"Kept you waitin', huh?"
The God of Light had fallen silent, his eyes wide in surprise as the dagger was twisted deeper into his back, the black Blood dripping down his body. Salem trembled, her mouth opening into a cry of shock.
"Y-you!?"
The First Vao's grin widened as he tore the dagger from the God of Light, reeling his fist back. "This one's for the Celestials and everyone else."
THWACK!
The God of Light's head snapped to the side when the First Vao punched him straight in the jaw, the Lord of Grimmore vaulting off his back in a flip, Grimm Demise unfolding into a rocket launcher, aimed straight for his front.
"And this one is from me, and my Cult."
BOOM!
The intense recoil sent the First Vao crashing into Salem, the Celestial catching him in her arms as the God of Light's upper body was blown to pieces as the rocket detonated, unleashing a terrifying mix of Light and Darkness. Almost instantly he was beginning to reform, still taken aback by the surprise attack. Salem squeezed the First Vao, glaring down at him. "What are you doing here!? It's dangerous!"
"I'm your weapon," the First Vao rasped. "Use me as you see fit, Salem. I'll fight by your side, until this piece of shit doesn't get back up."
He wouldn't change his mind. Salem knew that. But she didn't want to change his mind, either. She needed all the help she could get. She let him crawl to her back and wrap his legs around her, the First Vao taking aim with Grimm Demise.
"Alright... Still not friends, I suppose. Just allies?"
"Yep... That's for true."
The God of Light stared at them, his lips curling into a small grin as he clapped his hands gently.
("Now this... This is more interesting. My shield is broken, and I am at risk... Keep it up. Stave away my plague called eternal boredom.")
"We can do that," Salem growled. "Can't we, partner?"
"Nyehahaha... Couldn't 'ave said it better myself, Mistress."
Salem's wings beat through the air, each blast from the First Vao's rocket making her ears ring. Nothing her magic wouldn't fix. The God of Light, now unable to erect his shield, parried and deflected the First Vao's magic with his scythe, casting out his own deadly barrage. Salem weaved in and out of the magic, her sword shining at her side, the First Vao transforming his weapon into an axe and getting ready. They swung together, the air crackling as Light, Dark, and Celestial power worked in tandem, the God of Light speeding out of the way with his impossible quickness. He held out the scythe, the weapon glowing as it began to stretch and bend.
An invisible string tied the weapon's ends together, the God of Light aiming the magnificent bow into the sky, drawing back the string. The air began to ripple, throwing Salem off balance, the First Vao grabbing at her shoulder to stop himself from falling the long way down. The world shook and thundered as lightning crackled through the sky under the God of Light's awesome power, the armies that fought below losing their balance and collapsing. Not even the abominations were able to stand and fight, crippled under their evil master's unrivaled strength.
And as the God of Light released the string, Light flooded the world like the sun itself.
Bolts of Light tore their way for Salem and the First Vao, the Lord of Grimmore blacking out their immediate surroundings in Darkness. With it, Salem could see the bolts, the Celestial dodging to the sides as she approached the God of Light, her hair blown back by the breeze.
SLAAAAM!
They struck him head-on, their weapons piercing through his body before he pushed them back with a shockwave, his smirk growing.
("Yes... Yes. This is what I have been waiting for. Have at you; because I will have my fun.")
Salem gritted her teeth, clutching her sword in both hands. "Fun... Was it fun watching as you tore everyone apart over and over again?"
("Quite so. And I'll do it all again. This next Timeline... It will be much more entertaining.")
"Entertainment this, entertainment that," the First Vao muttered. "You're sick... If I weren't a murderer too, I'd throw up."
"That makes two of us," Salem agreed. The God of Light chuckled, his weapon disappearing as he shrugged.
("Come now. Your insults won't make me angry. There is no point in useless chatter. I want to fight two demigods at the same time. So if you'll fight, then that would be-")
"BIIIIITCH!"
The God of Light turned his head to meet Sasha's knuckles, his body flipping through the air. The elf had launched herself to their level, her strength powered by Yin and Verde. On the ground Vao was aiming a bow twice as long as he was tall, Sapphire acting as the arrow. With a loud holler he released the string, throwing the doll after the God. Her chainsaw revved and roared as the teeth chewed into the God of Light's eyes, the weapon's blade ablaze as Jasper used her magic on it from her sister's shoulder, bringing him lower. Waiting for him was Midori, the one-armed witch holding up her staff and pelting hi. With thousands of magic pellets that crushed the eyes lining his legs.
The God of Light brushed away their attacks as the Heroes landed back on the ground, nodding his head approvingly.
("Hmph... So you were restored into your bodies... Curious. I wonder if this is Shub-Niggurath's doing? Not like I can do anything about it. But you caught me by surprise - what an interesting development this is...")
Yin glanced at Sasha, furrowing his brow at the quivering elf. "D-did he hit you?"
Sasha raised her fist, looking at it with a quivering lip. "I... I just punched the God of Light in the face and called him a bitch... I feel so badass..."
"Nevermind that, is that the First Vao riding Salem's back!?" Jasper shouted. The Celestial shot them a glare.
"Don't worry about it! Just get ready to fight!" She screamed.
They turned on the God of Light, the First Vao dropping down next to them, Salem landing at his side, their weapons gleaming in the air as they charged.
The God of Light moved with a blinding flash, his bow taking the shape of a scythe again. The Heroes that stood against him dove for the ground when he threw it, sending Light snapping at the ground. The weapon spun through the air like a boomerang, returning to his hand with unmatched speed. Salem whirled around with her sword, deflecting the crescent blade as he struck, vanishing before Sapphire and Sasha could close in, taking to the sky again with a powerful beat of his seven wings.
("Catch me, if you are able!")
