A/N: The Battle Intensifies and things only get worse.

The Wyvern flew past the hijacked Atlesian Airship, as Ruby looked on, with the surrounding Griffons roaming the skies. A Griffon landed on the airship, but Ruby easily cut it down with Crescent Rose, causing to disintegrate into black particles. But suddenly, she heard a snap and turned to see Neo, now changing into her standard attire with a wave of light washing over her from bottom to top, as she winked after taking a picture of Ruby and sending it to a Roman with a following text.

Text: "Guess Who?"

Roman: Oh, you can not be serious!

Having realized his old foe was interfering yet again, the wanted criminal quickly picked up Melodic Cudgel and walked up to the top of the airship. Right outside of Beacon's dining hall, Blake backed away from the shattered window, staring in horror at her old partner.

Adam: Running away again? Is that what you've become, my love? A coward?

Blake: Why are you doing this?

Adam: You and I were going to change the world, remember? We were destined to light the fires of revolution!

He drew his sword and prepared to stab an Atlas student in the chest.

Adam: Consider this ...a spark.

Blake charged into the dining hall, drawing her sword in a flash. Her blade clashed with his as she pushed him away from the student, and they stood with their blades locked.

Blake: I'm ...not ...running.

Adam: You ...will.

He kicked her away, knocking her onto the floor. A nearby Creep ran toward her, only to be shot by Adam.

Adam: But not before you suffer for your betrayal, my love.

He smiled and began walking toward her. Back outside the Beacon grounds, Velvet groaned as she struggled to get up, only to get knocked back down when Coco bumped into her after getting knocked away from a Paladin. Neon and Reese were dodging and weaving between groups of students fighting against the infected Atlesian Knights and Paladins. Yatsuhashi was fighting a Griffon while Flynt used his trumpet to hold back a Paladin. Weiss then arrived on the battlefield, but got knocked back another Paladin.

Neptune: Weiss!

Yatsuhashi tried to hold back a Paladin's fist with his sword, but he got knocked back. The Paladin then turned to and started approaching a distracted Ren.

Nora: Look out!

She pushed Ren out of the way of the Paladin's incoming strike, taking the hit instead.

Ren: Nora! No!

He reached out to her, only to get knocked back by the Paladin too. The Paladin was about to attack again before the sound of a falling Nevermore was heard. The Nevermore landed a few feet away. Just as it tried to get up, but it's neck was slashed in half by a ki blade. The Head of the large bird fell from the body to reveal You, who then kicked the Paladin a few feet away from Nora and Ren.

Coco: (Y/N)?

(Y/N): Hey.

You said as you walked over to her.

(Y/N): I saw you guys taking quite the hit so I took care of the pest control.

You looked up to the skies and saw that there was still plenty of Nevermore and Griffons in the skies.

(Y/N): Though I still need to take care of the rest ....especially the big one.

You said while looking at the Wyvern.

Coco: Well thanks, we really need your help with this one.

The Paladin soon started to stand back up again. You fired death beams at the mech as Coco and Neptune fired their weapons at it, but it was unfazed.

(Y/N): Oooooh. Stronger metal ....Almost as if the general expected something from me. -_-

Neptune: Uh, this is bad.

Coco: Well, I guess now's a better time than any. Velvet!

Velvet: Really?

Coco: Just make them count.

(Y/N): You're just going to let Velvet go out to get herself killed?

Coco: Don't worry, What Velvet's got in store for them will really blow them away.

Velvet nodded as she walked up to the Paladins.

https://youtu.be/oERGkFpbZhw

Weiss: What are you doing!? She's going to get hurt!

Coco: Just watch.

With her weapon, Velvet began to replicate Crescent Rose, as she imitated Ruby's overhead spin, landing on top of the Paladin as she dodged it's cannon fire. She then replicated Myrtenaster to deflect the Paladin's punch and land a few blows before pushing it back with the Ember Celica imitation. Once after she landed a few shots, she slid under the Paladin's fist, similar to Blake as she used the Gambol Shroud copy and used it's string to trip over the mech, before moving to the second Paladin by lopping off it's hand, and jabbing it in the head with the cleaver. Before it could react, it was immediately peppered with imitation bullets, thanks to copying Coco's minigun. As it moved forward, Velvet switched to using Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang as a reference, as she landed another few hits while landing a downward blow from above with a copy of Magnhild, severing a limb. As the first Paladin attempted to recover, Velvet immediately copied Penny's swords, as she lept off the second Paladin and sliced apart it's legs before blasting it at full power. However, the first Paladin sucker punched Velvet.

Velvet: Aah!

Coco: Velvet!

(Y/N): Rusted tin can!

