On the school grounds, Qrow tookthe lead as the currently present members of Team RWBY, the remaining members of Team JNPR, and Oscar Pine follow close behind. Ruby stopped and looked up to admire Haven's CCT tower, before following the rest of the group to a nearby building.

They entered the building and were greeted by Leonardo Lionheart, who was stood on a terrace at the top of the stairs that is being held up by a statue. Unbeknownst to anyone, a cloaked Y/N followed behind quickly and jumped up to the ceiling with the assistance of the world, and watching carefully from behind the wall as he stood on one of the rafters. He pulled his red cloak up over his face.

Lionheart: Why hello. Thank you for... coming. There... seems to be more of you than last time

Qrow and the rest of the group stopped to look up at Lionheart.

Qrow: Eh, you know what they say, "The more the merrier." So what's going on with the council?

Lionheart: Why... did you bring your weapons?

Qrow: What? Leo, we're Huntsmen. You okay?

Lionheart: Of course! Of course, sorry. Just haven't had my evening coffee.

Qrow: Look, it's nice to see you, but we got work to do. Are we getting support from the council or not?

While the two talk, Yang notices from the corner of her eye a black bird perched on a balcony railing.

Yang: Mom? Everyone's attention is turned to the bird. It flew away just as Qrow shoots at it, but he missed. The bird flew down behind Lionheart, transforming into Raven Branwen, donning her mask. Everyone glared at her.

Ruby: Raven...

Nora: They... they really are magic...

Raven: If you're going to shoot me, shoot me. That was insulting.

Qrow: What are you doing here?!

Raven walked down the stairs as she spoke

Raven: I could ask you the same thing. You've been scheming, little brother. Planning to attack your own sister.

Qrow: Leo... what have you done?! Lionheart: I...

Raven: Leo did what any sane person would in his position - he looked at all the information he had in front of him, assessed the situation, and made a choice. And it seems you all have too.

Qrow: You have the Spring Maiden.

Raven: I do.

Qrow: Then hand her over and let's work together! We can beat Salem!

Raven: All that time spent spying for Ozpin and you still have no idea what you're dealing with. There is no beating Salem!

Ruby: You're wrong. We've done things that most people would call impossible, and I know the only reason we were able to do it is because we didn't do it alone! We had people to teach us, people to help us, we had each other. Work with us. At least I know we'll have a better chance if we try together. Please.

Ruby held her hand out. Raven glared at it.

Raven: You sound just like your mother.

Suddenly, Raven drew her sword and created a portal with her Semblance. From the portal, a fireball was launched and hit Ruby square in her torso. She landed several feet back.

Yang: Ruby!

While Yang ran to her little sister, Cinder stepped out of the portal.

Cinder: Hello boys and girls.

She was then joined by Vernal, Emerald and Mercury as they too step out from the portal.

Ruby: Cinder...

Cinder and her group lined up alongside Raven, while the rest gasped.

Mercury: C'mon guys, is that any way to greet your old friends?

Yang growled at him.

Qrow: Everybody, stay calm.

Suddenly they heard the doors behind them opened up.

Oscar: Oh no... Hazel Rainart closed the doors behind him as he entered.

Hazel: The White Fang is prepping demolition and securing the school grounds. No one's getting in, and no one's getting out.

Outside, a White Fang soldier was placing a bomb on the CCT tower. They made a hand signal before moving away to show more bombs all primed set by more White Fang soldiers. Adam Taurus looked on.

Adam: Once the charges are set, move back to perimeter watch. Tonight, Haven falls.

Back inside, everyone watched Hazel slowly approach them. They turned their attention back to Cinder.

Weiss: This was all just a trap?

Ren: It appears so...

Qrow: Raven, tell me... how long have you been with them?

Cinder: Aww, don't take it personally, little bird. Your sister was a recent addition. The lion on the other hand... Entrance into the Vytal Festival was a real treat, Leonardo's been sending Salem all sorts of information for a very, very long time. Isn't that right, professor?

Lionheart: Stop it...

Qrow: It was you... you sit on the Mistral Council. You had information on every Huntsman and Huntress in the Kingdom, and you gave it all to her?

Lionheart didn't say anything, only still having a sad expression on his face.

Cinder: Aw now, don't beat yourself up about it, Lionheart, I'm sure Tyrian and Hazel would've found them on their own eventually.

