Ren, Ruby, Yang and Nora were able to get to the landing pad Spawn Grimm were being gunned down by the dozens by heavy weaponry. While standard Atlesian rifles did little to nothing against the swarm. Most of the civilian population had either been evacuated or are currently dead in the streets.

Ruby: "We have to get out of here now!"

She called out. Some of the soldiers began retreating, the horde took this opportunity to attack in full force. The last airship, the Heavy Cruiser Schnee fired directly onto the attacking force with it's guns. The four hunters made their way into the ship, supporting the retreating Atlesian soldiers through cover fire. Some were overrun and eaten alive, while the lucky ones were able to get onto the last transport.

Yang: "Get on! Quick! Come on!"

Yang hollered out while firing from her remaining gauntlet until it was empty, meanwhile a nearby soldier got onto his radio.

Soldier: "Lift off! Let's leave this place!"

He cried into his radio, hipfiring at the advancing Grimm.

The Schnee began to lift off slowly, some soldiers were able to clamber aboard. Others were left to fend for themselves on the landing pad.

Ruby and Yang watched somberly as the remaining soldiers were all slaughtered by the encompassing horde of Spawn. Blake and Weiss; who were much closer to the landing pad, arrived at the hanger to make sure that their teammates had escaped the fall of Vale.

Weiss: "Ruby, Yang. Thank the Gods that you're okay,"

Yang: "Oh we're okay... Everyone else back there... no."

Yang replied, Ruby's eyes then widened.

Ruby: "Nora!"

She remembered seeing Yang's arm and one of Ren's weapons getting absolutely disintegrated. She turned back towards where Ren was to see him grieving above Nora. Whose wound was now glowing.

Ren: "Nora... please. You can't go..."

Nora: "I-I don't think I can..."

Ren's hand gently grasped Nora's. She looked up at him and smiled as her wound began to glow brighter.

Blake: "Oh no... we need a doctor! Medic!"

Blake ran back through the hallway that they came in an ultimately vain attempt to find help.

Nora: "I think i-it's too late."

Nora managed to gasp out, until the wound began to shed glitter. The Relic of Destruction was as of now working it's ancient, deadly magic on the human body. Nora was disintegrating, and fast.

Ren: "No... no no no no..."

He frantically said, beginning to cry as his grip on Nora's hand tightened. Yang knelt down, placing her hand on Ren's shoulder. He tensed up.

Yang: "Ren. I-I'm sorry. It's my fault we chose to stay and fight... I... just so badly wanted revenge on Lilith. I know you won't forgive me, but I just wanted to have a chance..."

She said, Ren stayed silent as Nora was able to speak one last time.

Nora: "Yang... this... isn't y-your..."

She said, before her head fell to the side. Unable to finish it, her body eventually evaporated into glitter as Ren and Team RWBY helplessly watched.

Ren's hand stayed clenched where Nora's once was trying to grasp at something that wasn't there. It then began to shake with fiery anger...

Weiss: "Ren..."

Ren: "I-I need some time alone."

He said, brushing Weiss off as he stormed off furiously. It was then that Blake arrived with a medic, but when she saw Ren angrily walk past her. She knew it was too late, she dismissed the doctor entirely.

Blake: "Vale?"

She asked, while approaching the rest of Team RWBY. Ruby Rose slowly shook her head, turning to look back at the fallen city. They were getting further and further by the second.

Ruby: "His plan is almost complete..."

She said to herself, solemnly. No one else could think anything to say as they heard distant roars of the victorious Grimm, the Schnee joined the rest of the evacuation fleet in fighting off groups of Nevermore that attacked as they went off and retreated for Atlas. Where humanity would make their final stand against the vicious Black Horde and it's ruthless leader.

- Two Days Later -

All members of Death's Hand stood before (Y/N) as he paced back and forth between them. He was angrily muttering to himself despite the fall of Fortress Vale, a traitor had allowed most of the city to escape. The victory was simply an empty one; not the morale-crushing, glorious triumph that it was supposed to be. And that fault laid directly with one of the four in front of him.

(Y/N): "One of you. Betrayed Death's Hand. One of you leaked the plan of attack to our enemy and allowed Vale to get away. I'm here now, to tell this traitor that you will be destroyed once I find out who you are."

Lilith: "(Y/N), believe me when I say that-"

She stepped forth, only for (Y/N) to intimidate her into backing down.

(Y/N): "Back. In. Line."

(Y/N) furiously cut her off. he was livid at his missed opportunity, right now everything was out of the window. The traitor could be anyone.

Lilith: "I-I'm sorry. But believe me, when I say that my loyalty will always be with you... my master."

She said, bowing to him. Amber looked at Lilith with a hint of pity. Pity that (Y/N) took note of. Because of that, his next questioning would with her.

(Y/N): "Amber. What reason would you have to betray me?"

