Author's Note: Congrats to all! I felt inspired today, so you get a limited-time experience of TWO chapters within the same week! But, I'm sorry to say… Like canon, Pyrrha ain't making out of this one. But at the same time… Cinder ain't coming out on top either. Try to enjoy this next chapter.

Hyperion - 05

-RWBY VERSE, THE KINGDOM OF VALE, BEACON'S OUTSKIRTS-

Ryuuto appeared outside with his friends, letting the shield he summoned fall. Feeling spent from the teleportation, he fell onto one knee, his eyes dulling in color slightly. Jaune and Pyrrha alarmedly tried to help him, but he raised a hand. "No. I'll be fine. We, however, need to find a way to stop Cinder."

Ryuuto met with Pyrrha's eyes, unspoken words being exchanged.

Go.

Will you be alright?

I'll keep Jaune safe. I know you'd go anyways. Just come back safe, Miss Nikos.

With a firm nod, Pyrrha looked to the top of Beacon Tower and ran off. Jaune tried to run after her. "Pyrrha! What are you-"

Ryuuto gripped Jaune's shoulder, his eyes igniting with blue Magic, as he teleported the Arc boy away from here as to not stop Pyrrha. She'd need zero distractions if she was to come out on top here.

-Elsewhere-

Lilith and Blaze just finished off the last of Team HP&N, knocking Nero unconscious. It was hard keeping up with the boy due to his ridiculously powerful Semblance (damn Vectors), but they managed to outsmart the boy.

Lilith looked up at Beacon Tower. "Blaze dear, what was Salem's plan for Cinder?"

Blaze hummed. "I'm pretty sure it was to have her become the Fall Maiden so she could get Beacon's Relic."

Lilith smirked. "The Fall girl doesn't deserve such power."

Blaze looked at Lilith warily. "Lils, the Queen will not be too happy about-"

"Our Queen will be pleased. I know she will. Cinder is a liability risk. I just know it. She only wants power." Lilith frowned. "Unlike me and you, who would serve our Queen faithfully. I am a woman with a purpose." Lilith stopped restraining her Semblance, as a dark purple glow surrounded her and began destroying everything it touched slowly. "The Queen will get the Relics. I am sure of it."

"You're assuming I'd let you or Salem go through with your plans." Ryuuto's voice said from behind the two, as they turned to see Ryuuto with two energy shields in hand. His eyes were red with rage, as he slammed the shields into the two and knocked them a few meters away. The two had their Auras flicker from taking damage, with both looking unhappy.

Ryuuto took a deep breath, looking at the shield he hit Lilith with. It was fading slowly, purple energy destroying it. He unsummoned the shield and replaced it with a scythe of dark Magic by tapping into the foreign soul fragment in him. Blaze's eyes widened, as Ryuuto smirked. "Remember this scythe, brother? The Alpha used this." Ryuuto's eyes alit with crimson-purple flames, as his manner changed. He let the Alpha's Fragment take over him. "I hope you're ready for the ass-kicking of the century, Blaze… Lilith."

Blaze seemed conflicted, as he snapped his fingers and left. He didn't want to die quite yet. Lilith, however, stayed behind. She frowned, purple highlights increasing in size and overtaking her black as she amped up her Semblance. Ryuuto swung his scythe, black and purple Magic arcing from it as Lilith raised her hand and shot a dark fireball at Ryuuto. The attacks collided, causing a large smokescreen, with Ryuuto narrowing his eyes. How'd she use Magic?

"Tell me, Lilith. What's your name?" He asked, genuinely curious. Lilith waved her hand, the smokescreen being blown away.

"Lilith Diabla." She said as Ryuuto's eyes widened. That last name was familiar, he thought about it and realized. This was the reincarnation, the fragment of the woman who tried to become a Goddess of Destruction, Diabla Hakaihime.

"How…" Ryuuto began, with Lilith smirking. She raised her hand and summoned a large amount of dark destructive energy, mixing Magic with her Semblance.

"My circumstances are for me to know, and for you to learn… If you survive!" She threw the attack, with Ryuuto getting serious and teleporting out of the way. He coated his hand in ice and lightning, impacting with Lilith's Aura as he found his hand was injured by her destructive Semblance. He needed to finish this now.

He put his hand out, charging his Magic up as ice, lightning, and energy from his Semblance formed and fused together. "Chaos Shot." He called out, the blue beacon of element-infused energy shooting out like an unstoppable river, impacting with Lilith and her Aura. When the smoke cleared, he was satisfied to find she was unconscious.

Taking control back from the Alpha, Ryuuto turned to Beacon Tower and frowned. Pyrrha was taking a good while… He then sensed something was off, as he ran off and used pure speed to scale the tower, making sure not to get the mysterious Wyvern's attention.

