Chapter 5

In the tallest tower in Beacon Academy was Ozma's current reincarnation, Ozpin who was signing some papers with his usual calm look, he sighed and leaned back on his chair and gazed outside the window, he saw as people ranging from 16-30 years of age come and go. 'So much has changed' He thought, it's been five years since the Towers appeared, monsters of different kinds spilling out of the tower's maze like labyrinth. Many villages destroyed as the monster's onslaught continued forth.

The four Academies of Remnant had also changed, huntsmen are now supposed to come back to the Academy walls to get missions, he was certain that subjects like math and literature will be least prioritized. It still teaches future huntsmen but they are now more focused on improving the young's combat experience, they are sent out to do missions that are relatively safe to gain experience for a few days after that they are allowed to take harder missions when they are ready.

Ozpin closed his eyes and released a breath, "Thanks to the the towers, the world's mana is slowly replenishing. If that is the case it's not hard to foresee magicians and witches to appear back into the world" His mouth formed a frown as he clenched his fists, "Salem, I don't know if you had something to do with this phenomenon happening in the world but, mark my words. I will defeat you"

"Permission to enter Headmaster" A voice entered his ears as he looked at the door with his calm facade, he knew the owner of the voice as she was the one he had confidence in his battle against Salem, "Granted" He said as Summer Rose came in, her eye bags being larger than the last time he saw her, probably didn't sleep again, He couldn't help but furrow his brows at the sight of a disheveled Summer, "I see that you have not taken my advice by resting for a couple of days" He sighed at the stubbornness of his former student.

"I can't rest knowing that Ruby is still out there and everyone else already gave up trying to find her" Summer said, Ozpin sighed once again, he could understand why she is like that but he couldn't let this go on anymore, she will die from exhaustion if she refuses to rest, "I know that you are trying your best to find young Ruby but please... Take a break once in a while" Summer glanced at Ozpin and seeing his concerned expression, she felt guilty.

She and Taiyang had a falling-out that led to their divorce, Qrow and Raven stayed with her as Taiyand took Yang and raised her in his family's household. 'Maybe I do need rest' She thought as she stared back at Ozpin's concern filled gaze.

She nodded and stood up, "I'll be using one of the rooms here, wake me up in two days,"Ozpin nodded and smiled, he was glad that Summer finally is going to rest, she then walks away passing by Glynda who was holding another stack of papers in her hand, Glynda's eyes when she gazed at Summer but quickly faded back to her neutral facade. She nodded at Summer as Summer returned it back, Glynda then placed the stack of paper on Ozpin's desk and adjusted her wrinkled clothes,

"Here are the requests that were sent today Ozpin" He then took the first paper on the stack and saw it was a subjugation request, "Thank you Glynda" He smiled at his assistant and went back to work.

"The stack of papers beside me are the requests I approved please hang them on the mission board for hunters to take Glynda" She then takes the stack of paper and walked away, "After you've done that you can take the day off, you've earned it" He said as Glynda smiled at Ozpin.

Back in the dungeon Ruby finally arrived at the Iron Village, although it called a village it was more like a large city than a village, "Halt! State your business with the Iron Tribe" A blonde haired man in iron armor said sternly, Ruby was not intimidated at the slightest. Compared to her mother's glare his gaze was like of a pup, she presented the letter and took out a crystal pendant from her inventory.

"I'm a magic knight from the Crystal Tribe, Ruby Crystal" She said as she handed the man her pendant, the man glanced at the pendant and gave it back to Ruby, "Open the gate!" He yelled as the wooden gates open. Thanking the guard she went inside and went directly towards the residence of the chieftain.

"Well if isn't little Ruby" She heard as she smiled, she looked behind her and saw a woman with green hair that reaches her waist and long pointed ears, her smile beautiful and bright, "Big sis Annie, hello!" Ruby said as Annie arrived in front of her. Annie is an elf that had been assigned to the Iron Tribe, she was also the one who helped Ruby the last time she arrived here.

"Delivering a letter again aren't you?" Ruby nodded as Annie sighed, "Can't Tyrone do it himself, why does he send you when he knows the monsters around here are dangerous" Ruby shrugged, "Meh, the path leading towards this place isn't that dangerous, also here, A letter for the chieftain," Annie took the letter from Ruby and placed it in her satchel, "Anything else you want to ask?" Annie asked as Ruby nodded, she took out a map of the fiftieth floor and presented it to Annie.

