Chương 113: Chapter 106: The New Threads

The morning sun filtered brightly through the massive, floor-to-ceiling windows of the Schnee-sponsored luxury penthouse, bathing the opulent living room in a warm, golden glow. Suspended high above the frozen, desolate crater of Mantle, the floating city of Atlas was a picture of pristine, serene perfection, completely divorced from the grim reality of the shadow war raging below its clouds. Deep inside the master bedroom, which she had ruthlessly commandeered on their very first night, Neopolitan stirred.

She stretched her arms gracefully above her head, relishing the sheer, unprecedented softness of the king-sized mattress and the imported Atlesian silk sheets. For a master thief accustomed to sleeping in damp warehouses, abandoned train cars, and drafty safehouses, this level of authorized luxury was a profound revelation. Slipping out of bed, her silk pajamas whispered softly against the heated hardwood floor.

After a brisk, refreshing routine in the marble-lined master bathroom, where she meticulously brushed her teeth and washed her face, Neo padded out into the expansive living room. She grabbed the sleek universal remote, flicked on the massive flat-screen television to a mundane morning talk show, and sauntered into the state-of-the-art kitchen. She poured herself a large bowl of sugary, brightly colored cereal, splashing it with ice-cold milk, and hopped onto the plush velvet sofa.

Neo ate her breakfast in comfortable, undisturbed silence, her heterochromic eyes half-watching the television screen as she genuinely enjoyed a quiet, peaceful morning. Once the bowl was completely empty, a familiar, predatory spark returned to her pink and brown eyes. She strutted back into her bedroom to prepare for the day.

Shedding her pajamas, she donned her new winter attire: a stylish, warm black trench coat tailored perfectly to her petite frame, paired with a pristine white scarf wrapped snugly around her neck. She reached into the corner, grabbing her signature weapon, Hush. With a sharp, satisfied snap, she popped the pink-and-white parasol open, resting it elegantly over her shoulder. She was ready. Neo marched purposefully down the long, carpeted hallway toward the guest bedroom. She had two primary objectives today.

First, she was going to force her oblivious, bald "bodyguard" to buy her the three-flavored cake he had explicitly promised her back in Argus as payment for projecting the massive silver giant of light illusion. Second, they were going to take a long, thorough stroll through the glittering capital of Solitas. Neo had keenly eavesdropped on the Huntsmen's frantic briefings the previous night. She knew Cinder Fall had infiltrated this frozen kingdom.

The fact that the woman now possessed the magic of two Maidens meant absolutely nothing to the illusionist. She would have her revenge for Roman Torchwick, one way or another. And if things got messy? Well, she had the invincible, reality-breaking anomaly acting as her personal, oblivious meat-shield. Neo felt completely and utterly untouchable. Arriving at the guest bedroom, Neo rapped her knuckles sharply against the heavy oak door. Silence. She knocked again, a little harder. Still no answer.

With an exasperated huff, Neo reached down and twisted the doorknob. It wasn't locked. She pushed the door open, stepping into the dim, heavily draped room. Saitama was sprawled entirely diagonally across the mattress. He was tangled tightly in the thick down comforter, one leg hanging off the edge of the bed, snoring with a loud, rhythmic vibration that actually rattled the glass lampshade on the nightstand.

A massive, translucent snot-bubble expanded and deflated from his left nostril with every deep, booming breath. Neo rolled her eyes so hard they nearly stuck in the back of her head. She marched over to the side of the bed and grabbed his shoulder, giving him a firm, demanding shake. Saitama just mumbled something unintelligible, swatting blindly at the air as if shooing a mildly annoying fly, and rolled over onto his stomach. Neo's left eye twitched violently.

She tapped her boot against the floorboards, entirely out of patience. She raised her gloved hand, pulling her arm back, and delivered a sharp, resounding slap directly to the center of his shoulder blades.

"I'LL PAY TOMORROW! PLEASE DON'T KICK ME OUT!" Saitama violently launched himself upright, his eyes wide with absolute, unadulterated terror as he screamed at the top of his lungs. He panted heavily, clutching the blankets tightly to his chest, his head darting frantically around the luxurious bedroom as if expecting to see an eviction notice slapped onto the wallpaper. He blinked rapidly, his dotted eyes finally focusing on the diminutive illusionist standing beside the bed.

