"I can't say it's been nice knowing you and all, so just do us both a favor and disappear... Imaginary Technique: Hollow Purple."

Salem's eyes widened at the sheer power of the technique as Gojo fired it in her direction, growing massive in size as it barreled towards her...

"C-Could this finally be it?!!!" She thought

As Hollow Purple enveloped the sorceress, she smiled. The force of the attack was great, it felt as though cell was being atomized, reduced to nothingness as she was sent flying for miles. She felt a great sense of satisfaction. In the end, despite the curse placed on her by the gods, she would have the last laugh.

Darkness

She could feel herself falling into an abyss of absolute darkness. Was this death? She thought. In the thousands of years Salem had lived, she'd sacrificed so much, and killed so many, in the pursuit of death. And yet...

"Foolish woman... centuries later and you still refuse to learn. Now, arise..."

Salem's eyes cracked open as she stood, breathing heavily. Her rage began to boil over as she looked down at her body, which was already regenerating from the damage caused by Hollow Purple. Clenching her fist hard enough to draw blood, the woman cursed. What was she thinking? Of course it wouldn't be that easy...

"Bastards" she hissed

Suddenly an indescribable amount of pain shot through her body, causing Salem to fall to her knees. The residual cursed energy from Gojo's attack ripping her body asunder, but just as it would seemingly destroy her body, she'd regenerate...

"The hell is happening to me?!- Aagh?!"

Once again, Purple sparks of cursed energy crackled throughout the woman's body, causing great pain. Multiple Grimm gathered around their mother, having been drawn in by the cursed energy. A lone beowolf would slowly make its way over to her...

"This is absurd! my body can't harness this power?! I'm being repeatedly ripped apart and put back together..."

In a desperate attempt to stop the never ending cycle of torture, Salem reached out grabbing the unsuspecting Beowolf by its neck...

"Maybe-

She winced as the energy crackled around her hand as it made its way up her arm

"Using my magic... I could simply have this beowolf take my place." She thought

A dark aura began swirling around Salem, making its way through her body, trying its best to force every bit of the cursed energy out of her body. However, something unexpected occurred as she funneled the unfamiliar power into the beowolf

"H-How peculiar..." She said breathlessly as she watched the beast convulse on the ground, gradually growing in size as it did. Her confused expression then turned into one of realization, before settling into a wicked grin

Death had once again eluded her, but if her theory was correct, maybe this "Cursed Energy" could work in her favor...

"Gojo Satoru... you may still be my most useful piece yet." Salem stated in an ominous tone

ATLAS - SCHNEE FAMILY ESTATE - DECEMBER 7TH, 2074 AT 11:45 P.M

"He's perfect..." Willow stated softly as she welcomed the newest addition to the Schnee family

Willow played with the child cradled in her, placing her finger into its small open palm. The newborn's tiny fingers wrapped around Willow's...

~ Knock Knock Knock ~

The two women's attention then shifted towards the bedroom door. A gentle knock echoed through the room. The midwife looked a bit unsure as to whether or not to answer it, but the serene expression on Willow's face encouraged her to open the door...

"Mother? Is everything okay?" A small voice asked

In stepped a small girl with shoulder-length white hair and piercing blue eyes, much like her mother. She wore a small blue nightgown and a concerned expression

"Winter, my dear," Willow smiled, "everything is just perfect. Come, meet your baby brother."

Winter cautiously approached the bed and peered down at the newborn. Her eyes widened with a mix of awe and curiosity...

"He's so small." Winter whispered

Willow chuckled softly at her daughter's astute observation. "He is, isn't he? Newborns are quite tiny. But they grow quickly, just like you did..." Willow replied as she looked down at her daughter. Still captivated by the new life in front of her.
The two siblings looked into each other's eyes before Winter spoke.

"What's his name?" She asked

Willow pondered for a moment, she'd thought up plenty of names for her newest child, but now that the moment was here...

