Chương 98: Chapter 91: The Silver Light

The late afternoon sun hung low over the coastal city of Argus, casting long, bruised shadows across the snow-dusted cobblestones. Away from the bustling transit hubs and the imposing military base, the residential districts offered a quiet, serene escape. The crisp, freezing air carried the faint scent of woodsmoke and sea salt. Ruby Rose and Oscar Pine walked side-by-side down a quiet avenue, their boots crunching softly in the fresh snow.

The suffocating tension of Cordovin's rejection, coupled with the heavy, lingering trauma of the train ambush, had left them both desperate for a moment to simply breathe while volunteered to grab a few supplies for the house. Ruby adjusted the thick red scarf wrapped around her neck, her silver eyes scanning the peaceful townhouses.

"It's nice out here. Almost makes you forget about... everything else." Oscar nodded, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his coat.

"Yeah. It's quiet. We haven't had a lot of quiet lately." He glanced sideways at the young Huntress. The fading sunlight caught the silver rings in her eyes, making them shine with a startling, ethereal clarity. Oscar hesitated, his breath pluming in the freezing air, before he finally broke the comfortable silence.

"Ruby... how are you holding up? With what Maria and Professor Ozpin told us back at the station. About your eyes." Ruby's footsteps slowed. She pulled her red cloak a little tighter around her shoulders, her expression turning uncharacteristically solemn.

"I don't know," Ruby admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"For a long time, I just thought my eyes were a trait I inherited from my mom. A family resemblance. But hearing that I'm supposed to be part of this... this legendary lineage? A living weapon to destroy all kinds of the Creatures of Grimm?" She let out a heavy, shaky sigh.

"It feels like someone dropped a mountain on my shoulders." Oscar stopped walking, turning to face her.

"It's a lot of pressure."

"It is," Ruby agreed, looking down at the snow.

"Everyone is looking at me like I have this magical answer to Salem's army. But I don't even know how to use it. When I look in the mirror, I just see... me. Just Ruby. I'm terrified that when the time comes, I won't be enough." Oscar stared at her, his hazel eyes softening with a profound, aching empathy. He stepped closer, the crunch of the snow startlingly loud in the quiet street.

"I know exactly how that feels," Oscar confessed, his voice trembling slightly. He looked down at his own hands, his fingers twitching as if testing to ensure they were still his own.

"When Ozpin first spoke to me... I was just a farm hand. And suddenly, I was told I had to help save the world." Oscar looked back up, his eyes shining with a raw, terrifying vulnerability.

"But that isn't what scares me the most, Ruby. What terrifies me is that... I can feel him. Ozpin's soul, his memories, his ancient magic. It's bleeding into me. Sometimes I say things, or I know things, and I don't know if it's me thinking it, or if it's him. I'm so scared that one day, I'm just going to wake up... and Oscar Pine won't exist anymore. I'll just be another one of his past lives." Ruby's breath caught in her throat.

The sheer, existential horror of Oscar's burden mirrored her own, but it carried a finality that broke her heart. Without a second thought, Ruby stepped forward. She reached out, gently taking both of Oscar's trembling hands in her own.

"Oscar, look at me," Ruby said softly, but her voice carried an unshakeable, fierce determination. Oscar blinked, his hazel eyes locking onto her brilliant silver ones.

"You are not just a vessel," Ruby promised him, her thumbs gently brushing the backs of his hands.

"You are brave. You stood up to Hazel. You fought on that train. That wasn't just Ozpin's ancient magic. That was your courage. I know how scary it is to be pushed into a leadership role you didn't ask for. I'm terrified half the time." Ruby gives him a tender smile.

"But I see you, Oscar. Not the Headmaster. Just you. And I'm not going to let you disappear." A deep, profound warmth blossomed in Oscar's chest, completely chasing away the freezing coastal chill. He stared at the beautiful, earnest girl holding his hands, his face flushing a furious, vibrant red.

"Ruby..." Oscar whispered, his voice incredibly soft. The distance between them seemed to shrink. The quiet residential street faded away, leaving only the two young leaders standing in the snow, a subtle and undeniably sweet tension blooming in the space between them. Oscar tentatively squeezed her hands back. Suddenly... The blaring, deafening shriek of the city's perimeter alarms shattered the tender moment like a hammer through glass.

Ruby and Oscar leaped apart, their faces burning brightly, but their Huntsman instincts overriding their embarrassment instantly.

"Grimm breach!" Ruby yelled, whipping Crescent Rose from her back. The massive scythe unfolded with a sharp, mechanical shriek.