Saitama let out a massive, shuddering sigh, his terrifying panic instantly melting into a deep, comical scowl of annoyance.

"Jerk," Saitama grumbled, wiping a bead of cold sweat from his shiny bald head.

"I was having a really good dream about a premium crab sale, and then it suddenly turned into a nightmare where my old landlady from Z-City chased me down the street with a broom." Neo didn't offer an apology. She simply pulled her Scroll from her coat pocket, typed two words with blinding speed, and shoved the glowing screen directly into his face. [Cake. Now.]"Are you serious?" Saitama whined, squinting at the digital clock on the nightstand.

"It's barely eight in the morning! The bakeries probably aren't even open yet! Let me sleep for one more hour. Just one." He flopped dramatically back onto the pillows, pulling the heavy comforter entirely over his head like a barricade. Neo's face scrunched into a massive, indignant pout. She didn't hesitate. She climbed directly onto the mattress and began to jump up and down with deliberate, rhythmic, relentless aggression.

Her boots bounced against the expensive springs, completely destroying any semblance of peace.

"Hey! Stop it! You're going to break the springs, and the crop-lady is going to charge my bank account for the damages!" Saitama's muffled, highly irritated voice yelled from beneath the blankets as he bounced helplessly. Neo kept jumping, a smug, victorious smile stretching across her face.

"Alright, alright! I'm getting up!" Saitama groaned loudly, throwing the blankets aside and sitting up with a look of profound, soul-crushing defeat.

"You are an absolute brat, you know that?" Neo offered a theatrical, mocking curtsy from the edge of the bed as Saitama dragged himself onto the floorboards, grumbling about ungrateful dependents.

A few minutes later, the heavy mahogany doors of the penthouse living room swung open. Neo strutted out into the luxurious hallway, looking incredibly pleased with herself. Trailing behind her, looking thoroughly miserable, was Saitama. He was dressed flawlessly in his tailored black suit and pristine white trench coat, with Roman Torchwick's bowler hat securely covering his bald head to maintain his "mob-boss" disguise.

After Saitama locked the penthouse door, Neo grabbed the sleeve of his trench coat, actively and aggressively dragging the strongest man in the universe toward the elevator bank.

"Slow down, would you?" Saitama complained lazily, dragging his feet across the plush carpet.

"The cake isn't going to run away." They stepped into the elevator. The gilded doors slid shut, and the cabin began its smooth descent toward the commercial levels of Atlas. Seconds after the elevator departed, the quiet of the hallway was broken again. From the intersecting corridor, three figures moved with quiet, tactical precision. Qrow Branwen, Winter Schnee, and Oscar Pine stepped out of the shadows, approaching the door of Saitama's penthouse.

Oscar, holding the strap of a heavy canvas satchel across his chest, stood perfectly straight. The ancient, calculating presence of Professor Ozpin radiated from the boy's hazel eyes. He was carrying the Relic of Knowledge.

"I still can't believe we're actually going along with Nora's plan," Qrow muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced nervously up and down the empty hallway.

"Leaving a divine artifact forged by the Brother Gods in the care of a guy who thinks a grocery coupon is a sacred text."

"It is, logically, the absolute safest location on the planet," Ozpin replied smoothly, his voice echoing through Oscar.

"General Ironwood's military vaults are currently vulnerable to the cyber-incursions ravaging Mantle. If Salem's agents breach the academy, they will search the secure military sectors. They will not search a civilian luxury penthouse."

"And if he accidentally breaks it?" Winter asked, her icy blue eyes narrowing as she retrieved a master keycard from her uniform pocket.

"Or loses it?"

"He won't," Qrow grunted, a dry chuckle escaping his lips.

"Remember what happened in the Haven vault? The guy literally asked how much Lien he could get for it at a pawn shop. If he realizes it's ours, he won't touch it." Ozpin offered a faint, amused smile.

"I assure you, Mr. Saitama will view the Lamp as nothing more than a particularly gaudy piece of living room furniture. Furthermore, Headmistress Goodwitch has instilled a profound, entirely comical terror within him regarding the preservation of this suite. He will not allow anything to be stolen or broken out of sheer fear of losing his supermarket privileges." Ozpin then chuckled.

"They are certainly a unique pair," Ozpin murmured fondly, thinking of the invincible man and his mute, criminal shadow.