"What about, Whitley?" She suggested

The newborn began crying

"Oh my..." Willow chuckled as she tried soothing the baby in her arms. "Doesn't seem like he approves of that name very much..."

Winter giggled at her brother's fussy response

"What about, Weiss?" Winter suggested

Once again, the name elicited the same reaction

Willow's eyes narrowed as she looked into the child's eyes. "Oh I see, you're going to be a picky one, aren't you...?"

The room fell silent as Willow pondered for a moment, until finally it hit her...

"Whis." Willow stated in a tone of finality

Winter quirked a brow

"Whis?" She asked

Willow smiled and nodded "Whis." It's not a bad name if I do say so myself. Gojo, now named "Whis" relented. He could cry all he wanted, but with the lack of fully developed vocal cords, he couldn't exactly argue against the name...

"Whis... my little angel. You're gonna bring about big changes in this world of ours, I just know it." Willow stated

RECORD OF THE INCIDENT IN VACUO - DECEMBER 8TH, 2074 AT 12:02 A.M

A massive horde of Grimm ranging in the thousands began cutting a swath through a vacuan military base...

"Keep your guns steady! We can't let them reach the city!" One of the vacuan soldiers shouted as he and his men rained heavy fire upon the creatures below

In response, a team of hunters were dispatched by the nation of Vale, courtesy of Ozpin, the headmaster of Beacon Academy.

"We're almost there..." A feminine voice announced as she turned to see taller blonde man smiling at her

"Are you nervous, Summer?" He asked. Rolling her eyes, she responded. "Nowhere near as nervous as you, Tai." Looking past Tai, Summer locked eyes with Qrow, a young man with blackish-gray hair and red eyes as he blushed slightly and looked away...

"I ain't worried. It's not like this would be the first life or death mission Oz has sent us on." Qrow stated

Across from him, sat his older sister, Raven Branwen. Her long similarly red eyes staring daggers at her younger brother. She then stood, her long, raven black hair reaching her lower back as she rested a hand on the hilt of her Kitana, a weapon she dubbed "Omen"

"Hmph. The last mission was an utter disappointment. Let's just hope that this mission proves to be an actual challenge." She stated

Qrow huffed in annoyance at his sister's straightforward attitude...

"Your idea of an "exciting mission" are the ones where we all almost die... or die. Honestly, it all depends on the time of the month with you." Qrow stated, making sure to utter the last part of the sentence under his breath

Raven sent a bone chilling glare in her brother's direction, having heard his remark, to which Qrow replied by simply flipping her off while taking a small drink from his flask

"That's enough, you two. Right now, our only mission is to make sure that these Grimm don't reach the city." Summer stated in a firm tone

Qrow sighed before grabbing onto the hand of his own weapon "Harbinger." Using it to stand as the aircraft carrying them came to a soft landing, that was until one of its wings fell off at random, causing Summer to laugh softly as Tai and Raven gave Qrow a disapproving look

"Don't look at me like that. You guys know I can't turn it off." Qrow retorted

The back of the bullhead lowered. Allowing the team of experienced hunters and huntresses to disembark onto the battlefield. The air was thick, reeking of blood and gunpowder. The scene itself was horrific. Multiple deceased soldiers lay scattered across the battlefield, some of them dismembered, some burnt to a crisp...

"Sheesh, what kind of Grimm leaves their victim like this? Some of these poor bastards can't even be identified by dental records." Qrow muttered as he stepped over the gruesome scene.

"H-HEEEEEEEEEELP!"

A panicked voice rang out from the distance. Summer was the first to react, bursting into a flurry of red and white rose petals at an incredible speed...

"Summer, wait! Tch! Damn it!" Qrow cursed as he, Taiyang, and Raven rushed after their leader

"SOMEBODY PLEASE!"

Summer arrived in what used to be a fully functioning command center to see an abnormally large alpha beowolf preparing to end the life of a researcher. Activating "Sundered Rose '' Summer charged forward, slicing the creature's head clean off its shoulders. As the Beowolf's head tumbled to the floor, its body would turn into smoke and gradually dissipate...

