Yin stared at the match flickering in the dark. He could see the flame, but the light barely reached his wrist. Vao furrowed his brow. "Isn't... Isn't fire supposed to be bright?"
"I think so," Sapphire giggled.
"Both of you lack common sense," Pyrrha muttered. Yin dropped the match, the flame snuffed out underneath his boot. It was growing darker; he fumbled almost blindly for a second match. But even after lighting the second one, the darkness didn't relent. "Stupid piece of shit," he muttered, fishing for another.
But for Salem and Ozpin, it clicked immediately. The darkness wasn't natural. "W-we need to get out of here," the princess stammered worriedly.
"Gimme a sec, gotta at least get a light," Yin replied. A third match, only this time a frigid breeze blew it out, sending a chill down their spines. Yin felt his heart drop when he heard the haunting, low rumble in the dark.
Grrrooooooowwwwwlllll...
The adventurers spun around, staring into the darkness. A single red flame was the only thing visible, and it was fast approaching. Yin scrambled to get out of the way, Jasper flying off his shoulder with a shriek. Two icy hands grabbed his chest, lifting him off the ground and throwing him backwards. Yin was immediately pinned to the ground, and not long after the burning agony seared into his arm when he tried to take a swing. His voice rose into a shrill scream, tears spilling from his eyes.
"Y-YIN!"
(("Behind you."))
The Darkness disappeared the instant Sasha took a blind swing, the elf staring with a hopeless sense of terror. The First Vao stared back, his Aura blazing in his eye socket like an inferno. His teeth were stained crimson, the bones in Yin's shoulder almost visible. The madman pulled her wrist forward and punched her in the chest, her ribs cracking to pieces as the force tore her arm out of the socket. The moment Salem loosened an arrow in a desperate attempt to hit him, he vanished in a cloud of ash, reappearing in front of them.
They had never seen a scarier sight. His skin was deathly white, his one eye wide with insanity, his lips curled into a hungry snarl. Past his lips, his bloodstained teeth were visible under the long strands of his black hair, parting in a horrible, bloodthirsty and murderous scream, the Darkness bursting from his back.
"Run! Don't slow down!" Tourmaline cried out. Tai scooped up Yin, his legs moving to keep pace with the others. Yin fumbled with his staff, trying to cast a miracle. But to his horror, the miracle didn't close the bite. The First Vao's Darkness was breaking it. He looked behind them, his blood freezing solid.
Darkness lashed out at them, tearing through the stone walls with the First Vao chasing after them, Grimm Demise and Misery in his hands.
The worst scenario had happened, the one they feared. The First Vao was having a psychotic meltdown. The Enemy growled, his eye homing in on his targets. Salem glanced back, her eyes wide and filled with horror.
They ducked and weaved as the cursed axe swung for their backs, cracking the stone walls around them. He was gaining ground, and fast. He had caught up with them easily, gaining ground in seconds. The adventures dove through a door, Sasha reeling her foot back and kicking the door shut. Vao and Ozpin were already pushing furniture in front of it when-
BANG, BANG, BANG!
The blockade shook and trembled as the First Vao slammed and beat against the door, the metallic chink of the knob being torn off echoing in their ears. They needed to hide. None of them could outrun him. Tourmaline and Jasper flew behind the books on a shelf, Sapphire and Yin diving under the bed with Ozpin and Pyrrha. Vao jumped into the closet, pulling Verde and Salem with him. Sasha and Tai jumped into a wardrobe, closing the door behind them and holding it in place.
BOOM!
From under the bed, Yin watched as the debris was blown to pieces in an instant by a rocket, the pieces smoldering and burning, snuffed out by the overwhelming Darkness. A pair of blood-drenched black boots stepped into the room, the massive blade of Grimm Demise dragging behind them. He covered his mouth, trying not to breathe too loud. The First Vao had amazing hearing, boosted by the Blood.
Verde had taken Vao's head off so she could hold it in front of the keyhole, the dullahan unable to bend down in the cramped space.
Tourmaline and Jasper shivered behind the books, their eyes watering. Inside the wardrobe, Sasha and Tai were unable to see what was going on, their hearts pounding in their chests.
He was inside the room. The air was so cold their breath had become visible, his raspy breath filling their ears. Yin covered his mouth as the murderer stepped deeper into the room, his long black hair nearly touching the ground, Grimm Demise splitting the threads of the carpet under its weight.
The First Vao's single eye scanned the room for movement, his magic stretching from his back, underneath the mass of hair that hung from his head. The moment he felt them touch anything alive, he'd tear whatever - or whoever - it was to pieces. Yin clamped a hand over his mouth and shuffled back as the tendrils reached under the bed, poking and prodding at the ground.
Behind the books, Jasper and Tourmaline pressed against the shelf, shivering as the Darkness stretched. In the wardrobe, Sasha and Tai watched helplessly as it reached through the lock, pushing aside clothes in its search. The closet was nearly filled, Vao using his own Darkness in a desperate attempt to mask their presence.
The First Vao hummed, his Darkness retracting. Summer leaned over his shoulder, glancing around the room. (("... They're in here. We watched them; the door was barricaded. There are no exits. They're hiding..."))
"I know, Auntie," he whispered. "I'll take care of it."
Yin watched his boots walk back to the bed, stopping at the edge. If the healer wasn't careful, his breath would touch the murderer's ankle and alert him, or worse, he'd notice the fog of his breath in the cold air.
Clunk.
Grimm Demise rested on the edge of the bed, the weight leaving an imprint in the carpet. He could hear the First Vao doing something, a few clicking noises reaching his ears. He closed his eyes, trying to stop his trembling out of fear the First Vao would notice. He felt nothing but relief when Grimm Demise lifted off the ground, the First Vao's boots moving back to the hole he had made to enter. Picking up the damaged pieces of the barricade, he sealed the entrance again, leaving the room entirely.
He let out a breath he had been holding, resting his head against the floor and counting his lucky stars. Inside the closet, Verde set Vao's head back on his shoulders before quietly opening the door, peering outside. Sasha and Tai hadn't come out of the wardrobe yet, too relieved to move. Jasper and Tourmaline poked their heads from behind the books, their faces pale, but slowly relaxing. As Yin climbed out from underneath the bed, the smell hit him.
He smelled gasoline.
The adventurers looked back at the bed in horror. The mattress was on fire. They didn't trick the First Vao; he knew they were hiding. And instead of wasting time looking, he was going to burn them alive. Sasha and Vao sprinted to the bookshelf blocking their escape, trying to pull it down. But Darkness wrapped around the wooden frame, holding it in place.
As the gas began to ignite, black smoke filled the room, suffocating them inside. Dropping low to the ground, Yin pulled at the bookcase desperately, his back growing hot as the flames began to burn bright, the room engulfed in an inferno. The others pulled desperately, trying to break apart the barricade.
"It's made of wood!" Tai screamed. "Why is it so hard to break!?"
"He's using his magic!" Ozpin shouted over the roaring flames that steadily drew closer. "We can't break it! All we can do is push!"
Their combined weight leaned on the frame, the wood splintering but never breaking. The flames were growing closer, their clothes starting to brown. Sasha gritted her teeth, her eyes wide with panic.