"An anomaly and an illusionist. The board has never seen pieces quite like them." Winter sighed softly, swiping the keycard against the electronic lock. The light flashed green, and the heavy doors clicked open, allowing the vanguard to secure humanity's greatest secret in the most ridiculous hiding place imaginable.

The biting, sub-zero wind howled through the narrow, rusted alleyways of Mantle, carrying the sharp scent of ozone, unrefined Dust, and desperation. The Atlesian Manta airship descended through the dense, gray smog, its thrusters kicking up a flurry of dirty snow as it touched down in a cleared industrial plaza. The side hatch hissed open. Team RWBY and Team JNPR stepped out into the lower city.

They were dressed in thick, civilian winter attire, having left their battered combat gear and signature weapons back at the academy pending their upgrades.

"It's freezing down here," Ruby Rose shivered, pulling the collar of her heavy jacket up to her chin.

"It's worse than just the cold," Blake Belladonna observed, her amber eyes scanning the bleak, oppressive environment. The streets of Mantle were a stark, heartbreaking contrast to the gleaming utopia of Atlas above. Dilapidated, blocky apartment buildings were crammed tightly together. Heavy, militarized Atlesian drones hovered at every intersection, casting harsh, sweeping red spotlights over the shivering citizens.

Small clusters of Faunus and humans were huddled around burning trash cans in the alleyways, desperately trying to siphon warmth from the failing heating grid, while angry crowds shouted in protest against the mechanical patrols.

"They're treating the citizens like prisoners," Yang Xiao Long frowned, her violet eyes hardening as she watched a pair of armed Atlas soldiers aggressively break up a peaceful gathering near a ration distribution center.

"He's terrified, Yang," Weiss Schnee said softly, her breath pluming in the icy air. She wrapped her arms around herself, deeply ashamed of the vast disparity between her privileged upbringing and the suffering before her.

"The culprits behind this chaos are systematically destroying this city's infrastructure, and the military is trying to maintain order with a hammer. It's tearing the people apart."

"Which is exactly why we're here," Jaune Arc stated firmly. The blonde knight stood tall, his posture broad and commanding despite lacking his heavy armor. The sheer physical density he had developed from Saitama's training made his civilian sweater look incredibly tight across his chest.

"General Ironwood needs us to find the cyber-hubs the enemies are using to block the network. If we restore communications and fix the heating grid, we can ease the panic." Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

"And catch the invisible assassins responsible for the murders," Ren added quietly, his magenta eyes cold and analytical. Ruby's Scroll suddenly chimed in her pocket. She pulled it out, looking at the blinking notification on the screen.

"Okay, General Ironwood just sent the coordinates! We need to head to Pietro's clinic to pick up our upgraded gear before we start sweeping the subterranean hubs." As the group navigated the crowded, snow-packed thoroughfare, the somber mood briefly lifted as the girls took notice of the group's recent, dramatic aesthetic updates.

"I still can't get over the new hair, Blake," Yang grinned, casually bumping her shoulder against the Faunus. Blake reached up, self-consciously brushing a strand of her newly cropped, sleek bob behind her ear.

"You really don't think it's too short? You and Weiss got a little scissor-happy in the dorm last night."

"It's perfect," Weiss assured her with a proud, aristocratic nod.

"It's tactical, practical, and highly fashionable. It frames your face wonderfully."

"It really does!" Ruby chimed in.

"I'll bet a certain blonde monkey from Vacuo would lose his absolute mind if he saw you right now," Yang teased mercilessly, wiggling her eyebrows. Blake's entire face instantly erupted into a brilliant, fiery crimson.

"Shut up, Yang," She quickly pulled her scarf up to hide her nose, her feline ears pinning flat against her head in profound embarrassment.

"Speaking of makeovers," Nora Valkyrie laughed, pointing a thumb at her team leader.

"Pyrrha and I did a pretty great job on Fearless Leader, didn't we?"

"That's right," Pyrrha Nikos nodded to Nora, and smiling at Jaune.

"The short hair makes him look incredibly tough." Jaune rubbed the back of his freshly trimmed, spiky blonde hair, chuckling awkwardly.

"I just needed it out of my eyes. It was getting too long for combat." As the group navigated a crowded pedestrian crossing, Team RWBY and Nora suddenly noticed a bizarre phenomenon. Several groups of young women walking past them had completely stopped in their tracks. They were lingering near storefronts, whispering excitedly to one another and casting highly appreciative, lingering glances toward their group.

