Chapter XXXIII: The Next Step; Divine Intervention
The Land of Darkness - Salem's Court
In the twisted spires of Evernight Castle, where reality bent to accommodate the will of immortal malice, Salem convened her inner circle in the wake of Beacon's fall. The chamber they occupied defied normal architecture, its walls seeming to breathe with malevolent life while pools of Grimm-spawning tar bubbled ominously in the corners.
Emerald Sustrai stood rigidly beside the broken form of her mentor, her usual confident demeanor replaced by barely concealed terror. The Land of Darkness affected everyone differently, but for Emerald, whose semblance relied on manipulating perception, the constant presence of creatures born from pure negativity created a sensory nightmare she couldn't escape.
But it was Cinder Fall who commanded the most attention in the chamber. The woman who had orchestrated Beacon's destruction now sat hunched in a chair designed more for intimidation than comfort, her once-proud posture reduced to that of a broken doll. The left side of her face bore a terrible scar where Nova's cosmic energy had burned through her stolen Maiden power, leaving her blind in one eye and able to speak only in whispers.
More disturbing than her physical injuries, however, were the psychological scars. Cinder's remaining amber eye would dart frantically around the chamber, and she would flinch violently at sudden movements or loud sounds. Her hands trembled constantly, and she would mutter under her breath—fragments of memories from her confrontation with Nova.
"The golden light," Cinder whispered, her damaged voice barely audible. "So bright... so fast... I couldn't... I couldn't even see him move..."
She pressed her palms against her temples, her breathing becoming rapid and shallow. "The power... it just... disappeared. Like it was never there. Like I was never... never strong at all..."
Emerald moved closer to her mentor, genuine concern overriding her own fear of Salem's presence. "Cinder, you're safe now. The boy isn't here."
"But he could be," Cinder said, her eye wide with panic. "He could just... appear. Like he did on the tower. The space around him... it bent. Physics meant nothing. How do you fight something that can just... unmake reality?"
"Enough," Arthur Watts interrupted with clinical precision, adjusting his mustache as he studied Cinder with the detached interest of a scientist examining a failed experiment. "Your trauma is noted, Cinder, but perhaps if you had prepared more thoroughly for enhanced opposition rather than assuming Maiden power made you invincible—"
"You don't understand!" Cinder snapped, her voice cracking as she tried to project authority she no longer felt. "This wasn't just enhanced opposition! The Belladonna boy... he wasn't even trying to hurt me at first. He was playing with me. Like a cat with a mouse."
Tyrian Callows giggled maniacally from his position near the chamber's grotesque windows, his scorpion tail twitching with anticipation. "Oh, but the humiliation was delicious! To see the mighty Cinder Fall reduced to a whimpering wreck by a child who cared more about protecting his girlfriend than claiming power!"
Cinder's remaining eye blazed with fury, but her damaged vocal cords couldn't produce the venom her expression promised. Instead, she began hyperventilating, her body shaking as another flashback hit.
"The energy wave," she gasped. "Fifty feet wide. It didn't just destroy the tower—it erased it. Every atom, every particle. If I hadn't opened that portal..." She trailed off, unable to complete the thought.
Before the argument could escalate further, the chamber's atmosphere shifted with the presence of absolute authority. Salem entered with the fluid grace of someone who existed outside the normal constraints of mortality, her pale beauty carrying the terrible perfection of something that had transcended humanity long ago.
"Enough," Salem said, her voice carrying harmonics that made the very stones of the castle resonate in response. "Dr. Watts, your criticism of Cinder's performance betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of what was accomplished at Beacon."
Watts straightened slightly, his smug expression faltering in the face of Salem's displeasure.
"The Fall Maiden's power was successfully transferred," Salem continued, moving to stand behind Cinder's chair with possessive satisfaction. "Beacon Academy, the symbol of hope and unity that Ozpin spent decades building, lies in ruins. The communication networks that bound the kingdoms together have been severed. Fear and division spread across Remnant like wildfire."
She placed one pale hand on Cinder's shoulder, and the broken woman visibly flinched at the contact, a soft whimper escaping her lips.
"Most importantly," Salem said, her red eyes reflecting satisfaction that transcended mere tactical success, "the cosmic forces that enhanced certain students have revealed themselves and their capabilities. We now know what we face, and knowledge of one's enemy is the first step toward their corruption."
The statement sent ripples of understanding through the assembled villains. Salem's plan had never been simply to destroy Beacon—it had been to force the enhanced students to reveal their true power levels and emotional vulnerabilities.
"Cinder's... condition... serves a valuable purpose," Salem continued, her tone carrying false sympathy that made Emerald's jaw clench with suppressed rage. "Her trauma provides us with firsthand intelligence about the Super Saiyan transformation's capabilities. Until her treatment is complete, she will remain close to me."
Cinder's remaining eye widened with something that might have been fear, but she made no sound of protest—only a soft, broken whimper.
Hazel Rainart, massive and imposing even by the standards of Salem's inner circle, spoke with the quiet authority of someone whose loyalty was earned through genuine conviction rather than fear or ambition. "My lady," he said respectfully, "I must advise caution regarding this Nova Belladonna."
Salem's attention shifted to her most reliable lieutenant, her expression showing mild curiosity rather than displeasure.
"During my years of hunting enhanced individuals for you, I have encountered many who possessed abilities beyond normal human limitations," Hazel continued, his voice carrying the weight of hard-won experience. "But what Cinder describes... this level of power, this complete transcendence of physical laws... it suggests we are dealing with something fundamentally different from previous encounters."