Time seemed to slow as he raised his wings, his legs moving to his chest as if he were about to jump. And with a quick straightening of his body and a powerful beat of those wings, he blasted high into the sky, vanishing past the clouds and leaving behind only the violent, biting winds of the shockwave that knocked everything in its path down. Salem climbed to her feet, the First Vao latching onto her back as the Celestial gave chase. Yin threw his hands in the air in agitation. "Now what!? We can't fly! Verde, you worship Shub-Niggurath, right!? Can't you call her!?"
"Requesting my deity to carry us into battle is not appropriate."
"She isn't appropriate to begin with!"
Vao felt a lightbulb go off in his head, raising his finger. "Ooh, I have an idea!"
Sapphire giggled. "Bombs? I love bombs!"
"No, you little terrorist," Vao snickered. He stood to his feet, sticking his pinkies in his mouth and letting out a loud, piercing whistle. "Agot! Dad needs you!"
The soldiers, who had just started climbing back to their feet, froze when they heard the distant roar, a massive black shadow engulfing them as the dragon rose from underneath the castle with scales as black as night. The First Sasha's jaw dropped.
"He fucked a DRAGON!?"
"Don't be surprised," Sasha muttered. "He's done so much worse... So, so much worse. Dragons are a walk in the park for this guy."
Vao extended his arms happily, waving them in the air to catch Agot's attention. "C'mere, mate!"
Agot snatched the Heroes in his clawed feet, smoke billowing from his nostrils as he took to the air, racing after the God of Light.
And deeper within the castle, standing in front of a home where something had fallen inside, the Second Vao was wearing a welding mask and a soldering gun. The Second Yin crossed his arms. "We don't have time for this! Why didn't you ever say you were good at engineering, anyway!? You can't even do basic math!"
"I built my weapon from scratch and modified my prosthetic to launch homemade grenades, you seriously didn't realize I can't build something?" The Second Vao muttered. "And b'sides, I'm not doing mathematics. I'm just putting together wotever looks like it goes together. Look, it's turning on!"
White headlights that functioned as eyes flickered, the ancient golem coming to life. "... SALUTATIONS. MY NAME IS PENNY. THANK YOU FOR REPAIRING ME."
"Yeah, that's great," the Second Sasha said. "Look, we're about to fight something that's almost a god. Can you help us out?"
"OF COURSE. PLEASE ENTER MY BODY."
The soldiers had just picked up their weapons when the air boomed again, another massive shadow overtaking them as Penny flew through the air with rockets, her machine guns gunning down the abominations as she passed on her way to the clouds. Mono gritted her teeth, pointing at Muriel.
"You're in charge!"
The banshee wiped at her ever-teary eyes in horror. "M-ME!? B-but Milady, I-I'm not capable of such things!"
"Silence! You're in charge!" Mono snapped. The Cult Leader bent her legs into a squat, the air rippling around her as her horns grew from her head. She cracked the ground when she jumped, launching herself through the clouds. Winter growled, running back to the airships. She came back moments later with a great steel box on her back, wearing it as if it were a backpack.
"Schnee, what are you doing!?" Ironwood shouted.
"What I commissioned as an officer to do! Fight! Sir!" She screamed back. The jetpack roared to life as the General blasted through the air, snatching a machine gun from a soldier's hand before beelining for the clouds.
Salem covered her fast as she passed through the white puffiness, the First Vao staring through a monocular. The Lord of Grimmore pointed forward. "Dead ahead!"
The God of Light shone on the blue canvas of the sky, the demigods dropping onto the cloud. It acted as land for them, holding their weight. He looked down at them, his scythe vanishing and his fingers glowing with power.
("Up here, we do not need to concern ourselves with holding back. Now, excite me!")
They ran forward, locking fingers as they swerved in and out of the way of his Light, occasionally pulling each other away from beams. It was as if they were connected; moving in perfect tandem. The First Vao was truly Salem's weapon, and Salem was truly his master. It showed, after so many years of training for this, it showed in the way they worked together in unison, without error. Their weapons clashed with his magic, Celestial magic, Light magic, and Dark magic blowing through the God of Light's attacks.
With one swift explosion he drove them back, his body shining brighter than ever, the eyes that lined his body glowing as he began to take a more eldritch shape. The master and her weapon were forced to split apart when he cast a golden cross from the sky, the monument exploding with a thousand needles of Blood.
("Come now! Make me feel it again!") The God of Light shouted. ("Make me feel... What is that?")
The Heroes cheered on top of Agot's back as the dragon opened his jaws, breathing a beam of pure fire, so hot it burned blue, over the God of Light. He stumbled back, snapping his fingers, snuffing the flames away in an instant. A shape blasted from the clouds, glaring at him with one eye with a clock-dial pupil, her hammer swinging through the air.
"[Time Stands Still]!"
The world froze around them, Mono landing in front of the God of Light. Holding her hammer in two hands she swung it into his body over and over, building up force in frozen time. She leapt back, the hands of the clock beginning to tick.
BLAM!
The God of Light was thrown backwards, skidding across the clouds on his back, his wings encasing him in Light, shielding him protectively. The moment they parted, Winter was already sighting in her machine gun for his head. She squeezed the trigger as she flew past, a massive steel foot stomping on him, the Second Yin pumping his fist inside Penny's head.
"Yeah! Get his ass, Penny!"
Penny raised her foot and brought it down on him again and again, throwing her arms down with each stomp to add even more weight. The Second Vao beat on the control panel with the Second Sasha madly, firing an array of rockets into the air. Penny lifted her foot, and the moment they drew close to the God of Light she stomped down again, the explosion sending a cloud through the air.
"WARNING. IT APPEARS I AM BEING LIFTED BY THE ENEMY."
The Second Yin raised a brow. "How? Don't you weigh like a million pounds?"
