Chapter 202: RWBY (8)

Chapter 202: RWBY (8)

~Mash B. POV~

[Next Day, Atlas Kingdom, Mantle Crater, Inn]

After returning to the Inn, I saw Ryuko sleeping as I smiled contently seeing her asleep. I lightly nudged her as she groaned lightly her eyes slowly opening awake in an annoyed tone seeing me, "Grhh… Why did you come and wake me up? I was having a good dream damn it…"

I smirked at Ryuko as she got up, I explained what happened asking a curious question, "Came to collect you. I wanted to ask are you done with this world? I kinda only need Ozma and Salem's memories to be done with this world. Or do you want to travel to Mistral and Vacuo before we leave?"

Pausing at my genuine question she thought for a bit before ultimately responding in a neutral tone raising her hand and giving a so-so response, "Meh. I know you didn't come here to sightsee or deal with their political shit, so I say just get it done. The sooner the better since we're probably worrying about Satsuki and the rest."

I agree. Nodding my head confirming this she stood up wearing Senketsu as he asked in his usual stoic tone, "Well it was interesting seeing this world but I'm personally not that fond of its issues. I'd rather just leave before they can do something to us."

Shinra-Koketsu also spoke agreeing to roll her eyes in a stoic tone done with this world, "I agree with the dishrag. This world is a total shitshow waiting to happen."

Glad to see this is a unanimous agreement. With this, it was time to personally take care of the last few finishing touches to surprise Ozpin but not before some breakfast first. I wanna make sure I catch them by surprise…

/////

~Ozpin POV~

[Nighttime, Vale Kingdom, Beacon Academy]

The broken moon shone from the night sky as I leaned back on my chair and stretched, finally reading the new student's files. I took my glasses off rubbing the bridge of my nose in exhaustion as one of my trusted friends entered the office.

Qrow asked in a tired yet amused tone, "Came at a bad time, did I?"

I merely smiled as I offered an answer letting out a long sigh and speaking in a serious tone, "I'd say the opposite. Any news on our mysterious ally?"

As I expected he shook his head as he handed me the report speaking in a serious tone crossing his arms, "Nothing… but we at least know the whole debacle that happened on James' side was their handy work. I detected the use of Magic."

I frowned at hearing the news. This is very bad I asked what was James response to him in a serious tone, "Oh, that just sounds like trouble waiting to happen. What did the General say about this?"

The huntsman grinned happily as he spoke in an amused tone leaning his back against the wall, "He argued that we should question him once we find him by giving the order to all undercover Atlas personnel in Vale to search for him. And if possible, keep them close within Atlas' watchful eye."

I could only sigh as I gave Qrow another command for him to do resting my headache in a serious tone, "Sigh… You should find them than Ironwood. The Mage and his girlfriend might get the wrong idea if he saw Atlesien Bots and Specialist looking for him."

He turned around and walked into the elevator. He spoke in a neutral tone, "Yeah, yeah. I'll be back in a week for the report."

As the door closed, I rubbed my tired eyes and stood up to make another steaming cup of cocoa. This night can't get any worse than it already has with another magic user stirring trouble.

Only a few more days and I'll finally see the students flung over the forest… Even after many years, it's still my favorite part of the initiation.

Taking time to make my cocoa my attention soon drifted towards the elevator again as I was perplexed with Qrow appearing in a tired tone glaring at me, "Hey Oz you wouldn't believe the terrible bullshit Ironwood has to deal with it back in Atlas!"

I blinked confused as I asked perplexed about his sudden return tilting my head and asking in a confused tone, "I'm sorry Qrow but didn't you come here just a few moments ago? We already discussed your next… project…"

It was when my words slowed down as Qrow eyes widened as he spoke in a tone of disbelief, "No… I just got here a few moments ago… if I wasn't the one who – That damn kid!!"

