54 Weakness

"Master, that's all of them taken care of." Blake was holding down Coco under her knee as she clasped the Aura blocking cuffs onto her arms. Across the courtyard of Beacon Academy, Soldiers were doing the same to a multitude of other students.

Some of them like Team CFVY resisted although it was a futile effort, while others gave up thanks to Shen holding Glynda hostage. Still in the end he didn't kill any of them per their agreement.

"Blake you tra-" Coco was yelling at Blake who was on top of her, but before she could finish Blake slammed her head into the ground, cutting her off. Still, her eye's never left Shen's who nodded.

"Good, I want all of the students rounded up and lined up in the main courtyard. If they resist, you can get rough with them but no killing." Glynda who was next to Shen was going to speak up but ended up swallowing her words speaking to all of the students around her.

"Just do what they say, don't fight back…" The students who heard her bit their lips but complied. They couldn't win in this situation, the city was practically taken over at this point and none of the Huntsman would return in time.

"Now then, since we've handled all resistance and I've acted according to our deal. Glynda if you would be so kind as to lead us to the Maiden and the Relic." Knowing she couldn't refuse, Glynda reluctantly took the lead. Everyone else was left outside including Qrow, making them the only two walking through the halls.

The empty sounds of their footsteps echoed just like the sound of fighting that was rung hundreds of meters below ground. A large dimly lit hall with green torches lining the walls was full of activity. The floor was made of smooth marbled stone and even the pillars holding up the roof were made of seamless metal.

The hall was around fifty meters to the roof and had enough space to fit hundreds of people through at once. Yet only two people were in that hall at the moment. A dozen streams of green light flew through the air like guided missiles striking the ground and exploding violently. Their target was Cinder.

She retreated quickly, flipping through the halls narrowly avoiding each blast. Jumping into the air on the last impact she landed on her feet at one end of the hall staring at Ozpin on the other. This was the Beacon Vault area, sealed off to any students or teachers.

On one end was the elevator leading down here and on the other end was Amber, the current Fall Maiden who was currently on life support. Cinder had attacked her previously but she had escaped leaving her with only half of the Maidens's power.

She planned on collecting the remaining half but now Ozpin was standing in her way.

"For an ancient fossil of an old man you're really annoying! Just lie down and die!" Holding both of her hands up to her side, flames erupted from her hands. Her eye's flared to their limits as she thrust her hands forward. An intense amount of heat washed down the hall as flames erupted forth into a violent inferno.

Even the marble floor and metal walls of the hall were melted and blown away from the intensity. Holding his cane tight Ozpin pressed it to the ground as a shield surrounded him preparing to take the brunt of the explosion of fire.

"You..." Ozpin's eyes widened as he saw a figure appear in front of him. Shen glanced at him before holding one of his arms towards the wall of flames that completely engulfed your vision. In that instance, his right hand transformed into something demonic.

The second the flames touched his arm they scattered. Like a swarm of instincts avoiding a flame, the fire burnt everything around them but did not come within a meter of Shen or Ozpin. After a few seconds, the fire died down leaving Cinder exhausted. She nearly froze when she spotted Shen standing in front of Ozpin.

Everything around them had been scorched, burned, and melted beyond degree. Yet the floor directly under them was as pristine as it was a few moments ago like the heat never reached it. Glynda came running into view from behind Cinder looking around at what had happened.

The moment the elevator opened and the two of them spotted the flame's Shen rushed forward in a flash of lightning making it just in time. Both Ozpin and Cinder were confused about what was going on due to their lack of knowledge above ground.

"What are you-" Cinder was about to speak but before she finished she was struck in her stomach. Shen had attacked her without any warning, kicking her high to the air at nearly full force. The power behind it caused her body to be sent flying into the air slamming into the roof.

Her Aura was shattered as she limply fell from the crater in the roof back to the floor. She was coughing up blood and trying to catch her breath. Glynda felt her heart tighten as she quickly moved out of the way as Shen walked towards Cinder. Bending down he grabbed her by the hair and lifted her face towards him.

"I hope you realize if it wasn't for the fact you had half the Maidens powers I would have killed you just then." There wasn't a hint of falsehood in his voice and his eyes made his threat clear as day. Cinder's body shook violently out of pure fear as Shen dropped her to the ground.

The reason he was so angry was that he knew how strong that attack was. If it had hit it would have killed Ozpin for sure who compared to Salem was lacking massively in magical power. If his curse activated then he would be reincarnated into a new body somewhere in the world.