She glared back defiantly.

Amber: "I wouldn't. We have a deal of course. A deal I intend to uphold."

Amber said with conviction.

(Y/N): "Maybe your acceptance could've been a ploy to try and affect my war effort later down the line..."

Amber: "I stand by myself when I say that I will never betray you, only because my brother's life is on the line."

(Y/N) smiled a little at her, chuckling a little to himself.

(Y/N): "Good answer... but we'll see how good of an answer it was when I get to the bottom of all this."

(Y/N)'s attention was turned to his fellow male colleagues. Being more recent additions to his acquaintance list put them in the spotlight. The first in line was Orion Octavian, the general of his armies.

(Y/N): "Octavian, now... why would you betray me?"

Orion: "My loyalty is sworn to you and only you my lord."

(Y/N): "I can only wonder how much of that was true.."

Orion: "If I were in your shoes I-I probably wouldn't believe myself. But I understand your fears."

(Y/N) patted his shoulder, before facing the last member of Death's Hand. The turncoat Atlesian Officer. Killian. Who looked surprisingly calm.

Killian: "My lord, I am but your humble servant."

(Y/N) looked amused at his pitiful appeasement.

(Y/N): "This is looking very bad for you, Atlesian. As one of the most recent members of Death's Hand, you are the one whose loyalty I question the most."

Killian: "My master, please believe me when I say that if my family's on the line... I will never betray you... I fall before you... to beg for your full understanding and mercy."

(Y/N): "Nevertheless, your connections with Atlas give you a way to forward whatever information you can get your slimy hands on to Steelheart."

(Y/N) speculated aloud, Killian remained calm. Keeping direct eye contact with the Grimm Prince.

(Y/N): "As you all know, in the end words mean nothing. Actions pledge your fielty. You can swear an oath to me one thousand times. But like any disobedient student, your words are worth less than what I can even fathom to be lesser than dirt."

Killian: "My lord, it's of no use to accuse all of us-"

(Y/N): "But it is. You see, one disruptive force can cause an entire chain reaction. Betrayal is a disease that can easily infect, what I'm doing right now... is a cure. Lilith, come over here."

Lilith feared him whenever he was furious, even now she couldn't find the strength to.

(Y/N): "Now."

She hesitantly walked over to him, her high heels clacking against the volcanic-glass tiles. (Y/N) pulled out Gambler, grabbing Lilith by wrapping his arm around her throat and pulling her up against him. He held his weapon to her neck. Lilith gasped as she was aggressively grabbed by (Y/N), she did nothing to resist however.

(Y/N): "I know, whenever someone has betrayed me... It's through pure disgust and horror at my actions... So, I'm taking the chance that whoever among you three is the traitor...you can't stand seeing another person die because of my actions... Won't you?"

He mocked, his glare shifting between all three. Amber could see the pure malice and arrogance within his stare. It scared her.

Lilith: "But... why me?"

She asked, a bit saddened at the fact that (Y/N) would use her to try and simply prove a point.

(Y/N): "Lilith... haven't you figured it out?"

He chuckled, seemingly to himself. Closely, he looked at the expressions of his underlings. Lilith gulped, her fear was evident in her eyes. (Y/N) could easily cut her throat with Gambler and she couldn't do anything about it. Amber watched with a little hint of acceptance, Lilith had always been a sort of a puppet for (Y/N) and now it seemed like he was cutting the strings. Killian knew of Lilith's fear, he felt the same feeling whenever he would cross (Y/N) anywhere in the palace hallways. Fear he felt for his family. For what was most precious to him. For Orion... he looked somewhat worried.

Orion: "Stop!"

(Y/N)'s cruel gaze shifted directly to Orion Octavian. Who held a look of anger and disgust in his eyes. (Y/N) simply smiled as he allowed Lilith to go. Focusing all of his attention to Orion.

Orion: "Don't hurt her..."

He pleaded. (Y/N) could see it clearly then.

(Y/N): "Killian, it looks like I owe you an apology."

He turned to look at the Atlesian insider. Killian sighed and brought forth a secret he had been hiding for quite some time now.

Killian: "A few days earlier, Orion came to me with a plan to break out the three maidens we have in the Dungeon. I declined and said that he would be better off throwing himself into the Grimm lakes. Because it would be a doomed venture to go up against you."

(Y/N): "Hmm? Interesting. And you didn't tell me because?"

Killian stuttered a little, before he just bowed his head.

Killian: "I-I'm sorry, my master."

(Y/N): "I will deal with your inability to act later. Right now, I have to... direct my anger...

Orion: "Killian, you spineless bastard..."

He shook his head at Killian. (Y/N) summoned two Spawn to apprehend Orion and take him to the interrogation block of the dungeon. To show their renewed allegiance; Killian, Amber and even Lilith all bowed before him as he passed them in order to head to the Dungeon.