"YIN!" The Second Sasha snapped.
"What?"
"You can't just say that to a girl!" The Second Vao hissed.
"Wait- this thing is a GIRL!?"
Penny paused for a moment. "YOU... COULD NOT TELL...? NOT EVEN BY THE SOUND OF MY VOICE...?"
The Second Yin gulped. "E-err, it was a joke... Yeah, a joke! Of course you're a girl- eh?"
A laser painlessly passed over his body, Penny's gears turning sadly. "THE LIE DETECTOR TEST... YOU ARE LYING... THAT MAKES ME FEEL ANGRY."
"U-uh, don't slap him, mate," the Second Vao said. "That'll kill him..."
Penny looked down at her feet, where the God of Light was pushing her foot off him. "... TARGET LOCKED."
The God of Light hummed when she lifted her foot, looking up to see her fist crush him back into the ground, flattening him into the clouds. She raised her fist again and swung, but this time the God of Light caught it, stopping the overwhelming force with his hand. His fingers dug into the steel as he pulled Penny off her feet and threw her. The machine crashed into the ground, throwing the Second Timeline Heroes around the cockpit. It didn't take long for her to stand back on one knee, the God of Light looking at them in silence.
His hand trailed to his face, slowly healing his wounds, his wings snapping painfully as he stretched them out.
Everyone stood against him. Winter, Salem, the First Vao, Mono, the Second Vao, the Second Yin, the Second Sasha, Jasper, Sapphire, Penny, Midori, Agot, Sasha, Verde, Vao, Yin. The God of Light dusted himself off, his eyes regrowing, the damaged ones rotting away.
("Ah... This feeling... Could this be...?")
He dodged their combined attacks, beating his injured wings, the winds carrying his Light like storms, keeping his distance. His lips began to curl, his eyes filling with euphoria.
("Ah... I am in danger... At long last, I can feel it... This adrenaline...! At long last, I am no longer bored. I was wrong to worry; after all you've pushed through every trial! Keep pushing. Keep going. Keep me feeling this rush!")
His wings straightened out, the bones cracking and popping like thunder, the God of Light posing with his arms locked straight out at his sides. He lifted his arms, the sky flashing gold for a split second.
"Move!" Winter snapped. The Heroes ran as Light blasted from the sky like a bomb, a ball of pure magic expanding and burning away the clouds. The God of Light followed them, throwing bolt after bolt of Light at them before taking his scythe again, and swooping down on them.
CLANG!
SSSSHHHHH!
Steam billowed around them as they all held back his scythe, the God of Light slowly overpowering them. Not even the physical strength of Sasha, the First Vao, Mono, Penny, and Agot was enough, their feet beginning to slide on the clouds.
"PISS!" Vao screamed. "We're runnin' out of cloud!"
Yin nodded. "I got an idea!"
"Do it!" Salem shouted. The healer spun around and grabbed the sides of his brother's face, pulling his head off his shoulders. Vao's eyes went wide with terror.
"OI WOT THE 'ELL!?"
Yin reeled his arm back, and with an audible cry he threw Vao's head at the God of Light with everything he had. The dullahan bawled as he soared through the air, the God of Light looking up in confusion.
CRASH!
The Heroes flinched when Vao's face smashed against the God of Light's, the deity picking it up. ("And what did you expect to achieve by this?")
"Just a distraction!"
("Distraction?")
The Heroes grabbed Vao's flailing body, throwing that at him too. The moment the God of Light stumbled from the weight, the ones who could use magic blasted him at full force, with Mono stopping time once again.
For the God of Light, he wasn't entirely affected by her time stop, much like his Blood. But he could feel his movements slowing, watching as Mono jumped off the clouds and back to the castle.
Tick, tick, tick...
Time began to flow again, the Heroes running away from the God of Light. The deity ignored them, staring at the edge that Mono had jumped from. It didn't take her long to return. But it wasn't her that startled him. It was what she held in her hands.
SLAAAAAM!
Mono threw the tank down on top of him, her hammer clicking as the head ignited with flames. Yin, Midori, and Verde stopped, spinning around and casting their best spells and miracles to boost Mono's strength, the monoeye's horns growing as she slammed the hammer down on the tank, the armored vehicle exploding like a giant grenade.
The God of Light didn't react as the steel shards shredded his skin. He simply stood back up, and was immediately caught in a swarm of bullets from Winter and Penny. He shielded his face with his arms, using his magic to snipe the lead from the air, unprepared for the First Vao and Salem to come crashing down on top of him.
"Vao! Now!"
"Which one!?" The Second Vao shouted. The Second Yin pinched the bridge of his nose.
"For the love of... HIM, MORON!"
The First Vao swung his arms in tandem with Salem, the pair touching fingertips with each other. Their magic swirled and combined, the weapon and his master spinning around to press their backs against one another, holding up finger guns. The God of Light shook his head, staring at them with an unreadable gaze.
("... Is the flashiness really necessary?")
"Style points," Salem snarled.
("... You're all insane.")
He cast his own magic as they fired, the three beams of black, blue, and gold slamming into each other in a heated battle, the blinding lights forcing the others to shield their eyes.
The Second Yin and Second Vao jumped from Penny's body, using their prosthetics to sprint down the machine's legs before hitting the ground running for them. They jumped to Salem and the First Vao's side, their Light and Darkness joining the fray.
Vao reattached his head, shooting a glare at Yin. "I'll remember that, cunt."
"I don't really have time for this bullshit," Yin snickered. "Let's go, Vao!"
The two high-fived before leaping forward, adding their own magic. The God of Light's beam began to waver, pushed back by the combined power of two demigods and several masters of Light and Dark, the deity feeling the adrenaline rush through his veins, his smile widening in delight.