My eyes became alarmed as I felt incredible magical energy for the last few seconds and my heart began to beat louder. All I was left with was what or who was this man that Qrow encountered did we cross into…

/////

~Third POV~

[Evernight Castle, Throne Room]

Within the confines of the Evernight Salem had the oddest feeling she couldn't quite place as she rested on her throne. To her, something felt off but she couldn't figure out what, which was an extreme rarity that she could barely recall the last time she felt like this in any capacity.

As the witch's mind wandered a kaleidoscope portal opened in the middle of her throne room, and she was on guard as two people came out from it. The first was a man with golden eyes as she narrowed her eyes at him as he spoke in a respectful tone, "Hello, Salem. My name is Mash Bastion, and I have come to bargain with you."

Ordinarily, Salem would've scoffed or been amused by him, but she could sense the Magical Energy power radiating off him like an inferno. He easily exceeds the four Maidens of Seasons by a wide margin, let alone her ex-husband at his peak or even her, but that drew her interest in this wild card that appeared out of nowhere.

But eyes wander towards his partner a girl with Gear Eyes standing by his side not radiating magic or even Aura. But something within Salem told her she was just as dangerous or worse judging by the Grimm approaching the two but stopping entirely and leaving of their own accord.

She was still confident that she would win, whether through her experience or by her accused immortality, so she said in a dignified tone, "I must admit I wasn't expecting any guests, especially one of your calibers. So, tell me, Mash Bastion, what do you wish to bargain for?"

Being blunt Mash spoke in an honest tone about how her plans would fail in front of her face with a neutral expression, "To put it plainly, I want to point out the result of your suicide attempt that will drag the rest of the world that WILL happen if you go through with your plans."

Salem narrowed her eyes in displeasure and coldly demanded, "Enlighten me."

Salem waved for him to continue, as she wanted to see where he was going with this conversation. Mash went ahead and said in a neutral tone, "If you get all four Relics and divide the world beyond the point of any chance of uniting, then summon the gods for their final judgment they will erase everything. Well, everything except you because they are not completely ignorant of everything that happens in this world. I half suspect that if Ozma takes too long to unite the worlds, they would go ahead and label humanity and faunus as failures in the end. Again except for YOU, that is, as they will leave you alive to suffer on a dead world without even Grimm to keep you company, considering your past transgressions with them."

The witch looked at him briefly, then started to laugh. She laughed and laughed, even with tears coming out of her eyes, but Mash was unbothered by her reaction as she knew that she would take his words with a grain of salt and then some.

However, that wasn't their goal to speak to Salem originally merely stall for time as Mash's Authority of Gluttony, [Gluttony] managed to 'share' a meal with her memories. He licked his lips appreciating the taste of Salem's memories as she continued laughing being none the wiser.

Salem's laughter started to settle down, and her amused expression remained as she asked as she was amused by her guest's affiliations, "Is dear Ozma so desperate that he sends someone like you to try and reason with me on mere possibilities?"

Seeing her amused expression Mash remained unfazed by her question and assumptions as he said in a neutral tone, "Ozma was a fool to try and separate your daughters from you simply because he gave up on you and paid the price with their lives."

The witch froze looking surprised at what her uninvited guest just said and demanded calmly, "Who are you, truly? Knowing Ozma, he would never reveal that information to anyone lest he loses all his allies."

Mash simply replied with a smug grin on his face as he spoke in a neutral tone explaining himself, "I gave my introduction before, Salem, and I know all Ozma's dirty little secrets due to eating his memories. And I mean ALL of them."

Salem's eyes narrowed as she saw his golden eyes speaking the truth only found the situation amusing and said in a confident tone, "Today has certainly been full of surprises, and this is the most pleasant of all."

*Swooosh*

The floor beneath them turned pitch black as Grimm's hands reached out from the puddle of Grimm to hold him in place but was met with a surprising amount of [Magic Resistance] from both simply kicking the Grimm's hands away.