"Over there!" Oscar pointed down the avenue. Scrambling over the reinforced stone of the outer wall was a pack of twelve Sabyrs. The massive, saber-toothed Grimm snarled, their red eyes locking onto a group of terrified civilians huddled near a bus stop.

"Get behind us!" Ruby commanded, triggering her Semblance. She burst into a slipstream of rose petals, rocketing down the street and materializing directly in front of the civilians. She swung Crescent Rose in a massive horizontal arc, slicing the leading Sabyr cleanly in half. Oscar unslung The Long Memory from his back. He didn't wait for Ozpin to take control. Gripping the brass cane like a quarterstaff, Oscar charged.

He ducked beneath a lunging Sabyr, planting his boots firmly in the snow, and brought the heavy brass gear-housing down directly onto the beast's skull with a sickening crunch.

"Six more!" Oscar warned, backing up to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ruby. The remaining Sabyrs circled them, hissing and snapping their elongated fangs. Ruby gritted her teeth. She remembered the conversation at the train station.

"It is not a matter of striking a match, child. It is a matter of the soul." Maria's words echoed in her mind. I can do this. Ruby thought frantically. I have the power. I just have to use it!

"Oscar, cover me!" Ruby shouted. She dropped Crescent Rose, planting her boots firmly in the snow. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to force the legendary power to the surface. She thought of the snarling monsters in front of her. She thought of the need to destroy them quickly, to obliterate the darkness before it could hurt anyone else. Burn them. She demanded of herself. Just like the legends. Vaporize them! Ruby snapped her eyes open, expecting a blinding flash of divine light to eradicate the Grimm.

Nothing happened. Her silver eyes reflected the dull afternoon light, but no magical energy flared. The power fizzled out completely, a cold, empty void in her chest.

"Ruby, look out!" Oscar screamed. One of the Sabyrs lunged, its jaws snapping shut mere inches from Ruby's face. Ruby gasped in panic, diving into a clumsy backward roll to avoid the lethal bite. She scrambled in the snow, snatching Crescent Rose from the ground and firing a high-caliber round blindly to force the monster back.

"I... I couldn't do it!" Ruby cried out, her voice laced with sheer frustration.

"Hey!" A barrage of explosive pink grenades rained down from the rooftops, detonating squarely against the flanks of the remaining Sabyrs. Nora Valkyrie dropped from the sky, Magnhild smashing into the pavement. Right behind her, Ren dashed through the smoke, StormFlower popping rapid bursts into the stunned monsters. A pale blue glyph materialized beneath the last three Sabyrs. Weiss Schnee slid forward, her rapier flashing as she froze the beasts' legs to the ground.

Yang Xiao Long followed up instantly, propelling herself forward with an explosive blast from Ember Celica and shattering the frozen monster with a devastating uppercut. Blake Belladonna landed gracefully on a nearby streetlamp, her weapon returning to its sheath with a sharp click. In seconds, the breach was completely contained.

"Is everyone alright?!" Yang yelled, running toward Oscar and Ruby with the others while scanning the perimeter for any stragglers.

"We're fine, no one got hurt," Oscar answered, lowering his cane. He turned his hazel eyes toward his partner, his expression shifting into deep concern.

"Ruby..." Ruby was staring at her trembling hands. The pack of Grimm was dead, but the victory tasted like ash. This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. She had the ultimate weapon against the darkness locked inside her very soul, and when the civilians needed it most, she was completely powerless to summon it. She was left deeply, profoundly frustrated, doubting her ability to wield her own legacy.

The coastal sky had turned pitch black by the time the group returned to Saphron and Terra's cozy suburban home. The warm yellow light spilling from the living room windows offered a stark contrast to the freezing night, but Ruby couldn't bring herself to go inside. She sat alone on the wooden steps of the back porch, her red cloak wrapped tightly around her shoulders, staring blankly at the snow-covered lawn. The heavy, rhythmic tap of a wooden cane broke the quiet of the evening.

"There you are," Maria Calavera rasped, hobbling onto the porch. The tiny, elderly woman wrapped her thick shawl tighter against the wind.

"I was looking for you. Dinner is almost ready." Ruby forced a small, unconvincing smile.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make you come looking for me." Maria didn't return the smile. Her cybernetic, brass-rimmed goggles whirred softly, the amber lenses auto-focusing on the slumped, defeated posture of the young Huntress. She carefully lowered herself onto the steps, sitting directly across from Ruby.

"I heard about the little breach this afternoon," Maria stated bluntly.