("Yes... Yes, this is good! This feeling is wonderful! Do not hold back! This will only make creating the Fourth Timeline all the more satisfying!")
He pushed harder, fighting them back, bringing them to a deadly standstill.
...
Deep within the recesses of a twisted world that slowly had begun to heal from corruption, Ozpin wiped the sweat from his brow as he helped one of the other Souls.
"To think you'd still sustain your injuries from back then... Souls are a peculiar thing," he commented.
The artist nodded, her prosthetic arm resting in her lap as she held out her good arm for bandaging. The Second Verde didn't hold much reaction, and she wasn't very talkative. Just the way Ozpin remembered her. She did, however, speak a little. "Yes, I studied them when I studied Blood..."
The Reality around them trembled again, the Souls looking up at the sky. The First Summer heaved a sigh, her exposed heart beating softly. "Fighting the God of Light... Who would have thought it would all lead to this...?" She whispered.
"A-and... He hasn't tried to use us for his s-strength," the First Raven stammered.
Ozpin was silent. It was true - the First Vao wasn't using the stolen power of the Souls of the people he had slaughtered in their final battle. If he did, that would put him on equal footing with Salem, and it might even be just enough to win. But he wasn't doing that.
Ozpin had a feeling he knew why. The First Vao didn't want to feel the guilt of using them. Not that it mattered; they were already dead. The only way he could destroy them forever would be if he killed their Souls with his own hands.
Not using the Souls to become as strong as Salem was only drawing out the fight, making it take longer. For a moment, Ozpin considered trying to pull the First Vao back into his Reality. But he ultimately decided that would be a very bad idea; Salem alone wasn't strong enough to defeat the God of Light. She was the only demigod amongst the Heroes aside from the First Vao. And even worse, if the God of Light caught on that the Souls were helping, he might just restart the Timeline immediately, rather than continue fighting.
It was odd that he hadn't done that already, though. Perhaps it took time? Or maybe the God of Light was just addicted to adrenaline.
Weiss pulled her legs closer to her chest, watching the dim campfire they had built. Involuntarily, she shivered. "C... Cold..."
The First Qrow's upper body was next to her, his legs lazing further away. "A Schnee feeling cold... Never thought I'd see the day," he muttered. "You're right though... Kinda chilly..."
Cold?
Ozpin felt a flash of fear as he recalled the Blood. It took him a moment to remember that it was dead. The headmaster sighed, rubbing his forehead. He knew he was traumatized, like everyone else.
But he couldn't shake off the cold. It really was cold. But if not the Blood, then what...?
The air only grew colder, the sky beginning to darken as the clouds ran black, blanketing the world in twilight.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
The Souls looked up when they heard the sound of hooves on the stone, their eyes stopping on the shape of the curvy woman. A woman with two large, black horns growing from her head stood before them, a pentagram burned in the middle of her forehead. Two massive black and feathery wings were folded along her back. Her legs were inhuman, resembling a goat. She wore no clothing other than jewelery around her wrists, her genitals covered by a coarse layer of goat-like fur. Immediately he stood up, reaching for his cane. The woman tilted her head, her lips curling into a wry smirk.
"Oh~? Ooh~... I wouldn't do that~..."
Something about her voice felt... Off. Unnatural. Powerful. Ozpin took a small step back, standing in front of the Souls. "What... Are you...?"
The woman giggled softly, pacing side to side, stretching her legs. "Me~? I'm a goddess~... You can call me Shub-Niggurath."
The name wasn't one Ozpin recognized. "A... A goddess...?" His grip tightened. "Why are you here? What are your intentions?"
Shub-Niggurath giggled again, swaying side to side, her breasts bouncing with the slightest movements. "Where would the fun be if I told you~?" She replied with her flirtatious voice. "Relax~! I'm not here for violence. Not that you could defeat me, that is. Not even the self-proclaimed 'God' of Light would dare provoke my ire."
Her comment had him on edge. It had everyone on edge. If even the God of Light feared this woman, then she was dangerous. Shub-Niggurath hummed, rubbing her chin with the tip of her finger.
"... I have a deal I want to make~!"
"D... D-deal...?" The First Summer stammered. Shub-Niggurath smiled, leaning forward.
"Mhm~... And don't worry. You'll all live. You'll return here, without a hitch~..."
Ozpin wasn't too sure about making deals with a goddess. Looking at their track record with the God of Light and his dead brother, it never ends well. He wanted more information. "... And what are the details you're not telling us?"
Shub-Niggurath stepped closer, standing in front of him. Ozpin could feel a sense of fear building up. She was huge. She stood taller than Sasha, even Hazel. She stood easily over two hundred and seventy centimeters.
"Not telling~? I'm not hiding anything at all~... You just didn't ask~" she replied. She leaned down, her cleavage nearly brushing against his face. "... Let me use the power of these Souls... That is all I ask~..."
Ozpin swung his cane for her. But to his horror, it phased right through her body, striking nothing. He took a step back, the Souls beginning to drop their weapons. Shub-Niggurath's grin grew a bit.
"That won't work on me..." She stood up straight again, her wings stretching out. For a moment, Ozpin could have sworn he saw a forked tail behind her. "The God of Light~... He isn't holding back, you know. From the very beginning, he's been using all of his power~... But he can't grow exhausted. I wonder how much longer everyone will last against him~? If I can use your power for a bit... There might be a chance~..."
This wasn't a deal. It was an ultimatum. They were being told to trust this eldritch goddess, or die, and be forced to live through another horrible Timeline. They weren't being given much of a choice at all. Shub-Niggurath hummed, waving her hand through the air. A black cloud spread from her palms and fingertips, revealing the outside world to them.
The God of Light had overpowered their beam, blowing the Heroes back. The Souls watched as he charged an explosion that nearly knocked them from the clouds. And in an instant, the cloud vanished, taking the vision with it.
