- Stronghold Ironwood -

The cell door opened up as the little girl, clad in an yellow nightgown opened up her eyes to see food being served to her.

Atlesian Soldier: "Breakfast time, kiddo."

Girl: "Thank you."

She said, the soldier gently laud down the tray and left the room. The little girl gobbled up the rations, which had been provided via Atlas. Steelheart knew the importance that this girl meant for his campaign against the Black Horde. She was the only thing that stood between the Prince of Grimm and the Relic of Destruction.

Girl: "When will Mavis come back? I really miss her."

The individual she was referencing was the previous Summer Maiden, whom had gifted a girl she had visited often with immense powers. Her death was of unknown reason, nobody knew of her demise until the girl was discovered by Atlesian soldiers in Vacuo defending herself from the Black Horde during Operation Thistle. There they drew obvious conclusions on the fate of the power's previous holder. Since then, they've kept her in the facility to train her and teach her to utilize her powers.

Soldier: "Your friend is going on a long journey, very long. She might not come back, but she would want you to know that she misses you too, young one. One day, you may see her again."

The soldier consoled her. The girl seemingly accepted his explanation, continuing to eat. But deep down she knew something was wrong.

All of a sudden, the alarm began to sound. The soldier glanced out into the hallway. Other troops began to rush to defensive stations.

Soldier: "Grimm attack?"

Soldier 2: "The Black Horde have found us! We have to defend the girl. You get her out of here, anywhere! To Steelheart, hell even Vale! But not Mistral, the cowardly traitors recently turned!"

He ordered, the first soldier turned back towards the girl. Who looked worried at what was going on outside. Clutching tightly the necklace that was given to her by Mavis.

The attack was an aerial one, a flock of Nevermore surrounded something no one on Remnant had seen for centuries.

The Grimm Wyvern. Having emerged after centuries dormant

Turrets from the base opened fire on the assault, but it was fruitless. There were too many of them to shoot down. Nevertheless the valiant soldiers tried with all their might.

The bird-like Grimm began to circle around the Atlesian's base like vultures waiting for their prey to perish. The turrets fired into the air hoping to kill enough that they would flee. But it was just a distraction for the main assault.

The Wyvern started shedding black drops off of it's scaly hide. Once the droplets made contact with the ground, it conjured heavily armored Spawn for the ground attack. The humanoid Grimm slaughtered the hopelessly outnumbered Atlesian soldiers one by one, seemingly unaffected by their gunfire. Turrets were able to kill the Spawn, but as soon as they took their sights off of the circling Nevermore. They were vulnerable to attack from above.

Atlesian soldiers were eventually forced into the confinement of their secret base as an armored Nevermore landed at the entrance, it's rider disembarked.

Arrogant red eyes scanned the carnage, bodies and blood were littered around the previously clean establishment. It then shifted to the closed off door leading into the stronghold. An obstacle needing to be demolished.

(Y/N): "Defenders! You've done your job with price and conviction. You will now be eviscerated mercilessly by my hand."

(Y/N) gladly proclaimed, drawing Gambler from his back scabbard. Letting hellfire engulf the sword's blade.

He approached the doors and with one slash, he busted the reinforced barriers inwards. Killing a few of those who were putting the weight of their bodies against it to keep the Grimm out. The remaining soldiers could only see red glowing eyes past the dust, choosing to focus their fire there.

Atlesian Soldier 3: "Open fire, men! We have to buy time for Harold and the girl to escape!"

(Y/N): "So she is here... excellent."

The Prince grinned to himself, only walking forward amidst a hail of gunfire. His unkillable body wasn't even touched as his aura absorbed the volley of dust rounds thrown his way. One by one; with one slash of Gambler for each resistor, his opponents were burnt to a crisp. (Y/N) kept his arrogant smirk on his face as he walked past and killed every Atlesian soldier in the hallway. They were nothing to him, nothing but obstacles to his goal. Obstacles that could be killed, to which (Y/N) was never hesitant towards.

Once all his enemies were dispatched, he sheathed Gambler and continued onwards. Leaving nothing in his trail, as the bodies simply were all burnt to ash and blown away to dance in the wind forever.

After encountering lackluster resistance, he eventually reached a hangar bay. Where a cargo craft was attempting to depart the scene, presumably with the young Summer Maiden on board. (Y/N) simply retrieved Gambler from his scabbard and flung his sword into one of the propellers.

The propeller jammed, emitting smoke before the craft spiraled into a wreck. The other propeller was still functioning, but it wasn't enough to lift the mangled metallic corpse of the hover craft.

A lone Atlesian Soldier was able to escape from the wreck, wielding nothing but a simple pistol. He laid eyes on the Grimm Prince and didn't hesitate to throw his life on the line to protect the child.

(Y/N)'s head jolted back as a pistol shot bounced off of his aura. He simply chuckled in sheer disappointment.

Disarming the soldier, his eyes inspected him.

(Y/N): "The Brave are always mistaken."

He said with a cocky tone, his eyes then shifted towards the still functional propeller of the ship.

(Y/N): "How poetic, your escape becomes your demise."

The soldier struggled to escape his grasp, (Y/N) climbed onto the top of the wreck, positioning his hostage right over the remaining propeller.

Soldier: "I'll see you... in hell."

The soldier gritted his teeth, (Y/N)'s expression simply remained blank towards his defiance, until he began to smile slightly.

(Y/N): "I'll see you in pieces first."

He said, letting go of the soldier and grinning sadistically as his hostage was sucked into the ship's turbine. His face was splattered with blood as he laughed at his enemy's misfortune.

It was then that he turned to the interior of the ship, first retrieving his sword from the wreckage. He busted the door in, quickly rescuing the Summer Maiden. Who was knocked unconscious in the crash, gently carrying her out of the wreckage and to safety.

(Y/N): "Finally, the key is recovered... little girl... you will spell my victory."

He gloated to himself. But stopped smiling as he saw that she was waking up, quickly switching to a more concerned look.

(Y/N): "Are you alright?"

The girl winced as she woke up, feeling her forehead as she looked up at (Y/N) and gasped in fear.

Girl: "W-who are you?"

She asked.

(Y/N): "Don't move, you've been in a crash."

Girl: "Where am I?"

She asked. It was only then that (Y/N) then realized something.

(Y/N): "You, you don't remember anything?"

He questioned. The girl seemed like she was attempting to try and remember, but she seemingly couldn't think up of anything that happened only a few seconds ago. She then looked at (Y/N) with a confused and worried look and shook her head.

(Y/N): "Oh no..."