"Cyka...! Cyka!"
With everything she had, she took a step back and drove her shoulder forward. But before she could reach it, the bookcase was yanked into the hall, crushed to pieces by the Darkness. The room exploded behind them, throwing the adventurers into the hall.
BOOM! BOOM!
The ground was blown to pieces, the First Vao aiming Grimm Demise at them, loading rockets and firing them with the swift hand of an expert. It was muscle-memory for him.
The adventurers scrambled back to their feet, covering their heads as the rockets soared past, the fire Dust making the fires hotter, the halls growing darker as the magic intensified. Soon, the entire hall and every room around it was burning around them, the ceiling crumbling ahead and blocking their escape. They spun around, watching in terror as the First Vao stepped into view, his white face illuminated by the flames. Black Blood trickled from his nose and eye socket, his one eye warped in a twisted sense of ecstasy. Verde gritted her teeth, slamming her staff into the ground. With every ounce of her mana, she charged up one of her strongest spells, something fitting for the hall they stood in. The full moon would be that night; she was stronger than she was in Grimmore.
The blue beam of magic expanded, blasting towards the First Vao. The madman smiled back. He held out Misery, the serrated blade engulfed in shadow. And with one swing, he parried Verde's magic, sending it hurtling through the walls. Verde's legs gave out, the witch falling to the ground, her consciousness beginning to fade.
"NYAHAHAHAHA!"
The First Vao lunged, his lips curled into a horrifying, wide and toothy smile that outdid anything Jack had pulled off, his axe singing its song through the air. He was going straight for Salem. Yin and Vao jumped to her side with Ozpin and Sasha, their weapons shielding the princess.
CLANG!
Sparks sizzled down on them when Grimm Demise met their steel, the overwhelming force threatening to crush them, their arms trembling and giving out as the axe drew closer. Darkness tore through the air, attacking the others who weren't close enough to reach them, keeping them at bay as they battled for their lives. The First Vao leaned forward, his eye burning with delirium, his Aura blazing like the halls around them and arching high above his head.
"You have no bloody idea how long I've waited for this!" He giggled madly. "Salem, I'm so close! Do you feel it!? Do you feel everything biting you in the arse!? Answer me! Answer! Hurt me! Make me scream! Play with me, just like you used to! Send me to get screwed in the arse by that scorpion again for disobedience! Just like always! Show everyone who you really are! Fight me! FIGHT ME!"
He was completely off his rocker, spit and foam bubbling at his lips. Yin flashed his Light through his katana in an attempt to blind him, but the First Vao batted it away with Misery again, pressing his forearm against Grimm Denise's handle. He was already overpowering them with one hand; two brought them to their knees. The effects the Blood had on his physical strength were showing; even together they didn't have the strength to beat him in a fight, and his mastery over his magic left him nearly untouchable.
(("Behind you, behind you!"))
The First Vao spun around, his weapon pulling away from the others. The murderer shifted to the side when Tai's fist swung, striking empty air. The brawler gritted his teeth and pivoted on his foot, swinging in the heat of the fire. His lips opened into a shout - a demand.
"Ozpin! Salem! Take everyone and get out of here!" He screamed. "Yin's injured, Verde's barely awake! I'll buy you time!"
"What!? No!"
Yin's protests were ignored when Ozpin scooped him up, the healer kicking and screaming. Tai was giving them time to escape, so they could live. As much as it pained Ozpin and the others, it was a necessary sacrifice to ensure their survival.
The First Vao ducked, clipping Grimm Demise to his belt and sheathing Misery. With the speed of lightning he shot back up and drove his palm against Tai's nose, the force shattering the cartilage to dust. The older man stumbled back, sidestepping a kick. The First Vao didn't falter, his fist connecting with his forehead and flooring him to the ground. The murderer glared down at him, standing back on one foot casually, watching as Tai staggered back to his feet.
"... You look familiar," he growled. "Who're you?"
Tai could feel confusion amongst the things that were running through his mind. Tourmaline and Ruby had mentioned the First Vao was forgetting things. But would he really forget his own father? Tai didn't remember the First Timeline, but from what he had been told he was abusive because of the Blood. The First Vao wasn't the type to forget nor forgive that, given what he did to Raven.
"I-I'm... Tai," Tai spat, his throat scorched by the intensifying heat. "You know who I am!"
"I was askin' because I don't!"
CRACK! CRACK, CRACK!
Tai's forearms bent and snapped when he tried to block the blows, stifling a shriek. Ignoring his pain, he threw another punch. "I'm your father! Tell me, what the hell is going on!? Why the hell do you want to kill Salem so badly!?"
The First Vao redirected his fist, kicking his legs out from underneath him. His heel drove into Tai's chest, breaking his sternum. His freezing hands grappled his shirt, dragging him across the floor and into a wall.
"I don't need to explain shit," the First Vao snarled, sliding him up the wall. "She isn't getting away. And you aren't stopping me! I won't allow it!"
He shoved Tai away, the man tripping over his feet and falling into the fires. His lips opened into a shrill, agonized scream when his skin began to blister and char, his clothes smouldering underneath his leather chest piece.
The First Vao smirked, turning back around and breaking into a run. He still needed to deal with the others. But to his surprise, Summer's voice cried out and stopped him in his tracks.
(("Behind you!"))
The First Vao vanished into a cloud of ash, reappearing behind the burning man. Tai was still fighting, his hair blackened and crispy, his arms smoking. The brawler glared at the murderer, his right eye a milky white; blinded by the fire.
"We... A-ain't done," he panted. The First Vao didn't seem impressed. More like very annoyed. Summer leaned over his shoulder, her lips curling into a cruel smirk.
(("He's very persistent, isn't he? This'll be fun, Vao~!"))
The First Vao dodged another swing from Tai, his leg slamming against the man's stomach. For a split second, Tai thought he had been kicked by a horse; the force sent him sprawling to the floor, the wind stolen from his lungs. The First Vao stared down at him, the awful sound reaching Tai's ears.
Grrrooooooowwwwwlllll...
"I'm sick of your shit, cunt."
The Darkness stretched around them, the fires disappearing from sight along with everything. Tai looked around wildly, trying to find the First Vao's Aura - the only thing that would be visible in the Dark. But it wasn't the Aura he saw.
The First Vao made no effort to hide himself in the shadows, his hair flowing behind him, the stained blade of Grimm Demise dragging across the ground. The First Vao kicked him in the chest, pinning him to the ground. Summer was pumping her fists, cheering him on.
(("Come on, Vao! You can do it! Show me your true personality! Murderer~! Killer~! Lying, stealing, manipulative traitor~!"))
The First Vao's lips curled back, the Blood pulsing in his veins. "You want to know more about me, mate? You were askin' why I want Salem dead," he snickered. "I'll help you out. I'll show you wot I see every day. I'll take you into the world of Vao Dusty Branwen."
The Darkness twisted through the air, pulling Tai's arms away from his face before the First Vao raised his hand and bit down, black ooze pooling around his teeth. Without hesitation he dropped down and pried the man's jaws open, holding his bleeding fist into the air, breaking into a hysterical fit of laughter.