"Hm...? It looks like he might win~... What will it be, I wonder~? Trust me~? Or perish~?"
Was what she had shown them the truth? Or very convincing manipulation? None of them could seem to decide. But if it had been the truth, then it was looking grim. Ozpin turned to the other Souls, scratching the back of his head. "I... I don't know what to do..."
"What? But you always know what to do, Oz!" The First Tai exclaimed in a harsh whisper. Ozpin narrowed his eyes.
"I may be ancient, but even I can be at a loss, you know. I'm still only human."
The First Tai didn't respond, leaving a dark and depressing silence to fall among them. Until finally, the First Summer spoke up.
"... My Soul... If you can really use it to help... Then I'm willing to allow it-"
"That sounds like a terrible idea," Port muttered. Chuck nodded, the goblin chief muttering.
"Me agree..."
But Shub-Niggurath smirked. "Hm~! Anyone else willing to comply on their own~?"
The First Raven shivered, slowly raising her hand. One by one, the Souls began to side with the goddess, until only one remained.
Ozpin.
Shub-Niggurath smiled at him, closing one of her eyes in an uncomforting wink. "Well, Ozzy~? If you don't agree with my deal, I may just leave you all to live through another one of these Timelines~..."
Ozpin chewed the inside of his cheek, contemplating and weighing his options. There really was no other way. Even if they let Shub-Niggurath use their power, they'd wake up in the Graveyard when the Timeline was reset. The more he thought about it, the more he considered it as a valid option.
"... Alright. We have nothing to lose, after all..."
Shub-Niggurath grinned, skipping backwards before hovering in the twilit air. "Now that's what I wanted to hear~! Zap~!"
She snapped her fingers, a jolt of shock running through the Souls, bringing them to their knees. The goddess flew higher, waving her hands.
"I greatly appreciate it..."
Ozpin's breath was ragged. He felt weaker. "W... W-what...?"
Shub-Niggurath hummed, her body beginning to fade. "A deal is a deal~... You'll stay here... I know just what to do with your power~!"
She vanished entirely, fading from the First Vao's Reality. The goddess took form again in the real world, still invisible. She hummed as she flew among the blue canvas of the sky, watching as the Heroes battled the God of Light. She stroked one of her horns gently, humming a soft tune as she pointed her finger.
"The Black Court isn't supposed to get directly involved... But it's not me, it's the Souls~! Zap~..."
...
A blinding flash tore through the air above them, the Heroes hitting the ground in shock. The voices of countless people filled the air, the God of Light's eyes widening as the blast engulfed him. They could hear him scream in utter shock, the First Vao rolling on the clouds as if he were on fire.
"OW! OW, PISS, PISS! THAT HURTS!"
"What's wrong with you!?" Yin shouted. The First Vao rolled to his knees, clutching his head.
"I-it felt like I got hit in the 'ead with a rock...! The Souls, they've gone... Gone mad!"
The God of Light stumbled from the laser, his body beginning to crack and split. His golden eyes shone brightly, the abomination turning his head to the sky as Shub-Niggurath appeared, flashing a peace sign.
"Thanks for the power~! Good luck~!"
She flew out of sight before they could even respond, Salem staring back at the God of Light. The pieces clicked. Shub-Niggurath had used the Souls to weaken the God of Light. Picking up her sword, the Celestial broke into a sprint, slamming the blade against his side.
SPLRRRCH!
His black Blood tainted the air as the weapon cut through, the God of Light finally gasping in pain. His wings berated and bashed the air, sending his Light scattering across the sky. Salem deflected the magic as she chased after him, intent on finally ending this war.
CLANG!
Sword met scythe in an explosion that was seen even from the floating castle as Celestial magic and Light battled against one another, the First Vao appearing on his shoulders, his legs dangling off her front. Agot raced past with the Third Timeline Heroes riding on his back, Mono's knives gleaming in her hands. Penny followed soon after, with Winter struggling to hang on.
"He's weak!" Salem shouted. "Give it everything you have! Shub-Niggurath weakened his defenses!"
They all leaped forward, their weight pulling him down. And with a hefty kick from both Penny and Agot, the God of Light was thrown back into the clouds with an earth-shattering SLAM. He didn't have the opportunity to dodge as the Heroes dropped on top of him, their weapons smashing against his fractured body.
The God of Light's eyes were wide, wild. He had never felt this level of danger before. If this continued, they really were going to kill him. The adrenaline pumped through his body, exciting him further than before. But with that excitement came a fear. Fear was not an emotion he recognized. But all the same, he felt fear of dying.
In a last ditch attempt to throw them off he touched his fingers against the cloud, destroying it in an instant, sending them plummeting down with him. The God of Light beat his wings, trying to take flight again. Verde held out her staff with Midori, the witches combining their magic again. The beam of star magic tore through his wings, vaporizing them into dust. The God of Light cried out at the destruction of his wings, falling with them as they skydived through the air.
THWACK, THWACK, THWACK!
His head bounced back and forth with each of the First Vao's punches, the Lord of Grimmore kicking him to Yin's waiting katana. The blade lacerated his limbs, cutting through tendon and muscle with ease, his own Light slicing through the God of Light's flesh. And finally Sasha brought the flat side of her greatsword down on top of his head, sending him spiraling uncontrollably through the air.
"Damn it! What does it take to kill this fucker!?" Jasper screamed.
"NYAAAAAH!?"
"Vao, what's wrong!?" Mono screamed. The First Vao clutched his chest, his eye rolling back in his head as he began to foam out of the mouth, a shape growing from his back. The Heroes screamed in horror as a scythe began to cleave through the air. But those screams soon cut off. It wasn't the Blood. It was a Soul.