"I want to know where the level fifty monsters are, since you are still going to deliver the letter. I might as well hunt some beasts to kill time" Annie nodded, she took the map and encircled a forest just a distance away from the Iron Tribe's settlement, "I should be worried for you, you know," Ruby snorted, "I think you got our positions wrong, even though you're an elf. You charge headfirst in dangerous situations."

Annie chuckled weakly, that hurt her a little. She knows she doesn't like an elf where they are cautious and have fancy bows made of nature but still hearing other people call her out for not acting like one still hurt. The child before her is too skilled, mature, skilled, and confident. She can use a sword, and she can cast spells that even skilled magicians fail to do.

"Stay safe okay?" Ruby nodded and went outside the wall, she greeted the guards on the way as well as avoiding places where monsters are too large in numbers before arriving near a large lake, prone on the grass she casted the spell [Hunter's Vision] letting her see the monsters that are near the lake. The monsters were wolves that are grey in color fading to black when it reaches their paws, they have small clouds near their bodies with lightning sometimes appearing on their fur. There were ten of them laying near the lake completely unaware of Ruby watching them from afar.

"[Appraisal]" She whispered

[Storm Wolf Level 50]

5000/5000 HP

7000/7000 MP

Her breath hitched when she saw the MP, the last time she fought these Storm Wolves they only had around five hundred MP and they were level thirty. She quietly crawled forward until they are in her attack range. Monster's levels are dependent to the amount of mana they have, two thousand and below are around level one to thirty, the more mana they have, the more dangerous they are.

She focused her mana into her hands and throat, "[Angel's Protection], [Moon Walking], [Damage Up]" different colors of mana coat around her before fading, she got up and rushed the Wolves. The wolves did not hear her come towards them as her steps due to [Moon Walking] they did not make any sound. Ruby unsheathes her sword and swung it to the first Storm Wolf beheading the beast.

Blood sprayed out of it's body as the smell roused the other wolves from their slumber, they growled at Ruby for killing one of their kind as they circled her, Ruby glanced at them and whispered softly, "[Acceleration]" The wolves pounced as Ruby dodged their attempts to bite her dead.

She swung her sword at the wolf near her as the numbers -700 appeared on top of it's head, feeling danger she rolled to the side dodging a Storm Wolf that pounced at her. The injured storm wolf then jumped back and howled as the storm clouds that were floating near it's body largen, right after lightning came and hit Ruby in the chest. The wolf then glowed purple then suddenly died.

She was sent back slamming into the trees as a breath escaped her mouth, "Tch, That hurt!" She glared at the storm wolves, her speed increased once again as she stabbed the wolf with her sword. The other storm wolves quickly pounced but were blown when the passive effect of [Angel's Protection] activated, Their attacks were reflected and in turn damaged their hides.

Blood oozed out from their wounds as Ruby slain another Storm Wolf, she suddenly tensed as she backed away from where she stood with [Acceleration]. A dust cloud appeared right after she dodged, her body went stiff. This was bad, this was really really bad. Her instincts told her that whatever was inside that dust cloud is dangerous.

A silhouette of a large being appeared in the smoke, it had horns on the sides of it's head. In it's hand was a large two handed axe gleaming red and had the aura of bloodthirst radiating from it, it's eyes were red and bloodshot. Ruby's expression changed as she hurriedly dodged by rolling away.

BOOOOOMMMM!!!

The force of the sudden attack cracked the ground, Ruby's heart thumped, the storm wolves had long since escaped when the being appeared, "M-Minotaur" She muttered, why? Why was there a Minotaur in the middle floors? It didn't make sense in her head, she had been taught that monsters cannot appear anywhere else other than the floor they spawned in. She pushed those thoughts aside for now, she will find out later. The Minotaur focused his gaze at her as she instinctively held her sword up.

CLANGG!!!

Sparks flew from both weapons, as Ruby was pushed back from the strength of the beast, her grip on her sword was loose, her hands were numb. Her pendant glowed in a dim glimmer, "Not now," she whispered as she went into her stance, albeit with difficulty. Her eyes glowed silver as she looked at the monster in front of her, "Come at me!"