He wasn't too pleased to find Pyrrha on the losing end of a battle, with Cinder having her at her mercy, bow aimed at her chest. He snapped his fingers, getting Cinder's attention, as a green barrier of protection surrounded Pyrrha and began to heal her to an extent.

"YOU!" Cinder growled out, as Ryuuto smiled and pointed to himself.

"Yes, me. Want an autograph?" He taunted, as she charged right at him with a weapon made by her Semblance. Ryuuto was somewhat prepared though, as he summoned his shield quickly, and shot Cinder out of the Tower via knockback. He shot out of Beacon Tower himself, after dispelling Pyrrha's shield, sure she would be fine now.

The Wyvern, as expected, charged after Ryuuto and Cinder. Ryuuto turned, flicking his hand and trapping the Wyvern in a green prison of Magic. He was getting the hang of using Magic, with more memories of battles entering his mind from all his past incarnations.

Cinder landed on the floor safely, using fire from her hands to slow her descent. Ryuuto didn't need that, as his now greatly amplified Aura took the brunt of the attacks. He looked up, summoning a red sword into his other hand and twirling it around casually. "Come on, Cinder. You work for Salem. She controlls Grimm. She's the enemy of all humans. Do you really think, that if she wins, she'll let you live?" Ryuuto asked, trying to defuse the situation the way the Alpha used to. "I know you-"

"Oh, you know nothing about me. I've worked hard, I've suffered to get this far. You aren't going to tell me its all for naught." Cinder hissed. "You think Ozpin is trustworthy?"

"...no." He admitted, surprising Cinder. "I don't think he's trustworthy. He lies, he keeps secrets. But that's just a part of being human. Having flaws. Making mistakes. He's made more mistakes than any other human being on the planet, I'm sure of it." He then frowned. "Salem, on the other hand? She doesn't care. She'll never admit to being wrong. She'll never admit to making mistakes. She'll never help anyone. But you don't have to be on Salem's side… or Ozpin's. Be on your own side. You have the Maiden powers. You have what you want. Take it and go."

Cinder stared at Ryuuto for a while, before laughing. "Do you think I actually care about your 'soothing words'?"

"No… but I thought it wouldn't hurt to try and show mercy for once." Ryuuto charged forth, slamming his sword into Cinder with blistering speed, causing her to slam into a building. Her Aura flickered in and out of existence, with the building she hit slowly falling apart.

She growled, getting up and shooting towards Ryuuto. He sighed, letting the Alpha's Spirit take over, as his eyes flared red. He caught Cinder by the throat and ran, dragging her into the floor and throwing her into the air. He then punched her into a building, before slamming her into the floor again.

Cinder got up unsteadily, everything was going according to plan! Or at least, it was… before this boy showed up. Ozpin's mystery security dog… She felt her Aura was weak, and she knew the boy, no, the man in front of her wasn't even tired.

"HOW?!" She yelled out, calling to Ryuuto who was walking away. The reincarnated God stopped in his tracks, turning his head to look to her. "How'd you get this strong?!"

Ryuuto only smiled. "The power of bonds. I have friends I want to keep safe." He then grew somber. "Not only that, but I got this strong because it was necessary. True power comes from a need, not a desire. If I was to finish my task, to protect the Relics… to defeat Salem someday… Power is required." He then smiled again, turning around entirely to face her. "Don't you have anyone you want to protect?"

"I…" The more she thought about it, Mercury and Emerald, for as infuriating they could be sometimes… it was all she had. She stood up, smiling. "You're right."

"Ah, good. Nice to see that you still have a heart." Ryuuto turned around. "Alright. Bye." Ryuuto walked off, but then heard the sound of heels coming closer, and turned to stop a dagger from plunging into him. "You… You fool!"

Ryuuto slammed his hand into Cinder's stomach, binding her powers with the Alpha's help. He then caged her as he did the Wyvern, looking to see Grimm coming towards them. He looked for any connection they had to Salem and was very pleased to see that they were "masterless" Grimm to put it simply. "Well, Cinder. Its been fun, but I suppose I'll let the Grimm finish you now."

Cinder tried to escape the cage, she tried to summon any power in her, but found she couldn't do anything. She was powerless… because she angered the wrong person, she would die. She didn't want to die. She wanted to live. She needed to live…

The man… he said he wanted to be merciful earlier… She should have just taken his mercy and ran while she could have. She had power, she should have taken it and left… But now she'd meet her end. Her tale was about to come to a close.

Tears came from her eyes, as she croaked out a sentence that she would have never seen herself saying. "I'm sorry… please forgive me…"

-Beacon Tower-

Pyrrha was resting. She was also making sure wasn't losing too much blood, but she was a tad bit frustrated. Ryuuto, the one student who was gone for Oum knows how long, suddenly reappears and starts doing things that he shouldn't have been able to do. He even subdued the Grimm Wyvern, for crying out loud!