The witch arched her eyebrow appraisingly at her guest's immediate reaction and said dominantly, "I will only make this offer once, hand over your memories and you may leave unmolested."

Ryuko coughed suddenly hearing that kind of threat shouting out loud in a stunned tone, "Ack! What kind of threat is that?!"

*Swf*

*Swf*

Mash simply raised an eyebrow at that speaking in an awkward tone activating his [Gate of Babylon], "… Okay that's the first time being threatened by being molested. Seriously what's with older women wanting to rape me? This is like the fucking second time. Sigh… Let's start by restraining you first."

*BOOOM*

Slamming through the door were Salem's minions hearing a fight with Mash shooting through his golden portals the [Chains of Heaven] shooting out at Salem shooting magic beams as it exploded the room.

Getting thrown from the blast Ryuko separated leaving the two magic users standing with Mash smirking as he crossed his arms in an arrogant tone, "Not to dissuade you Salem but I'm afraid I'm a hard counter against you. One that you can't hope to best."

*KLANG*

*SPLAT*

*KLANG*

*SPLAT*

Mash's [Chains of Heaven] were being blocked by the shadowy arms of the Grimm that Salem summons as her eyes narrowed detecting the divinity of the weapons being more wary of him.

*Shiiii*

Salem gathers her magic, sending it at Mash in short bursts. He uses [Sprint] to augment his speed, weaving and dodging between them, then sends a barrage of [Goa] spells at Salem.

*BOOOM*

*BOOOM*

She easily dodges the [Goa] fireball spells and sends a spread of beams his way. He dodges, before slamming [Fura] wind spell at his feet. The resulting burst of air launches him toward Salem summoning his Life Sword Zeam infused with Mana.

*SHIIII*

Mash then combines the Life Sword Zeam charging up a [Mana Busrt], which he slams into Salem as she registers the pain with him yelling, "[Mana Burst]!!"

*BOOOOOM*

*THUD*

The resulting clash forces her to land on the ground forming a spider-like crater as a result as the ground is quickly covered in dark, glistening blood. She is knocked to the ground, and he proceeds to capture her using the [Chains of Heaven] tying her up.

Even as she is bound to the chains, Salem's hand crooks upright to make a gesture; her sigil appears on the ground, and Shadow Hands lunges out to immobilize Mash's limbs, lifting him into the air.

Still holding Mash immobile, Salem regenerates her head, her jaw cracking and popping back into place. However, it didn't last for long as his [Magic Resistance] ripped through the Shadow Hands of hers.

*SHIII*

But it was enough time for Salem's burst of magic to attack him dead on. Salem uses her Shadow Hands she summons to fling him into a distant wall. Watching him cut through the Shadow Hands Salems made her move immediately.

*Swooosh*

*BANG*

*BANG*

*BANG*

She grabs the back of Mash's head and slams it into the ground repeatedly, the disappointment evident on her face. The reason why is that despite slamming his head multiple times Mash didn't show any signs of damage.

With the defensive skills he obtained all he felt were love taps as Salem slammed his head repeatedly doing no damage. Grabbing her hand a feral grin showed on his face speaking in an annoyed tone, "Hahaha! What fun witch! Here let me show you how we killed Jeanne D'Arc. Trial by fire…!!!"

*BRRRRR*

The temperature within the room began to glow in an ominous blue hue using his mastery of [Fire Magic] of the Re: Zero world temperature manipulation to frightening degrees thanks to Echidna's knowledge.

As the very room began to burn around them Salem turned to look at him, both he and her were engulfed in flames. The latter starts screaming in rage as the fire begins to melt through her skin, "Who the hell do you think you are…!!!"

Mash simply grinned as he replied in a casual tone grabbing Phantasm Punishment, "Oh just your friendly neighborhood traveler! [Phantasm Punishment]!!"

*SHINNG*

Screams could be heard as Salem was forever crippled by the dagger of [Phantasm Punishment] severing her connection to her Magic…