He gestured toward Cinder, who was still trembling in her chair. "The psychological trauma alone indicates that the boy's abilities operate on a scale we have not previously encountered. His power may be far more dangerous than we initially assessed."
Salem's smile widened, showing teeth that gleamed like polished marble. "Your concern is noted, Hazel. And you are correct—we must not underestimate the cosmic forces we now face. Which is why our next phase requires even greater precision."
She turned her attention to the other members of her council. "Dr. Watts, you will travel to Mistral and make contact with our informant within Haven Academy. The next phase of our plan requires detailed intelligence about their defenses and the current disposition of their huntsman faculty."
Watts nodded with professional acceptance, though his expression suggested he wasn't entirely pleased with the assignment.
"Tyrian," Salem continued, her voice carrying darker undertones as she addressed her most unstable servant, "your hunt for the Spring Maiden will be temporarily suspended. I have a new target for your particular talents."
Tyrian's giggling intensified, his yellow eyes blazing with anticipation. "Oh, a new plaything! Tell me, my goddess, who has earned your displeasure?"
"Ruby Rose," Salem replied, watching as Tyrian's expression shifted to something even more manic. "The silver-eyed girl whose cosmic enhancement allowed her to freeze the Wyvern. She is to be taken alive and brought to me."
The assignment created visible excitement in Tyrian, whose scorpion tail began twitching more rapidly. "The little girl who damaged our precious Cinder? Oh, this will be fun! An eye for an eye, as they say!"
Cinder let out a small cry at the mention of Ruby's name, her remaining eye going wide with terror. "No! You don't understand! She's connected to him! If you hurt her, he'll—"
"He'll what?" Salem asked with genuine interest. "Come for her? Expose himself to capture in a moment of emotional vulnerability? Transform into his Super Saiyan state and reveal even more about his capabilities?"
The implications sent another wave of panic through Cinder, who began hyperventilating again. "The power... when he saw her hurt... it multiplied. Exponentially. He didn't just get stronger—he became something else entirely."
Salem's attention shifted to Hazel, whose massive frame carried the weight of someone who served dark purposes for reasons that transcended simple ambition. "Hazel, Adam Taurus has arranged a meeting with Sienna Khan. The White Fang's leadership must be brought to heel if they are to serve our purposes effectively."
Hazel nodded grimly, understanding the implications of what would be required.
"What about the other enhanced students?" Emerald asked, her voice carefully controlled despite the fear that Salem's casual discussion of capturing Ruby had generated. "The cosmic-powered children who scattered after Beacon's fall?"
Salem smiled, the expression carrying promise of corruption that made even Tyrian pause in his giggling.
"They will come to us," Salem said with absolute confidence. "Love and loyalty will drive them to pursue their scattered friends, and when they do, they will find that we have prepared very special welcomes for each of them."
She moved to the chamber's massive window, gazing out over the wasteland of her domain with satisfaction that transcended any normal understanding of victory.
"The Super Saiyan power is formidable," Salem acknowledged, "but it comes with a critical weakness that Cinder has inadvertently revealed for us. The boy's strength is tied to his emotional state, specifically his desire to protect others. Remove the objects of his protection, corrupt his bonds with his companions, and even cosmic power becomes meaningless."
Cinder whimpered softly at the mention of Nova's power, her trauma making her a living testament to the devastating capabilities they now faced.
"Following Beacon, Haven will be the next to fall," Salem declared. "And when it does, the cosmic forces that think they can protect this world will learn what happens when hope itself becomes a weapon in the hands of despair."
The Watchers - Divine Intervention
High above the kingdoms, in Beerus's floating temple that existed between dimensions, the God of Destruction observed the aftermath of their intervention alongside his attendant Whis and the two Saiyan warriors who had been training under their guidance.
Beerus lounged in his chair with the casual elegance of someone whose power could unmake galaxies, his cat-like features reflecting growing concern as he watched the events unfolding on Remnant. "The evaluation results are becoming... problematic," he noted, his voice carrying the authority of someone who had witnessed the birth and death of countless civilizations.
Whis, standing nearby with his staff glowing softly as he analyzed cosmic data flowing from Remnant, maintained his usual serene expression despite the troubling patterns he was detecting. "Indeed, Lord Beerus. The dark forces on that world are adapting to our enhancements faster than anticipated. This Salem entity appears to understand that corruption of emotional bonds could neutralize even Saiyan power."
Goku, floating cross-legged nearby with his orange gi pristine despite their recent training session, looked up with uncharacteristic seriousness. "They're planning to hurt Ruby to get to Nova, aren't they? That's... that's not fair. He's just a kid who wants to protect the people he cares about."
Vegeta, arms crossed and scowling from his position near the temple's edge, interjected with his typical analytical precision. "The boy showed impressive power during the tower incident, but raw strength means nothing if you can't control it properly. If this Salem can manipulate his emotional state..."
"Then she can turn his greatest strength into his greatest weakness," Beerus finished, his tail twitching with growing irritation. "Which defeats the entire purpose of our evaluation."
Whis nodded approvingly at the analysis. "The cosmic enhancement was intended to create guardians capable of protecting their world from existential threats. However, if those same guardians can be corrupted or manipulated into causing the very destruction they were meant to prevent..."
"Then we have a responsibility to intervene more directly," Beerus declared, rising from his chair with divine authority that made the temple's very foundations resonate. "I will not allow our enhancement to be perverted into a tool for universal destruction."
Goku's expression brightened with enthusiasm despite the serious nature of their discussion. "You mean we get to go to Remnant? Actually train with Nova and Ruby in person?"
"And the Yang girl," Vegeta added with grudging respect. "Her demonic heritage combined with Saiyan potential could create something unprecedented, if properly guided."