"My Blood! I'll give you just enough of my Blood to see the world like I do! Then you'll understand! You'll understand why I'm not the bad guy! I'm the bloody hero!"
He squeezed his fist, the Blood dripping into Tai's mouth, followed by the Darkness. The First Vao jumped off him, the world appearing as his magic retreated, the cannibal watching him eagerly.
Tai choked and gagged, sticking his burnt fingers as far down his throat as he could. He needed to get the Blood out of his body. But the First Vao reacted too quickly, grabbing his wrists from behind and pulling his hands away from his face.
The pounding headache came first, Tai squirming against the Enemy's grasp, his jaw dropping open. The First Vao dropped him back on the ground, giving him a heavy kick.
The world flickered around them, Tai's mind beginning to break as everything the First Vao felt came crashing down, crushing him.
The horrible hatred for himself, the loss of all hope, the insanity, Tai felt everything. He felt everything the First Vao had ever felt in the First Timeline exactly as the murderer had. The man grabbed at his hair, the color draining from his face. He couldn't even scream. The First Vao dropped down to all fours, slapping his hand against the ground before bringing his cold face inches from his.
"Nyahahaha! Do you understand now!? Fighting an endless fight, cleaning up Salem's mess!? As long as this cycle of Timelines continues, there is no point to life! We all come back without any memory, right!? Right!? Are you getting the suicidal thoughts too!? Come on, cunt! Say something! NYAHAHAHA!"
Summer was laughing with the First Vao, her head tilted back and clapping her hands together. (("I knew you never changed, Vao! You're still the same! I always knew you had it in you! You're getting the job done! At this rate, you'll finally reach your dream!"))
The First Vao turned to her, bouncing up and down at the praise. "Au-Auntie...!"
Tai stared in horror, his broken mind trying to comprehend what he was seeing. He could see the world the way the First Vao did; dark and cruel. But he could also see who he was always talking to, the thing they had all thought were voices in his head. He didn't see Summer.
He saw an incomprehensible horror. Something that didn't even look human. His lips parted, a terrified, mad shriek escaping his lips. Blood welled up in his eyes, his nose beginning to bleed.
The moment he saw the hallucination that Vao called Summer, he had lost his mind completely, irreparable damage burning his mind. The First Vao turned back to him, pressing a button on his axe. Grimm Demise clicked and transformed, the barrel of the rocket launcher staring down at him.
"Now... You're in my way," the First Vao breathed. "Don't worry... I'll take your Soul with me. You'll reach my dream with me..."
He dry-fired the weapon, the blast blowing Tai to pieces. The First Vao stared down at the remains, dropping his weapon and falling to his knees. His stomach roared and rumbled like thunder, his hands scooping up what was left.
And without hesitation, he began to eat. In a matter of moments, he scarfed down and devoured Tai, licking his fingers hungrily.
His stomach still wasn't filled, aching and growling. The First Vao hissed, nearly doubling over. It was growing worse.
(("... Behind you. Don't attack."))
The First Vao turned, his red eye locking on to a pair of calm yellow ones. Jack walked down the halls, his smile wide.
"Bonne soirée, Mon Seigneur," he greeted calmly. The First Vao gritted his teeth.
"Wot is it, Jack? I'm busy."
Jack's smile widened, his yellow eyes flickering. "Mon Seigneur... It is Milady Mono..."
The Blood's control was ripped away in an instant, Summer glaring at Jack angrily. The First Vao scrambled to his feet, his cold hands grabbing Jack's shoulders. "M-Mono? I-is she okay?"
Jack nodded his head. "Oui, Mon Seigneur. She's doing well, the last I saw her... She's just met Salem and her friends... Perhaps you should get invol-"
He never finished his sentence. The First Vao shoved Jack out of the way, sprinting down the halls. Summer stayed behind, her lips curling into a snarl. (("What the hell are you doing, Jack? Everything was going well!"))
Jack's smile widened as he stared up at her. "... Have you not noticed?" He cooed. "He's in love and does not know it... Aren't you curious how he'll react if he thinks Mono is in danger?"
Summer scowled. (("I see no point in it. She's ruining the Blood's influence."))
Jack chuckled, standing back to his feet. "Oui, I am aware... There is no harm in a little fun. I doubt even she understands what's going on... This is growing quite entertaining..."
...
Yin's miracle washed over them over and over, their wounds slowly healing. The First Vao's Darkness was resisting the majority of it, and Yin was drinking his third mana potion. His shoulder still burned and ached as he finished, still red from the wound. Verde was awake at least, but still looked mentally exhausted. The rest were tending to their burns and the gashes left behind from the Darkness.
Yin looked up when he felt Ozpin touch his shoulder, the knight looking down at him worriedly. "Yin... Are you alright?"
It didn't take a genius to figure out he wasn't talking about Yin's physical health. The healer wasn't taking his father's sacrifice very well, but he wasn't willing to talk about it. His fear prevented him from turning around and going after him, relying on the slim, weak hope that Tai would somehow survive. But he knew the answer. Everyone knew the answer. Tai was dead, or close to death.
"... I'm fine," he growled. "Let's... Just keep going... We need to stop Glenroy first, and... And figure out how to save the city from the Cult... If we even can..."
An evacuation was nearly unavoidable now. None of them stood a chance, and their encounter with the First Vao proved it - the monstrous cannibal was not only powerful and bloodthirsty, but very experienced in fighting, having survived the First Timeline.
One foot in front of the other. That was the only thing Yin focused on, listening closely for the sound of approaching footsteps, his heart racing in suspense. He was expecting the First Vao to lunge at them from the shadows again, to finish them off. He knew they wouldn't survive another attack; the only reason he and his friends were still standing were from sheer luck, and his father's sacrifice.
Salem had strayed from the others, her head hung low. No matter how many times she told herself that she didn't have control in the First and Second Timelines, she pinned the blame on herself. The only reason the First Vao had the Blood was because of her, nevermind the fact that she drove him to insanity. She felt something pull on her sleeve, taking her out of her thoughts.
"Are you okay?" Pyrrha asked. Salem faked a smile, nodding her head.
"Yeah... I'm fine. Thanks, Pyrrha."
They shouldn't be too far from the throne room now. The halls, as bloody and empty as they were, were growing familiar. They rounded the corner, staring up at the door. At least, until they saw something that made their blood freeze solid.
Just ahead of them, with her back facing the adventurers, stood a maid. She was unmistakeable, even if they couldn't see her most defining feature on her face. Mono Chroma turned her head in surprise, her eye locking on them. But her expression was not what they were expecting, not from someone as terrible as Mono. Tourmaline and Jasper's jaws dropped open, Sapphire's smile disappearing. Yin and Vao stood frozen next to each other, the rest staring in stunned silence.
Mono's eye was wet, her corners tinted pink. It looked as if she had been crying. But imagining someone like Mono shedding a tear was near-impossible for the adventurers. Moreso for the Primary Sisters, who used to work under the cruel monoeye.
The bells of the palace chimed as they stared at each other, the tension beginning to escalate, sending a shiver down the spines of the adventurers. Mono sighed, wiping her eye with a handkerchief and standing up straight. She was easily taller than all of them except for Sasha, who stood just a few inches taller. The handkerchief was folded neatly and slipped back into the pocket of her maid apron, the Cult leader staring down at them intensely.