"Are you alright?" Summer asked as she helped the researcher to her feet. The woman was visibly shaking as she replied

"I-I can walk b-but my frie- co-workers, they're all..." The researcher trailed off as she looked past Summer and at the mangled corpses of her fellow researchers. Summer grimaced at the sight before regaining the woman's attention

"It's going to be okay, just... stay here. Me and my team are going to do our best to keep them at bay." Summer reassured

The researcher's eyes widened in horror as she grabbed Summer by her arm, her grip tight.

"You don't understand! The Grimm, they've gotten stronger! You and your team aren't going to be enough! You all don't stand a chance! W-We need to leave now!" The woman shouted

Summer's eyes narrowed, and a sense of urgency washed over her. If what the woman said was true then...

"If that's the case then it's even more of a reason to stay and fight. I didn't become a huntress just to turn tail and run just because things get tough. Stay here. The evacuation crew should be on their way soon enough." Summer replied before rushing onto the military base turned battlefield

"Summer watch out!"

Before she could react, Summer was tackled to the ground by Qrow, the two narrowly avoiding a large chunk of debris thrown by one of the Grimm...

"Q-Qrow?!" Summer asked in a panicked tone as she could see the blood spewing from her comrade's lower abdomen. A tinge of fear found its way inside her heart as she placed a hand on the side Qrow's face

"Don't worry about me... Tai... and... Raven... go!" He shouted

Pushing her fear to side, Summer steeled her resolve and rushed to help her friends in the attack. As she left, Qrow struggled to his feet, using his weapon as a crutch

"TAI! RAVEN!" Summer shouted, trying to pinpoint their location

Her cries would be cut short as she would come face to face with a Beringel. However, this one was different from your standard. It was far larger, and with four arms in total meant it now had double the strength. The Beringel let out a roar as silver eyes met red glowing ones

"I don't have time for this!" Summer hissed as she jumped back a few paces and got into a stance

Nevertheless, Summer faced the cursed Beringel head-on, the air thick with tension as the colossal Grimm swung its four arms in a relentless assault. Summer danced through the onslaught with grace, rose petals trailing behind her with every movement. The ground beneath them trembled with each mighty blow, the air filled with the clashing sounds of gunfire and the roaring of Grimm in the distance...

"This Beringel! It's way too fast for its size! What the heck is going on here?!" She thought

Switching Sundered Rose into its shotgun form, Summer backed away and began laying heavy fire into the beast. Each shot connected, but due to bone-like armor, they had little effect. Her silver eyes then landed on a giant crate of exposed dust near the Beringel. As the Grimm lunged forward, Summer narrowly dodged its massive arms, closing the distance between her and the crate. With a swift motion, she activated her semblance once more, launching herself into the air. As she soared above the battlefield, she aimed Sundered Rose at the crate of exposed dust and fired

~ KABOOOM! ~

The crate erupted in a brilliant display of elemental chaos, releasing a swirling storm of fire, ice, and lightning. The cursed Beringel roared in pain as the dust-infused elements engulfed its form. Flames licked at its fur, frost covered its limbs, and electricity crackled around it. Taking advantage of the creature's momentary disorientation, Summer descended, switching Sundered Rose back into its battle-axe form before launching herself forward...

"The neck! I'll go for its neck!"

The Beringel let out a massive shriek as the ice encasing its body began to crack. Summer's eyes widened in horror as she realized that she wouldn't be able to dodge in time. In a desperate attempt to lessen the incoming blow, she summoned a wall of aura in front of her-

"AUGGH!" Summer coughed up blood as the Beringel effortlessly shattered the wall of aura, while planting its fists straight into her stomach. The impact sent shockwaves of pain throughout Summer's body as she was sent sprawling across the battlefield...

"I-If weren't for that wall of aura... that could've seriously..."