Whis raised his staff, cosmic energy beginning to flow around the crystal at its tip. "Lord Beerus, direct divine intervention in a mortal world requires careful consideration. The cosmic balance—"
"Is already compromised," Beerus interrupted with finality. "Our enhancement created these enhanced individuals. Salem's corruption attempts threaten to turn our gifts into curses. We have an obligation to ensure our evaluation reaches its intended conclusion."
The God of Destruction's expression grew more serious as he contemplated the scope of what they were considering. "Besides, I'm curious to see what happens when a Super Saiyan receives proper training from actual Saiyans rather than stumbling through transformation instinctively."
Goku leaped to his feet with characteristic excitement. "This is going to be amazing! Nova's got incredible potential, and Ruby's silver-eyed power merging with cosmic enhancement... we could help them become stronger than anything Salem could throw at them!"
Vegeta's scowl softened slightly, revealing genuine interest beneath his prideful exterior. "The boy's protective instincts triggered his first transformation. With proper training, he could learn to access that power without requiring emotional trauma. And the Yang girl's struggle with her darker heritage... it reminds me of my own path from villain to protector."
Whis lowered his staff, a subtle smile playing across his features. "Very well. Though I suggest we approach this gradually. Direct appearance of gods might cause more panic than comfort among Remnant's population."
Beerus nodded approvingly. "We'll begin with Nova and Ruby during their journey to Haven. Their cosmic enhancement should allow them to perceive us even when we maintain dimensional barriers. Once we assess their readiness, we can extend training to the others."
The decision made, cosmic energy began to swirl around the temple as the divine beings prepared for direct intervention in mortal affairs—something that happened perhaps once in a million years, and only when the fundamental balance of a universe hung in the balance.
"This Salem entity believes she can corrupt cosmic power through emotional manipulation," Beerus said, his voice carrying the weight of divine judgment. "She's about to learn that properly trained Saiyans don't break under pressure—they transcend it."
Goku grinned with anticipation. "Plus, I've always wanted to see what a silver-eyed Super Saiyan could accomplish! The combination of protective instinct and cosmic power..."
"Could reshape the very nature of what it means to be a guardian," Vegeta completed, his analytical mind already considering the training possibilities.
Whis began weaving the dimensional pathways that would carry them to Remnant. "Then let us ensure that our evaluation reaches its proper conclusion. After all, the universe has invested considerable cosmic energy in these young warriors. It would be... wasteful... to allow that investment to be corrupted by petty mortal malice."
As the temple began its transition toward the dimensional space surrounding Remnant, the real adventure was truly beginning—not just for the enhanced students, but for the cosmic forces that had chosen to take a direct hand in shaping their development.
Salem's plans for corruption and manipulation were about to encounter something she had never faced before: gods who took personal interest in the success of their chosen champions.
Post-Credits: The Crow's Watch
In the skies above the transport carrying Ruby and the remnants of Team JNPR toward Haven Academy, a single black crow flew with purpose that transcended normal avian behavior. Qrow Branwen's transformation allowed him to scout ahead while remaining connected to the young hunters he had sworn to protect.
Through his enhanced senses, he detected the energy signatures that marked his charges—Ruby's silver-gold aura, Nova's carefully controlled cosmic power, Jaune's steadily growing confidence, Nora and Ren's quiet determination. But he also detected something else: the subtle presence of watchers who remained hidden from normal perception.
Salem's agents were already tracking their movement, positioning themselves along the route to Haven. The cosmic beings continued their evaluation from dimensions beyond normal space. And somewhere, in the spaces between light and shadow, other forces moved with purposes that remained hidden even from Qrow's experienced perception.
But now there was something new—a presence so vast and powerful that it made Qrow's instincts scream danger even as his rational mind recognized it as benevolent. Divine attention had turned toward their small group, and with it came possibilities that transcended anything in Ozpin's ancient plans.
The Long Memory at his side pulsed with residual energy from its previous owner, carrying memories and knowledge that Qrow was only beginning to understand. But even Ozpin's vast experience hadn't prepared contingencies for direct divine intervention in their conflict.
As the transport continued its journey toward Mistral and the uncertain future that awaited at Haven Academy, Qrow transformed back into human form, settling into his role as guardian and guide for the next generation of heroes—heroes who were about to receive training from beings whose power transcended mortal understanding.
The Fall of Beacon had ended one chapter of their story, but the cosmic forces that had been awakened would ensure that the next chapter tested everything they believed about power, sacrifice, and the true meaning of hope.
The journey to Haven had begun, carrying with it the dreams of the living and the hopes of the dead, toward a confrontation that would determine whether cosmic enhancement could overcome the ancient patterns of conflict that had defined their world since the beginning of recorded history.
In the distance, storm clouds gathered on the horizon, but now they carried the promise of divine lightning that would forge champions capable of protecting not just their world, but the cosmic balance itself.
The real adventure was just beginning, and the stakes had never been higher—or the potential for victory never greater.
Divine Deployment
In the cosmic void between dimensions, three of Universe 7's most powerful Saiyan warriors prepared for an unprecedented mission. Goku floated in his characteristic meditative pose, his orange gi pristine despite the dimensional energies swirling around them. Beside him, Vegeta maintained his proud stance, arms crossed as he analyzed the tactical implications of their assignment. Between them, Broly—the legendary Super Saiyan—sat quietly, his massive frame radiating barely contained power despite his peaceful demeanor.
"So this Nova kid," Goku said, opening his eyes with characteristic curiosity, "he went Super Saiyan just from seeing his friend get hurt? That's incredible! Most Saiyans need years of training or life-threatening situations to trigger their first transformation."