"... So, you have finally made it," she growled in a cold voice. Ozpin nudged Yin, the healer looking up. The others had drawn their weapons, and he was quick to do the same. Mono didn't even budge. Her glare shifted between them, until it finally stopped on someone in particular. Salem.
"... You. He mentioned on a few occasions that you were the one to give him Blood," she hissed. "What did you do to him? Just what is it doing to him?"
Salem didn't know how to respond. Or more like she didn't know what to think. She didn't expect Mono to ask her anything; she expected the Cult leader to attack them on sight. Mono despised them, after all.
It only proved that something far, far darker was at work. Something Mono deemed more important than killing her. The monoeye gritted her teeth, growing impatient.
"... Are you going to remain silent?" She snarled. "Very well. I will get my answer. Unfortunately, I happen to be in a very poor mood."
Mono moved fast, faster than they could react to. She had stopped time, passing everyone and charging for Salem. They spun around when they heard the princess shriek, Mono's foot burying into her chest. They could hear every rib in her chest crack and fracture, sending her down the halls. Foam bubbled at Salem's lips, her eyes rolling into the back of her head.
Mono turned when Yin swung his katana for her neck, the blade glowing. But it struck empty air, the glint of a dozen knives catching his eye. In a panic, he threw his hands over his head and tucked his chin, the razor sharp blades shredding through his armor and piercing his skin. Coughing and groaning, he was unprepared for Mono's fist to nail him in the cheek, breaking his jaw to pieces and dropping him to the floor.
The maid huffed, tilting her head until her neck popped. "I have no time to deal with extras," she muttered. Her eye glowered at them with unmatched fury, her lips curling back into a snarl. "[Time Stands Still]!"
Her pupil warped until it took the shape of the clock dial, the hands ticking loudly. The world froze around her, the heroes locked in stopped time. Mono moved swiftly, snapping Ozpin's arm in half and leaving the bone to protrude from his armor, kicking Vao's leg in, swatting Verde off her broom. She lifted Sasha and threw her at the rest before dusting her hands off and turning back around.
"Time resumes."
BOOM!
Salem crawled to her hands and knees when she heard the screaming, scrambling to get away. Terror had finally overrode her senses. She needed to get away.
THWACK!
Salem caught a foot in her stomach, throwing her through the stone walls. Mono was standing over her in an instant, lifting the princess off the ground.
"You will not escape me!" She screamed. She shook Salem around, her grip tightening on her collar. "Vao hasn't been the same! Surely you've seen what he looks like now! Answer me, what is the Blood doing!?"
Salem choked and gasped when her back was driven through the furniture, swung wildly by the Cult leader. And just before she could lose consciousness from the unbearable pain, she felt a bottle slam past her lips, the cool liquid sliding down her throat. A healing potion, healing her wounds. Mono wasn't trying to kill her, she realized. Not yet, anyway.
"What are you talking about!?" She shrieked. Her answer didn't sit well with her enemy.
"Do not take me for a fool!"
SLAM!
Salem scratched at the floor when Mono slid her across the stone, lifting her head up just in time to dodge the boot. The maid blinked, and in an instant Salem was blown back, the wall cracking under her weight.
"I'll rephrase," Mono snarled. "He's been growing sicker and sicker, his mood turning foul. I know it isn't right; his skin isn't normal, not for a human, not even a vampire. His hunger grows and grows without an end in sight, and his body's temperature is so cold that even I have a hard time standing directly beside him. What are these symptoms, Salem? Just what are his hallucinations, to the point they can leave a visible mark on him?"
Salem felt her heart stop. Those symptoms... It couldn't be. That thought scared Salem more than anything. Mono read her expression like an open book.
"So you do know something. Very well, then. I'll just break you over and over, until I get my answe-"
She was cut off when the ground trembled, debris falling from the ceiling. Salem knew what was happening - the Graveyard was sending someone over. But Mono didn't know that. The monoeye turned around and ducked underneath the scythe's blade, dodging every following strike with ease. The First Yin's eyes burned and blazed, his cigarette smoldering at his lips.
"You two! Now!" He shouted.
Two pairs of arms seized Salem's wrists, pulling her away off the ground. The Second Vao and the Second Verde were dragging her out of the way as the First Yin battled against Mono, tossing her back into the hall. The Second Verde pointed her prosthetic finger at Yin and then at the door, her face calm even amidst the chaos.
"Yin, get to the throne room! Get the King out of here!" She ordered. "The rest of you, follow us! This city is a lost cause!"
"We can't abandon Ragna!" Sasha shouted. "We need to save the city-"
"Bloody hell, you gonna fight the First Vao!?" The Second Vao snapped. "Sorry to say it, but you cunts look like you got your arses kicked!"
Ozpin nodded, his face pale. "Got it! Vao, you go with Yin! Everyone else, we're following them!"
The dullahan and the healer scrambled for the throne room, the adventurers following the heroes of the Second Timeline down the hall. They didn't make it very far before the wall exploded, the First Yin skidding across the ground. He was covered in bruises, and his hand was swollen, broken. With one swift movement, he transformed Crescent Rose and racked back the charging handle, firing a shot at Mono. The Cult Leader's jaws snapped shut, a vein snaking its way across her forehead. She had caught the bullet with her teeth.
"... Oh, shit..."
The First Yin scrambled back to his feet, Mono spitting the bullet at them with the speed of a gun, the lead ripping through Pyrrha's leg. The goblin went down with a shriek, Sasha picking her up. Mono leapt into the air, throwing her arms out to the side.
"[Time Stands Still]!"
The maid glared down at them, reaching underneath her dress and to the knives strapped to her thighs. She threw them down at the heroes before landing on her feet with grace, running back to fetch the ones she had thrown at Yin. She swiftly returned, tossing several at their ankles, and the rest all around them. With a heavy sigh to calm herself down, she calmly walked past them, stopping in front of the adventurers. It wouldn't be good to lose her temper with the First Yin here. The First Vao had warned everyone that he was a dangerous one.
With a blink of her eye, time began to flow again. The knives pierced the adventurers and heroes, bringing them to the ground. The First Yin gasped, looking up at Mono in shock. "I... In front...?"
The fairies were the only ones safe, being small enough to dodge the knives. Sapphire, being much bigger, had a knife protruding from her back. But because she was a doll, she didn't feel pain. "You don't know!? You don't know and you're trying to fight her!?" Jasper shrieked. "Mono can stop time!"
"You're fucking kidding me."
He jumped to his feet when Mono charged, her hammer unfolding from its box, a weapon that didn't belong on Twist, forged by the First Vao. The ground shook when the massive head slammed down on Crescent Rose, the strength of Mono's arms sending the First Yin flying down the halls. The maid swung again, and again, batting away the adventurers with elegant, almost dance-like movements. She turned her attention to Salem, and charged again.
Through three walls, Salem was shoved to the ground with Mono planting a foot on her chest.
"No one is capable of saving you," she hissed. "You know something is happening to Vao. You'll tell me how to fix it."