There was no guarantee who it would be due to how much he changed the RWBY timeline. Not only would he have lost the Relic of Choice but his entire reason for invading Vale would have disappeared putting all his plans and efforts to waste. The thought caused him to snap slightly.

Taking a deep breath Shen regained his calm and turned to look towards Ozpin.

"Sorry about that, I think this is the first time we've met in person. My name is Shen, I'm guessing you already know who I am right?" Ozpin slowly stood up and nodded, he had figured out just from that display and Shen's clothes.

"So you're the one responsible for all of this. Are you… Working for her?" Shen shook his head knowing he meant Salem.

"Salem had millennia to collect the Relics and bring her plans forward, yet she failed each time. I did it in less than a year and you never noticed until it was too late. Do you really think I would be willing to work for someone like that?" Hearing that Ozpin realized the error in his question.

"I see."

"Ozpin you're a smart man so I'll keep this short. Give me the Relic and in return, I'll assimilate Vale instead of burning it to the ground." Ozpin looked at Shen with a centered gaze.

"Assimilate?" Shen nodded.

"Into my force's of course. In all honesty, they're less of an army and more of an organized mob. They remind me a bit of The Dreadhorde. In any case, Glynda here has already made a deal with me, in return, I won't kill any of the Beacon Academy students. And now I'm offering you the chance to save Vale. In all honesty, I'm being very merciful today."

Glynda clenched her fist when she heard the word 'Merciful'. The destruction Shen caused to the city killed thousands of innocent people. If that's what he considers mercy… She contained her anger while Ozpin asked another question.

"Why are you building such a large force then? What do you want the Relics for? World domination or do you think they will grant you a wish?" Hearing that Shen knew Ozpin was trying to probe for how much he knew about the relics.

"You're a crafty man Ozpin. World Domination? If I wanted to I could, but I'm not interested in controlling the world. Though I'm sure there are people who will be more than willing to take care of this one when I'm done. But no, instead I plan on summoning the Gods back to this world. So that I can kill them"

His words took a moment to register in Ozpin and Glynda's mind. But when they did they looked at him as if he was insane. Did he want to kill the Gods? That was impossible, they created the world they live in and the Relics. There was nothing capable of even harming them let alone killing them.

Seeing their expressions Shen shrugged.

"Believe me or not, it's up to you, I won't be spoiling the ending just yet. But it is time for you to make a choice." Ozpin stood there unmoving despite everything he heard his resolve didn't falter a bit. He was never going to hand over the Relic no matter what Shen did to him. He glanced at Glynda and she had the same resolve.

"No." The word echoed through the halls as Shen smiled.

"I expected as much." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his scroll setting it to speaker mode and calling Blake above aground. In the main courtyard of Beacon Academy, every student they had captured was lined up on their knees in cuffs.

They were surrounded by soldiers on all sides leaving no chance for escape. Blake was sitting on the stairs a few meters away when she got Shen's call. Answering, she heard his voice.

[It seems word of mouth isn't enough for Ozpin to… Change his way of thinking.] Hearing that Blake's gaze turned to the students.

"As you wish, Master." Standing up she kept the call going and made her way to the first line of students. She picked a boy out at random, the moment he noticed her approaching him his heartbeat sped up. Both Glynda and Ozpin were confused but that confusion was soon replaced with dread.

Standing in front of him she pulled out of her weapon and stabbed it directly into his leg. The pain came without warning and the boy let out a piercing scream. It startled all the students as their heads turned to look. Blake drove her weapon deep into his leg and even cut through the bone.

Blood splattered onto the ground as his screams grew louder and also morphed into cries. Glynda's eyes contracted as she glared at Shen out of pure rage, Ozpin's fist grew tighter by the second but he didn't speak or move. Shen narrowed his eyes before speaking again.

"Cut off one of his arms." Those words immediately made Glynda speak out.

"Wait, don't!" Shen raised a brow and glanced at her. Ozpin looked at her with a worried gaze meeting Glynda's eyes.

"Ozpin… Give him what he wants please." She could hold out fi Shen simply tortured them but she couldn't bear hearing her own students scream. Everyone had a weakness and this was hers. Ozpin grit his teeth before speaking.

"Fine, I'll give you the Relic just leave the students alone." Shen smiled hearing his answer.

"Good choice."