Vegeta's expression carried grudging respect as he reviewed the cosmic data Whis had provided. "The boy's power spike was impressive, I'll grant him that. But raw emotion-driven transformation is unstable. Without proper control, he could easily destroy the very people he's trying to protect."
Broly nodded slowly, his deep voice carrying the wisdom of someone who had learned to master legendary power through great personal cost. "I understand his struggle. When I first transformed, I couldn't control the rage. It consumed everything—my thoughts, my purpose, even my ability to distinguish friend from foe. Father had to—" He paused, painful memories flickering across his features. "Training helped. Having people who believed in me helped more."
"That's exactly why we're going to Remnant," Goku said with determination. "Nova's got incredible potential, but he needs guidance. And Ruby—her silver-eyed power combining with cosmic enhancement could create something we've never seen before."
The dimensional pathway began to stabilize around them, revealing glimpses of Remnant's surface far below. Mistral's mountainous terrain stretched out in all directions, with Haven Academy visible as a distant speck among the peaks.
"Our approach will need to be careful," Vegeta noted, his tactical mind already planning their intervention. "These enhanced individuals are powerful by their world's standards, but they're still essentially children dealing with cosmic forces beyond their understanding. Direct confrontation with beings of our power level could cause more trauma than benefit."
Broly's expression grew thoughtful as he considered their mission parameters. "The corruption attempts concern me most. I've seen what happens when Saiyan power is twisted by malice or despair. During my time under Father's control, I caused destruction I can never undo. If this Salem entity succeeds in corrupting Nova or the others..."
"She won't," Goku said with absolute conviction. "That's why we're here. To make sure these kids get proper training, proper support, and proper understanding of what their power really means."
"The key will be teaching them that strength without wisdom is just destruction waiting for an excuse," Vegeta added, his own journey from prince of destruction to defender fresh in his memory. "They need to understand that true Saiyan power comes not from rage or desperation, but from the absolute determination to protect what matters most."
As their dimensional transport began its final approach toward Mistral, the three Saiyans prepared to take direct action in shaping the next generation of cosmic warriors—an intervention that would prove crucial in the battles to come.
The Destroyer's Warning
Meanwhile, in the twisted realm that bordered reality and nightmare, Beerus and Whis materialized at the edge of Salem's domain with the casual authority of beings for whom dimensional travel was as simple as walking through a door. The Land of Darkness stretched before them—a wasteland that reeked of stagnation, despair, and the corruption of natural order.
Beerus's cat-like features wrinkled in disgust as he surveyed the landscape. "How revolting. This entire realm reeks of artificial immortality and petty malice. No wonder the cosmic balance in this region has become so disrupted."
Whis maintained his serene expression as his staff analyzed the dimensional distortions surrounding Salem's fortress. "Indeed, Lord Beerus. The entity residing here has been using stolen divine power for millennia, creating a pocket of reality that exists in direct opposition to natural cosmic order."
"Salem," Beerus said, his voice carrying the weight of divine judgment as he spoke the name. "The so-called immortal witch who thinks she can corrupt our cosmic enhancement for her petty revenge schemes."
They began moving toward Evernight Castle, their divine presence causing reality itself to recoil around them. Grimm that attempted to approach simply ceased to exist, not destroyed but unmade, as if the fundamental forces that created them had decided to stop functioning in the presence of absolute authority.
"Her manipulation attempts are crude but effective," Whis observed as they approached the castle's impossible architecture. "Using emotional bonds as weapons, corrupting protective instincts into destructive rage. It shows a deep understanding of mortal psychology, if not cosmic power."
Beerus's tail began twitching with growing irritation. "Which is precisely why we're here. I will not allow our evaluation to be perverted by some upstart immortal who thinks eternal life makes her untouchable."
The castle's walls parted before them without resistance, reality reshaping itself to accommodate their passage. They found Salem in her throne room, standing before her window overlooking the wasteland she had created. She turned as they entered, and for a moment—just a moment—genuine surprise flickered across her perfect features.
"Unexpected visitors," Salem said, her voice carrying harmonics designed to inspire fear and submission. "I don't recall inviting—"
Her words died as Beerus's divine aura flared, not in anger but in simple assertion of what he was. The very foundations of her castle groaned under the pressure of containing a force that could erase galaxies with a thought. Salem's stolen immortality, her accumulated power over millennia of conquest and manipulation, her mastery over the creatures of darkness—all of it became laughably insignificant in the face of true cosmic authority.
"You," Beerus said conversationally, as if discussing the weather, "are Salem. The immortal witch who has been attempting to corrupt the cosmic enhancements we granted to certain individuals on this world."
Salem's composure cracked slightly as she found herself unable to move, unable to even consider attacking or fleeing. This wasn't paralysis induced by fear—this was her very existence recognizing something so far beyond her capabilities that resistance became conceptually impossible.
"I am Beerus," he continued, settling into a casual stance that somehow made him appear even more terrifying than any threatening posture could have. "God of Destruction for Universe 7. These enhanced individuals you've been targeting? They're participants in our evaluation. Their development is under our direct protection."
Whis stepped forward with his characteristic gentle smile, but Salem found his presence no less overwhelming than his superior's. "We understand you have certain... grievances... with your world's previous cosmic guardians. However, your attempts to corrupt our chosen champions represent a significant violation of universal law."
Salem finally found her voice, though it carried none of its usual commanding authority. "You're... gods. Actual deities, not the primitive forces my world has encountered."
"Indeed," Beerus replied with mild approval. "At least you're intelligent enough to recognize the difference. Which brings us to the purpose of our visit."
