Chapter 25: Aftermath

[3rd POV]

"And did you really decide to cowardly run away?"

Pyrrha spoke while leaning against the wall not even looking at the stopped Blake with a bow on her head.

"... "

Pyrrha didn't get an answer, but she could feel Blake had stopped and was trembling.

"Yang went after you because she was worried about you. Ruby, Weiss... all of them. And you just decided to run away without saying a word to them?"

There was no accusation or anything of the sort in Pyrrha's voice just a question with a hint of interest.

"... If it weren't for me..."

"Then things could have been even worse. Or better, who knows?"

Pyrrha pushed off from the wall and finally looked at the partly turned Blake, who stood by the house and clearly intended to jump onto the roof.

"You know, I was on the brink. I was already ready to die... I saw my death coming towards me. Do you know what my words were before that?"

"..."

There was no response, but the Pyrrha knew she was being listened to attentively.

"'Do you believe in fate?' That's what I asked the one who wanted to take my life, and she probably took Headmaster Ozpin's life. It was at this moment that Anthony appeared, whom I had never heard of or seen before. Have you seen what happened to... to Penny? He was able to assemble her by some magical means. I realized that if you leave everything until the last moment you can end up with nothing. I... I confessed to Jaune that I have feelings for him literally an hour ago."

"And then?"

Blake asked anyway.

"He started to stutter and look away, but all his words boiled down to seeing me as a friend. Maybe he hasn't fully recovered from the treatment and isn't thinking straight, but he mentioned other names in his sleep."

Pyrrha said with a heavy sigh.

"But I didn't hate him for it. And I'm not scared anymore. No more. Your team needs you now more than ever.

"How did you notice me?"

Blake turned to face Pyrrha, and she saw tears streaks on her face.

"Fate."

Pyrrha smiled wistfully.

"Just turned around in time and noticed your back, and that's it. Yang is strong, and she'll get through what happened."

"I know."

Blake replied softly while clenching her fists.

"I... I might not be able to handle it."

"Your team will help you, and you'll help them."

Pyrrha smiled slightly.

"The constant running away is not the answer since, from what I heard from Weiss, the one who caused such... such harm to Yang got beaten up by Shinoa."

"Yes... that's right."

The corners of Blake's lips curled into a smile.

"I'm not trying to change your mind. I just wanted to speak up. Okay, I'm off, I need rest too."

Pyrrha waved her hand leaving Blake standing alone.

...

[Anthony POV]

"During the attack, I didn't have time to admire the views."

Rias spoke as soon as we descended from the bullhead.

They looked further into the horizon and saw mountains and a beautiful forested area.

"We'll have time for that later."

I said this while following the Atlas soldier.

We were currently on the only intact ship as the other two were still not in flying condition and were still resting on the stone pillars I had created.

The girls fell silent, or rather, Hermione and Erina did. Shinoa maintained her expression and simply walked behind me.

Rias was somewhat used to meeting important figures and she wasn't extremely nervous. She walked alongside me while examining technological inventions.

There are some ways this world's technology is better than ours. There are flying airships, androids, or huge mechas.

The trouble is that all of this works in some way on Dust which lies the main blessing and curse of the population of this planet.

There is a strong sense of limitation placed on people here as they rarely divert from the idea of using Dust whenever possible.

Dust is a crystallized energy of the souls of millions of people who died instantly because of the God of Darkness's desire, and it is more than a finite resource unless a way to create Dust is invented...

I have some ideas, but that's not what we're discussing right now.

Dust can be a powerful source of energy, but it also has its limitations.

For example, it doesn't work in space, and when interacting with aura, it can react because it isn't very safe as aura is present in any living being in this world.

The question is whether it's active or not, but that's a matter of perspective.

This is precisely why there are no satellites here to monitor Grimm's movements from space. The people simply can't come up with another idea without using dust.

"The general is expecting you."

The man at the entrance apparently came out to the main office on the ship where the Atlas general was located.

General Ironwood stood with his back to us while looking out the huge window at the flying transports and Manta small combat ships for transporting soldiers.

But as soon as we entered the office, he turned around and began to scrutinize us with interest... and especially the huge stone cocoon.

In addition to him, there was another girl with white hair and a stern expression in the room.

"Welcome aboard the flagship of Atlas."

General Ironwood began quite friendly, and he wasn't pretending. He genuinely seemed somewhat pleased to meet us.

"The losses would have been catastrophic If it weren't for you. I was hoping you wouldn't take it as an insult, but I couldn't find any information about you. Are you sure you're not students of Beacon or another academy..."

"I doubt you'll find any information about us at all."

I said while looking around and noticing that the girl's expression changed slightly.

"We're freelance Huntsmen... very free, and we love to travel."

I gave a open interpretation of our group.

"Hm, okay, let's leave that topic if you don't want to discuss it. I've been informed that you caught the one responsible for what happened."

General Ironwood said, and his tone became more severe. The girl standing beside him twitched slightly as the big stone turned and walked slightly forward.

"Calm down, Winter."

General Ironwood warned her against rash actions.

"I apologize for her because too much has happened, and she was worried about her sister when she rushed here so she's on edge. She's my subordinate and my right hand."

"I'm not offended; I understand that times are uneasy right now. I have a sister too, so I can understand her."

I looked at the white-haired girl who clearly was flustered by the general's words but tried not to show it.

"This is Cinder Fall. At least, that's how she introduced herself when I fought her. She possesses the power of the Fall Maiden so be careful with her."

I said, and Winter's eyes widened in some misunderstanding.

"So you know about that too?