Summer's scythe leaned against the First Vao's shoulder, the huntress chambering a round and squeezing the trigger. Bullet after bullet struck the God of Light, riddling him full of holes and plugging them with lead, Summer's soul vanishing immediately after.
"W-what the hell!?" Vao cried out. "He can just use Souls like that!?"
"No, he can't!" Salem shouted back. "Shub-Niggurath did something! But I'll take all the help we can get!"
The God of Light swung his weapon erratically, trying to defend himself as the Heroes launched their assault, the Souls jumping in at random. Joined by familiar faces, knowing they were being cheered for, they could feel their motivation growing as they pummeled the God of Light.
("E... Enough...! Enough of this hogwash!")
The God of Light erupted like an active volcano, pushing them back. He rocketed through the air, flying without wings as he kept his distance, firing blast after blast of Light. Salem dodged swiftly, a familiar voice whispering into her ear.
(("Salem, do not let him get away!"))
The Celestial whirled her head around, staring into the brown eyes of Ozpin. "O-Oz!?"
(("I'm only here for a minute! Once the First Vao's Reality corrects itself, I'll be sucked back in!")) He shouted. (("Until then, let me give you my Soul's power! Use it!"))
He vanished into Salem's body, the Celestial feeling the power welling up inside her. Shattering the sound barrier, she blasted forward with the intensity and brightness of a shooting star, driving her full weight and strength into the God of Light, carrying them through the air, the castle coming back into view. The soldiers and Cultists screamed and dove for safety as the Celestial and abomination slammed into the ground, the Relics flashing wildly, adding to Salem's growing strength.
SMASH, SMASH, SMASH!
She had grabbed the sides of the God of Light's head, driving it into the marble with everything she had, until finally they cracked through the floor, gravity itself bending to them as they stood upside down on the bottom of the castle. Salem raised her fists, her wings stretching out as the halo over her head glimmered brighter. "Why... Why won't you die...!?"
The God of Light expressionlessly swung his arms, healing his wounds. She didn't feel any power shift - he was still weakened.
("I have told you... You will not defeat me! I have lived far too long to be cut down like a filthy dog!") he shouted. The God of Light's lip twitched, and finally revealed his true colors as he began to snarl. ("I have had it. I will no longer risk my own life!")
The world exploded around them, the armies and Heroes crying out in shock as everything began to take shape. Salem felt her heart plummet when she saw the familiar lands of Twist slowly coming into view, still unformed. She realized what he was doing.
He was resetting the Timeline.
The God of Light burst into laughter, holding out his arms as his wings grew again, flying through the air with Salem pursuing him.
("It's over, Salem! They are my creations, mine! Free to do with as I see fit!") He screamed. ("And YOU! I have plans for you! I'll feed Yin and Vao my Blood myself! Jack be damned! I'll force you through Timeline after Timeline, watching as they war, as they murder, as they cannibalize the world! And you! YOU! I'll give you the same treatment! As a heretic to my rule, a slave! Free to be tormented by my Church, raped if that is what they wish! This world is mine! And I say it will be plunged in misery!")
He just became worse and worse with each foul word that left his mouth. Salem couldn't even form words. She had never been so disgusted, so furious. The power of the Celestial erupted in full bloom, battling against his Light as they charged each other. They grappled as they smashed through pieces of Twist, Salem's magic struggling to overpower him. But it was just enough. The construction of the Fourth Timeline was slowed to a halt, the God of Light letting out a deafening roar.
("Do not interrupt me, you nasty wench!")
SLAM!!
Salem felt her jaw crack when he punched her in the mouth, the Celestial reeling back and driving her knuckles through his teeth. The force sent the God of Light soaring through the air, leaving the atmosphere. Salem flew after him, leaving the realm of the gods behind as they took their fight into space itself.
The First Vao watched from a floating rock, heaving a sigh. "Bloody 'ell... Guess I'm going too!"
He aimed his axe to the ground, dry-firing the weapon and launching himself into the air, chasing after them.
Salem grappled with the God of Light as they crashed through moons, through planets, and finally to through the surface of a star, their magic forcing it to explode. Salem's magic branched out, the burning fragments gravitating around her before shooting through the vast emptiness of space, the God of Light snapping them away with quick flashes of Light. His body erupted in a golden flame, the Celestial dodging his charge less than half a second before he could make contact, driving her boot square into his jaw.
The First Vao drifted among the stars, scanning the void. "U-um... Where did they go?" He rasped quietly. "I thought they went this way- NYAAAH!?"
SLAM!
The God of Light crashed into the demigod, carrying the two of them back to the planet at neck-breaking speeds. The God of Light tried to shove him away, the First Vao's Darkness wrapping around his limbs, fighting to keep hold of him. His Aura blazed, his lips curling into a grin. "Oh, the timin'... Couldn't get any better!"
The serrated dagger clashed against the handle of the God of Light's scythe, the elder abomination struggling to push him to a distance where he could swing his crescent blade and cleave him in half. But the First Vao, having decades of experience in combat, knew better than to allow that to happen. In an instant he had sheathed his dagger and resorted to his bare hands, twisting his arms around the God of Light's left, beginning to pull and bend.
("CQC?") The God of Light spat. ("Do you think such a thing will kill me!?")
"Nope. I'm not settlin' for breakin' your arm."
SNAP! POP!
The God of Light didn't flinch as the First Vao broke his arm, glaring into the killer's eyes, the First Vao's Aura blazing as he leaned closer.
"I'm just gonna tear it off."
The God of Light struggled, giving the First Vao the opportunity to plant his feet into his chest. With the sickening sound of flesh being ripped from the bone, the God of Light felt the fiery pain shooting up his shoulder as his arm finally gave way, his teeth gritting together.