He gestured casually toward the window, and Salem's carefully maintained wasteland began to bloom. Grass sprouted from dead soil, flowers bloomed from barren rock, and life returned to a land that had known only death and despair for countless centuries. The display wasn't meant as a kindness—it was a demonstration of power so absolute that even Salem's millennia of accumulated malice could be casually overwritten.
"Nova Belladonna, Ruby Rose, Yang Xiao Long, and their companions represent something precious in the cosmic order," Beerus continued, his voice carrying the weight of universal law. "They are proof that mortal beings can be trusted with transcendent power, that protective instincts can overcome destructive impulses when properly nurtured."
Salem watched in horrified fascination as her domain was transformed against her will, her very identity as a force of destruction being negated by simple divine presence.
"Your corruption attempts threaten to prove the opposite," Whis added with serene finality. "That cosmic power inevitably leads to cosmic destruction, that enhancement creates tyrants rather than guardians. Such a conclusion would necessitate... corrective measures... across multiple universes."
Beerus's expression grew more serious, revealing the cosmic responsibility that lay beneath his casual demeanor. "So we're here to offer you a choice, Salem. Cease your interference with our evaluation, and you may continue your existence in whatever diminished capacity amuses you. Continue your corruption attempts..."
The castle around them began to dissolve, not through violence but through the simple assertion that structures built on stolen power and accumulated malice had no right to exist in the presence of legitimate cosmic authority.
"And I will personally ensure that your immortality becomes a very brief inconvenience rather than an eternal problem."
Salem, witnessing the casual negation of everything she had built over millennia, found herself experiencing something she hadn't felt since her earliest mortal life: genuine terror. This wasn't the fear of defeat or pain—this was the bone-deep recognition that she was in the presence of something that could erase her from existence so thoroughly that even the memory of her existence would cease to have meaning.
"The enhanced individuals you've been targeting," Beerus continued, his voice carrying absolute finality, "are now under our direct protection. Any further corruption attempts will be considered a declaration of war against the cosmic order itself."
Whis raised his staff, and reality began to reassert itself around them. Salem's castle rebuilt itself, her wasteland returned to its previous desolation, but the message had been delivered with unmistakable clarity.
"Consider this conversation a courtesy," Beerus said as they prepared to depart. "The next time we meet, if your actions have necessitated such a meeting, there will be no words exchanged. Only judgment."
As the divine beings faded from her realm, Salem found herself alone in her restored castle, surrounded by the familiar trappings of power that now felt as substantial as morning mist. For the first time in millennia, she understood that there were forces in the universe against which her immortality and accumulated malice were not merely insufficient—they were irrelevant.
The cosmic evaluation would continue, and Salem would have to find new strategies that didn't risk divine intervention. The enhanced students had gained protections that transcended anything Ozpin could have provided, and the stakes of the conflict had escalated beyond anything she had previously imagined.
In the silence that followed the gods' departure, Salem began planning contingencies for a war she was no longer certain she could win.
Divine Training Begins
The Mistral Approach
The transport carrying Ruby, Nova, and the remnants of Team JNPR cut through the morning sky above Mistral's treacherous mountain ranges. Snow-capped peaks stretched endlessly in all directions, their jagged silhouettes creating a maze of valleys and precipices that had claimed countless airships over the years. The landscape was beautiful in its hostility—a reminder that even without Salem's influence, Remnant remained a world where survival required constant vigilance.
Ruby pressed her face against the window, her silver-gold eyes reflecting the complexity of emotions that had characterized their entire journey. Three days of travel had given her time to process the weight of what they were undertaking, but also the growing awareness that her cosmic enhancement was continuing to evolve in ways she didn't fully understand.
"The energy patterns are getting stronger," she said quietly, her enhanced senses detecting fluctuations that seemed to pulse in rhythm with her heartbeat. "It's like something's calling to me from ahead."
Nova, seated across from her with his golden aura carefully suppressed, nodded in understanding. His own cosmic abilities had been providing him with similar sensations—a awareness of vast forces moving just beyond the edge of normal perception.
"I feel it too," he confirmed, his emerald eyes scanning the mountain peaks below them. "But it's not malevolent. Whatever's ahead, it's not hostile to us."
Jaune looked up from the maintenance check he was performing on Crocea Mors, his blue eyes carrying the maturity that had settled over him since Pyrrha's death. "Qrow says we'll reach Haven Academy by sunset. Do we have any idea what we're walking into?"
Qrow himself answered from the pilot's seat, his voice carrying the weariness of someone who had spent weeks investigating leads that raised more questions than they answered. "Haven's headmaster is Professor Leonardo Lionheart. He's been in contact with the other academies about coordinating responses to Salem's movements, but something feels off about the whole situation."
Ren, ever analytical, added his own observations. "The reports we've been receiving suggest that several Huntsmen teams have gone missing in the past month. All were investigating supposed Grimm incursions that turned out to be false alarms."
Nora, who had been unusually quiet during much of their journey, finally spoke up. "What if it's a trap? What if Salem's people got to Haven before we did?"
The possibility hung in the air between them, heavy with implications none of them wanted to consider. Haven Academy was supposed to be their destination, their next step in understanding the forces that had destroyed Beacon. If it too had been compromised...
"Then we deal with whatever we find," Nova said with quiet determination, his cosmic-enhanced senses already beginning to probe ahead of their transport. "We can't let fear of what might be waiting stop us from moving forward."
Ruby reached across the aisle to take Nova's hand, their connection through cosmic enhancement allowing her to share some of the certainty that had been growing within her since leaving Patch. "We're not the same people who were at Beacon when it fell. The enhancement, the training we've been doing during the journey—we're stronger now."