You summoned an energy disk and tossed it at the mech, severing it's arm from it's body. Coco, Neptune, Nadir, and Reese landed suppressing fire Furious, Weiss immediately rushed in, as she instinctively used a summoning glyph, confusing her. When she rushed in between Velvet and the Paladin, she closed her eyes and gritted her teeth as she discovered she summoned the arm and sword of an Arma Gigas, who blocked the Paladin's fist and bisected the machine in half. She took brief look at her summoning before being surprised by a camera flash, which was taken by a smiling Velvet. But before You all could take a breath, another advanced Paladin rushed in from the corner and began to charge at them.

Sun: You have got to be kidding me!

(Y/N): I am so having a talk with that Ironwood later about this when this is all pasted!

Back at the airship, the battle commenced as Ruby performed a low swing, with Neo somersaulting over it, and ducking the next swing, before performing another backflip to dodge the third. Ruby then twirled Crescent Rose before attempting another low sweep, only for Neo to backflip away from her consecutive twirls. Once Ruby finished spinning her weapon, she lodged Crescent Rose on the hull and fired a shot, only for Neo to shatter in an illusion, revealing Roman as he fired a shot back with Melodic Cudgel, sending Ruby flying several feet, before she lodged Crescent Rose to safely grip herself from the surrounding gales, while Roman walked up to her.

Roman: Little Red, little Red, you are just determined to be the hero of Vale, aren'tcha?

Ruby: What are you doing!? Without these ships, the Grimm will destroy everything!

Roman: That's the plan!

Ruby then swatted aside Melodic Cudgel just as he attempted to fire it at her, causing him to move a few feet off-balance, before Neo returned and lept over her, kicking Ruby's left cheek, and using the momentum to flip her over and send Ruby tumbling on her back. Neo then followed up with a roundhouse to the face, and a rear horse kick to nearly sent her careening off the hull of the airship.

Ruby: But why!? What do you get out of it!?

Roman: You're asking the wrong questions, Red! It's not what I have to gain, it's that I can't afford to lose!

As Ruby charged, Neo vaulted over Roman for a powerful kick. She then lept up, grabbed Crescent Rose, and slid under, flipping Ruby once more with the hook of her parasol. As Ruby spun midair, the pint-sized powerhouse finished with a roundhouse to the abdomen, as Roman slammed the barrel of Melodic Cudgel to the ground and fired, causing the cane to ricochet and hit Ruby, before catching it and firing the weapon once more over his shoulder. The blast was enough to send Ruby holding on for dear life, with the embedded blade of Crescent Rose the only thing preventing her from falling.

Roman: I may be a gambling man, but even I know that there are some bets you just don't take.

Neo then extended her blade and drags it on the surface, as she held Ruby at sword point.

Roman: Like it or not, the people that hired me are going to change the world! You can't stop 'em, I can't stop 'em!

As Roman continue, Ruby kicked away a Nevermore, and noticed the button on Neo's parasol.

Roman: You know the old saying, "If you can't beat 'em.........

Suddenly, Ruby reached for the parasol, causing it to open and sending Neo flying off the airship, leaving her with a frightened gasp as she was silently left at the mercy of the Grimm roaming the skies and the raging winds.

Roman: NEO!

Ruby: I don't care what you say! We will stop them and I will stop you! BET ON THAT!!

As Ruby charged at top speed with the use of her Semblance, Roman gripped Melodic Cudgel with both hands, the left hand holding the shaft, as he quickly caught the projectile with the hook end and hurled it at Ruby, knocking her away, before smacking her with the business end of the cane, ramming the weapon in her stomach, and firing another shot and sending her on her back once more.

Roman: You got spirit, Red. But this is the real world!

Roman then whacked Ruby with the butt of his cane, sending her back a few feet.

Roman: The real world is cold!

Roman landed another coshing, this time on Ruby's legs.

Roman: The real world doesn't care about spirit!

Ruby then kicked him in the knee, causing him to lose balance as he prepared a downward strike.

Roman: You wanna be a hero!? Then play the part and die like every other Huntsman in history!

He then proceeded to smack Ruby with the butt end of the cane.

Roman: As for me, I'll do what I do best: lie, steal, cheat, and SURVIVE!

Just as Roman prepares a final, overhead swing, a Griffon landed behind him and devoured him whole. Said Griffon was about to advance on Ruby. However, when it tried to attack her, it ended up missing and went flying into the hull and causing it to explode, killing the Griffon and causing the ship to stark plummeting. Ruby grabbed Crescent Rose, lept off the falling airship, and propelled herself in the air, shooting at the ground as if her weapon was a pogo-stick, before landing safely on the rooftops of Vale. Back in the city, Glynda used her riding crop to knock back a few Creeps, while Qrow sliced and blasted at a few infected Knights with his sword. Cardin giddily knocked back an Ursa with his mace, but then got held at gunpoint by a few infected Knights. Suddenly, their heads were shot off, surprising Cardin. As the smoke clears, it was revealed that General Ironwood miraculously survived his crash, his damaged uniform exposing the right half of his body to be cybernetic. Without hesitation, he shot down all of the infected Knights with his revolver.