It was then that Summer Rose bore witness to a horrifying sight. The Beringel roared at the shattered moon above, pounding on its chest, as all four hands were now surrounded in what appeared to be a purple aura. In all her years as a huntress, she'd encountered gruesome deaths, and dealt with powerful adversaries, but the ominous energy radiating from this cursed Beringel was something she had never experienced before. Realizing that the woman was still very much alive, the Beringel stomped over to her slowly...

"But, how? Grimm don't have souls..." She thought

Now standing over its prey, the Beringel raised all four of its massive fist...

"So then what was that aura?"

Her weakened state from the blow shed taken earlier, along with her lack of aura, left her powerless as the Beringel brought down its fist, ready to crush the woman's skull into a fine paste-

"DIE" The Grimm demanded

Right at that moment, when all hope seemed lost, a streak of black and red blurred across the battlefield. Raven Branwen emerged from a portal with incredible speed, Omen gleaming in the moonlight. With a precise and powerful strike, she sliced through the air, intercepting the Beringel's descending fists just before they could make contact with Summer. The clash of metal against the Beringel's massive fists sent shockwaves through the air, the purple aura around the Grimm's fists flickering momentarily. The force of the impact pushing back an already heavily fatigued and blood covered Raven.

"Tai is busy handling the horde alongside my brother and the other soldiers. Summer is out of aura, and then there's this thing to worry about..." Raven thought as she assessed the situation

Summer, still gasping for breath on the ground, looked up in astonishment at the sudden turn of events. Raven, despite being in a much worse physical state, had intervened just in time to prevent the Beringel's fatal blow...

"Raven... please be careful. S-Something isn't right about this Beringel." Summer warned

Raven's eyes narrowed

"Like the aura flowing around its fists? Yeah, I know. What do you think did this to me? I don't know what's going on, but something or someone is causing the Grimm to grow way stronger than they should be. I took me and my brother to take down an ursa major after you ran off." Raven explained as she helped Summer to her feet, all the while never breaking eye contact from the Beringel

"I'm sorry, I should've known better than to run off like that." Summer stated apologetically

Sighing, Raven replied

"Don't be. It wasn't your intention for any one of us to get hurt. However, I can't complain even if I wanted to. I asked for a challenge and know I've gotten it. Now stand back..." Raven stepped forward, Omen in hand, her eyes locked onto the Cursed Beringel. The massive Grimm, now shrouded in cursed energy, roared in defiance. Its eyes glowed with intensity as it prepared to engage the huntress in battle...

"You most certainly... won't be the one to end me," Raven muttered to herself, a mixture of frustration and determination evident in voice

The Beringel lunged forward, its movements more erratic and aggressive than before. Raven met its attack head-on, clashing with the cursed beast. The air crackled with the clash of metal and the surge of cursed energy. As the Grimm recoiled, Raven seized the opportunity to strike. Ducking a desperate strike, she spun and unleashed a barrage of slashes, targeting the Beringel's limbs with surgical precision.

~ RAAAAAAAGH! ~

The Beringel howled in pain as Raven's strikes connected, but the cursed energy surrounding it seemed to regenerate the damage almost instantly. Raven grinned having already come across this advanced healing gimmick when fighting off the ursa major.

"Heh... I know how to deal with you." Raven remarked as she swapped the blade of Omen to a red one. Launching herself forward at breakneck speed, she aimed for the Beringel's chest. The blade pierced through its armored chest like a hot knife through butter, causing the creature to roar in agony. Slicing open a portal, Raven leapt back, now standing next to Summer who had managed to regain a bit of her strength...

"What did you...?" Summer asked, confused as to what her dark haired friend was planning

Raven opened her mouth to answer, but stopped as she saw the Beringel charging at them at full force. Responding in kind, Raven slid under the massive beast right as it was about to strike, slicing off one of the creature's arms

~ GRAAAAGH! ~

Enraged, the Beringel whipped around in blinding speed, slamming its fists into Raven's side and sending her flying

"RAVIN!" Summer shouted

"Huff...Huff...Huff...hehe... one down...huff...three to go." Raven stated in between breaths as she rested on one knee

The Beringel's movements became erratic as it searched for Raven. Once it spotted the woman, it charged...