Jaune: What is wrong with you? How can you be so broken inside... to take so many lives, and then come here and rub it in our faces like it's something to be proud of?!

Nora: Jaune...

Jaune: All with that damn smile on your face!!

The rest of the group drew their weapons.

Qrow: Everybody, stay calm!

Cinder just glared.

Jaune: I'm gonna make you pay for what you did!! Do you hear me?!

Qrow: Kid!

Jaune: Well?! SAY SOMETHING!!

After a short pause, Cinder simply said four words that absolutely nuked the poor fella from orbit.

Cinder: Who are you again?

At this, Jaune transformed Crocea Mors to its two-handler form and advances forward. Cinder summoned an obsidian scimitar and blocks Jaune's attack.

Ruby: Jaune!

Ruby leapt into the air, but a chain wrapped around her and she was pulled to the ground by Emerald.

Emerald: You're not getting near her.

Jaune was then pushed back by Cinder and the two began their duel. Yang runs forward to join the fight, but Mercury landed in front of her.

Mercury: Hey there, blondie. I'm thinking you owe me an apology for my leg, don't ya think?

Yang growled and used Ember Celica to propel herself forward. Raven turned to Vernal.

Raven: Take out the heiress. Don't bother wasting your power, she's not worth it.

Raven then drew her sword as Qrow used his sword to lock blades with his sister.

Qrow: Running away was one thing, but this... you've crossed the line!

Raven: Sorry, brother. Sometimes family disappoints you like that.

Qrow: We're not family anymore.

Raven: Were we ever? Qrow: I thought so, but I guess I was wrong.

Raven smirked

Raven: Y/N, NOW!

Y/N jumped from the ceiling and floating in the middle of the battle he spoke

Y/N: "ZA WARUDO!"

A ticking was heard as time stopped

Y/N: "Time has stopped"

He floated down and looked around. He only had time to take out one of them and while he stood there deliberating, a second had already passed, spotting Qrow, he walked over and smirked slightly, pulling a knife from his pocket with one hand as he took off his cloak.

Y/N: "muda MUDA MUDA MUDAAAA!"

He threw the knife which stopped about an inch from Qrow's chest

Y/N: "Times up"

Time started to move again and the knife buried itself in Qrow's chest, he fell backward and hit the ground.

he smirked and turned to Raven.

Vernal meanwhile confronted Weiss.

Vernal: Let's see what the Schnee name really means.

Vernal drew her weapons while Weiss held Myrtenaster in the en garde position.

Weiss: I'm more than a name.

Vernal: Hm, prove it.

Weiss activated a glyph below her and projected herself forward to fight the 'Spring Maiden'.

Qrow grunted a little as Raven and Y/N walked towards the balcony to try and open the gate to the vault.

"Damn, I didn't think the kid was that strong, how did he do that? His semblance is that guardian thing...luckily I stuffed my clothes with these books, but it was intended for Lionheart's crossbow, I didn't think I'd have to face a knife! My best bet now is to stay down until I have a good opportunity to take one of those bigger players out..."

Meanwhile, Oscar sneaked up the stairs to Lionheart while Hazel confronted Ren and Nora, who held up their weapons defensively.

Hazel: I don't wish to fight either of you. Ren: Nor I you.

Nora: But we will if you're with her!

Hazel: Very well, then.

Hazel proceeded forward. As Lionheart nervously watched the fights going on, he then noticed Oscar walk up behind him.

Lionheart: Young man, I don't know who you are or what you think you're doing, but for your sake, I suggest you leave. Now.

Oscar defiantly remained stationary before taking a few more steps toward Lionheart.

Lionheart: I'm warning you! Lionheart held out his wrist-mounted weapon which was some kind of shield crossbow hybrid while Oscar prepared to draw something from behind him.

Lionheart: That's enough!

Lionheart rotated his weapon, having a glyph appear above it which then conjures a flaming rock that launched at Oscar, who held out his arms in front of him defensively as the attack explodes. Oscar was unscathed, though his Aura shimmered. He continued to proceed up the steps and drew his cane.

Lionheart: Ozpin? Oscar: Not quite. Oscar then proceeded forward as his attacks forced Lionheart on the defensive. He managed to whack Lionheart back a few steps.

Lionheart: This can't be... I knew you would be back, but... you made it here! You found Qrow! How?