"And knowing you, and that stubborn look on your face... I deduce you tried to use the eyes. And failed completely." Ruby flinched, looking away.

"I feel like I'm letting everyone down."

"You don't give yourself enough credit," Maria said, her tone surprisingly even. Ruby let out a hollow chuckle.

"Thanks."

"That wasn't a compliment," Maria corrected sharply, tapping her cane against the wood. Ruby blinked, thoroughly confused.

"What?"

"If I have to explain it to you, it defeats the purpose," Maria huffed. Ruby crossed her arms, her frustration bubbling back to the surface.

"It's just... it's so heavy. Knowing that I'm supposed to be this living weapon against the darkness. The destiny of the whole world feels like it's resting on my shoulders, and I don't even have an instruction manual!" Ruby looked up at the stars, a bitter edge entering her voice.

"Look at Jaune. He was doing Saitama's training regime. He went through absolute hell, and now he's successfully manifested a small part of Saitama's physical power into his own fighting style. He imbued it with his Aura, and he found the best version of himself! He can suplex large Grimm!" Ruby lowered her head again.

"But me? I was born with a divine gift, and I can't even make it spark." Maria let out a long, heavy sigh. She leaned her chin on her hands, resting them atop her cane.

"Child, what exactly do you know about Silver Eyes so far?" Ruby rubbed the back of her neck.

"I mean... Ozpin said we're supposed to be legendary warriors. Or something... That's pretty much it. I only know the surface." Maria shook her head slowly, muttering under her breath.

"Oh, boy."

"Look, if I already knew everything, I wouldn't be asking for help!" Ruby huffed, her voice rising in defensive frustration.

"Yelling..." Maria warned, her tone dropping into a strict, grandmotherly reprimand. Ruby instantly deflated, looking down at her boots with a sorrowful expression.

"Sorry."

"It's not your fault," Maria relented, her voice softening.

"I had my father to teach me, and even he didn't have all the answers. But what my father told me makes sense, given what I've seen in my lifetime." Ruby tilted her head.

"Was your father a Huntsman too?"

"It wasn't really an official title back in his day," Maria chuckled.

"I only knew him as an old soldier and an excellent teacher. I never attended one of those fancy academies like you children. But when the time came, I scored higher on the license exam than any other Huntsman or Huntress that day." Ruby smiled genuinely.

"You must have been very proud."

"Ha! My father would've scolded me for showing off," Maria laughed, a fond, distant look behind her goggles.

"He'd never been able to find much information about our abilities. Just legends of warriors whose eyes shone like mirrors, reflecting the light of the world onto darkness. He found so little, in fact, that it made him cautious. He asked me: how could such a powerful bloodline be so incredibly rare? Unless something was actively seeking to destroy them." Ruby shivered, remembering Qrow's grim warning at the train station. Salem had been hunting them for centuries.

The only reason the Grimm Queen hadn't sent her entire army after Ruby yet was because Salem simply didn't know she existed. Yet.

"I tried to keep my powers a secret," Maria continued, her voice turning grim.

"But as you know, it wasn't enough. I owe my life to my training, and my Semblance. At the end of the day, those are still your most powerful tools."

"What is your Semblance?" Ruby asked curiously. In response, Maria casually reached into the deep pocket of her shawl. She pulled out a bright yellow lemon she had snagged from Terra's kitchen. Without looking, she tossed the lemon high into the freezing air over her shoulder. As the fruit plummeted toward the wooden steps, Maria's hand snapped out backward. She caught the lemon perfectly between two fingers, her gaze never leaving Ruby's face.

"Preflexes!" Maria announced proudly. Ruby stared at the lemon.

"Preflexes?"

"It's a silly name I came up with," Maria chuckled, tossing the lemon into her other hand.

"It is hard to explain, but I can sense everything better than most. I react to attacks almost before they happen. Combine that with my training and a secret ability to turn Grimm to stone, or blind them, or vaporize them entirely..." Maria cleared her throat, puffing her tiny chest out with a confident, nostalgic grin.

"And that's how you become the Grimm Reaper!" Ruby leaned forward, her silver eyes shining with renewed eagerness.

"So... how do I laser-beam monsters with my eyeballs?" THWACK.

"Ow!" Ruby yelped, rubbing the top of her head where Maria had comically smacked her with the wooden cane.

"Stop thinking like that!" Maria scolded.

"Sorry!" Ruby whined.

"Does awakening them have anything to do with emotions? Is it like unlocking a Semblance?"

"It is emotional, yes, but it must be far more focused than that," Maria instructed, tapping her cane on the floorboards to emphasize her point.