She was pressing more weight on Salem, threatening to crush her ribcage into powder. The princess gasped, scratching at the Cult Leader's calf. It did very little to harm Mono, or even make her budge. Mono bent down, lowering her face closer to Salem's.
"What are you hiding from me?" She growled. "I can see it in your eyes. You know something I do not. I will give you ten seconds to tell me what it is. I will count by breaking your fingers. If you do not tell me after I break your tenth finger, I will break your knee caps and make you watch as I murder and torture every last one of your friends. Let's begin. One..."
SNAP!
Pain shot through Salem's left arm, her voice rising into a shrill shriek. Her pinky had been bent backwards, the flesh swelling to twice its normal size, taking the shade of a deep, painful purple. Mono stared down at her coldly, her expression never changing. The clock hands in her pupil ticked slowly, the sound echoing in Salem's head.
"... Two."
SNAP!
Salem felt light headed. Even when she tried to hide her fingers, Mono managed to break her fingers using stopped time to her advantage. And with her chest in the bad condition it was in, Salem wasn't willing to take her chances fighting Mono head-on. Then again, even if she was fine, Mono was one of the last people she'd willingly fight. She was torn from her thoughts by the voice that sent chills down her spine.
"Three."
SNAP!
She was about to faint. If Mono had just been snapping them back, it wouldn't nearly be as bad. But the Cult Leader knew how to make it as agonizing as possible. She wasn't just snapping Salem's fingers. She was folding them, pressing the backs of her fingers against the back of her hand. Mono's eye twitched in annoyance. "... Must I continue? Have I not made myself clear?" She growled. "I will give you a chance here to say something. If you don't, we'll soon reach ten."
Salem gritted her teeth, her eyes bloodshot. Mono pulled her foot away, letting the princess sit back up. When she looked at the Cult Leader, all she could feel was fear, and hatred. Mono leaned down, her fingers squeezing Salem's jaw. It felt like she was going to crush it in her hand.
"Well? I am waiting. My day has gone quite terribly, so I am not very patient. Make it quick, you hussy. Four."
SNAP!
...
Yin pushed his way into the throne room, leaning on his katana for support. His wounds still bled, his breath ragged and labored. He felt lightheaded, the blood loss making him feel very sick and weak. His blue eyes frantically scanned the room for Glenroy. In the current state the healer was in, he knew he wouldn't win against the Knight Commander. But the white-haired knight was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a small group of dwarven knights stood armed in front of their king, a much older dwarf with grey hair and a thick, bushy moustache. King Peter Port, the king of dwarves. The dwarves seemed to relax when Yin came through, injured and bleeding.
"Hold on... Yin?"
A ginger dwarf leaned from the crowd, a face Yin recognized. Roman Torchwick, someone he had met ten years ago. The healer gritted his teeth, tapping his staff against the ground and muttering a healing miracle. His wounds didn't close completely, but it would suffice for now. He was nearly out of mana; he needed to be careful. "Yeah... Yin... Listen, I'm here to help everyone. We need to leave Ragna-"
"I'm not abandoning my city!" One of the dwarves interrupted. "I grew up here! My family's lived here for generations!"
The others seemed to agree with him. Yin groaned, shaking his head. "No, you don't get it! Ragna-"
"Besides, its only a few monsters!" The guard continued. "We have the Church and their Knights!"
Roman furrowed his brow thoughtfully, turning his gaze to Yin. "Church... Wait... Weren't you labelled an enemy to the Church almost two years ago?"
Yin nodded. "... Yeah."
Silence fell among the dwarves before the one who had been running his mouth spoke. "W-wait... Then how did you get this far...?"
Yin jerked his head back to the door. "There's something out there that none of us stand a chance against, right here in this palace. Look, the nonhumans attacking the city, have they tried to kill anyone who didn't raise a weapon? Someone here had to have surrendered, right?"
One of the shorter dwarves raised his hand. "I... Dropped my weapon," he lied through his teeth. "The monsters ran past me..."
"Yeah, dropped it. Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night," Yin muttered. "Those nonhumans are with me. We're trying to overthrow the Church, so everyone can live in peace. Everything the priests said about nonhumans, it's all a lie."
Roman hummed, stroking his beard. "... If the monsters are really peaceful, I'll side with you. But how do you know for sure that they're friendly?"
"I'm still alive, right?"
That seemed to be good enough for the others. Yin sighed in relief. He successfully convinced the dwarves to side with the nonhumans. For now, at least. The rest of the convincing would have to be at Faralda. All that was left now was to regroup with everyone else and get the hell out of Ragna. He wasn't sure where Glenroy was, but if the Knight Commander was absent, then Yin wasn't complaining.
It was only when he felt that horrible cold air on his back that he froze where he stood. He didn't move. He couldn't move. He was paralyzed, his spine tingling against the bitter breeze that stabbed at his skin through his armor. He knew who had come: the very worst of the Cult, the only one capable of chilling a room with his presence. Very shakily, very slowly, he turned his head, the color draining from his face.
The First Vao stared at him from underneath his bangs, his absurdly long hair nearly concealing his face completely. Only a thin, vertical sliver was visible, revealing his bloodstained teeth and one, single red eye. Underneath the hair was the glow of the Aura that occupied his eye socket, the flame flickering behind the black strands. Not even the dwarves moved - they were just as frozen as Yin was.
The murderer's eye scanned the room slowly, passing by Yin and the dwarves. His whispery, raspy voice hissed into the cold.
"Mono... She isn't here... She was supposed to be here... W-where... Where is...?"
His eye returned to Yin, stopping on the blonde and piercing into his soul. The First Vao stood up straight, pointing Misery straight at his chest.
"Where... Where is Mono?"
Yin couldn't answer. His mouth was dry, the cold seeping to his bones. The First Vao trembled, his eye beginning to water.
"I-is she...?" He trailed off, biting at his fingertips. He looked nervous, frightened. He averted his gaze, muttering to himself quietly. Yin had to strain his ears to hear his voice. "No... No, that isn't possible... No, I can't deny that possibility... A-anything can happen, anyone can be taken down... I've lived this long keeping that in mind... Yin... Did you... D-did you kill her?"
Yin finally found his voice, shaking his head. "N-no, I-"
"I... I won't let you get away with this," the First Vao hissed, a thin line of drool dripping from his cold, deathly pale lips. His shoulders trembled, his one eye going bloodshot. "... I'm going to... I'll..."
Yin already knew what was going to happen. It didn't take much for the First Vao to lose his temper. And fighting back wasn't an option - not against him. He was already running for Port, intent on at least taking the king to safety.
"I'm not going to kill you. I am going to destroy you."
It was in the blink of an eye. Just before Yin could reach Port, the First Vao appeared in front of him with a cloud of ash trailing behind him, his fist driving square into the healer's chin. The overwhelming force of the blow drove his teeth into each other and broke every last tooth in his mouth, sending him off his feet and into the air. His back slammed against the ground once, twice, and thrice as he bounced across the floor, stars flashing before his eyes. The dwarves immediately dove for the First Vao with their weapons drawn, charging in a war cry. The First Vao glared from behind his hair, his eye wide with a murderous intent.
"Get out of my way."