"I've gotta help!" Summer thought

Refusing to sit on the sidelines any longer, Summer burst onto the scene. This act irked Raven greatly.

"What the hell are you doing?!" She shouted

As she actively dodged the powerful blows from the cursed Beringel, Summer shouted...

"ROSEBIRD!"

In response to Summer's call, Raven scoffed as she stood to her feet, a small smile gracing her lips...

"Hmph... Idiot."

With a burst of speed, Raven closed the distance between herself and the Beringel. Summer, petals swirling around her, followed suit. The two huntresses dodged through the onslaught of the Grimm's powerful attacks, exchanging glances, the two nodded before beginning their assault. Bursting towards the Beringel in a torrent of rose petals that enveloped the beast. As Summer materialized behind the beast, she ducked, as behind her, Raven appeared from a portal, slicing the Beringel across its back. Stumbling forward in pain, the Beringel turned, but there was no sign of either of the two huntresses

"That strange aura allows you to heal almost instantly..." Raven commented before dodging yet another powerful blow. "...But quick excessive attacks will wear you down after a while." She explained as Summer spun around the Grimm creating a whirlwind of rose petals around the large Grimm. Raven, in turn, teleported where Summer used to be before delivering slashes across the Beringel's body, vanishing before it could retaliate...

~ GRAAAAGH! ~

Another of the Beringel's arms were severed in their attack, falling to the ground

"That's two ..." Raven shouted

Elsewhere...

Lancers, Boarbatusks, Ursas, Beowolves, and Death stalkers. These were some of the many variations of Grimm that were currently being held at bay by Qrow Branwen, Taiyang xiao long, and the remaining troops stationed at the base...

"RAAAAGH!" Qrow shouted as he used Harbinger in its scythe mode, slicing an alpha Beowolf in two. To say he was exhausted would be an understatement. It took everything the man had just to continue standing. Taiyang was no better, having severely injured his arm, trying to hold open the beak of a nevermore to keep it from snatching up a group of soldiers. Lucky, using his weapon, Ember Cecilia, he'd kill the creature with a well placed shot to its head from the inside. The soldiers cheered at what was but a small victory, but Taiyang knew all too well the battle was far from over

"Damn, these Grimm just keep coming! Not to mention, some of 'em are way too strong. The hell is going on?!" Tai shouted as he fired several rounds into the chest of a couple Beowolves

"According to Oz, this is happening all over Remnant. Mistral, Vale, Atlas. Jimmy's got his forces spread thin trying to help out." Qrow explained

"Hope that means we can expect backup! Hey! Where are Raven, and Summer?!" Tai asked

Dispatching a few more Grimm, Qrow turned his attention in the direction Raven had run off to earlier. His older sister and Summer were very capable huntresses, but with their current predicament. He couldn't help but worry.

"Huff... Huff... Huff... Huff...Huff."

Blood, sweat, gunpowder, and small traces of dust littered what used to be a landing pad...

"Huff... Huff... Huff... Huff."

The deceased sprawled out corpse of the Beringel lay on the ground as it slowly but surely began to fade away...

"Huff... Huff... Huff"

Using Sundered Rose as a crutch, Summer looked over at her teammate, who was covering up her now missing left eye...

"Raven... I'm... I should've..." Summer muttered

Raven gritted her teeth in annoyance before shouting

"Save it! I don't need your damn pity! This is the second time I've nearly died tonight, so I knew what I was getting into!" She shouted as she mustered whatever strength she had left to stand. Summer momentarily reached out to try and help console her friend, but immediately decided against it...

"Besides, using your eyes against that Beringel would have been a complete waste. Right now, we should regroup with my brother and that Idiot Tai." Raven finished

Picking Omen up off the ground, Raven shuffled past her leader as the two women made their way toward the intense battle taking place in the distance. The soldiers were still holding their ground, but it was clear that if the struggle persisted, they'd be overwhelmed. Spotting them, Qrow rushed over with Taiyang not too far behind

"About time you two showed up." Qrow remarked, though he tried to hide it, the relief in voice was evident. Taiyang, having noticed the state of both women, rushed over with concern etched on his face

"Raven! Summer! What happened to you two?!" He exclaimed, his gaze shifting between to each of their injuries...