"Uh... why is everyone staring at us?" Ruby whispered, leaning closer to Weiss.

"Do they know we're Huntsmen?" Weiss analyzed the blushing, whispering pedestrians. She let out a soft, highly amused sigh.

"They aren't looking at us, Ruby. They're looking at Jaune." Jaune blinked in sheer confusion.

"Me?"

"Well, yeah!" Yang laughed, slapping Jaune heartily on the back, nearly knocking the breath out of him.

"Look at you, Vomit Boy! You spent months doing Saitama's hellish training routine! Your shoulders are twice as wide, you're built like a brick wall, and now you have a stylish haircut! You're officially turning heads in Mantle!" Jaune's face flushed bright pink.

"W-What? No, come on, guys, stop messing with me."

"He's so dense," Nora giggled, poking Ren in the ribs. As two particularly bold local girls waved shyly at Jaune from across the street, Jaune offered a polite, incredibly awkward wave back. Suddenly, the ambient temperature around Team JNPR plummeted to absolute zero. Jaune froze. Every single hair on the back of his neck stood straight up. His Huntsman survival instincts screamed in primal terror. He slowly, mechanically turned his head. Pyrrha was smiling. It was a perfectly polite, sweet smile.

But her emerald eyes were glowing with a dark, intense, incredibly terrifying possessiveness. A faint, highly unstable magnetic hum vibrated through the air around her, causing a nearby metal trash can to rattle ominously against the pavement.

"It seems you are quite popular today, Jaune," Pyrrha said, her voice dripping with a sickly sweet, terrifyingly calm menace. Jaune's soul practically left his body. A massive sweatdrop formed on his temple as he frantically shook his head and stepped directly behind Ren for physical cover.

"I-I only have eyes for you, Pyrrha! I swear! Please don't magnetize me into traffic!" Team RWBY burst into hysterical laughter at the sheer, comical terror of the invincible knight, completely breaking the oppressive gloom of the lower city. Following the digital map, the students eventually arrived at a modest, two-story brick building situated near the edge of the industrial sector. A bright, glowing green '+' symbol buzzed steadily above the reinforced front door. Pietro's Pharmacy.

As they approached, the side door clicked open. A young Faunus woman stepped out, adjusting a highly advanced, flawlessly integrated mechanical prosthetic arm. She waved cheerfully back into the clinic.

"Thank you so much, Doctor! It feels brand new!"

"Just keep it oiled in this cold, my dear! Stay safe!" a warm, jovial voice called back. Team RWBY and Team JNPR stepped through the front entrance, a small bell chiming their arrival. The bottom floor of the clinic was a chaotic, charming mess. The blue wallpaper was tattered, and the floorboards groaned underfoot. To the left, a massive wooden desk was buried under mountains of schematics and heavy medical textbooks.

On the far side of the room, a highly advanced, futuristic surgical chair sat beneath a cluster of surgical lights, a stark technological contrast to the dilapidated surroundings.

"Ah! You made it!" Doctor Pietro wheeled his mobility chair out from behind a stack of crates, his bushy white beard parting in a massive, welcoming grin. Sitting comfortably on a stool near the desk was Maria Calavera. Her brass-rimmed cybernetic goggles gleamed, perfectly repaired and fully operational.

"Took you kids long enough to walk down the street," Maria said, sipping a cup of hot tea.

"Whoa..." Ruby breathed, her silver eyes scanning the scattered tools and robotic limbs.

"This place is amazing!"

"Welcome to my humble abode," Pietro laughed heartily, gesturing around the chaotic room.

"I apologize for the mess! We perform a lot of community outreach here in Mantle. But please, come with me to the laboratory. Your requested upgrades are ready!" The students' eyes lit up with sheer, unadulterated excitement. They followed Pietro and Maria into a heavily reinforced, state-of-the-art laboratory in the back of the clinic.

"The upgrades you requested were, uh... well, they were more than I anticipated," Pietro chuckled, wheeling up to a long metal workbench.

"But I also took the liberty of reviewing your combat footage from the Vytal Festival Tournament from months ago, as well as the notes General Ironwood provided regarding your new... physical densities." Resting on the workbench were eight sleek, specialized metal cases. Nora Valkyrie couldn't contain herself. She practically vibrated out of her boots, letting out a high-pitched, ecstatic giggle as she lunged forward, snatching up the case with her emblem on it.