"Think. What is it that you wanted this afternoon? What do you want whenever you are fighting?" Ruby went silent. She looked down at her hands, her fingers slowly clenching into tight fists. She thought about Oscar. She thought about her team and Team JNPR. She thought of her uncle, her father, and any others that stood beside her.

"I want to protect my friends," Ruby stated, her voice devoid of doubt.

"Precisely!" Maria pointed her cane directly at Ruby's chest.

"It is the desire to preserve life which fuels the light inside you. And make no mistake, child, it is light. Preservation is an extension of creation. Or, at the very least, an enemy of destruction." Maria leaned forward, her voice dropping into a solemn, reverent tone.

"The Creatures of Grimm were made by the God of Darkness. But your light comes from his brother." Ruby's breath caught. It perfectly aligned with Ozpin's explanation. The power wasn't a weapon of war. It was the ultimate, divine antithesis to destruction. Her eyes, without a doubt, came from the God of Light himself.

"Okay," Ruby said, eagerly shuffling forward on the step.

"Where do we start?"

"Not here. The light will only work in the presence of Grimm. Meaning the only true practice you will get will be a trial by fire," Maria replied bluntly, leaning back.

"But... what you can do right now is focus on creating a state of mind. A mental sanctuary that you can tap into when you need it most. Do not think about your light as a means of destroying evil, Ruby. Think of it as a way to protect the people of Remnant." Before Ruby could ask another question, the backdoor swung open. Saphron poked her head out, offering a warm smile.

"Hey, there you are. Come on, dinner is ready!"

The living room of the Cotta-Arc household was packed, the warm glow of the fireplace fighting back the chill of the Argus night. The remnants of a hearty, home-cooked stew had been cleared away. Qrow, Oscar, Team RWBY, and Team JNPR were gathered around the central coffee table, their expressions grave. Saphron and Terra sat on the nearby loveseat, cradling cups of tea, offering the Huntsmen a supportive presence.

In the far corner of the room, sitting cross-legged on the carpet in front of the television, was the most powerful being in the universe. Saitama was still wearing his impeccably tailored black suit, pristine white trench coat, and Roman Torchwick's bowler hat. He was munching lazily on a bowl of popcorn, his dotted eyes glued to a brightly colored Argus superhero cartoon playing on the screen.

Sitting right beside him was Neopolitan, still utilizing her Semblance, projecting the mundane brown hair and beige winter coat over her true appearance to ensure Saphron and Terra didn't recognize her from any international wanted posters. Crawling happily between the two of them was baby Adrian. For some inexplicable reason, the toddler had taken an absolute liking to the strange, silent duo.

Adrian babbled cheerfully, grabbing a piece of popcorn from Saitama's bowl before reaching over to tug playfully at Neo's coat. Neo didn't push him away. She offered the baby a surprisingly gentle, amused smile, though her ears remained perfectly tuned to the Huntsmen and Huntresses' conversation behind her.

"So, the comms are completely dead?" Pyrrha asked, leaning forward on the sofa.

"Dead as a doornail," Qrow grunted, dragging a hand down his tired face.

"I managed to get Ironwood on the line for about two minutes. He confirmed he sent the clearance. But the feed glitched out, and a massive red 'External Override' flashed on the screen. The connection was permanently severed." Weiss crossed her arms, her pale blue eyes narrowing.

"An external override? That means someone hacked the CCT hub."

"Or someone hacked the Atlesian grid itself," Ren deduced grimly. Because Saitama, Saphron, and Terra were in the room, the group was forced to speak in coded half-truths. They couldn't outright say that Salem's forces had infiltrated Atlas.

"The enemies have breached their network," Blake said quietly, ensuring her words wouldn't carry over the noise of the cartoon.

"They trapped us here on purpose."

"And we can't talk our way through Cordovin," Yang sighed, throwing her hands up.

"The front door is locked, and the phone line is cut. We are officially stranded." A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the coffee table.

"There is another way," Ruby said, her silver eyes locking onto her uncle.

"If they won't let us fly to Atlas... we steal an Atlesian airship." Qrow's eyes widened drastically. He nearly choked on the air in his lungs.

"Ruby, are you out of your mind?! Stealing military property from a fortified Atlesian base? That's treason! Cordovin will throw everything she has at us!"

"We can help with that," Terra spoke up, setting her teacup down. The Huntsmen and Huntresses turned to look at her in surprise.

"I work at the Argus relay tower," Terra explained calmly, adjusting her glasses.