Ozpin: Leo... what happened to you?

Lionheart: Wait. You can't have had this form for long. You're... not really Ozpin right now. Boy. Child. If I deliver you to Salem, she'll have to be pleased with me, and I can finally get out of all of this! I can finally be free!

Lionheart, now determined, prepped his weapon again.

Oscar: What do I do?

Ozpin: Fight.

Oscar proceeded forward. Meanwhile, Weiss leapt around on her glyphs, dodging Vernal's weapons as she threw them like boomerangs. Weiss was forced on the defensive and created a large ice wall. She then stabbed Myrtenaster into the ground as her Arma Gigas summon crawled out of her glyph. Suddenly, a large beam destroyed the ice wall as well as the Arma Gigas before it could be fully summoned. One of Vernal's weapons knocked Weiss back several feet.

Vernal caught her weapon

Vernal: Don't think I'm going to let you take the easy way out.

Elsewhere, Jaune was knocked to the ground.

Cinder: I'm starting to remember you, you're the dense one that can't tell when he's out of his league.

Jaune got back up and clashed blades with Cinder again. Ruby watched them fight, but was snapped out of her distraction by Emerald. Who then transformed her weapons into their revolver forms and fired at Ruby, who twirled around Crescent Rose blocking Emerald's shots.

Ruby: Why are you doing this?! Salem's--

Emerald: I don't care about Salem! But I owe Cinder everything. You want to fight her that bad? Be my guest.

Emerald then activated her hallucination Semblance, creating a wall of fire which Cinder emerged from and charged at Ruby. Suddenly, Cinder's form disappeared, while Emerald tripped Ruby. Ruby fired a bullet that narrowly missed Weiss, who was blocking Vernal's shots with Myrtenaster. Weiss attempted to summon, but Vernal was too quick and prevented her from doing so. Eventually Weiss managed to launch Vernal out of the way and prepared to summon again. Suddenly, Vernal appeared in front of her and landed an attack that depleted Weiss' aura. Weiss let out a pained scream. Jaune heard this and looked in her direction as tears welled up in his eyes.

Cinder: Are you going to let her die too?

Jaune: Stop messing with me!

Cinder: If that's what you want...

Cinder then ignited her scimitar, which was now fully coated in flames. Cinder and Jaune proceeded forward to clash. Ruby looked behind her and noticed that. She briefly thought back to the moment when Pyrrha Nikos died and her eyes started to shine bright again.

Ruby: NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

A bright light engulfed the area, but died down when Ruby was knocked unconscious by Emerald. Suddenly, Cinder fell to her knees, holding her arm in pain. She looked up, and barely missed Jaune's attack as it chipped her mask that concealed the left side of her face. As Cinder moves out of the way, Jaune tripped and fell. Cinder got back up enraged, activating her Maiden power while doing so. She then stepped on top of Jaune to hold him down.

Cinder: Did you think you actually had a chance against me?! You?!!

Jaune struggled to reach for his weapon while Cinder calmed herself and deactivated her Maiden power.

Cinder: You're just a failure with a death wish.

Jaune: If I die buying them time, then it's worth it. They're the ones that matter. Cinder looked to Jaune's comrades as they fought against their respective foes, before smiling evilly back down to him.

Cinder: You think so?

She then noticed Weiss get knocked back several feet away, and began to slowly proceed toward her while she conjured an obsidian spear.

Jaune: No...

Jaune watches helplessly while Cinder continues to advance towards Weiss

Jaune: NOOOOOOO!!!

Cinder threw the spear and it impaled Weiss through her abdomen. She gasped in shock as everyone stopped their fighting and stared in shock as well. The spear then disintegrated as Weiss went motionless and slumped forward. Y/N's eyes widened. Using this moment, Qrow sat up and sent a salvo from his weapon towards Y/N, sending him flying into a wall and landing on his stomach, visibly unconscious.

Raven: Y/N NO!!! She ran to his body, checking for a pulse. She found one, and Y/N woke up slowly. She smiled and Y/N winked at her.

Y/N: I'm not done yet, not by a long shot.

He got up, and the two of them looked at Weiss. Y/N was against Qrow and whoever was with him, but what Cinder did was outright merciless. At least he knew Qrow would survive. After all, nobody has a book shaped chest...In any case, Cinder was now his target

Raven stood back as Y/N screamed out in pure unrelenting fury and charged at Cinder.