"And another thing. If you're responsible for the Timelines, that means my eye was your doing too, right mate? You know wot they say; an eye for an eye."
SLASH!
Black Blood filled the left side of the God of Light's vision as the First Vao swiped Misery across his face, his fingers shooting into his eye socket and tearing out what was left of his eye. And with a powerful kick, he sent the God of Light plummeting back down to the Realm of the Gods.
The First Vao turned his head to see Salem fast approaching, his dagger returning to its sheath. He held out his hand for her, the Celestial taking it. The First Vao spun once, twice, and with everything he had to offer he launched her after the God of Light, dry-firing his rocket to follow them.
With the added speed, Salem caught up with the God of Light before he hit the ground, her hands seizing his damaged, fractured body. Keeping him in one place, she drove him into the ground, leaving behind a crater in their wake. The Heroes and the armies crested over the crater's edge, joining her again. The God of Light shoved her off, staggering to his feet.
He opened his mouth to speak. But before he could utter a single sound, Salem filled it with her fist, her magic tearing his jaw to pieces, shredding through his teeth, his gums, and his teeth.
With a loud thud that kicked up dust, the First Vao landed beside her, spinning his axe in his hand. They shared a look before Salem slapped his shoulder, the First Vao delivering a swift kick that broke off the God of Light's leg before he tagged Salem back in, the pair joining together in a devastating headbutt from both sides of his head. And for their last attack, the First Vao snapped his fingers, a shadowy tendril piercing the God of Light's chest, hoisting him high into the air. Salem flew to meet him, her Celestial magic beginning to blaze around them.
The God of Light glared at her from his cracked face, giving Salem all she needed to know. There was no remorse in his glowering golden eye. If she didn't finish this now, he'd do it all again. Holding the Relic of Destruction against the front of her body, the Relics began to shimmer, floating around her. Closing her eyes she focused every last drop of her magic.
She thought about it all.
The First Timeline, where everyone had lost everything. Where no one had ever found peace as the world fell into war. Where insanity and death had become so common that neither ever came as a surprise.
The Second Timeline, where those who stood against evil lost their lives, or pieces of their very bodies, yet still gave it their all to save their world.
And finally, the Third Timeline, in a new world of adventure that had been corrupted by the very abomination that she floated in front of. Corrupted with slavery, torn apart by war, where those who weren't human were doomed to be hunted for their existence alone.
All of it was the cause of him. It was taking in all these experiences, remembering the people she had met in their journey across time, space, and dimensions that she knew it.
That she wouldn't miss this God of Light one bit.
Opening her eyes, she blasted him with the power of Celestial magic, the God of Light's pained, yet angry shriek filling her ears as his body was torn to pieces. But unlike his brother, he didn't beg. He only threw curses at her, he swore he'd do it all again. Until finally, his limbs exploded, his chest bursting open in a Bloody mess. The First Vao's Darkness vanished, letting his mutilated body fall to the ground, Salem dropping soon after.
Her legs wobbled, the Celestial beginning to fall. But before she could hit the ground, someone caught her by the arm. Salem looked up through bleary, exhausted eyes to see the First Vao staring back at her, a small smirk playing on his pale lips.
"... Take it easy, mate," he rasped.
With a gentle shove, he pushed her back into Yin's arms, the healer helping her remain standing.
Thud.
The First Vao fell face first into the ground. In an instant Mono and a few of the Cultists were helping him back to his feet, the monoeye holding him protectively in her arms.
It was finally hitting them. The exhaustion. The soldiers lowered their weapons, the Heroes leaning on their weapons as they struggled to catch their breath. Salem used the chance to look around.
Winter was limping back to her troops, checking them over for injuries. Despite how own injuries and her own exhaustion, her care for her army still prevailed.
Jasper was being held in Sapphire's hands, the doll giggling as she said something stupid, Jasper gasping for breath as she tried to scold her.
Vao staggered to Verde, Midori, Agot, and Priscilla, his arms draping over them as his lips met those of his wife, reuniting with his family.
The Cultists surrounded the First Vao, and to her surprise he was letting them touch him. For a moment, he even laughed with them as they revelled in their victory. She knew she made the right choice in letting the Cult take care of him.
The remains of the Second FRSB climbed out of Penny, the Second Vao using a crutch as he waved around his damaged prosthetic.
"This thing broke!"
"Then fix it," the Second Yin muttered.
"How?"
The Second Sasha palmed her face. "You mean to tell me you modified that same prosthetic to shoot grenades and fixed a giant robot in the middle of a battle but you can't fix your damned leg?"
"U-uh-"
The Second Yin punched his brother's shoulder, lighting up a smoke. "Never change, knucklehead."
"N-nyeh!?"
And finally, she looked up at the one who still held her, even when his legs seemed ready to collapse. The one who had given everything for her. The man she fell in love with. Yin looked back down at her, his blue eyes brimming with affection.
"... We... D-did it," he whispered hoarsely. "N-nah... You did it..."
Salem reached her wavering hand, cupping his cheek. As Yin slowly dropped to his knees, their lips grew closer, the healer tucking a stray strand of her hair away behind her ear. She could feel the warmth as they finally met, her arms wrapping around his shoulders. She could feel his own arms around her lower back, pulling her closer. She could feel the muscle that could only grow by facing hardship.
The First Vao and Mono stared, glancing at each other for a split second before their hands touched, their fingers interlocking with each other. Soon after, Mono sat in the First Vao's lap, their lips locking together too.
Vao and Verde were already at it, Sapphire walking up to them and puckering her lips at the dullahan. Verde jabbed her in the foot with her staff.
Midori heaved an exhausted sigh, sitting down on the ground with Priscilla, Agot laying down to try and be closer to their level. The one-armed witch looked up at them. She never really got to know her other siblings very well. Slowly, she opened up a conversation. "... Midori. I suppose I am your little sister."