"There's some additional enhancements I'd like to suggest later," Pietro smiled warmly.

"Oh, but for now, these should serve you well enough to face the harsh elements of Solitas." Ruby unlatched her case, her silver eyes expanding into massive, sparkling stars. Nora threw her case open, her pupils dilating as she gasped in sheer awe. Jaune opened his, his blue eyes widening as he took in the heavy, gleaming steel.

A few minutes later, the Vanguard stepped out of the fitting rooms, completely transformed. They were clad in their brand-new, customized combat gear. Ruby's new outfit featured sleeker, insulated black and red tactical fabrics, with Crescent Rose featuring a new, rotating scythe-head mechanism. Weiss wore a regal, dark blue and white armored dress designed to retain heat without sacrificing her fencing mobility.

Blake's white coat was replaced by a striking, zipped white and purple bodysuit, perfectly complementing her new haircut. Yang sported a heavy, fleece-lined brown aviator jacket over her combat gear, Ember Celica gleaming with reinforced, explosive-resistant plating. Nora bounced on her toes, her new blue-and-pink winter coat and heavy boots perfect for the tundra, while Ren adjusted his sleek, dark green tactical tunic, the extended grappling blades of StormFlower clicking smoothly onto his wrists.

Jaune Arc rolled his broad shoulders. His new, heavy white chestplate and reinforced pauldrons fit perfectly over his thick, black winter sweater, complementing his new haircut. Pyrrha Nikos stepped out beside him. Her new combat gear was breathtaking. She wore a sleek, insulated black thermal undersuit designed for the freezing Atlesian climate. Over it, a militaristic, highly polished bronze breastplate and segmented armor skirt protected her vitals.

A bright crimson half-cape, an intentional, deeply respectful homage to Ruby's iconic look and her own old sash, hung proudly over her left shoulder. Pietro beamed with pride.

"Beautiful! The thermal weaves will keep your Auras from dropping due to the cold, and the weapons have been reinforced to handle the absurd kinetic feedback you kids produce now."

"You look absolutely incredible, children," Maria praised, leaning on her cane with a proud smirk.

"This is amazing!" Ruby cheered, spinning Crescent Rose in a flawless, rapid circle.

"A significant improvement," Weiss noted, testing the balance of Myrtenaster. Before the celebration could continue, a deafening, terrifying sound shattered the peace of the clinic. The blaring, high-pitched screech of the Mantle emergency breach alarms echoed through the streets. Red warning lights bathed the windows of the pharmacy. Team RWBY and Team JNPR shared a single, synchronized look of absolute, battle-ready determination.

"Time to test the new gear!" Yang grinned, her violet eyes flashing. The eight Huntsmen burst out the front doors of the clinic, rushing into the snowy streets of Mantle. Complete chaos had erupted. Civilians were screaming, abandoning their stalls and fleeing toward the shelters. Prowling through the main intersection, their massive, bone-plated tusks tearing through the cobblestones, was a pack of heavily armored Sabyrs.

Towering behind them, their heavy footsteps shaking the foundations of the buildings, were two colossal Megoliaths, massive, elephant-like Grimm capable of crushing an armored transport like a tin can. Pietro wheeled his chair onto the porch, Maria standing beside him with her cane.

"Be careful!" Pietro yelled over the sirens.

"Those Megoliaths are ancient!"

"We've handled ancient before!" Jaune roared, drawing his upgraded broadsword.

"RWBY! JNPR! Engage!" The students launched themselves into the fray with blinding, explosive speed. Ruby triggered her Semblance, bursting into a flurry of rose petals. She rocketed around the legs of the first Megoliath, confusing the beast before reappearing mid-air. She swung Crescent Rose, utilizing the new rotating scythe-head to catch the beast's tusk and cleanly sever it with a shower of sparks, drawing a furious roar.

"Weiss! Pin the Sabyrs!" Ruby commanded. Weiss glided across the snow on her glyphs, elegant and lethal. She slammed Myrtenaster into the ground, unleashing a massive, rolling wave of Ice Dust that froze three leaping Sabyrs completely solid in mid-air.