Cinder smirked proudly. Jaune quickly got up and ran past Cinder, before a furious Y/N charged at her, his the world already positioned to deliver a powerful punch.

Oscar watched Jaune approach and pick up the unconscious Weiss Schnee from his position. He then looked over to the unconscious Ruby. Angered, he smacked Leonardo Lionheart with his cane, causing him to fall down the stairs and into Hazel, who remained unfazed as Lionheart falls to the ground. Oscar quickly ran over to Ruby, with Nora joining him. 

Oscar: Ruby, get up! Get up!! We need you! 

Meanwhile, with Y/N and Cinder, Cinder was trying to block Y/N and The world's attacks. Y/N's eyes blazed with fury as he and Cinder locked weapons, her scimitars the only thing stopping The world's fists from driving themselves into Cinder herself, the blades started to crack. Raven and Vernal watched with shock. 

Y/N: WWWRRRRRRRRYYYYYYY

Cinder: So arrogant. I'll enjoy taking your miserable life too.  She kicked Y/N, intending to send him across the room. However the world blocked it with an armoured Greave, in doing so it had to let go of the scimitars which slashed just in front of him.

Y/N laughed. 

Y/N: You really think a pathetic excuse for a Maiden like you can destroy me? I am Y/N, my semblance is the most powerful you will ever encounter, and now, I will finish this!"

He suddenly stopped time and disappeared. Cinder looked around before she was kicked hard in the back by Y/N.

Raven had to step in to prevent her nephew from killing Cinder or being killed, and to prevent her tribe from being hunted forever 

Raven: Stop! We'll get this Relic, THEN you can fight all you want. 

Y/N growled, but nodded. The world faded. 

Hazel picked up Lionheart by his collar, lifting him off the floor. 

Hazel: You're lettin' that boy make a fool of you. 

Lionheart: That's not just a boy! It's Ozpin. He's already reincarnated! 

Hazel dropped Lionheart and looked over to Oscar, who was still trying to nudge Ruby to wake her up. He then noticed Ozpin's cane being held in the young farm boy's hand. 

Hazel: Ozpin? 

Suddenly, the usual calm demeanor of Hazel slowly turned infuriated. Ruby stirred for a bit. 

Oscar: Ruby! You-- 

Hazel: OZPIN!!!! 

Oscar looks up. 

Ozpin: Oh no... 

Hazel: You thought you could hide from ME?!! 

Hazel ripped his coat off, and then grabbed two pairs of lightning Dust crystals from a couple of pouches on his legs. 

Hazel: You'll pay for what you did, you'll die over and over again!! 

He stabbed the lightning Dust into his arms, with his blood vessels turning yellow and popping out from his skin as well as having some lightning coat them. His eyes glowed yellow, and he let out an intimidating roar.
Oscar slowly backed away, holding his cane up cautiously. 

Oscar: Do-- do we fight? 

Ozpin: No, run! 

Hazel leapt forward to charge into Oscar, but Qrow got him out of the way in time. Qrow transformed his sword into its scythe form while Cinder watched. Raven, Y/N and Vernal walked to her sides. 

Cinder: Ozpin is here?! 

Raven: Is that a problem? 

Cinder: I'm not sure, but right now we got the upper hand. Let's not waste it. 

Lionheart was on his knees, when Raven's voice got his attention. 

Raven: Leo! Open the path to the vault! 

Y/N: And hurry it up!!! 

Lionheart got back up and approached the statue in the room. He took out his pocket watch and placed it in a small niche on the statue. The hands on the watch gradually spun faster and the statue lowered. Yang watched the situation in front of her. She looks to Jaune and Ren as they tended to Weiss, and then looks over to Nora who is still trying to wake Ruby up. Nora looks to Yang. 

Nora: Stop them! We've got your team covered!  Yang lingered a bit before heeding Nora's advice, but she gets kicked to the ground by Mercury. He was then joined by Emerald 

Emerald: You wanna get to them? You're going to have to get through all of us.  Emerald used her Semblance to create multiple copies of Mercury, which surrounded Yang. Meanwhile, Jaune used his hands to apply pressure on Weiss' wound, while Ren held her wrist checking her pulse. 

Jaune: Ren, talk to me! 

Ren: This is bad. 

