RWBY: Moon Reflection-Chapter 107: Imprisoned

Mantle was a wasteland of dust and smoke, the air thick and choking as the aftermath of Atlas's fall settled over the city. Crimson lay buried beneath the rubble, rocks and debris pressing against him. Slowly, he stirred, pushing away the dirt and broken stone that covered him. Each movement was agonizing, his body screaming in protest. Blood dripped from a gash above his brow, tracing a crimson line down his face before falling to the ground. He coughed, his lungs burning from the swirling dust, and forced himself upright.

His sword was still in his hand, its blade gleaming faintly despite the chaos surrounding him. Gritting his teeth, Crimson raised it high, unleashing a series of crescent-shaped energy slashes. The force of his attack ripped through the suffocating smoke, clearing the immediate area and giving him a moment of clarity amidst the destruction.

He stood alone among the ruins, his comm piece buzzing faintly in his ear, capturing the chaos around him. His eyes scanned the devastated landscape, eventually landing on a familiar figure in the distance. Salem stood there, her body reforming as tendrils of dark magic pulled her broken pieces together. Her glowing eyes locked onto him, seething with fury.

Despite the distance they had traveled—propelled further by the shockwave of Atlas's fall—the battle wasn't over. Crimson's grip on his sword tightened as Salem's scream echoed through the air.

"I'm going to kill you!" she roared, her voice dripping with hatred.

Crimson, bloodied and bruised, smiled faintly. Before he could reply, a red portal opened beside him. From the swirling energy stepped Raven, Winter, and the Ace Ops, their weapons drawn and their faces steeled with resolve. Each of them radiated determination, their presence a sharp contrast to the destruction around them.

Salem's eyes narrowed dangerously as she took in the reinforcements. "If you think numbers will save you, then you're just fools," she hissed, her voice low and venomous.

Winter stepped forward, her eyes glowing with the power of the Winter Maiden. Raven mirrored Winter, her own Maiden power igniting. Without hesitation, the two unleashed a devastating barrage of icy magic. Shards of ice erupted from the ground, encasing Salem in a thick, frozen prison. The Ace Ops moved swiftly, surrounding her and locking her into position.

Salem's muffled voice broke through the ice. "Maidens won't save you!" she snarled as cracks began forming in her frozen prison. With a deafening roar, the ice shattered, and Salem emerged, her rage intensifying.

But Crimson's smile didn't falter. Instead, it grew into a quiet laugh.

Suddenly, the Ace Ops shot out specialized capturing cables, wrapping around Salem from every direction. The bindings glowed with a faint blue light, their material reinforced by an otherworldly power. Salem struggled violently, her magic was suppressed, almost as if gone.

"What... is this?" she demanded, her voice filled with fury and panic.

Crimson stepped closer, his boots crunching over the debris-strewn ground. "You said it yourself, Salem," he began, his voice steady and calm. "You can't be destroyed. So, we used the relic you wanted so badly—the very thing you sought to destroy us—to create these bindings. Just for you. They will stop your magic from working and prevent you from moving"

Salem's struggles intensified, but the cables glowed brighter, tightening with each movement. Crimson stopped a few feet from her, his gaze cold and unyielding.

"We can't kill you," he continued, his voice dropping to a low, almost sympathetic tone. "But we can trap you. Forever. You brought yourself to us, Salem. You were so focused on destroying us that you didn't see the threat we pose. Everything I did was lure you here, away from your Grimm army, so we could capture you without the risk of any unexpected interference."

Salem's expression shifted from anger to shock, and then, finally, to despair. The weight of Crimson's words sank in, and for the first time, her immortal composure cracked. She let out a piercing, guttural scream, thrashing wildly against her restraints.

Crimson stood unshaken, watching her with a quiet intensity. "You've lived for so long trying to divide and destroy us," he said softly. "But now, you will be imprisoned by us. This is the end of your war, Salem."

Her screams echoed across the ruins, a haunting sound that sent shivers through those who heard it. As her despair consumed her, Crimson turned to the others. "Take her away," he ordered.

Vine and Marrow stepped forward, their faces grim as they grabbed hold of Salem. A red portal opened beside them, courtesy of Raven, its swirling energy casting an eerie glow over the scene. Together, the three of them dragged Salem through the portal, her screams fading as she disappeared from sight.

Crimson stood and closed his eyes, the silence deafening in the aftermath of her capture. He activated his comm piece, his voice steady and commanding as he spoke.

"Salem is captured," he announced, his words cutting through the static and chaos.

Ironwood's voice followed almost immediately, his tone filled with determination. "This is the final stage of the war. All soldiers, advance! Clear all Grimm in sight!"