General Ironwood asked as if expecting such an outcome. Soon, the "cocoon" collapsed, and the exhausted Cinder fell to the floor.

"Winter, make sure she doesn't have a chance to escape."

General Ironwood instructed Winter.

"Yes, sir."

Winter nodded and summoned several soldiers who took Cinder and carried them away while casting one last glance at us and following them.

"I really need information, and if you have it, I'll be very grateful."

General Ironwood said after a moment of thought.

"And I haven't even learned your names; I've been quite busy."

"Anthony Luthor."

I stated my name.

"Rias Gremory."

Rias replied shortly after.

"Well, if needed... Shinoa Hiragi."

"H-Hermione Granger."

"Erina Nakiri."

Erina said calmly, while Hermione seemed visibly nervous.

"Yes... you've all been very helpful, and I won't go back on my word. If you need anything, just ask."

"Actually..."

Rias spoke up while tossing her crimson hair slightly.

"We need a place for a couple of days."

"No problem."

General Ironwood said without hesitation as it was trivial.

"Anthony, may I call you by your name? Then could you please gently lower the other two ships to the ground? It will be very difficult to repair them while they're... in that position."

General Ironwood glanced out the window, where the ships were visible, and saw it would be difficult to repair them.

"No problem. "

I shrugged, but it really shouldn't be difficult.

"Then, I would like to speak with you alone a little later if possible. I have some information about... what's going on."

I chose my words carefully.

General Ironwood quickly issued orders, and we were given cabins on this very big and quite nice ship.

When the girls settled into their cabins, I returned to General Ironwood.

I wanted to invite Rias, but she said she wanted to rest for now... but she had a scroll in her hands and found an interesting book...

"General and lovely Winter."

After I entered the office, I nodded to the two important figures of the Atlas army. General Ironwood almost choked on his drink and glanced at his ward.

"Are you sure you'll be able to restrain the Fall Maiden when she wakes up? She could easily burn through the hull of the airship without problem."

"My specialists are currently working on that issue."

General Ironwood said while looking at his ward who clearly wanted to know more. Apparently, he hadn't told her about the maidens yet.

"Sir..."

Winter's eyes danced with curiosity while she was trying her best to restrain her impulses.

"Yes, apparently there's no point in hiding this from you anymore. But later."

General Ironwood spoke and lost in thought.

"Anthony, how much do you know?"

"Well... enough to understand that Ozpin had no plan. Cinder's power will only be weakened until she gets used to her magical skills even if you drain her aura. So I propose to help restrain her until she can be interrogated."

"Good."

General Ironwood stood up and pressed a few buttons on the holographic computer.

"Are you okay with helping with the ships right after this?"

"No problem."

I waved my hand.

"Excellent, Winter escort Mr. Anthony to the prisoner's chamber."

General Ironwood ordered her. The only thing left for Winter was to nod and show with her eyes that I should follow her.

"Miss Schnee..."

I began, but Winter turned around faster than expected and stared at me.

"...Just Winter."

Winter said in a cold almost emotionless tone.

"Alright, it's a beautiful name, clearly suits you."

Winter didn't react to my words.

"I believe I met your sister once even though it was during a battle. Did you teach her to fight?"

"...What's the point of these questions?"

Winter finally said something.

"I'm just curious, that's all."

I shrugged at her coldness.

We reached the prisoner's chamber in a couple of minutes, and specialists were running around the chamber strengthening the barriers of solid light.

"This is unlikely to help."

I remarked.

"Here."

Winter said as the door opened, revealing the girl bound in the center of some kind of capsule.

"Alright, thanks."

I stepped inside and immediately used a magical seal.

The seal appeared under Cinder and began to move slowly upward analyzing both her body and her soul.

After the battle and the use of magic, my assimilation with Albedo had increased.

Albedo (B) (98%)

"I see, so that's how this power is transferred from her."

I murmured.

In fact, Cinder's soul was now enveloped in the spiritually magical energy of an orange hue, slowly penetrating inside and strengthening.

At first glance, it might look like magical parasitism, but it was far from that, and this was literally raw power.

After that, the same seal began to appear on the walls of the chamber were also decorated in white.

I used alchemy on all four walls with their help to make some materials that carry electricity efficiently.

Then, I "stretched" them into the right shape using earth magic.

I used magic to strengthen the walls, and then I released another seal. It immediately appeared on Cinder's neck, and its effect was instant.

Cinder's "fiery" energy started to flow to the walls, dissolve into them, and strengthen them. 

Cinder herself would be a battery for this chamber, but all of this would stop working as soon as she left.

I explained this to Winter, and they started to look at me with a strange expression.

"I see. Thank you for your help with Atlas."

Winter nodded slightly a bit hesitant clearly wanting to ask something.

"Is there something on your mind?"

I asked when I noticed her scrutinizing my face as if searching for something.

"..."

Winter continued to stare at me with uncertainty.

"No..."

We silently went towards General Ironwood and recounted everything I had told Winter.

He thanked me and asked me to accompany Winter to the transporter so that it could take us closer to those two ships.

"I need to speak with Vale's council right now."

General Ironwood was clearly dissatisfied with the prospect.

"And sort out the damage..."

I could understand him, or rather why he didn't like all this.

After all, someone uploaded a video of Atlas androids shooting at Vale hunters and people that looked a lot like a civil war inside the kingdom.

General Ironwood would still have to talk to the council of the friendly kingdom even though it's clear now that it's wasn't true.

On the other hand, I was truly willing to help strengthen this trust between us, especially since there were important discussions about Ozpin, the maidens, and possibly Salem.

General Ironwood's support would be very convenient especially since I plan to return to this world after my two-day mission is over.

...

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