air felt heavy, weighed down by the unshakable presence of fear and hopelessness.

"This place… it's worse than I thought," Ruby murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's been like this for a while," Weiss replied solemnly, her eyes darting around. "But I didn't realize it had gotten this bad."

As the group moved through the streets, their somber thoughts were interrupted by the sudden blare of alarms. A loud, shrill wail echoed across the city, causing heads to turn and panic to ripple through the sparse crowds.

"What now?" Yang groaned, her hand instinctively tightening into a fist.

"Grimm," Ren said sharply, his gaze flicking to the horizon. "The alarm's for a Grimm attack."

Ruby readied Crescent Rose, her expression serious. "We need to find where they're coming from."

"They shouldn't have made it this far into the city," Weiss said, worry creeping into her voice. "The defenses—"

"Are probably falling apart, just like everything else," Yang interjected, sighing. "Not surprised."

A low growl echoed from around the corner, sending shivers down their spines. The group immediately took defensive stances, weapons at the ready. From the corner, a pack of Sabyrs emerged, their glowing red eyes locked onto the group. The Saber-toothed tiger like Grimm snarled and bared their sharp teeth.

"There's a lot of them," Nora said, gripping Magnhild tightly.

"Good," Yang smirked. "I've been needing to hit something."

The group charged forward, meeting the Grimm head-on. Ruby spun Crescent Rose with practiced ease, slicing through the first Sabyr in a single motion. Weiss summoned a glyph beneath her feet, propelling herself into the air before freezing another Sabyr solid with a precise strike of Myrtenaster.

Nora and Ren worked in tandem, as always. Nora's hammer came down with a thunderous crash, sending Grimm scattering, while Ren danced between them, his quick strikes dispatching them with efficiency. Pyrrha's spear and shield blurred as she moved, her every attack a display of precision and strength.

Qrow darted through the fray, his scythe cleaving through the Grimm like a whirlwind. "Keep it up, kids!" he called over his shoulder, a rare smile tugging at his lips despite the situation.

Standing on the sidelines, Crimson watched the battle unfold with a calm detachment. His arms were crossed, his sword still sheathed at his side. "They're doing fine," he muttered to himself.

Beside him, Raven leaned on her stick, her posture rigid. She hadn't joined the fight, and Crimson could see the tension in her shoulders. "You're not going to help them?" she asked, her voice low.

"They don't need me for this," Crimson replied evenly, his eyes never leaving the fight. "These Grimm are nothing compared to what they have faced before."

"And me?" Raven's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "I'm not much use in close combat anymore."

The group made short work of the Grimm. One by one, the Sabyrs fell under their combined efforts. As the battle neared its end, only three Grimm remained. The remaining creatures growled and lunged toward the group.

Before anyone could strike, a blinding green light shot down from the sky. The beam of energy incinerated the three Sabyrs in an instant, leaving nothing behind but scorched ground and the faint smell of ozone.