RWBY: Innocence

The Crushing of The Cardinal

"Alright Cardin, I'm going to give you one last chance to forfeit and save yourself from the beating of a lifetime. If you just give up now and leave, this will help us both..."

"As if! I'm taking you and your measly team down, right here and now!"

"Are you absolutely, undoubtedly, one-hundred percent sure that you-"

"YES! NOW LET'S GO!"

"Alright then, but I just want to make sure that you are perfectly okay with-"

"OH MY GOD! SHUT UP AND FIGHT ME!"

"You sound panicked. Are you completely sure-"

"GODDAMMIT!"

The banter between Kenzo and Cardin had been going on for what felt like hours. Kenzo's teasing had driven Cardin into one of his infamous rages and he was already shaking with anger. The crowd had become increasingly bored; most of them had fallen asleep.

"Kenzo..." Indigo yawned out, "We really ought to start the battle..."

Ignoring Indigo, Kenzo went on:

"Seriously Cardin, this doesn't have to happen-"

"SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!"

Raphael shook his head, sat down and examined the ground with loose fingers.

"Oh come on Kenzo!" Laura pleaded, "I just want to blow him up! Is that too much to ask!?"

Kenzo placed a calm hand on Laura's shoulder and whispered:

"We don't need to blow him up..."

He then turned to Cardin who was steaming with fury.

"DOVE! KICK HIS ASS!" He hollered at his teammate.

Dove, a scrawny boy wielding a simple sword, charged towards his opponents. A few seconds later, he was sent sprawling to the floor in a cloud of dust.

"What the-" Cardin stammered.

Kenzo pointed to Dove's legs and revealed the Boarbatusk tail tightly wrapped around his ankles.

"You see, Boarbatusks are known for having tails that can wrap around people's legs like a snare trap. Pretty impressive, huh?"

Cardin roared with anger and turned to his remaining teammates.

"RUSSEL! SKY! GET HIM!"

Russel and Sky raised their weapons and charged blindly towards Kenzo. But no sooner had they left the battlefield, the two Hunters tripped over Dove and both fell to the floor, joining him in lying helplessly before their opponents.

"You know Cardin..." Kenzo mocked, "A strategy can help you win!"

Cardin was absolutely furious. He stamped his feet and swung his Mace through the air blindly.

"GODDAMMIT! I'VE KICKED YOUR ASS BEFORE AND I CAN KICK IT AGAIN! I'M SICK AND TIRED OF YOUR PATHETIC GAMES! YOU WILL-"

Cardin stopped as Kenzo suddenly darted across the battlefield and delivered a vicious kick to his gut. Overwhelmed with pain, Cardin wheezed in agony as he slowly craned his neck to look up at Kenzo. Kenzo's face remained expressionless; he was completely focused on Cardin.

"You defeated me before...But those days are over..." He murmured, before doing something that shocked the entire audience.

With a swift movement, Kenzo sent Cardin rocketing towards the sky. Leaning back, Kenzo let out a deafening howl of rage and a massive explosion of dirt surrounded him, making it impossible to see where he was. But when the dirt cleared up and he could be clearly seen, everyone was shocked.

"Oh God..." Yang muttered, "Not again..."

Lazarus stood where Kenzo had once been standing, growling viciously as his wings began to spread out. He then roared furiously as he suddenly sprang upwards and soared into the air. As Cardin began to fall back down to Remnant, Lazarus appeared behind him and clutched at Cardin's shoulders, digging into his flesh and causing him to cry out in pain.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU!?" He screamed at Lazarus.

Lazarus said nothing as he shot back down to Earth and sent Cardin headfirst into the ground, creating another colossal explosion of dirt upon impact.

"He's back...How is this possible?" Ozpin asked himself in disbelief.

As Lazarus clambered off the defeated Cardin, his wings folded neatly behind his cape. A spiral of light engulfed him as he let out one final roar. When the light disappeared, Kenzo was back. The crowd burst into applause as he took a bow.

"Kenzo!" Yang cried as she ran onto the battlefield, "Are you okay!?"

Kenzo opened up his arms and held Yang tightly as she collided with him.

"I'm fine..." Kenzo whispered.

In truth, Kenzo wasn't fine; he was terrified. He had no idea that he was going to become Lazarus again, but the fact that it had come so unexpectedly had taken him completely off-guard. He had originally planned to shoot Cardin with the Aero-Gauntlets and finish him off with EMZ, but the sudden transformation had surprised him. What he was truly concerned about was the question:

"Can I control it?" He whispered to himself.

Yang look up at him.

"Huh?"

"Nothing babe..."

********

"He has awakened..."

"Dammit! Just when I though that I was rid of him..."

"Interesting...He appears much less savage..."

"That doesn't matter! What matters is that he's back to ruin more of my plans!"

"It will not truly matter in the end. My true plan will succeed and, as the pieces fall into place, he won't a problem anymore..."

"Oh yeah? Tell that to all my defeated henchman and Neo! We're screwed-"

"Roman..."

"...Yes?"

"Shut up..."

"Sorry..."

"Despite his new strength and abilities, the Hunter known as Kenzo Zanshi will not stop me. He will be broken by the time my plan is set into motion and he won't be getting up. Eventually, all of Remnant will be under my rule..."

"That depends..."

"Depends on what exactly?"

"Whether he eats you or breaks you in half! You can't stop him!"

"Roman, listen to me. You are a simple human being, whereas I am something much more powerful..."

"Yes...You are indeed, Lady Salem..."