Jaune's eyes widened in horror. 

Jaune: No, no, no, no, not again! Weiss, c'mon, please!! 

Meanwhile, Vernal stepped onto the platform leading down to the vault. 

Cinder turned to Lionheart

Cinder: Make sure they leave Ruby alive. This won't take long. 

Cinder stepped onto the platform. Raven looked back a bit as she hears her daughter fighting vainly, shaking her head before she stepped on the platform too, Y/N following and his eyes slowly swivelling to look at Vernal. The platform then lowered down.

Oscar dodged out of the way as Hazel slammed his fist into the ground. 

Ozpin: Oscar. 

Oscar: No! 

Oscar dodged another attack from Hazel. 

Ozpin: Oscar! 

Oscar: I told you, no! 

Oscar was then punched back by Hazel several feet into a column. 

Ozpin: Please, let me take over! I can handle him! 

Oscar: You told me I needed to fight for myself! So I will. 

Ozpin: This is not your fight! 

Oscar: What does that mean? Why is he so upset with us? 

Hazel: He didn't tell you my tale, did he, boy? I thought you looked familiar, to think that evil was inside you when our paths first crossed. Your blood won't be on my hands, it'll be on his. 

Qrow jumped in the way to block Hazel's attack, but he slammed his fist into the ground, the shockwave knocked both him and Oscar back. They both got back up as Qrow engaged Hazel. 

Oscar: What was he talking about? 

Hazel: Tell him, Ozpin! Tell him how you KILLED HER!! 

Oscar: Her? 

Ozpin: Gretchen Rainart was Hazel's sister. Despite her brother's wishes, she enrolled at Beacon Academy to become a Huntress and tragically lost her life on a training mission. Hazel... holds me responsible. Please, let me fight. I know Hazel. He's wounded in a way that cannot be healed. 

Hazel: You know now!

Hazel tossed Qrow aside

Hazel: You can forgive me for what I'm about to do. 

Oscar: Did she know? 

Hazel stopped in place at his inquiry. 

Oscar: Did she know the risk of being a Huntress? 

Hazel: She was only a child! She wasn't ready!! 

Oscar: She made a choice! A choice to put others before herself! So do I. 

Hazel just glared at him. 

Hazel: Then you've chosen death! 

Oscar glared back, determined. 

Ozpin: I'm sorry. 

Oscar: What? 

Oscar's eyes glowed and his body fell to the ground as Ozpin takes over him. Ozpin looked up, and Hazel looked back at him, enraged. 

Hazel: OzzzzPIIIIIIIIN!!!! 

Meanwhile, Jaune and Ren continued tending to Weiss. 

Ren: She's hardly breathing. I... I don't know what we can do... 

The both of them looked down to Weiss as she struggled to breathe, before suddenly stopping. 

Jaune: No, it wasn't supposed to be like this! Please! I can't lose anyone else... 

Jaune sadly closed his eyes. Suddenly, a faint shimmering sound was heard and a white aura started to coat over Weiss' body. Weiss suddenly gasped for breath again. 

Meanwhile, Y/N, Cinder, Raven and Vernal were riding the platform down to the vault.  Cinder looked at Vernal

Cinder: Are you nervous, girl? The first Maiden in - why, I'm not sure anyone knows how many years - is about to open a vault. I would say it's quite an exciting time. Don't you feel honored? 

Vernal: No, I'm not concerned with any of this. All I care about is my tribe - my family. This is a burden, not an honor. 

Cinder chuckled

Cinder: You've conditioned her quite well, Raven. Can't say the same for your son though. 

Y/N scowled at this. Raven scowled at Cinder.  As the four of them rode down the platform, they saw the vault under Haven Academy - a massive cavern with a large tree that has glowing orange flowers. The platform reached the bottom, and the gate protecting the vault lowered into the ground. 

Cinder: Hm, it's certainly grander than Beacon's. I wonder what the extra effort was for. 

Raven: Can we please not linger? 

Cinder: After you. 