The broadcast continued, capturing every moment for the world to see. Mantle, battered and broken, had become the stage for a victory no one had believed possible. The capture of Salem—a feat thought unattainable—sent shockwaves across Remnant.

__________________________

In the heart of Argus, Yang stood frozen in disbelief as the impossible played out before her eyes. Salem—the immortal enemy who had plagued Remnant for centuries—was bound in glowing restraints, screaming and thrashing as she was dragged through the fortified corridors of Argus's military base. Raven, Vine, and Marrow carried the task with grim efficiency, their faces unreadable, though the tension was palpable. Every soldier present had their weapons at the ready, their stances tense as though they expected Salem to break free at any moment.

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Yang's breath hitched as she trailed behind the group. This wasn't just another mission or battle; this was something world-changing. The sheer weight of the moment pressed heavily on her chest. As they approached the entrance to the underground facility, she couldn't help but speak.

"Is this why you made me stay here?" Yang's voice wavered, a mix of anger and confusion. "So you could capture Salem and bring her here?"

Raven glanced back at her daughter, her expression serious. "Yes," she said curtly, before softening her tone. "You need to stay here, Yang. Near Salem."

Yang blinked, her mind reeling. "Why me? Why not someone else?"

Raven hesitated, a rare crack in her usual stoic demeanor. "Because if things go wrong here, I need you to be ready. Whether it's to fight, aid, or... move her to another secure location, you're one of the few I can open a portal to. I trust you to do what's necessary."

The implication of her mother's words hit Yang like a freight train. She didn't participate in the plan—she was an anchor, a part of the plan. While she had resented being kept out of the action, it was now clear that her role was just as critical. She nodded slowly, the realization settling in. "I get it," she said finally, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her chest.

Vine and Marrow walked up to her, their gazes calm but firm. "We will stay here with you," Vine said. "Keeping an eye on Salem is our top priority now."

Marrow nodded in agreement. "Whatever happens, we're not letting her escape."

Yang glanced at them, their resolve a quiet comfort. She squared her shoulders, determination hardening in her eyes. "Fine. Let's make sure she stays put."

The group descended into the depths of the mountain, entering a massive underground chamber where Salem's cell awaited. The reinforced walls gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights, each layer of metal infused with technology and magic to contain her. The cell was surrounded by layers of defenses, both mechanical and human. Outside the mountain, Argus's military base was a hive of activity, with soldiers and vehicles at full readiness.

Commander Cordovin arrived as they reached the cell, her expression solemn as she took in the sight of Salem. The immortal woman's screams echoed through the chamber, her voice a mixture of rage and desperation. Cordovin turned to Raven, her eyes hard but resolute.

"We will put our lives on the line to keep her here," Cordovin said firmly. "No matter what it takes, she won't escape."

Raven nodded in acknowledgment, her usual sharpness tempered by a rare gratitude. Without another word, she opened a portal and disappeared, leaving Yang, Vine, Marrow, and the Argus forces to their task.

__________________________

Earlier on the battlefield, chaos reigned as Atlas's fall sent shockwaves across the region. Soldiers scrambled to maintain their footing, the lieutenants barking orders to keep holding to the barriers. The men and women of the Atlas military had been kept in the dark about the full scope of this plan, their ignorance a necessary shield against panic. But as the city crumbled around them, they couldn't help but feel the weight of their sacrifices.

Amidst the rubble and confusion, Ruby, Pyrrha, and the others regrouped, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion. They had been ordered to hold the line continuously without any actual fighting, while explosions rang one after another with Crimson charging in alone. Then they were ordered to hold on to the barrier for footing before Atlas crashed to the ground.

"Salem is captured."

It was Crimson. His voice was steady, calm, and final.

Ruby's eyes widened in disbelief. "What did he just say?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Pyrrha, equally stunned, could only shake her head. "I... I think he said they have captured Salem."

The group exchanged bewildered glances, their minds struggling to process what they had just heard. The enemy who had haunted their nightmares, who had seemed invincible, was now in captivity? It didn't seem possible.

Before they could dwell on it further, General Ironwood's voice boomed through their comms. "This is the final stage of the war. All soldiers, advance! Clear all Grimm in sight!"

The order snapped them back to reality. The battle was far from over, and the safety of the people of Atlas and Mantle depended on their success.

"We'll figure out what's going on later," Ruby said, her resolve returning. "Right now, we have a job to do. Let's go!"

Pyrrha nodded, her grip tightening on her weapon. "For Atlas and Mantle."

The group charged forward, joining the advancing forces as they fought to destroy the Grimm. Every step was a battle, every victory hard-won. But amidst the chaos, a new hope burned within them. If Salem was captured, then they can win this war.