"Shatter!" Yang yelled, launching herself off a nearby rooftop. She triggered Ember Celica, bringing her fists down in a devastating, explosive shockwave that pulverized the frozen Sabyrs into black ash. Blake blurred through the chaotic street, utilizing her new, sleeker gear to move with unparalleled feline agility.

She fired Gambol Shroud's ribbon, wrapping it around the neck of a Sabyr and violently pulling it off balance, allowing Ren to drop from a streetlamp and sever its spine with the grappling blades of StormFlower. The second Megoliath let out a deafening trumpet, raising its massive, trunk-like front legs to crush Ren.

"I don't think so!" Jaune intercepted the charge. He slammed his newly reinforced shield into the snowy ground, his Aura flaring with brilliant white light. The Megoliath's colossal, multi-ton legs crashed down onto his shield. The street cracked beneath Jaune's boots, but the blonde knight didn't buckle. Channeling the horrifying, hyper-dense muscle mass forged by Saitama's training, Jaune let out a feral roar and pushed upward, physically throwing the giant Grimm off balance.

"Nora! Pyrrha! Now!" Jaune yelled.

"Boop!" Nora giggled maniacally, riding the recoil of a pink grenade blast high into the air. She brought Magnhild down with the force of a thunderbolt, striking the Megoliath perfectly in its exposed knee joint, bringing the massive beast crashing to the ground. Pyrrha moved with flawless, Spartan precision. She hurled Miló in its javelin form, using her Polarity to guide the weapon like a homing missile.

The magnetic dust upgrades Pietro had installed flared brilliantly as the spear pierced the Megoliath's skull, ricocheting backward into her waiting hand as the beast evaporated into ash. On the porch of the clinic, Pietro sat with his jaw hanging wide open, completely astounded.

"My word..." Pietro gasped, adjusting his glasses.

"Their kinetic output... their reaction times! This is completely unprecedented, vastly superior to the footage from the Vytal Festival! Even Mr. Arc's strength is astonishing! How did they achieve this level of physical density?!"

"Ah, Pietro, you wouldn't believe it if you saw it," Maria let out a sharp, raspy cackle, leaning heavily on her cane.

"Let's just say, a certain bald menace trained them like they were in Hell." As the final Sabyr was dispatched, the remaining civilians peering out from the alleyways erupted into a massive, deafening cheer.

"Thank you! You saved us!" Team RWBY and Team JNPR turned, smiling warmly at the crowd, preparing to accept the gratitude. But as the civilians rushed forward, they ran straight past the baffled students, cheering for someone else entirely.

"It's the Happy Huntresses!" Dropping gracefully from the rooftops above, landing in the center of the snowy intersection, were four fiercely confident, highly armed women. Leading them was Robyn Hill, wielding a sleek, mechanical crossbow shield. Beside her stood Fiona Thyme, a sheep Faunus. Then, Joanna Greenleaf, a towering, muscular Huntress. And also, May Marigold, a sharp-eyed sniper.

"Is everyone okay?!" Robyn shouted to the crowd, her voice filled with genuine, protective care.

"We're fine, Robyn! They helped us!" a civilian cheered, pointing back to the students. Robyn turned her sharp gaze toward Team RWBY and Team JNPR, her eyes scanning their pristine, highly advanced Atlesian gear.

"Well. That was some impressive coordination for a bunch of kids," Robyn noted, resting her crossbow on her shoulder as she approached.

"We are Happy Huntresses. We protect Mantle when the military decides not to."

"I'm Ruby Rose," Ruby stepped forward, offering a polite smile.

"We're Huntsmen from Vale."

"Wait..." Weiss stepped out from behind Jaune, her pale blue eyes locking onto the leader.

"You're Robyn Hill. You're running against my father, Jacques Schnee, for the vacant seat on the Atlas Council!" Robyn's eyes narrowed slightly, recognizing the iconic white hair and the aristocratic posture.

"Ah. The Schnee heiress. I'm surprised you'd admit your lineage down here in the cold. I despise your father, kid. He's bleeding this city dry."

"We have that in common, then," Weiss replied coldly, completely unfazed.

"I have no love for my father's business practices." Robyn raised an eyebrow, a flicker of respect crossing her face.

"Fair enough. But that doesn't explain why a group of Vale Huntsmen, armed with brand-new Atlesian tech, are operating down in the slums."