Vernal stepped off the platform first, followed by Cinder, Y/N, and then Raven, the latter putting her mask back on. Y/N looked back at his mother figure for a second before she nodded, the two of them following Cinder and Vernal 

Back above ground, Hazel and Ozpin fight each other intensely. Lionheart tries to intervene by launching another attack from his weapon, but was stopped by Qrow. The two of them fought each other, with Qrow blocking Lionheart's projectiles. Ozpin and Hazel engage against each other again. Hazel tried to smash him with his fists, but Ozpin was too fast for him. Eventually, Ozpin managed to knock Hazel down on all fours. Ozpin then twirled his cane and prepares to deliver the finishing blow, but Hazel roared and smashed his fists into the ground, creating another lightning shockwave.

Meanwhile, Weiss started to gasp and breathe normally again as the white aura encoating her continued to glow. 

Jaune: Huh? Wha- what's happening? 

Ruby: Weiss! 

Nora helped Ruby up on her feet, who then quickly ran over to her teammate's side. 

Ruby: What happened? What's going on?! 

Ren: I think she's going to be okay! She seems to be stabilizing.

With Weiss breathing again, Ruby smiled, relieved that her friend's life is not endangered anymore. Ruby then heard her sister struggling, she looked over her shoulder to see Yang getting knocked back by Mercury. Yang charged forward, but Mercury's form disappeared as a result of another one of Emerald's Semblance hallucinations. Emerald then created an image of Raven, which Yang hesitates to attack. Yang then blocked another attack from Mercury, but she  was knocked down again. Ruby then looked over to Oscar fighting Hazel, with the latter's attack becoming too wild and unpredictable for the young boy. Oscar was then hit by one of Lionheart's projectiles, and held his shoulder in pain. Hazel was about to punch at Oscar again, but Qrow pushed Oscar out of the way and took the blow in his back, launching him upwards. Ruby then lifts Jaune's hands up to see that Weiss' wound had closed. 

Ruby: Whatever you're doing, don't stop! 

Jaune: I won't. 

Ruby: Good. Oscar needs help. 

Ren: I'm on it. 

Ruby: Jaune and Weiss still need cover! 

Ren took out StormFlower, while Nora approached his side holding Magnhild.

Nora: No one's gonna touch 'em.

Ruby: Okay, make it happen, RNJR! 

Ruby stood back up, transforming Crescent Rose into its scythe form and flipping over. She landed to her sister's side, knocking Emerald back. Emerald's Semblance copies of Mercury then disappeared, reforming back into the main Mercury. 

Yang: Thanks, sis. You okay? 

Ruby: No, I'm angry. 

Ruby proceeded forward. 

Back down in the vault, Y/N, Vernal, Cinder, and Raven walked towards the Relic chamber. Suddenly, a symbol on the ground glowed bright, as well as the circle enclosed around it. Similar circles with symbols in them also glowed leading up to the Relic chamber's door. The tree's flowers then glowed even more, and it's petals gently fell and float around the vault. One petal fell into Vernal's hand. 

Cinder: Having fun? 

Vernal glared back at Cinder as the petal in her hand dissolved into particles. 

Raven: Vernal, stay focused. 

Cinder: Oh, come now, Raven, let her enjoy this. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Vernal: How does this work? 

Cinder: Once the Spring Maiden places her hand on the door, it will open. For you - and only you. Then I will walk into the vault, and retrieve the Relic. No one else. Is that clear? 

Vernal: Yes. 

Raven: It doesn't matter to us. Let's get this over with. 

Cinder: Alright then. Vernal, when you're ready. 

Vernal approached the door. While she does so, Raven slowly reached for the hilt of her sword, but stopped when Cinder spoke. 

Cinder: You know, I've heard so many stories about you, Raven. They say you're a cunning leader, that you're strong, that you're clever.  Vernal hovered her fingertips close to the door. 

Cinder: It's a shame that they're wrong...  Cinder then let out a blue, frost-like projectile from her hand. 

Raven: VERNAL!!!

Raven reached out, but she was too late as she is frozen in place from Cinder's attack.

Y/N: VERNAL NO!! ZA WARUDO!!

Cinder smirked at Y/N before Vernal was suddenly stabbed by something in her stomach. She looked down and noticed an elongated Grimm hand coming from Cinder's left arm just as time stopped.

Y/N crawled the rest of the way towards Vernal as he recovered, he looked at her injuries briefly but the door was in the way of pulling her away. He shook his head quickly and he tried his best, eventually managing to pull her free, time resumed and Vernal fell against the door, Y/N trying to support her as best he could.

Cinder: It's nothing personal, dear.