Ironwood: This area's secure! We need to......

Suddenly, Qrow's expression changed into what appeared to be anger. He transformed his sword into a scythe and charged toward Ironwood.

Ironwood: Qrow! This isn't my doing!

Qrow continued charging, despite Ironwood's words. The general flipped his gun in his hand and got into a battle stance, preparing for the perceived attack. However, Qrow leapt past Ironwood, who turned around just in time to see a large Griffon lunging at him. With one swing of Qrow's scythe, the Griffon was sliced in two. Upon landing, Qrow turned around to address Ironwood.

Qrow: You idiot. I know you didn't do this.

Ironwood relaxed and sighed, lowering his head and putting his hand to his forehead, while Glynda placed her hand on his shoulder.

Qrow: So what now, General?

Ironwood: Someone's done the impossible and gained control of my machines. And that enormous Grimm seems to be fixated on the school. Glynda, form up the local Huntsmen and establish a safe zone here in Vale. We need to evacuate Beacon. Qrow, I'm leaving that to you and my men. I still need to get to my ship.

The three heared a loud noise and turned to see it's source: Ironwood's ship slowly nosediving into the ground.

Qrow: Well, it won't be much of a walk.

The Atlesian Knights that were still functioning attempted one last time to harm the Huntsmen, before powering down. In the Beacon courtyard, the students stood prepared to fight the Atlesian Paladin that was charging toward them. However, electricity arced across it and it suddenly powered down, collapsing and sliding to a stop in front of them.

Sun: Hm. That went better than expected.

(Y/N): A little anticlimactic, but still.

Weiss doubled over, exhausted, leaning on Myrtenaster to keep herself standing.

Yang: Weiss!

You and Weiss turned to Yang as She ran to you both.

Yang: You're okay! Have you heard from Ruby?

Weiss shook her head.

Yang: What about Blake?

Weiss: She went after an Alpha...

She said as she pointed in the direction that Blake ran.

Weiss: and some members of the White Fang.

(Y/N): I can only guess that she's probably in trouble.

Yang: You guys look for Ruby. I'll meet up with Blake.

Yang hurried off in the direction that Weiss pointed, while the heiress gave a thumbs up. In the Beacon vault, an elevator opened up as Ozpin, Jaune, and Pyrrha sprinted out of the elevator and down the corridor.

Jaune: What is this place?

Pyrrha: It's ...a type of vault.

Jaune: You've ...been here before?

Pyrrha looks away from him.

Jaune: What would this school need to ...hide?

Finally seeing the Aura transfer machine, Jaune stopped in his tracks, gazing wide-eyed at the strange contraption and the comatose girl inside.

Jaune: What? Who?

Pyrrha: Jaune...

Ozpin: Pyrrha! Get to the pods!

Pyrrha looked at Jaune, then ran to the second pod.

Ozpin: Mister Arc, if you'd like to help, you can stand guard here.

Jaune looked at the two with uncertainty, then turned around and got into a guarding stance.

Pyrrha: What do we do now?

Ozpin typed on the machine's hologram keyboard.

Ozpin: We, do nothing.

The second pod opened and Ozpin turned to Pyrrha.

Ozpin: You, Miss Nikos ...have a choice to make.

Pyrrha looked at the pod, then at Jaune, hesitating. Her expression changed from uncertainty to sadness, and she wiped a tear from her eye, still looking at Jaune. She then climbed into the pod, which then closed. Back on the surface, Blake was still struggling with Adam.

Adam: This could've been our day! Can't you see that!?

Blake: I never wanted this! I wanted equality! I wanted peace!

She raised her sword, it's blade folding into sickle mode, and shot at Adam, who blocked both bullets with his sword.

Adam: What you want is impossible!

He sheathed his sword and backhanded Blake across her face, knocking her over.

Adam: But I understand because all I want is you, Blake.

She began to raise her sickle again, only for him to kick it out of her hand, knocking her over once again.

Adam: And as I set out upon this world and deliver the justice mankind so greatly deserves, I will make it my mission to destroy everything you love.

Yang: Blake!

Yang's voice drew their attention to one of the broken windows. She soon came into view and shoot a White Fang member, before looking around for her teammate.

Yang: Blake! Where are you!?

Adam looked at Blake to see her terrified expression, then returned his gaze to Yang.

Adam: Starting with her.

Back in the Vault, Ozpin was getting the machine ready.

Ozpin: Are you ready?

Pyrrha looked at him and gave a slow nod.

Ozpin: I ...I need to hear you say it.

Pyrrha: Yes.