It was true. The three days of travel had included intensive training sessions whenever they stopped for supplies, with Nova helping Ruby learn to better control her silver-eyed abilities while she helped him achieve more stable transformations. The results had been remarkable—Ruby could now channel her silver energy without the complete exhaustion that had characterized her earlier attempts, while Nova had learned to access his enhanced state without requiring extreme emotional triggers.
But even as they discussed their preparations and concerns, none of them noticed the subtle shift in the air around their transport—the way space itself seemed to bend slightly, as if reality was making room for observers who existed just outside normal perception.
First Contact
The dimensional barriers that separated normal reality from cosmic observation began to thin as the transport approached a particular valley in the Mistral mountains. It was here that Goku, Vegeta, and Broly had chosen to make their first contact with the enhanced students—far from populated areas where divine intervention might cause panic, but close enough to Haven Academy to serve their protective purposes.
"Energy signatures confirmed," Vegeta announced, his analytical mind processing the cosmic data flowing around them. "Two primary enhanced individuals—the Belladonna boy and the Rose girl—plus three additional signatures that show potential for development."
Goku's expression brightened with anticipation as he detected the approaching transport. "They're even stronger than the reports suggested! Nova's power feels stable now, controlled. And Ruby's silver energy is merging with her cosmic enhancement in ways I've never seen before."
Broly, floating in meditative calm despite the massive power radiating from his frame, opened his eyes to study their approaching subjects. "The boy carries pain," he observed with the insight of someone who understood the cost of great power. "Recent trauma, but he's processing it rather than being consumed by it. That's good—unresolved anguish can corrupt even the purest transformations."
"What about the Rose girl?" Vegeta asked, though his own senses were already providing him with detailed analysis.
"Protective instinct so strong it's become part of her core identity," Broly replied approvingly. "She's the type who would die before allowing harm to come to those she cares about. Combined with cosmic enhancement... she could become something unprecedented."
The transport was now close enough that the enhanced individuals aboard should be able to detect their presence, despite the dimensional barriers that kept them hidden from normal perception. It was time for first contact.
"Remember," Goku said as they prepared to reveal themselves, "these are kids who've been through trauma. We want to help, not intimidate."
Vegeta snorted with mild amusement. "Says the man whose mere presence can cause seismic disruptions."
"That's why we start small," Goku replied with characteristic optimism. "Just enough of ourselves to let them know we're here and willing to help."
Divine Revelation
Aboard the transport, Ruby suddenly gasped and pressed her hand to her chest, her silver-gold eyes widening as cosmic energies she didn't recognize began resonating with her enhanced abilities.
"Something's out there," she announced, her voice carrying urgency rather than fear. "Something incredibly powerful, but... benevolent? It feels like the cosmic evaluation, but different."
Nova's own transformation began to manifest involuntarily, golden energy flickering around him as his enhanced senses detected presences that defied every law of physics he understood. "There," he said, pointing toward a mountain peak that should have been empty. "Three energy signatures that are off any scale I can comprehend."
Qrow, responding to the alarm in their voices, began scanning the area with both his natural senses and the mystical awareness that came with carrying The Long Memory. What he detected made him pull the transport into a rapid descent toward the valley below.
"Everyone hold on," he called out, his voice tight with concentration. "We're setting down now. Whatever's out there, it wants to meet us, and I don't think ignoring it is an option."
The transport touched down in a small clearing surrounded by pine trees and mountain stone. Through the windows, they could see the landscape appeared normal—just another part of Mistral's endless wilderness. But their enhanced senses told a different story.
Ruby was the first to disembark, her silver energy creating a protective aura around her as she stepped into the clearing. The cosmic resonance she had been feeling intensified, pulling her attention toward a specific area where the pine trees seemed slightly... different... as if reality itself was subtly altered.
"We know you're there," Ruby called out, her voice carrying the authority of someone who had faced cosmic forces before. "Our enhancement lets us sense you. If you want to talk, we're listening."
The response came not as words but as a gradual revelation—the dimensional barriers began to thin, reality slowly adjusting to reveal three figures standing among the pine trees. The sight that greeted the enhanced students was unlike anything they had ever encountered.
Goku stood with his characteristic friendly posture, orange gi bright against the mountain landscape, his presence radiating power that made Nova's strongest transformations seem like sparks beside a bonfire. Beside him, Vegeta maintained his proud stance, arms crossed as he studied the young warriors with calculating intensity. Between them, Broly's massive frame carried power so immense that the very air around him seemed to sing with barely contained energy.
"Hello there!" Goku said with genuine warmth, though he made no move to approach them. "Sorry for the mysterious approach, but we weren't sure how you'd react to meeting actual Saiyans."
The statement sent shockwaves through the group. Nova's golden aura flared involuntarily as understanding crashed over him—these weren't just enhanced individuals or cosmic beings. These were representatives of the species whose power he had somehow accessed during his transformation.
"Saiyans," Nova breathed, his voice carrying awe and disbelief in equal measure. "You're actual Saiyans. From space."
Vegeta's expression showed approval at Nova's quick understanding. "Indeed. I am Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans. This is Kakarot—though he prefers the name 'Goku'—and Broly, the Legendary Super Saiyan."
Ruby stepped forward, her silver-gold eyes reflecting the same mixture of wonder and wariness that characterized her approach to all cosmic phenomena. "Why are you here? What do you want with us?"
Broly spoke with gentle authority that contrasted sharply with his intimidating appearance. "We're here because you've accessed Saiyan power without understanding what it means or how to properly control it. Left untrained, such power becomes as dangerous to those you wish to protect as to those you fight against."