"Little... In more ways than one," Agot rumbled. Sasha looked up in astonishment.
"Wait a minute, you can talk!?"
"It was funny watching Dad spend weeks trying to learn dragon tongue."
A wet, weak cough broke them from their moment, Salem's lips leaving Yin's as they all looked to the God of Light's body, his broken chest heaving as he struggled to breath. The Heroes, Mono, and the First Vao stood up together, stepping towards him until they glared down at him.
"... Still not dead," Jasper growled. "Let's change that."
The God of Light glowered at them, his lips curling into a smirk. And finally, he burst into a fit of painful, hysterical laughter.
("Y... You h... H-haven't won,") He rasped. ("You've... E-exhausted yourselves... A-and now, I... I can reset it all...! W-without, without h-hindrance...!")
Their hearts sank as he burst into laughter again.
("L-let it all be reset...! Let the... The Fourth Timeline b-begin...! Let my rule c-continue...! Let it all... Let it all be plunged into mis... Misery...!")
Silence fell among them. The Heroes looked around, waiting for the scenery to change. Waiting to see the Graveyard of Past Timelines. But nothing came. Nothing changed. They turned back to the God of Light, his smile wavering, and then falling to shock.
("W... W-what...? My... Power...?") He croaked. ("I c... Can't create...?")
"Well~... That's because the Black Court no longer sees you as worthy~... We've decided there will be a replacement for you~!"
They looked up to see Shub-Niggurath floating above them, her goat legs kicking in the air playfully as she checked her nails. The God of Light stared at her, his hatred returning.
("Sh... Shub-Niggurath...!") He hissed. ("I... If not me, then... Then whom...?")
Shub-Niggurath hummed, glancing down at him, her lips curling into a smirk. "Someone far more better~... Someone we might even let into the Black Court~! Something you could never achieve~! Because you were never a god. But this replacement? She'll be a fine goddess~!"
She was hitting him where it hurt. The God of Light's face fell. ("Sh... She...? You can't... Y-you can't do this to me...")
"Oh, I can't~? But that's weird! I'm doing it now~!" Shub-Niggurath giggled. "I'm sure she'll have no issues being a goddess... Right, Salem?"
Salem's jaw dropped. "M... Me...?"
Shub-Niggurath straightened herself in the air, casting her arm out. "That's right. The Black Court has decided, the final verdict has been passed, judgement has been declared. We want you to take the place of this abomination. To join our ranks among the Black Court as a god!"
She turned back to the God of Light, her smile changing to one they hadn't seen her wear. One of unmatched cruelty, even more than the God of Light himself.
"Ah... I almost forgot~! The penalty for the guilty... Is death by my hand~... To my personal hell you go~!"
The God of Light only had time for the fear to flicker in his eye before he began to squirm and cough, his screams interrupted as the maggots writhed from his mouth, spilled from his nostrils. The Heroes stood in horror and disgust as thousands of horrible insects devoured the God of Light from the inside, Shub-Niggurath healing his wounds to draw it out. And with a twitch of her pointed ears, his body vanished.
Shub-Niggurath lowered herself to the ground, her hooves standing where the God of Light once lay. The goddess hummed, her hands folding behind her back as a forked tail swished behind her.
"Congratulations~! He was really annoying. Hopefully you're... Less so," she giggled. Shub-Niggurath hummed, poking her own cheek as she swayed side to side. "Now... Since you're a goddess, you can do pretty much whatever you want with this world. You could build your own religion, you can reset the Timeline... Whatever you please~... Just let me know if you want to build a Timeline. I'll walk you through the steps."
Salem stared in disbelief. She was still struggling to wrap her head around being a goddess. She looked back to her friends and old enemy, seeking advice.
Vao was already poking fun at Yin. "And you made fun of me for sleeping with Shub-Niggurath! You slept with a goddess too, Yin!"
Yin glared at him. "I haven't done that with Salem, you jackass."
"Y-you haven't!?"
Sasha grinned. "Oh yeah, tell me the story! How did it happen?"
"Well, I met her in a dream and I thought I could try something new with a big scary goat lady, so I just hit her with some lines."
Verde took her hat off. "... You are no longer digging a grave, Darling. You're building a mausoleum."
Vao froze, deciding to just stop talking. Jasper grinned, sitting on top of Sapphire's head. "Damn... Can I still call you Salem?"
It didn't seem like any of them had an issue with Salem being their goddess. She turned to the Second FRSB. The Second Yin leaned on his katana, flashing a smirk.
"... No issues here," he said. "Honestly, I'd take a piece of chewed up gum on the street over the God of Light any day."
"Likewise," the Second Vao snickered.
There was one last person to look to. She turned her head, facing the First Vao. The Lord of Grimmore stared back, his arms folded across his chest. And after a long moment, he gave his signature wolfish grin. "Well... The irony. Chasing you becoz I thought you controlled the Timelines, and now you actually can... Do as you will, Goddess."
They supported her. Salem turned back to Shub-Niggurath, who waited for her answer. She had one more question. "If... If I reset the Timeline... Will I still be able to go on adventures?"
Shub-Niggurath shook her head. "Nope. That's why the God of Light never interacted directly with the Timelines. That's why you fought him here. If you reset the Timeline, you will never see your friends again. Painful, but it's part of creating a Timeline as a god. If you weren't a god, well... That would be a different story. And you can't renounce your status, either. That's just the way the cookie crumbles, you know?"
She felt a pull at her heart. She'd never see any of them again. Knowing this, she struggled for an answer. they deserved to finally be happy, didn't they? After everything they went through. But at the same time, she wanted to stay with them, to have many more adventures. After what seemed like an eternity of silence and thought, she opened her mouth.
But what was her answer?