Cinder approached Vernal as Y/N summoned the world in front of them

Cinder: You're just not worthy of such power....But I am... 

Y/N: No....no you're NOT!!!

Y/N tried to get up, but Cinder shot a fireball at him. It missed Y/N's head, but it badly burnt his shoulder. Y/N fell to his knees in pure agony, holding his burnt shoulder. Vernal was then pushed to the ground, and she screamed out in pain as she struggled to get the Grimm hand out of her stomach again. The ice coating Raven began cracking. 

Cinder: So I will take... what is mine...  Eventually, Vernal stopped struggling, and fell motionless and quiet.

Y\N: NOOO!!! You'll....die for that...

Cinder smirked as she looked down on Vernal's body, but then realized that something was wrong. 

Cinder: Wha-- what is this? Where's the power?! 

Cinder heard ice crack from behind her and saw Raven free from her frozen prison. Y/N stood up, his right hand on his left shoulder, seething with rage, the world now activated

Raven: You won't find it, because Vernal isn't the Spring Maiden... I am!! 

Raven opened her eyes, with a red flame-like effect glowing and trailing from them, to the shock of Cinder and Y/N

Cinder: Vernal was a decoy the whole time. The last Spring Maiden must've trusted you a great deal before she died. I bet that was a mistake... 

Y/N: No....the mistake was giving someone as selfish and bloodthirsty as you a power you never even came close to deserving. 

Raven growled and shot her sword out of her hilt, and the two Maidens began their battle against each other. They struck at each other with a flurry of vicious sword strikes. The two eventually clashed, the strike breaking Cinder's weapon and the shrapnel hurting her Grimm arm. She held her arm in pain. 

Raven: Aura can't protect your arm, it's Grimm. 

Cinder pulled the shrapnel out of her arm and faced Raven again. 

Raven: You turned yourself into a monster just for power. 

Y/N meanwhile was cradling Vernal as she died.

Cinder: Look who's talking... 

The two proceeded forward to clash again. During their bout, Raven quickly switched between the various colored blades in her hilt to counter Cinder's various weapons that she conjures. As their battle intensified, Cinder conjured a giant flaming sword while Raven used her Maiden powers to create a massive ice sword. Their clash created a massive shockwave that shook the cavern, with the combatants above ground also feeling the tremors.

Due to their battle, the giant stalactites hanging from above started to drop. Both Maidens jumped back to dodge out of the way. As Raven prepared for her next strike, Cinder's Grimm arm elongated through the dust and grabbed Raven's neck. Y/N saw this happen.  Y/N: Oh no you don't..."

As the Grimm arm slowly drains her powers, Raven noticed something and smirks. She sent out a frost-like attack from her palm and froze Cinder's feet in place as more boulders from the cave in crashed down on her. Raven, now free from her grip, did a massive leap into the air and landed on top of one of the falling stalactites. She looked down and noticed Cinder survived the cave in, using her fire powers to fly up to her. The two fought their way around the falling stalactites. Eventually the stalactites landed back on the ground, and both Maidens were on their knees, panting in exhaustion while their Auras shimmer as they are about to break. 

Raven: Had enough yet? 

Cinder: Shut up! 

Raven: If you were stronger or more clever, then maybe... you'd remember to watch your back! 

Cinder glared at her, wondering what the Spring Maiden is talking about, but then gasped as she looked behind her. She noticed the dying Vernal aiming one of her weapons at her and fire, as well as the weakened Y/N throwing knives at her from where he was.

Cinder blocked the attacks, but Raven quickly dashed up behind her and landed a devastating lightning attack on her face, shattering her mask and revealing the heavily scarred left side. The sheer force of the attack sends Cinder over the edge of the vault's walkway and above the abyss. She stared back up at Raven and send a powerful blast that knocked her back onto the platform, a moment later, Y/N was on his feet, he smiled a little

Y/N "You're too weak to face me now..

Y/N and the world were both surrounded by golden fire

Y/N: now you're in trouble...

Cinders eyes narrowed and she darted forwards towards Y/N who smirked, a moment later, the world punched her in the chest, sending her flying through the floor.

Cinder: impossible...

Y/N floated towards her

Y/N: just a bit unlikely

Cinder darted forwards and tried to slash at Y/N only for the world to catch the blade and crush it on its grip

Y/N: Too slow, too slow! The world is the ultimate semblance, even without his power to stop time, his speed and power far exceed that of any human

Cinder scowled

Cinder: we'll see about that, you're nothing but a bandit after all, I'm a maiden!