"The civilian comms and the military radar system share the same physical infrastructure on the coastline. If you kids can secure a ship, Saphron and I can get Qrow into the relay tower. He can sabotage the military radar, temporarily blinding Cordovin's early warning systems long enough for you to break the atmosphere and cross into Solitas."

"You're willing to risk your jobs? Your safety? For us?" Jaune asked, profoundly moved by the offer.

"You're my brother, Jaune. And your friends are our friends too," Saphron smiled warmly, reaching over to squeeze Terra's hand.

"Beside, you're trying to save the world. Of course we'll help!" Qrow looked at the determined faces of the students, and then at the supportive couple. He let out a long, exhausted sigh.

"Fine. We steal a ship tomorrow."

"However," Weiss interjected, lowering her voice significantly as she pointed a subtle finger toward the television.

"We have a glaring problem. We cannot involve 'Darwin' in this plan." Saphron and Terra blinked, looking over at the bald man currently watching cartoons with their baby.

"Why not?" Saphron asked.

"Isn't he your tactical consultant?"

"Uh! Well, yes!" Jaune stammered, his face flushing as he scrambled for a believable excuse.

"But 'Darwin' is... he's a very important, highly classified figure to General Ironwood! Our actual, primary mission is to bring him to the General in absolute secret!"

"Right!" Nora chimed in loudly, nodding with aggressive enthusiasm.

"He's super top-secret! If Cordovin sees him during a heist, she'll report it to Atlas, and Ironwood will be furious!"

"We can't risk him being compromised to the enemies," Ren added smoothly, backing up his leader's lie. Saphron and Terra exchanged a look, clearly curious about the incredibly strange man in the bowler hat, but they nodded in understanding.

"I see. Don't worry, we won't pry," Terra assured them.

"Confidentiality is key." Jaune let out a massive sigh of relief. He turned around, calling out to the TV.

"Hey, Sa--uh... Darwin!" Jaune called, wincing internally as he nearly spilled his master's real name. Saitama paused with a handful of popcorn halfway to his mouth. He turned his head, his dotted eyes looking at the blonde knight.

"Yeah?"

"We have some... tactical operations to run tomorrow morning," Jaune explained carefully.

"We need you to stay here in the house until we call for you. Keep a low profile." Saitama blinked. Then, he swallowed his popcorn and shook his head.

"No can do," Saitama stated flatly.

"I'm going to the laundromat tomorrow morning." The entire group of Huntsmen (excluding Saphron and Terra) froze in sheer, unadulterated panic.

"Saita--I mean, Darwin!" Ruby hissed, stepping forward and waving her hands frantically.

"You can't go out tomorrow! The military patrols are going to be everywhere!"

"I don't care," Saitama retorted, turning his body to face them and gesturing furiously at his chest.

"Look at this! The potato chips grease thanks to that flying lion-thing is setting into the fabric! The shop was closed today for maintenance. I have to be there right when they open tomorrow to get this chemically treated before the stain becomes permanent!"

"We will buy you a new coat!" Weiss offered desperately, pulling out her Scroll.

"I will literally buy you ten coats!"

"This coat is expensive! It's the principle of the thing!" Saitama argued, crossing his arms stubbornly.

"No one is stopping me from doing my laundry." Yang buried her face in her hands.

"You have got to be kidding me." If Saitama went out into the city, he couldn't go alone. He was too oblivious. That meant Neo had to go with him to ensure his disguise held and he didn't accidentally vaporize a mugger in front of the police.

"But we need Neo!" Blake whispered urgently to Qrow.

"Her Semblance is the perfect tool for sneaking into the airfield! If she's babysitting him at the dry cleaners, we're completely exposed!" Saitama huffed, turning his back on the group and grabbing another handful of popcorn.

"I'm washing the coat." The group let out a collective, agonizing groan of absolute defeat. Arguing with him was mathematically impossible. Sitting on the floor, Neo slowly turned her head. She looked at the frustrated, highly trained Huntsmen and Huntresses who were currently plotting to steal a military airship. A wickedly amused, highly ironic smirk spread across Neo's disguised face. The great heroes of Remnant, the people who viewed her as a deplorable criminal, were about to commit grand theft aiship.

She caught Ruby's eye. Neo didn't type a message. She simply offered a sharp, mocking thumbs-up, silently wishing them good luck on their descent into criminality. Qrow dragged both hands down his face, the exhaustion radiating from his very bones.

"Alright," Qrow grumbled, looking back at the map of the Argus base spread across the coffee table.

"Change of plans. We're doing the heist without the illusions. Terra, tell us how to disable the radar."