Chapter 9

The jumpship arrived at the Tower, landing in the docking bay. RWBY walked into the command center, seeing the Vanguard looking over a map. They noticed RWBY walk in.

Zavala: "Team RWBY. That was quite a long trip to the Moon without returning. Had you taken any longer, we would've sent a second crew to retrieve you."

Ikora: "What do you have for us?"

Cayde-6: "Anything good?"

Weiss: "We're attacking the Black Garden."

Cayde-6: "Ooh! This just got good!"

Blake: "But we first we need to bring a Gate Lord's head to the Awoken."

Cayde-6: "Ooh! This just got better!"

Yang: "And we're going back to Venus to assault the Vault of Glass, kill Atheon and take his head."

Cayde-6: "Oh. This just got bad."

Zavala: "I don't think that's the safest idea."

Cayde-6: "Come on, Zavala. Guardians haven't come this far by playing it safe."

Ikora: "This isn't just about risks, Cayde. We've tried sending Guardians there before, and they never made it out."

Cayde-6: "I say they should go for it."

Zavala: "The amount the've completed is impressive. Alright I'm in. But..."

Zavala grabbed a data chip.

Zavala: "You're going to need this."

Yang took the data chip.

Yang: "Why?"

Ikora: "The Vault of Glass contains a variety of puzzles and enemies that have specific weaknesses. You're going to need to memorize every part of that data drive to have a chance at surviving."

Cayde-6: "Good luck Guardians. You've got a big fight ahead of you."

RWBY exited the Tower and flew off towards Venus.

R Ghost: "You'd better be ready. The Vex have a huge protective inside the Vault of Glass. And Atheon won't take too kindly to having his home invaded."

The jumpship arrived on Venus, flying over a broken temple of pillars and walls. They arrived at the door of the massive vault. Ruby played the first part of the data drive. Zavala's voice was heard.

Zavala tape: "Vault of Glass section 1. Three sync plates must be held and activated at once. Do not allow any Vex into these areas, or a failsafe will trigger that will lock us out of the Vault of Glass. After approximately 10 minutes, a spire will form that will unlock the gates to the Vault."

Ruby: "You three stand on each plate. I'll stand on that rise and use my sniper to help you three."

Ruby activated a red dot laser.

Ruby: "Just make sure you're not in the way of this laser."

Ruby jumped up to a high-rise cliff. Yang jumped to the center sync plate, Weiss jumped to the right plate, and Blake jumped to the left plate. All three activated and multiple Vex portals began opening. Goblins and Hobgoblins began appearing alongside heavy armored Minotaurs.

Zavala tape: "Vault of glass section 1 subsection 1. During the spire forming sequence, alongside Vex incursions, tougher, stronger Minotaurs will appear known as Praetorians. They have no other variations from the standard Minotaur chassis other than increased armor and strength. Ensure to terminate with extreme prejudice."

Yang was surrounded by 4 Praetorians, all trained on her. She leapt up into the air to dodge the coming blasts and smashed the ground, causing an electric shockwave that blasted them back. They survived the blast, jumping forward. Yang grabbed the fists of the two to her side, pulling them towards her and smashing their heads together. She fired off multiple shotgun blasts at the other one, shredding it to pieces. She finally leapt backwards, forcing her fists on the the head of the final Praetorian, destroying it. Her sync plate deactivated as a Spire began forming in the center.

Weiss was being approached by a group of Goblins. She fired off a void blast creating a black hole that sucked them together and blasted them to pieces. She sliced rapidly through the approaching machines, sending out elemental blasts, burning, freezing, electrocuting, and blinding the Vex. A Praetorian slowly approached her from behind and grabbed her, snapping her neck and throwing her lifeless body away.

Ruby: "WEISS!"

Ruby aimed her sniper down on the Praetorian as it walked away.

R Ghost: "Wait!"

The W Ghost looked over Weiss' body.

W Ghost: "Come on, Weiss. You and Ikora worked on this worst case scenario. Focus. You can pull yourself back."

Weiss' eyes opened back, and let out a glow. Her body glowed with solar energy as she rose from death. The Praetorian charged her, and she waved her hand, blasting it to pieces with a solar shockwave. She threw many fire grenades out, and destroyed the rest of the Vex on her side. The Spire formed more, with streams being created on top.

Blake was approached by Harpies on her platform. She unleashed her arc blade, flying forward and slashing through the Harpies with electric fury. They dissipated into waves of light. 3 Praetorians appeared and Blake promptly pulled out her Golden Gun, popping off each Praetorian, until there was one left, aiming the final shot at its head.

Blake: "Bang."

She blasted it to pieces, destroying it and completing the Spire forming sequence. The gates to the massive Vault of Glass opened. RWBY joined up at the entrance.

Ruby: "Zavala? This is Ruby. We just opened the gates to the Vault of Glass. We're going in."

Zavala: "Good work. Be careful. Once you enter, we won't be able to communicate with you anymore. Good luck Guardians."

Ruby: "Thanks. Let's do this."

RWBY descended into the Vault of Glass as the massive gates shut behind them. There was no turning back now...