The implications began to sink in for all of them. Jaune, Nora, and Ren stood slightly behind their enhanced teammates, recognizing that they were witnessing something that transcended normal reality. Qrow remained near the transport, The Long Memory ready despite his understanding that conventional weapons would be useless against beings of such magnitude.
"The cosmic evaluation that enhanced certain students at Beacon," Goku explained with his characteristic directness, "was conducted by beings far above our level. But the power they granted you—the Saiyan transformations, the cosmic enhancements—those come with responsibilities you're not ready for without proper guidance."
Nova's transformation deepened as emotional intensity triggered his enhanced state. "You're saying we're not ready? We've been fighting Salem's forces, protecting people, doing everything we can to—"
"And nearly destroying a mountain in the process," Vegeta interrupted with clinical precision. "Your attack on Beacon Tower was impressive for an untrained transformation, but completely wasteful in terms of energy efficiency. You used enough power to level a city to destroy a single structure."
The criticism hit Nova harder than any physical blow could have. He had been proud of his ability to overcome Cinder, to protect Ruby and eliminate a major threat. To learn that his greatest moment of triumph was considered wasteful by actual Saiyans was devastating.
"Hey now," Goku said, noting Nova's distress with characteristic empathy. "Don't get discouraged! Everyone starts somewhere, and what you accomplished was amazing for someone with no training. We're not here to criticize—we're here to help you get better."
Ruby moved to stand beside Nova, her silver energy beginning to resonate with his golden aura in patterns that made all three Saiyans take notice. "What kind of help?" she asked, her voice carrying the directness that had always characterized her approach to important decisions.
Broly smiled—an expression that transformed his intimidating features into something almost paternal. "The kind that teaches you to access your full power without losing control of it. The kind that shows you how to protect others without destroying everything around them in the process."
"Training," Vegeta added with satisfaction. "Real training, from actual Saiyans who understand what you're dealing with. Not the amateur fumbling you've been doing with your transformations."
The offer hung in the air between them, heavy with possibilities none of them had dared to imagine. Training from actual Saiyans—beings whose power transcended anything they had encountered, whose understanding of cosmic forces went far beyond anything available on Remnant.
"What's the catch?" Qrow called out, his huntsman instincts refusing to accept that such an offer came without a price.
Goku's expression grew more serious, though it retained its fundamental warmth. "The catch is that Salem and her forces have caught the attention of beings who could erase this entire universe if they decide your world represents a threat to cosmic stability. We're here to make sure that doesn't happen."
Ruby felt the weight of cosmic responsibility settling around her shoulders like a familiar burden. "So this is about more than just Salem. It's about proving that enhanced humans can be trusted with this kind of power."
"Exactly," Broly confirmed with approval. "And based on what we've observed so far, we believe you have the potential to prove that trust is justified. But potential means nothing without proper development."
Nova's transformation stabilized as determination replaced his earlier distress. "Then teach us. If there's a chance we can become strong enough to protect everyone—not just from Salem, but from the cosmic forces that might judge our world—then we'll do whatever it takes."
Ruby nodded with fierce agreement, her silver-gold eyes blazing with resolve. "When do we start?"
Vegeta's smile carried predatory anticipation. "Right now."
The First Lesson
The mountain clearing that had seemed peaceful moments before was transformed as the three Saiyans began preparing a training ground suitable for cosmic-level instruction. Goku raised his hand, and the very air began to shimmer with energy that reshaped the landscape around them.
Trees moved aside without being cut, their roots lifting them to new positions as if the earth itself was rearranging to accommodate their needs. Stone flowed like water, creating level platforms at various heights throughout the clearing. The temperature became perfectly comfortable despite their mountain altitude, and the lighting took on the soft, even quality of an eternal dawn.
"Environmental manipulation," Vegeta explained as he observed their students' amazement. "When training with cosmic-level power, you need training grounds that won't be obliterated by the first serious technique attempt."
Broly gestured toward the transformed space with approval. "We'll start with the fundamentals. Nova, your Super Saiyan transformation is powerful but completely unrefined. You're burning through energy at ten times the rate necessary and creating power spikes that make precise control impossible."
Nova nodded, his golden aura flickering as he tried to maintain his enhanced state. "I've noticed that. After the tower incident, I was exhausted for days. But when Ruby was in danger, the transformation felt... effortless."
"Emotional triggers," Goku explained with understanding born from experience. "Classic beginner mistake. You're relying on anger, fear, or desperation to access your power instead of learning to channel it consciously."
Ruby stepped forward, her silver energy beginning to pulse in rhythm with Nova's golden aura. "What about my abilities? The silver eyes combined with cosmic enhancement—I don't even know what that creates."
Broly's expression grew thoughtful as he studied the unique energy patterns Ruby was generating. "You represent something we've never encountered before. Silver-eyed warriors are specific to your world, but cosmic enhancement is universal. The combination could create capabilities that transcend both individual power sets."
"Which is why proper training is crucial," Vegeta added with characteristic intensity. "Uncontrolled unique abilities have a tendency to either burn out their users or reshape reality in unpredictable ways."
Jaune, Nora, and Ren had positioned themselves at what they hoped was a safe distance, but Goku noticed their presence with characteristic inclusivity.
"Don't think you three are getting out of this," he called to them with a friendly grin. "Cosmic enhancement aside, you're part of the team that's going to face Salem. That means you need training too—different training, but just as important."
Ren's analytical mind immediately engaged with the implications. "You're saying we can be trained to work effectively alongside cosmic-level combatants?"