She rested, letting her Aura take over the healing process, too tired to notice a shadow sneak up on her. She was stabbed through the back by a black knife with purple glowing highlights, and barely had enough time to look at her assailant, her assassin; before she was quickly and brutally ended by a swift slice through her neck.

Lilith smiled, watching the head of the Nikos girl roll away from her body, and cleaned off her knife. One threat to her goal down… now to kill Cinder. She smirked and faded back into the shadows.

-Ryuuto and Cinder's Battlefield-

Cinder was expecting death. She expected to feel the pain of being torn to shreds. Instead, she found herself still breathing, still living. She opened her eyes, which she had shut tightly to brace herself for pain, and saw Ryuuto standing in front of her… with the clear bodies of fallen Grimm turning to smoke.

Ryuuto had a pondering look on his face. "Now, did I hear you right? You're sorry?"

Cinder shook her head enthusiastically, her eyes wide with panic and fear from nearly dying. "YES! I AM! I THINK-" Ryuuto raised an eyebrow, causing Cinder to take a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves from this near-death situation. "I know you're right… I just…"

"Old habits die hard. You probably didn't have the best life… Saw power as the only way to get respected." Ryuuto sighed, snapping his fingers and unbinding Cinder. "Go. Fix yourself up. Get stronger. Help people. Do that and you won't just get your name out there, but you'll have people who'll love you for who you are at some point. Though, then again, I think you already have some friends… don't you?"

"...Thank you. For being so merciful… three times over, even. You're very… kind." Cinder managed to say, not knowing exactly how to thank the man in front of her. Immediately, Ryuuto frowned.

"No. I'm not merciful. I'm not kind. I've killed more people than you can imagine. People with families… single parents, raising children. I've orphaned many, many children out of my ignorance." He turned around. "I'm human filth. I'm someone who doesn't deserve mercy." And with that, Ryuuto went to turn around but heard the clacking of heels again. He turned, ready to restrain Cinder, but was surprised to find himself on the receiving side of a hug.

"You may think that… but even so, just today, you showed me what you are on the inside. You clearly regret all those actions… meaning, you aren't heartless or merciless. You're human, yes… but you're one of the best ones in my eyes." Ryuuto's eyes widened at those words, his arms falling limp as tears threatened to form in his eyes.

"Why… You just met me, why are you being so nice to me?" He croaked out, tears falling from his eyes as he heard Cinder laugh lightly.

"Funny, I could say the same to you." Cinder cheekily replied, with Ryuuto beginning to laugh slowly. A smile wormed its way onto his face, as he hugged Cinder back.

"Huh… we're just a bunch of crazy misfits over here, aren't we?" Ryuuto asked, with Cinder replying with a quick "Yup". Ryuuto tried to speak, not knowing what to say, and found himself saying the first sentence that came to mind. "I don't want to let go…"

But regardless of what he wanted, he let go of the hug, as did Cinder. "So… what will you do, Miss Fall?"

Cinder laughed, a smile on her face. "Please, call me Cinder. And, well… I'll go find my… friends, Mercury and Emerald. Then I suppose we'll join you."

"...What?" Ryuuto blinked, as Cinder walked past him, trailing a finger under his chin as she walked off.

"I'll see you later, Mister Goody-Two-Shoes." She lightly teased, waving a hand in goodbye to the reborn God. Ryuuto smiled slightly, feeling something in his heart as he looked at Cinder's retreating form.

"I'll be waiting…" He said, about to leave, before he sensed a dark presence. "Lilith…? But why would she... no…" Ryuuto's eyes widened, as he ran after Cinder. "WAIT! LOOK OUT!"

Cinder turned to look at him, confused. Her eyes then widened as she noticed a bullet go through her chest, gasping for air as she collapsed. Ryuuto got to her, kneeling next to her as he saw her Aura had effectively gone out. "No… no, no, no! Stay with me Cinder!" He tried to heal her, but she stopped him.

"No. Don't. This is fine… I…" A purple tendril reached out and snagged Cinder, draining her of her Maiden powers using dark Magic. Cinder began to scream in pain, as Ryuuto got up and went to shoot a fireball at the direction of the tendril's creator, but found himself blasted in the back with a black fireball. He turned to see Blaze with his palm pointed at him, and then felt Cinder's hand tightening in his own, desperation in the Fall Maiden's eyes. "Keep… my friends… safe. Please…"

"...I promise." Ryuuto said, making the first promise he had in years. Cinder smiled, before the light in her eyes faded and her hand loosened it's grip, falling slack. The tendril faded, as Lilith came out from a demolished house.