Looking away, Raven replied

"We encountered a Beringel with strange energy, kind of like the Ursa me and Qrow fought earlier. It's no big deal." she explained with her arms folded. However, Tai wasn't exactly satisfied with her answer. His eyes narrowed as he stomped towards her. In a display that shocked both Summer and Qrow, Tai would grab Raven by the chin, forcefully turning her face towards him.

"No big deal?! Your eye is gone Raven! So miss me with this stoic warrior bullshit! You two needed backup, so your first course of action should have been to call us!" Tai scolded, his voice filled with worry and anger. Raven's eyes narrowed in anger as a pink hue spread across her face. The audacity of the man standing before her was unlike anything she had experienced before.

"Remove your hand before you lose it, idiot!" Raven snapped, pushing his hand away. "I don't need your concern. I'm alive aren't I?"

Before the tension could escalate any further, Summer stepped in between them, trying to diffuse the situation, when suddenly...

"ATLAS REINFORCEMENTS ARE NEARLY HERE! HOLD THE LINE!"

The sudden cry of a Vacuan military commander echoed over the gunfire. The soldiers, though weary, rallied at the news of reinforcements...

"I won't lie to you guys... my aura is practically at zero. I'm spent. So if we're just gonna charge into our own deaths, at last let me finish off what's left inside my flask." Qrow stated

Summer stepped away from her team, taking in the sight before her. The insurmountable amount of Grimm, the death and destruction they'd caused. She had the power to stop this, all of it, or at least, that's what she had always been led to believe. Taking a step forward, she was stopped as someone grabbed her wrist. Silver eyes met with almost pleading red ones...

"And just what do you think you're about to do?" Qrow asked, though he could already guess

Summer looked back at her team, the soldiers, and the incoming reinforcements. Her gaze then shifted to the battlefield, where the Cursed energy infused Grimm continued to pour in like a relentless tide. The weight of the situation hung heavily on her shoulders, a great sense of responsibility gnawed at her. The power she possessed, the silver-eyed warrior with the ability to strike down Grimm with but a single glance- it was a burden she had carried all her life

"You should know that there's no talking me out of this Qrow. I'm not about to sit here and let anyone else die to keep some stupid secret. Ozpin can get mad at me all he wants but... I'm doing this one way or the other." Summer murmured, her voice filled with determination...

RECORD OF THE INCIDENT IN VACUO - DECEMBER 8TH, 2074 AT 12:02 A.M

A massive horde of Grimm ranging in the thousands began cutting a swath through a vacuan military base. In response, a team of hunters were dispatched by the nation of Vale, courtesy of Ozpin, the headmaster of Beacon Academy.

Reluctantly, Qrow let go of Summer's wrist, to which she smiled

"Thank you..."

Vacuan soldiers would Immediately cease fire as a woman with a white hood emerged in front of them, walking towards the oncoming horde of Cursed Grimm

"Has she lost her mind?" One soldier commented

"Who is that? Can't be one of ours, right?" Another asked

The soldier jumped when he felt a hand being placed on his shoulder, looking up, he'd see Tai who smiled before addressing all the remaining soldiers present...

"If I were you guys, I'd look away from the field. Unless you're wanting to have your eyeballs melt out of your sockets, which I don't recommend." Tai advised with a chuckle. The soldiers exchanged confused glances but decided to heed Tai's warning...

"I don't want my eyes to melt..." One of the soldiers commented

Summer stood alone, smiling, thankful to have such an amazing team. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her resolve. Closing her eyes, the huntress began to focus, reaching deep until she found what it was she was looking for. Clasping onto it, she opened her eyes, and the world around her was enveloped in a white light...