Through his bleary vision, Yin could see the horrible gleam of the cursed axe, the weapon singing through the air and quickly followed by the sounds of flesh and metal being torn to shreds, the dwarves very quickly losing their nerve. Yin rolled back to his feet, stumbling forward. Grabbing the paralyzed king, he forcefully dragged him out the door, racing down the halls.
The terrified screaming followed them, the dwarves dropping their weapons and fleeing for safety. Port ran at Yin's side, turning back to take a quick glance behind them.
Black tendrils scratched and pierced the walls, dragging the First Vao closer towards them, his bloody weapons gripped in his hands. He wasn't even screaming anymore, chasing them with his one eye set on the back of Yin's head. The healer dove out of the way as the axe swung for the back of his neck, taking off his earlobe. Blood sprayed down the side of his face, the First Vao driving Misery into the floor to slow down and resume the chase.
"W-what is she!?" Port shrieked
"A fucking monster!" Yin yelled back. "A real, bloodthirsty monster!"
The walls exploded around them, the ceiling beginning to crumble above their heads. The First Vao's Darkness was tearing apart the palace with the full intent of bringing it down on top of them. Port and Yin scrambled to the left and bolted down one of the branching halls, the freezing air burning their backs. They didn't need to turn around. They knew the First Vao was right behind them, his Darkness grazing and scratching for them. Yin heard the metallic clunk of Grimm Demise transforming behind him, the healer immediately bracing himself.
BOOM!
The First Vao teleported next to him and dry-fired the rocket launcher, slamming into his side. The First Vao grabbed the collar of his armor and lifted him off the ground as they flew through the air, using Yin to break through the walls. Stone crumbled around them, Yin's vision beginning to fade in and out with each wall the First Vao drove him through.
Salem writhed on the ground, her eyes rolling into the back of her head as Mono snarled.
"Ten."
SMASH!
The Cult Leader never got the chance to break Salem's last finger before the wall behind her shattered to pieces, forcing her to dive out of the way. Two figures soared over them, neither taking notice of Salem or Mono. Mono lifted her head and stared through the gaping hole ahead of her, her eye widening in horror. Salem shakily lifted her head, following the monoeye's gaze.
The First Vao pinned Yin to the ground, driving his knuckles deep into the healer's face. But it lacked the intent to kill. The First Vao was only causing damage. Through the mass of hair that concealed the majority of his cold face, the First Vao leaned down and stared into Yin's eye with that one red pupil he had, his Aura glowing brighter.
"You know wot? To hell with taking your Soul. I don't want it," he hissed. He raised his ghostly white hand into the air, his fingers and palm enshrouded in shadow. "I'll destroy it. I'll make sure there's nothing left, but a bloody husk! If I destroy your Soul, you won't wake up again! Not even in the Graveyard after this Timeline ends!"
Yin's eyes widened in horror when the First Vao grabbed his face, the Darkness twisting and burning his skin. His mouth opened into a shrill, bloodcurdling shriek as the Darkness grew around them, the true horror sinking in.
And with a flash of pure Darkness, they vanished from sight, the blood-soaked halls of Ragna's palace sitting empty.
...
Yin's eyes shot open, the healer sitting upright in bed with an ice cold sweat rolling down the back of his neck. His blue eyes glanced around the room wildly, his mind and heart racing in terror. He was sitting in his bed, wearing his pyjamas. His adventuring gear was folded neatly on top of his dresser, his staff and katana resting against the wall next to it. He was in his room in Faralda. He stared in silent shock and disbelief, blinking a few times.
"H... H-hwuh...?"
He jumped with a scream when the door swung open, a pair of silver eyes staring at him in confusion. Ruby was standing in his doorway. "... Are you okay?" She asked.
"R... R-Ruby...?"
Ruby beamed. "The one and only!"
He was having a hard time believing his eyes. Or, anything for that matter. He killed Ruby himself, and yet she was standing in front of him completely fine. In fact, her skin was a normal, healthy color, her eyes full of the vigor that had disappeared when she received the Blood. His little sister caught his gaze, her smile faltering. "Hey... What's wrong?"
Yin couldn't speak for a moment. And when he finally did, he asked one question.
"W... Where... Am I?"
Ruby furrowed her brows. "... Your... Room?" She mumbled in confusion. "Did you have a nightmare?"
A nightmare. Was that all it had been? Yin didn't know what to think anymore. He remembered the First Vao attacking him, Ragna burning around them. Ruby shook the thought from her head, returning to her optimistic self. "Vao sent me to get you! He's waiting outside with the others."
Others? Yin slowly crawled out of bed, looking himself over. He didn't have a scratch on him. He lifted his hand and poked at his mouth, feeling his teeth underneath his fingertips. Ruby stared at him like he was a circus act. The younger adventurer closed the door as Yin picked up his armor, staring at the leather and cloth. It was perfectly fine; no holes, no cuts. He slipped into it, checking again. But nothing had changed: it wasn't damaged. He pulled the door open to see Ruby waiting for him, following his sister down the halls. Down the stairs, and his eyes stopped the moment he saw the kitchen.
BANG!
"O-ow!"
"Keep your fingers out of the food!" Summer scolded harshly, swinging the pan over her husband's head. "It's for lunch! You can't just eat it before it's even ready!"
"But I'm hungry!" Tai whined.
"Grow up! Honestly, sometimes I feel like I have a third kid!"
Tai looked lost. "... I have four kids, but you have two- wait a minute."
"M-mom? Dad?" Yin breathed. Summer and Tai stopped arguing, turning their attention to the healer. Summer smiled brightly, like she wasn't just domestically abusing her husband.
"You finally woke up, sleepyhead!" She chuckled. Tai flashed a lopsided grin, a growing bump poking out from the top of his head.
"Your mom is mean-"
BANG!
"OW!?"
Summer brandished the pan like it was a deadly weapon. And in her hands, it was. "I'm not mean. I'm just strict."
"No, that's just abusive!"
"Want to get the pan again!?"
"No, wait! I'm sorry! You're just strict!"
Summer smiled contently, but it soon fell away when she saw Yin's face. She set the pan aside, walking up to him with Tai following close behind. "... Rosebud? Is everything alright?"
Yin didn't even realize his eyes had begun to water. He didn't even care that she used the embarrassing nickname she gave him. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around his parents, his chest aching. He could feel them. They were really there. Ruby sighed, shaking her head with an awkward smile and her hands on her hips.
"He had a bad dream... I think... He was like this when I woke him up..."
Summer sighed, brushing a lock of blonde hair out of Yin's face before wiping his tears away with her thumbs. "It must have been a really bad one..."
A nightmare. Yin repeated the word to himself again. He was hugging his mother and father, and Ruby was standing behind him. Had it been a lucid nightmare? And if Vao was waiting for him outside...
Yin turned and bolted for the door, leaving his parents and sister confused. He threw it open and jumped outside, staring at the sight before him.
Verde and Sasha were standing in the street, the witch looking at the Branwen house blankly. Sasha noticed Yin right away, smiling back at him. "Oh, hey! You finally woke up!"
Yin felt a lump growing in her throat. Sasha wasn't missing an ear anymore. And what's more, she looked younger. So did Verde.