"One traitor done with…" The dark woman smiled viciously. "Thanks for weakening her for us, we couldn't have done it without you." Ryuuto stood, staying silent as Blaze warily watched him. Lilith scoffed. "Don't tell me you cared about her. She's a traitor to all, running for the person with the greatest power. I honestly did you a favor…"

"Shut up."

Lilith looked at Ryuuto, scowling. "Excuse me?"

A dark fury entered Ryuuto's eyes, as they turned entirely purple, glowing ominously. His hair got spikier, white shifting to black, and red shifting to dark purple. "I SAID SHUT YOUR WHORE MOUTH WOMAN! I'LL END YOU!"

"What the…" Lilith had no time to react, as Ryuuto appeared in front of her, a glowing purple fist aimed right at her face. It connected immediately, knocking her through multiple buildings. Ryuuto's eyes, still filled with rage, focused on the energy he felt building up behind him, as he teleported behind Blaze. He kicked them in the back, most likely damaging their spine. Ryuuto immediately went back to fighting his real target, the murderer of his friend, Lilith. She would die. She would burn. She would suffer.

Lilith got up from the pile of debris she found herself under, dusting herself off, and looking around quickly. Her eyes widened as the saw the vicious, angry Huntsman-in-Training she was fighting behind her with a black and red sword of Magic in hand. She countered by summoning up her destructive Semblance to try and erase the blade but found it cut through her Semblance like butter, shattering her glowing aura in a slice. Ryuuto then kicked her in the stomach, throwing her through more buildings as he flew after her using his Magic.

Using pure speed, he nailed her in the stomach with a fierce kick that she had no time to block. She was sent flying but used her new Fall Maiden powers to control her own speed by flying. Lilith then began to recklessly and carelessly try counterattacks, but Ryuuto, while angry; was still superior to her in hand-to-hand combat skills. He showed it too, as he swerved away from a punch and kicked her in the back before appearing below her and kicking her in the chin.

Lilith's body was wracked with pain, as she wasn't even sure if she was damaging Ryuuto. She looked to the side and saw Blaze charging towards them, and internally sighed in relief, as she was sure Ryuuto couldn't handle them both. Ryuuto went to punch Lilith, but she caught it finally. Blaze then went to attack Ryuuto with a fiery blade, but he simply raised his other fist and blocked the blade.

Ryuuto focused his power and released it as a massive explosion of dark purple and red, knocking Blaze and Lilith away. Ryuuto then flew after Lilith, grabbing her by the neck and began to choke her, slamming her body into the floor. "You two made the biggest mistake you could have…"

"And what's that?" Lilith dared to ask, as she then immediately found herself on the receiving end of hundreds of Magic blasts.

"ITS YOUR DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE." Ryuuto appeared on the floor, kicking Lilith into the air. He summoned his sword again and shot into the air, slicing her arm right off. Lilith couldn't even fathom the pain she felt throughout her body. "BOTH YOU AND BLAZE ARE LIKE ME, REINCARNATIONS OF GODS. BUT INSTEAD OF HELPING ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT, BEING MERCIFUL AND PROTECTING THE ONES WHO NEED HELP; WHAT DO YOU DO?! YOU ABUSE YOUR POWER!" Lilith was grabbed by her other arm, where Ryuuto threw her at the floor with all his might, sword raised as he disabled his flight and fell to the floor with Lilith. The moment his sword collided with Lilith's body, a massive explosion of pure unrivaled power came from him.

Ryuuto stood, looking around. He didn't see Lilith or Blaze, and didn't sense them either… so he just assumed they might have perished in the explosion. Sighing, his eyes stopped glowing, and his hair lightened to a faint grey. He felt exhausted… physically, mentally, and Magic-wise. Pain entered his eyes as he remembered what caused this rage. Cinder's death… the death of someone who could have done good things in the world.

"I could lend you some help if you give me control for a bit." A voice said in his mind, sounding exactly like his own. "If you care so much about her… it's the least I could do."

Ryuuto realized who this voice was, it was his first incarnation on Remnant, Ryuu… Peace. He immediately gave them control, his eyes shifting to a rose-gold as he walked over to Cinder and placed a hand on the former Fall Maiden's cold body. Peace placed a hand over Cinder's wound, as it mended itself and he slowly fixed Cinder's body before using his godly magic to revive her. Peace nodded, knowing she would be asleep for a while. He then gave Ryuuto back control.

"Done… now I must rest. First time I used revival Magic in a while." The Peace God yawned in Ryuuto's mind, as he smiled, lifting CInder's body bridal style. He then noticed a large amount of power building up on Beacon Tower and tensed. Silver Eyes. He teleported away from there, off to find Cinder's friends.