The Knights of Grimm - Act 4 - Whispers of Arkhonex

Chapter 98 - Emergence of an Empire

Weiss

"NEPTUNE!" Weiss shrieked with horror, sprinting towards his body.

Death stood over his body and stared directly at Weiss and he went to swing Ferrum Arctus at her, until he was met by a storm of bullets that pushed him back as they collided. Death stumbled backwards as he deflected as many as he could, but he could not block them all. Sparks and chunks of metal broke off from his armour as Ruby advanced behind Weiss, firing her Rifle at him. Sun yelled with heartbreak and rage in his voice as he fired his Gunchucks repeatedly at Death.

The Knight staggered backwards as Yang fired a shot into his knee, which shattered a piece of metal apart and Death fell onto that knee. Black and Red Lightning coursed through the huge blade of Ferrum Arctus and he fired multiple short bolts towards the enemies, before unleashing one powerful beam that carved through the stones. Until Nora launched a grenade into the side of his head.

Death spun through the air as the explosion threw him back, until black smoke erupted from his cursed form, and massive Nevermore Wings sprouted from his back, and he forged himself into the Black Nevermore. It roared as it took off, flying through the smoke rising from Fury's Flames. The voice of the Nevermore could be heard as he disappeared from the scene.

Weiss sprinted to Neptune's side, laid in a pool of his own blood. He softly gasped as he looked up at her, wide eyed as smoke trailed from the hole in his ribs. "Nep! Oh gods no... no, no, no... hold on, baby. Please... GET A MEDIC!" Weiss screamed desperately, but they all knew there was nothing that could be done. Death's bolt of lightning went straight through his heart, it was a miracle he was still alive to begin with. Ruby crouched down beside Weiss and gently held her shoulder.

"Weiss..." Ruby softly said.

"No! We can help him! Get help!" Weiss begged as tears streamed down her eyes. "No, we did not survive that fucking plague for you to die like this. Stay with me, Nep." Weiss begged him, but she felt his hand gently grasp hers as he clung onto life for as long as he could.

"Weiss..." Neptune softly whispered, through laboured breaths. "I'm sorry... I... I didn't... wanna leave you."

"Shut up, just stay with me. I can't lose you too." Weiss begged as Sun approached him, but Neptune gently held her cheek with his blood-stained hand.

"Just... finish this... promise me... that you will win this thing..." Neptune begged her.

"Neptune... please..." Weiss begged him, not releasing him.

"You... can do... anything..." Neptune's voice began to fade. "... Snow Angel..."

His pupils dilated and then his eyes closed, and his hand fell from Weiss' cheek. She gasped with horror, shaking his body as he died in her arms. "Oh no, no, no, no! NEPTUNE! NO! NO! NEPTUNE!" She howled with anguish in her voice as she hugged his body, rocking back and forth, crying into his chest.

Sun stood there and fell to his knees... watching not only his best friend, but the last member of his team die right in front of him. And just like all the others, there was absolutely nothing he could have done to save him. Just like Scarlet, killed by Death, and just like Sage, killed by Lionheart. Ruby reached out to Weiss, gently holding her shoulder. "Weiss..." She softly said, but Weiss did not even look away.

She pulled her head back from Neptune as blood stained her cheek, and tears poured from her eyes. Then... she just didn't move. Weiss went catatonic, not hearing anything or anyone around her. She just stared at Neptune's body in her arms. She had lost – everyone.

Everyone she had ever loved were now gone. Willow, Klein, Winter and now Neptune?

Weiss held his body on her lap as she sat there, unable to look away from his lifeless body, no matter how many times Ruby shook her to move. She had not even noticed the Grimm Spire that had just erupted from the ground nearby, unleashing a huge horde of Grimm towards their location.