And when he thought about it, Ruby had looked younger too. Weren't they all in their late twenties? He touched his chin, his hand flinching away. He didn't feel the stubble anymore. He quickly looked into his window, staring at his reflection on the glass. He looked the way he had when he was eighteen, before their horrible adventure started. Sasha raised a brow.
"... Hello?"
Yin turned around, his lips curling into a soft, yet overjoyed smile. It really had been a nightmare. "H... H-hey-!?"
He stopped when he looked behind Sasha. Among the market stalls, humans were shopping and going about their day. What had startled him were the nonhumans who mingled with them.
"H-humans and n-nonhumans...?" Yin breathed. "B-but we haven't dealt with the Church yet...?"
"What Church?" Sasha asked curiously. Yin was baffled. Verde and Sasha should have known about the Church better than anyone. But both of them looked confused, like they never heard of the cruel organization. Verde didn't react, her face devoid of emotion as always. Yin shook his head, trying to change the subject. He wanted to forget his nightmare.
Vao came back around the corner, holding his head. "O-ow... Mummy, I'm sorry..."
Raven had a shovel slung over her shoulders. "Can it, Girly. If you didn't get arrested, I wouldn't have to beat you with a shovel. I taught you how to mug people, I expect you to do it right."
Fantastic parenting, Raven.
Vao met Yin's gaze, flashing his signature wolfish grin. "Hey, you're up! We were waiting for you so we could go to the guild! Let's go!"
Yin nodded, his lips curling into a smile. He followed his party down the street, nearly forgetting about his nightmare.
But just like all other times before, that sense of security would be shattered into a million pieces. His blood froze solid when he saw the Darkness on the horizon with the First Vao sprinting in front of the shadows, the people in the street paying no mind. No, they didn't even see him. The horrible truth came crashing down on Yin in an instant. He didn't have a nightmare. The war was still happening. Yin realized why he had no wounds now, why he was seeing everything the way he dreamed.
Because he was seeing things through his own Soul. The First Vao had entered Yin's Reality.
"Found you."
Yin's Soul dove for the ground to dodge the axe, but the First Vao had predicted his every move. His hand shot out, grabbing his blonde hair in his cold fist. Yin shrieked when he felt his feet leave the ground, the First Vao throwing him with all his strength. The healer smashed through a house, landing on the other side. The First Vao teleported in front of him, his boot catching Yin in the teeth again, kicking with enough force to flip him over onto his back. The murderer loomed over him, his one eye glaring out from behind his messy, disheveled bangs.
"You know about the Graveyard?" The First Vao snarled, lifting him off the ground. "It's where the Souls of past Timelines end up. But there's an exception; the Souls I've eaten don't go there. They stay inside me. If I kill your Soul, you won't end up in the Graveyard. You won't be in my Reality. You'll just FUCKING DIE!"
Pain shot through Yin's nose when the First Vao delivered a nasty headbutt, shattering the cartilage in his nose. It was quickly followed with a devastating hook, and then a haymaker that knocked him to the ground. The First Vao raised Misery into the air and threw it into Yin's chest, stomping down on the handle and driving the blade through his ribcage. The healer gasped and heaved, scratching at the First Vao's boot desperately, his primal instinct to survive kicking in.
"Mono wasn't where she said she would be," the First Vao growled. "That means you killed her, doesn't it? Do you even know how that feels, Yin!? She was the only one... The only person who made me feel like a human FUCKING BEING!"
STOMP, STOMP, STOMP!
The First Vao leaned down, ripping the serrated blade from Yin's chest. Blood splattered across the ground, the Soul choking and gasping for air. The First Vao pulled him back to his feet, holding him from behind.
"You don't know wot that feels like," he hissed. "You've never had to deal with that... You've never been crushed by guilt... I'll show you wot real suffering is."
He gave a sharp tug, pulling both of Yin's arms out of their sockets, driving his knee deep into the healer's spine. The sharp sting of agony shot through his body, his legs giving out underneath him. The First Vao spun him around, breathing into the freezing air. The Darkness spilled from his ghastly lips, slipping into Yin's mouth.
It started with the worst headache Yin had ever felt in his life. And finally, the real torture came. Yin felt everything the First Vao felt, the overwhelming guilt bringing him to the ground, his self-hatred exploding into a maddening frenzy. Yin's fingernails cut into the sides of his face as he gritted his toothless gums, his eyes beginning to water. He could hear the voices that the First Vao heard, he could feel the schizophrenia filling his mind, the voices of millions filling his ears.
"Kill yourself!"
"Demon!"
"You should have been killed when they had the chance!"
"Die, die, die!"
Yin's lips opened into a bloodcurdling scream of utter horror, the healer rolling across the ground, scratching at his ears until his own blood began to pool under his fingernails. He recognized some of the voices, voices of old friends. The First Vao stared down at him through his mass of hair, laughing hysterically at Yin's expense.
"You know, I showed that other cunt, Tie, Two, wotever his name was, the same thing! Except with 'im, I held back! It won't be the same with you." The murderer leaned down, whispering into the healer's ear in his raspy voice.
"Bye bye, Yin," he cooed. "Drop dead, you rotten piece of-"
(("Your left."))
The First Vao abruptly stopped, spinning around and delivering a roundhouse kick straight into Vao's chest, knocking the dullahan back down the street. The one-eyed murderer glowered at the adventurers, his gaze filled with uncontrollable fury.
"Brilliant," he muttered. "Distractions... The last thing I want right now. Right then, let's get this over with. I have a rat to deal with."
Vao recovered quickly, scrambling to Yin's side as the others began a one-sided fight, trying to pull the healer to his feet. But any time his hands would get close enough, Yin would kick and swing his arms. The dullahan clenched his teeth, catching his brother's foot in the jaw, knocking his head off his shoulders and into his arm. "B-bloody hell, Yin! Calm down-!?"
Yin lunged for Vao, tackling him to the ground. A thin red river had begun to trickle from Yin's nose, his eyes beginning to water scarlet. He was losing his mind, the First Vao's Darkness breaking him into pieces. The monstrous madman swatted Pyrrha away with his hand, looking back at the two with a smirk on his face.
"Oh, he's going through those feelings now?" He snickered. "This'll be good! And wot do you know? I gots snacks with me to enjoy the show!"
Vao fought back against Yin, seizing the healer's wrists and pushing him away. Yin let out another shriek, throwing his head forward. Vao took the brunt of the blow in his headless chest, the wind knocked out of him.
"Don't touch me! Don't TOUCH ME!" Yin screamed. Verde's staff fell from her hands in an instant, the witch shaken to her core. Salem looked at the First Vao, her chest beginning to pound.
"W... What did you do to him...!?"
The First Vao snickered, turning his focus back to her. "Oh, just gave him a little bit of my memories," he snickered. And very quickly, he began to scowl. "It's awfully funny that you care at all, Salem. Becoz when I was getting pinned to the ground and raped by that Faunus animal, you told me to stop crying about it."
He blasted forward with the Darkness exploding under his feet and behind him, slamming into Salem and dragging her across the ground.
"I screamed and cried for help," he giggled madly. "You knew it all was happening. I didn't know that before Aldia. Any time I tried to bring it up during the council, you always cut me off, told me to stop whining. But now you're a good guy? Do you really expect me to believe that? After everything you've done?"