Y/n: I wanted to compare the world to find out just how powerful the world is against a maiden, but it seems a test is hardly necessary.

Cinder: you call crushing one of my blades a test? Not even touching me?

Cinder smirked cockily as she took a step back and summoned two new ones

Y/N: why is it that you people are so stubborn about admitting defeat...heh, I suppose I shall ride to your silly provocation and test you a bit more!

The world began to unleash powerful punches and kicks which cinder could barely deflect, she nicked the worlds cheek and her eyes widened slightly when she noticed the same cut appear on Y/N's face

Y/N: hmph, cute, shall we compare the speed of our attack rushes?

The world started punching quickly as Cinder slashed quickly, both of them becoming a blur of movement

Y/N: MUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDA!!

One of the worlds fists slipped past the arm holding the sword and connected with Cinder's face, Cinder was sent reeling

Y/N: so my stand's power and precision ARE both superior! I'm satisfied then, I have decided that because you killed Vernal, I will show no mercy when fighting one of the servants of Salem!

Cinder screamed with rage and charged forwards

Y/N: THE WAY TO END YOU IS WITH THE WORLDS TRUE POWER! ZA WARUDO! TOKI WO TOMARE!

Time stopped with Cinder inches from Y/N's neck, he smirked and walked around before delivering a chop to her spine

He paused as he watched her eyes follow him.

Y/N: hm, so you can follow my movements?

Y/N paused

" Maybe it's because of her maiden abilities? Her eyes are full of magic right now because of those firey effects, perhaps that's the source of her power, hm, who knows"

Y/N paused "tch, times run out" he said as time started to resume, Cinder grunted but managed to stay on her feet.

She smirked slightly

Y/N "could you see me?"

Cinder: heh, I guess we'll never know.." she said before slashing at Y/N who blocked each blow with the world.

Cinder darted backwards

Y/N smiled

Y/N: I suppose it doesn't matter, you still can't move anyway, whilst I can stop time for five seconds, with longer and longer intervals each time, CINDER! I shall see how powerful you truly are! ZA WARUDO! TOMARE TOKI WO!!!"

Time slowed to a stop again.

Y/N got closer and paused as he saw Cinder's finger twitch.

Y/N: So it appears Maidens CAN move during stopped time! In that case I better finish you quickly! 5 seconds left!

Y/N reached into his pocket and spread several knives along his fingers

Y/N: heh, is it just me or have you grown pale? Perhaps you've realised that you face a more horrific fate than my dear 'uncle', even though he escaped, I do wonder if your aura is strong enough and you can react quick enough to deflect all these knives?"

Y/N started to throw more and more knives, surrounding Cinder "doesn't this guy run out of knives?" She thought

Y/N smirked as he eventually ran out of knives

Y/N: One second....being able to see this must make it all the more terrifying! Zero!

Time started to move again and cinder summoned her swords, blocking as many as she could, some slipped through her defence however and she was stabbed by knives in several places, she grunted in pain as she fell down into the chasm.

Y/N: that was for Vernal....I'll add one more, just to be sure..

Y/N threw a final knife into her head, he didn't however see the knife being blocked by a remaining piece of the stone mask under her hair as she fell into the chasm

Y/N floated to the ground and ran towards Raven who was just getting up.

She ran to Y/N and looked at him, searching for injuries. Once she was sure he was fine, the two of them looked at Vernal, who had succumbed to her injuries. 

Raven: Thank you, Vernal. 

Y/N lowered his head in sadness as Raven sadly looked over to the now-deceased Vernal, whose eyes remained open on her lifeless body.

Y/N walked over to Vernal's corpse and gently closed her eyes before he gently kissed Vernal's forehead before following Raven. Raven then proceeded to the Relic chamber's doorway. She activated her Maiden powers again and began the process to unlock the chamber. Eventually, the door opened up, and on the other side, a massive desert was shown with a path leading to the Relic of Knowledge, which rested on a stone pedestal. 

Y/N: Wow. It's incredible. 

Just as she was about to enter the chamber, Raven heard the sound of Ember Celica and turned around to glare at her daughter landing behind her. Yang did a three point landing pose and stood back up to face her mother and Y/N.