"More than that," Broly replied approvingly. "Properly coordinated team tactics can multiply the effectiveness of enhanced individuals exponentially. Your friend Pyrrha understood this—her combat style was built around supporting and amplifying her teammates' abilities."
The mention of Pyrrha sent a wave of grief through Jaune, but also determination. If there was a way to honor her memory while becoming strong enough to prevent similar tragedies...
"Teach us," Jaune said with quiet conviction. "All of us. Whatever it takes."
Vegeta nodded with satisfaction. "Then we begin with the most fundamental lesson in Saiyan combat philosophy: power without control is just destruction waiting for an excuse. Control without power is just good intentions that accomplish nothing."
He gestured toward Nova, whose golden aura was still fluctuating wildly. "Transform. Full Super Saiyan state. But this time, instead of letting the power flow freely, try to contain it to exactly the level you need."
Nova's transformation deepened, golden energy blazing around him as his hair shifted to its enhanced state. But as Vegeta had predicted, the power was completely unrestrained, causing small earthquakes and sending wildlife fleeing for miles around.
"Feel the energy," Goku instructed, his own aura beginning to manifest as a demonstration. "Don't fight it or try to suppress it completely. Think of it like water—you want to direct the flow, not stop it entirely."
Ruby watched Nova's struggle with growing understanding of her own challenges. "It's the same with my silver energy," she realized. "When I used it at Beacon, it was all or nothing. Either completely off or powerful enough to freeze an ancient Grimm."
"Exactly," Broly confirmed. "The goal isn't to eliminate the emotional connection to your power—emotions are fuel for Saiyan transformations. The goal is to achieve conscious control over how that fuel is used."
The training session that followed challenged every assumption the enhanced students had about their abilities. Under Saiyan guidance, Nova learned to access his transformed state without the explosive power surges that had characterized his earlier attempts. Ruby discovered techniques for channeling her silver energy in precise, controlled bursts rather than overwhelming waves.
Meanwhile, Jaune, Nora, and Ren found themselves learning combat techniques that seemed impossible for normal humans—ways of moving that took advantage of their enhanced teammates' abilities, strategies for coordinating with beings whose power levels transcended normal physics.
"This is incredible," Ruby said during a brief rest break, her silver-gold eyes reflecting amazement at her improved control. "I can actually feel the energy responding to conscious direction instead of just emotional intensity."
Nova nodded enthusiastically, his golden aura now stable and contained despite maintaining his transformed state. "It's like... like the power was always there, but I was trying to swim upstream instead of learning to navigate the current."
Vegeta's expression showed grudging approval. "Acceptable progress for a first session. Though you both still have years of training ahead of you before you can be considered competent."
"Years?" Nora asked with characteristic bluntness. "Do we have years? Salem's not going to wait while we get stronger."
Broly's smile carried subtle satisfaction. "Time flows differently during properly conducted training. What seems like years of development can be compressed into days or weeks of focused instruction."
Goku nodded with enthusiasm. "Plus, we've got ways of accelerating training that your world hasn't discovered yet. Hyperbolic time chambers, gravity manipulation, dimensional training grounds where a day of real time equals months of practice."
The implications began to sink in for all of them. They weren't just receiving guidance—they were gaining access to training methods that could transform them into beings capable of matching Salem's cosmic-level threats.
"But for now," Vegeta declared with finality, "we return you to your mission. Haven Academy awaits, and there are answers there you'll need regardless of your training progress."
Ruby looked around at her teammates—Nova with his newly controlled golden aura, Jaune standing straighter with newfound confidence, Nora and Ren radiating the quiet competence that came with understanding their role in cosmic-level conflicts.
"Will we see you again?" she asked the three Saiyans.
"Count on it," Goku replied with his characteristic warmth. "This was just the introduction. The real training starts once you've dealt with whatever's waiting at Haven."
As the Saiyans began to fade back into dimensional concealment, their voices carried a final promise that would sustain the young warriors through whatever trials lay ahead:
"Remember—you're not alone in this fight anymore."
Haven Academy Approached
The transformed landscape returned to its natural state as the Saiyans departed, but the effects of their intervention remained clearly visible in the way Nova and Ruby carried themselves. Their enhanced abilities no longer fluctuated wildly with emotional state, instead maintaining the steady control that marked properly trained cosmic warriors.
"Everyone back aboard," Qrow called, though his voice carried new respect as he observed the changes in their demeanor. "Haven Academy is still two hours out, and we need to reach it before dark."
As the transport lifted off from the clearing, Ruby found herself studying her hands with amazement. Silver energy danced between her fingers with perfect precision, responding to conscious thought rather than overwhelming instinct.
"I can't believe how much changed in just one training session," she said to Nova, who was demonstrating similar control over his golden aura.
"They weren't kidding about having years of training ahead of us," Nova replied, though his tone carried anticipation rather than discouragement. "But knowing that kind of improvement is possible..."
"Changes everything," Jaune completed, his own confidence having grown through witnessing combat techniques that took advantage of enhanced teammates. "Whatever we find at Haven, we're ready for it."
As the transport continued toward its destination, none of them noticed the subtle changes that had begun manifesting in the world around them—small alterations in the cosmic balance that indicated divine intervention was reshaping the very nature of their conflict with Salem.
The real adventure was just beginning, and now they had the training to survive whatever came next.
The journey to Haven continued, carrying with it the dreams of the living, the hopes of the dead, and the promise that cosmic power guided by wisdom could overcome even the darkest of ancient evils.
The enhanced students of Beacon were finally becoming the guardians they had been meant to be.
To be coninued in Chapter 33.5: Haven's Shadow