His fingers curled around her throat, his grip beginning to tighten. His eye burned with anger, his teeth bared in a snarl.
"I know you. You don't care about anyone. That's why we're still fighting," he hissed. "Becoz you just keep looping it all over, for your own fucked up entertainment!"
Salem's eyes widened. The First Yin had thought she was behind the Timelines before; it wouldn't be far-fetched that the First Vao would, too. The First Vao had openly talked about the Timelines before, and about how life had lost its meaning when everyone would come back in the next Timeline. He had mentioned before how he wanted to restore it.
And to do that, he believed he needed to kill Salem. There were countless other reasons he wanted her dead, but the reason she was his primary target was because he thought she was restarting the Timelines.
And that wasn't the worst of it. She finally saw his face up close, her eyes staring in utter horror at the edges of his face.
Black veins had begun to grow across his snow-white skin, almost easily mistakeable for hair. But now that he was so close to her, she could see it. She instantly remembered what Mono had been saying earlier, why the maid had been angry. That the First Vao was beginning to change, his body temperature dropping as low as ice, his personality beginning to twist. What she had said about his fading memories, and his worsening hunger for human flesh. The horrifying truth dawned on her, filling her with a soul-crushing horror she hadn't felt in a very long time, or perhaps ever.
The First Vao was slowly turning into the same thing she had been in the First Timeline. A truth of the universe is that history repeats itself, no matter how hard one tries to avoid it. Salem stared into his one scarlet eye, her lips parting in shrill, horrified shriek. The First Vao winced, tossing her to the side and covering his ears. Ozpin looked up from where he helped Vao with Yin, the knight's eyes wild with shock.
"Vao, can't you get us out of Yin's Reality!?"
"I-I can't!"
"What do you mean!?" Sasha screamed back at him. "No offense to Yin, but I don't want to die here!"
"I can't! I could get us out, but not him!" Vao growled. "His magic, Verde said it feels like it's stronger than mine and Yin's combined! If we leave him here, that's asking to get Yin killed- NYAH!?"
He yanked Yin out of the way as the Darkness exploded from the ground, the First Vao moving around the battlefield again. Salem scrambled to her feet and dove for Yin, helping Vao pull the healer to his feet. The First Vao followed them down the winding streets of Faralda, ignoring the others in his murderous rage.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
Dust and rock whipped at their faces as the rockets exploded around them, the trio zigzagging back and forth. Ozpin caught up with them, jerking his head back.
"We need a plan!"
"Oh, let's hear it," Pyrrha snapped sarcastically. "Let's hear how we're going to beat Death itself!"
"What's the plan, Ozpin!?" Sasha screamed, ignoring the goblin. Ozpin shook his head.
"I can't think of one alone! I need your hel-"
SPPPLLLLLRCH!
Ozpin never finished his sentence. Grimm Demise split through his waist, the blade blazing with fire. The First Vao snatched his torso from the air, his madness exploding forth again.
"Ozpin... I... I remember hearing that name!" He screamed. "Oh, I can't put that name to a face, but I remember Auntie telling me to take his Soul... And she says you're the right one!"
Sasha tried to turn and stop them, put Pyrrha and Verde yanked her arm back, the tomboy turning her head away as the First Vao began to eat, the sound of flesh being torn off the bone echoing in their heads, burning to memory.
GRRROOOOOOOWWWWWLLLLL...
The First Vao clutched his stomach, his knees beginning to wobble, his raspy breath quick and shallow. "Ngh... Na... Nyahahaha," he breathed. "How many people have I eaten now? I'm still hungry... I-I'm still..."
The Darkness tore through the air, swinging for arteries, their throat, whatever it could reach. Sapphire ran for cover with Jasper and Tourmaline following close behind, Salem and Vao hitting the dirt. Pyrrha didn't make it, her ankles being seized and pulled until she was split in half, and Sasha was nearly disemboweled in an instant with the swing of the First Vao's serrated dagger. The elf dropped to her knees, coughing and spluttering as she held her torn stomach. The First Vao stalked forward, his shadow cast over Yin, kicking Salem and Vao out of the way, his axe dragging along the ground.
He broke into a wet, sickly cough, his hand stained by the black Blood that flew from the depths of his body, his eye growing hazy. "Lousy... Rat-faced... Stupid blonde," he hissed. Verde drove her staff into the ground, creating a barrier between them. But the First Vao just punched it out of his way, turning his focus to her. His toe dug into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Using her blindness, he cleared the distance between them and punched the witch in the jaw, knocking her to the ground and unconscious.
"Piss off... You..." The First Vao blinked, his voice trailing off. His grip tightened around his weapon, his lips pulling back. "I... I forgot again...? A-are you... Are you kidding me-"
He broke into another cough, nearly doubling over. The Blood spilled from his lips, dripped from his nose. Salem climbed to her knees, inching her way closer to Yin. She kept her eyes on the First Vao, bracing herself for the inevitable attack. The Blood was making him sick again, a telltale sign that he was about to go on a rampage. He swayed on his feet, his knees almost knocking together as he leaned against his axe for support, his sickness finally taking its toll on his body.
Crunch.
Someone had stepped in front of Salem and Yin. Someone whom she didn't realize was pulled in when the First Vao attacked Yin's Reality. Mono stood between them, staring at the First Vao. When Salem looked at her face, she recognized why the First Vao was angry at Yin when he thought he killed her. She held no fear at all; she didn't tremble, not even from the horrid cold that radiated from his body. She had approached him without flinching, staring at him with worry.
"M... M-Mono...?" The First Vao whispered shakily.
The adventurers who were still alive and conscious stared in silent shock. It was as if he had become a different person entirely. It was the first time they didn't hear his madness in his feminine voice. Mono stepped closer.
"Vao," she said softly. "I think... It's time we leave."
The First Vao was against the idea in an instant. But he didn't respond with the anger they thought he would. "No, I... I'm so close-"
"That isn't important," Mono interrupted quietly. "You can barely stand... I do not want you to continue."
The fact that anyone could try to reason with someone like him was baffling. And yet he seemed to be listening. He stumbled closer to her, his feet dragging against the ground. And soon, the world began to fade to white.
...
Salem gasped for air when her eyes opened, the bloodstained halls of the palace surrounding them. And when she looked back up, Mono was holding the First Vao in her arms. His eye was foggy, the Aura in his eye socket flickering dimly. It clicked for Salem in an instant.
If Mono hadn't been in the Cult, the First Vao would have turned a lot sooner. Somehow, she was chasing away the effects of the Blood, despite how much he had. The maid's eye shifted to the princess, filled with an annoyed sense of disgust. But she didn't say anything. Her pupil warped into the clock dial, her voice barely a whisper in the air.
"[Time Stands Still]..."
And in an instant, the First Vao and Mono were gone. The adventurers were left alone in the halls. Salem's arms trembled under her weight, finally giving out as the princess fell to the floor. She was dizzy, her fear bringing her close to fainting.
They had almost died. The First Vao had begun to kill them off himself; something they should have been grateful he didn't do sooner. If it hadn't been for Mono's interference, none of them would have made it. As the relief filled her chest, her head finally drooped to the ground, and everything went black.