She laid her head back and stared ahead.

Ozpin: Thank you, Miss Nikos.

Ozpin pressed a few more buttons on the screen, and Amber's pod raised up. Amber began glowing orange, and her eyelids began fluttering. The orange glow traveled along the pipes connecting the two pods - first up to the ceiling, then down to Pyrrha's pod. An orange glow surrounded Pyrrha, who began screaming out in agony. Jaune turned to look.

Jaune: Pyrrha!

Jaune ran over to Pyrrha's pod, moving his gaze back and forth between Pyrrha and Amber's pod. While Jaune panicked, trying to understand what was going on, Ozpin looked away.

Ozpin: I'm ...so sorry.

Suddenly, an arrow pierced the glass of Amber's pod, striking her in the chest. Amber gasped, and her eyes open, then begin to close again, while the machine began beeping an alarm. Ozpin and Jaune turned around to see Cinder standing halfway down the corridor from them with an obsidian bow in her hand. She lowered the bow as a tiny smirk creeped across her face. On the Surface Adam drew his sword and stabbed it into Blake's abdomen near her left hip, causing her to shriek in pain. The cry caught Yang's attention.

Yang: Huh?

Adam stood upright, pulling his sword from Blake's flesh and turned to face Yang.

Yang: Get away from her!

Blake: No ...please...

Adam sheathed his sword, smiling. Yang screamed as her eyes turned red as a burst of flame erupting from her. She lept at Adam, drawing her fist back with tears in her eyes. Adam swiftly drew his sword, swinging it through the air at Yang, as his Semblance activated. As Yang flew through the air, the lower half of her right arm separated from her. Elsewhere, You felt that something was wrong.

(Y/N): Something's wrong!

Coco: What do you mean?

(Y/N): I think the girls could be in more trouble than I thought. You go on ahead, I need to go help them.

Coco: Don't worry. We'll handle ourselves for now.

You were about to turn and leave before you felt Coco and Velvet hold your hand.

Velvet: Please come back alive, okay?

(Y/N): Don't worry, I promise.

You then took off as the others went on ahead. In the Vault, Amber struggled to breathe as her eyes widened and the machine's alarm was still going off. Finally, all breath left her. Her eyes drifted closed and her head leaned to the side, her whole body went limp. The green flames that lit the torches throughout the vault suddenly snuffed out. On the surface again, Yang began to lose consciousness, with glowing yellow Aura splattering out from her wound. She soon landed on the floor and layed there on her side, completely still. Underground, Pyrrha frantically beat her fists against the glass of her pod. The orange glow leaft Pyrrha and traveled back through the pipes into Amber. The glow then burst out of Amber, shattering the glass in it's way, and entered Cinder. She soon glowed, then began floating, and gained long trails of flame around her eyes, with orange energy swirling around her. Pyrrha beat even harder on the glass, her stressed increased. Jaune raised his sword and charged toward Cinder.

Ozpin: Stay back!

Cinder casted a large fireball toward Jaune, who blocked it with his shield and was blasted backwards, landing on his back.

Pyrrha: JAUNE!

Finally, Pyrrha used her Semblance to rip the pod's door off it's hinges, throwing it at Cinder, who knocked it away like it's nothing. As Cinder began to descend to the floor, Pyrrha lept out of the pod and charged, calling her weapon and shield to her with her Semblance. However, Ozpin put his arm out, stopping her.

Ozpin: Take Jaune and get out of here! Find Glynda! Ironwood! Qrow! Bring them here right away! The tower cannot fall!

Pyrrha: But I can help.

Ozpin slowly turned his head to stare Pyrrha in the eyes.

Ozpin: You'll only get in the way.

Pyrrha hesitated for a moment but obeys Ozpin, scooping up Jaune and running away. While she did so, Cinder descended to the floor and watched them leave, with the glow, the swirling energy, and the flames around her eyes all disappearing. Cinder turned her attention back to Ozpin, her eyes still glowing for a moment. On the Surface once more, Adam slowly walked toward Yang's unconscious body and swung his sword out to the side, casting blood from it's blade. Before he could reach her, Blake threw herself between them, giving him a determined stare.

Adam: Why must you hurt me, Blake?

He swings his sword, but his blade was soon caught between the fingers of You, who was extremely pissed. Blake, which was a fake one, vanished as the real Blake flee, dragging Yang with her.

(Y/N): You White Fang really need to be taught some manners.

Adam: You must be very eager to die.

(Y/N): I was thinking the exact same thing with you when you decided to mess with my friends!

Cinder and Ozpin were standing across from each other as they exchanged glares.

Cinder: This whole time ...right beneath our feet. She was right about you.

Ozpin turned his cane in his grip while staring hard at Cinder.

Cinder: Such arrogance.

A/N: I don't think I even need to mention for what's coming next.