"General Ironwood sent us," Jaune explained carefully, trying to navigate the political minefield.

"He tasked us with clearing the subterranean cyber-hubs of Grimm. He's trying to restore the communications network to the outside world, and find the culprits who are sabotaging the heating grid." Robyn and the Happy Huntresses exchanged dark, deeply skeptical glances.

"Ironwood sent you to 'fix' the grid?" Robyn scoffed, crossing her arms.

"Listen to me, kids. We don't trust the General. He's pulling all the military resources, all the Dust, and all the building materials up to Atlas, leaving Mantle to freeze and fend for itself. He's building something up there. Something massive. And he's hiding it from the Council." Robyn stepped closer to Ruby, her eyes piercing.

"He's terrified. And a terrified man with an army is dangerous. Do you know what he's hiding up there?" Team RWBY and Team JNPR froze. A heavy, suffocating dilemma gripped them. They knew exactly what Ironwood was hiding. Ozpin's group was guarding the Relic of Creation, and the Relic of Knowledge. They were protecting the Winter Maiden. And they were fighting a shadow war against Salem. But they were sworn to absolute secrecy.

They couldn't just tell anyone outside Ozpin's inner circle about the Relics, the Maidens, and the Queen of the Grimm without causing a kingdom-wide panic.

"We... we don't know," Ruby lied, her voice tight with guilt as she averted her silver eyes.

"We were just told to do our task. We want to help the people down here." Robyn's eyes narrowed, sensing the deception instantly. Her Semblance allowed her to detect falsehoods, and the hesitation in the young leader's voice was palpable. Before Robyn could press the interrogation further, a terrifying, guttural roar echoed from the industrial sector down the block. The ground trembled. A second wave of Sabyrs poured out from the alleyways, their red eyes burning through the snow.

They lacked the towering Megoliaths this time, but the pack was vicious and hungry.

"We'll finish this conversation later!" Robyn yelled, raising her crossbow.

"Huntresses! Defensive line!" As Team RWBY, Team JNPR, and the Happy Huntresses raised their weapons, preparing to battle the Grimm again, a sudden, blinding flash of emerald light illuminated the snowy sky above them. A rapid, perfectly precise barrage of vivid green energy lasers rained down from the heavens. The lasers sliced through the snowy air, striking the advancing Sabyrs with devastating accuracy. The beams cut the Grimm cleanly in half before they could even cross the intersection.

The monsters evaporated into ash instantly. The blaring city alarms stuttered and died, and the streetlamps shifted from warning red back to their standard, warm yellow glow. Everyone in the intersection, students, Happy Huntresses, and civilians alike, looked up in absolute awe. Hovering gracefully in the air above them was a figure. She possessed long, vibrant orange hair that danced in the freezing wind. A pair of sleek, glowing green energy thrusters sprouted from her boots, allowing her to float effortlessly.

A halo of deadly, floating swords hovered around her back like mechanical wings. With a joyful, elegant twirl, the figure slowly descended, her boots touching the cobblestones softly. Pietro and Maria hobbled through the crowd, joining the students and the Happy Huntresses in the center of the street. Pietro's eyes were shining with absolute, overwhelming fatherly pride. He looked at Team RWBY and Team JNPR, practically bursting with excitement.

"Ah, excellent timing, my dear!" Pietro cheered happily, wheeling his chair forward with immense pride. He looked back at Team RWBY and Team JNPR, his eyes twinkling.

"Children, as promised... this is my daughter." Pietro turned back to the descending figure.

"Darling, why don't you say hello to your friends?" The female figure turned around, the snow settling around her sleek, highly advanced Atlesian combat chassis. Her bright, emerald green eyes locked onto the group. As her gaze swept over Weiss, Blake, and Yang, she smiled brightly. But when her eyes landed directly on Ruby Rose and Pyrrha Nikos, her mechanical pupils dilated in sheer, unadulterated shock. Team RWBY and Team JNPR stood completely paralyzed.

Ruby's hands flew to her mouth, her silver eyes filling with immediate, overwhelming tears. Pyrrha gasped, stepping backward as if she had seen a ghost, her heart hammering violently against her ribs. The memory of the Vytal Festival, the horrific, metallic tearing of wires and blades, flashed vividly in her mind, a nightmare she thought she would never outlive. The impossible had just descended from the sky.