𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 [ʀᴡʙʏ x ᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴏᴄ]

Chapter 53

Klaus POV

Weiss: "You've always been there for me, But now... I want you to know you can lean on me too."

She said, her voice steady but full of love. Her words are like a quiet vow, one that speaks louder than anything I've ever heard.

Hazel grunts as he's dragged back into the building, visibly shaken, but he slowly lifts himself up. His eyes widen when he notices Weiss standing tall again, her presence fierce as she summons the Queen Lancer, its massive form soaring above her. She's ready to fight again, unwavering. That familiar spark in her eyes—determined, unyielding—sends a jolt through me.

But before I can say anything, I notice something that freezes me in place. I watch as Yang and Ruby both turn toward the door, their eyes widening in shock.

Blake.

My heart skips a beat, as I see her step through the entrance, her expression one of disbelief. She's here—alive, in front of us. Her eyes land on Yang, and for a moment, time feels like it stands still.

Yang's gaze is locked onto Blake as if she can't believe what she's seeing. The tension between them is thick, but before anything more can be said, Ruby's voice cuts through the heavy silence.

"Yang! Go!" Ruby points toward the vault entrance, snapping her out of her trance.

Yang blinks, as if shaken from a dream, and then without another word, she sprints toward the vault. Emerald and Mercury try to stop her, but fail miserably. Emerald makes a lunge, only to get knocked back as Yang powers through, her eyes briefly flickering red with an intensity I've never seen before. Her prosthetic arm detaches with a sharp metallic sound, and she keeps charging forward, determined.

Mercury stumbles, losing his footing as Yang drops down into the hole leading to the vault. Emerald, too, attempts to follow, but the moment they move forward, an ice wall erupts in front of them. They freeze in place, staring at the solid barrier.

The wall dissolves to reveal Weiss, standing tall with her Queen Lancer summoned and ready to face both of them down. Her stance is resolute, as though she's not just fighting for herself, but for all of us.

Jaune, standing near me, watches with a proud smile on his face. The sight of Weiss stepping in like this, defending us all, makes me realize just how much she's grown.

Ruby turns back to Blake, and their gazes meet. There's a silent understanding between them. Blake nods once, and in a flash, she's back outside, joining the battle, determination etched across her face

Hazel Rainart charges forward, his fire-Dust enhanced arms blazing with energy. He hurls fireballs toward Weiss's summoned Queen Lancer, each explosion lighting up the room with fiery intensity. The Queen Lancer nimbly dodges, the ethereal creature gliding just out of reach of the blasts, its wings unfurled in a flurry of motion.

Weiss, standing firm, uses her Glyphs to fire back at Hazel, the force of each shot powerful enough to create shockwaves that rattle the surrounding area. But Hazel's fiery counterattacks are relentless, forcing Weiss to stay on the defensive. Her summons dance and weave through the chaos, a constant barrage of attacks and evasions. That's the woman I love.

Meanwhile, I glance at the rest of Team JNPR, who are doing their best to fend off the relentless assaults from Mercury and Emerald. Mercury's rapid-fire attacks keep them on their toes, each strike quick and precise, while Emerald's illusions keep them guessing, hiding her true location behind a veil of deception.

I can see Jaune's sword flashing as he parries Mercury's strikes, but even with his newfound Semblance, the pressure is mounting. Nora swings Magnhild with raw power, but Mercury's agility makes it hard for her to land a solid blow. Ren is doing his best to provide support, his shots from StormFlower finding their mark, but it's clear this fight is wearing on all of us.