Chapter 36 - Chapter 33.5: Haven's Shadow

Chapter XXXIII.5: Haven's Shadow

Convergence of Fates

Haven's Shadow

The transport descended through layers of mountain mist as Haven Academy finally came into view. The institution stood as a testament to Mistral's architectural philosophy-elegant pagodas and sweeping rooflines that seemed to grow organically from the mountain peaks themselves. Unlike Beacon's proud towers that had reached toward the sky, Haven nestled into its environment, suggesting defense through integration rather than domination.

Ruby pressed closer to the window, her silver-gold eyes scanning the academy grounds with enhanced perception that revealed details invisible to normal vision. "Something's wrong," she murmured, her cosmic senses detecting energy patterns that felt... hollow. "The academy looks occupied, but the aura signatures are all wrong."

Nova's golden energy flickered briefly as his own enhanced awareness confirmed Ruby's observations. "Most of the buildings are empty. There are people there, but not nearly as many as there should be for a functioning academy."

Qrow's expression darkened as he guided the transport toward the designated landing platform. "Lionheart's been reporting normal operations to the other headmasters. If the academy is this depleted..."

"Then someone's been lying," Ren finished quietly, his analytical mind already processing the tactical implications.

The landing was smooth, but the platform itself told a story of recent neglect. Scorch marks that should have been repaired marred the stone surface, and the guidance lights flickered with irregular patterns that suggested maintenance had been postponed repeatedly.

As they disembarked, the weight of recent divine training seemed to settle more firmly around Ruby and Nova. The Saiyans' lessons echoed in their minds-power without wisdom, control without understanding. Whatever they found here would test more than their combat abilities.

"Stay alert," Qrow instructed, The Long Memory held with casual readiness that fooled no one. "If Haven's been compromised, we need to know how deep the corruption goes before we commit to any action."

The academy's main entrance loomed before them, its ornate doors carved with symbols representing the four kingdoms united in purpose. The irony wasn't lost on any of them-unity had been Beacon's promise too, right up until the moment it shattered.

The Headmaster's Deception

Professor Leonardo Lionheart waited in his office, hands trembling as he reviewed the reports he would present to his unexpected visitors. The photographs on his desk-memories of better days, of students who had trusted him, of ideals he had abandoned in exchange for survival-seemed to mock his current state.

The communication scroll from Salem lay hidden in his desk's lowest drawer, its presence a constant weight on his conscience. Her instructions had been clear: observe, report, and when the time came, facilitate the fall of Haven just as Beacon had fallen.

But Salem's instructions had been issued before divine forces had taken direct interest in this world's fate. Lionheart had felt the shift in cosmic balance three days ago-a presence so overwhelming that even his cowardice recognized it as something beyond Salem's ability to control or combat.

A soft knock interrupted his spiraling thoughts. "Enter," he called, forcing his voice to steadiness it didn't deserve.

Qrow Branwen stepped through first, his practiced eye immediately cataloging the office's details-the defensive positioning of furniture, the multiple exits, the way Lionheart's hand remained suspiciously close to his weapon. Behind Qrow came the students, and Lionheart felt his breath catch as cosmic energy washed over his senses.

The Belladonna boy and the Rose girl radiated power that transcended anything Lionheart had encountered in his decades as headmaster. More disturbing was the quality of that power-no longer the raw, uncontrolled enhancement he'd been warned to expect, but something refined, directed, shaped by training that shouldn't have been possible in the brief time since Beacon's fall.

"Qrow," Lionheart managed, extending a hand that trembled only slightly. "And Ruby Rose. When you contacted us about arriving today, I... I wasn't expecting such a distinguished group."

Ruby's silver-gold eyes met Lionheart's, and for a moment the headmaster felt as if his soul was being weighed and found wanting. "Professor Lionheart," she said with politeness that carried steel beneath its surface. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us."

"Of course, of course," Lionheart replied, gesturing toward the chairs arranged before his desk. "Though I must admit, your message was rather vague about the purpose of your visit. Something about investigating connections between the Fall of Beacon and potential threats to Haven?"

Nova stepped forward, his enhanced senses detecting micro-expressions that revealed Lionheart's discomfort. "We have reason to believe Salem's influence extends beyond Beacon. That her network of operatives may have compromised other academies."

The statement hung in the air like an accusation. Lionheart's face remained carefully neutral, but Ruby's cosmic perception detected the spike in his heart rate, the subtle shift in his breathing patterns.

"That's... that's a serious allegation," Lionheart said carefully. "Haven's security protocols are extensive. I can assure you that we've taken every precaution since learning of Beacon's fate."

"Then you won't mind if we conduct our own assessment," Qrow interjected, his tone carrying the authority of someone who had seen too many lies to accept reassurances at face value.

Before Lionheart could formulate a response that wouldn't reveal his compromised position, reality itself seemed to shimmer at the edges of normal perception. Ruby and Nova both turned toward the window simultaneously, their cosmic senses detecting a presence that made even their recent divine training seem like preparation for exactly this moment.

Divine Observation

Beyond the normal boundaries of space, Beerus and Whis observed Haven Academy with growing interest. The God of Destruction lounged in the air with casual elegance, while his attendant's staff glowed softly as it analyzed the complex web of deception and fear that had taken root in Mistral's premier academy.

"Fascinating," Whis murmured, his serene expression reflecting genuine curiosity. "The headmaster is compromised, but his fear of Salem is now being overridden by his terror of divine judgment. Quite the emotional conflict."

Beerus's tail twitched with mild annoyance. "Another failure of mortal leadership. It's always the same-power corrupts, fear compromises, and institutional authority becomes meaningless in the face of overwhelming force."

"However," Whis continued with subtle approval, "observe how the enhanced students are processing the situation. Rather than immediately confronting the headmaster's deception, they're gathering information, assessing the full scope of the problem."

Below them, Ruby had moved to stand beside Nova, their cosmic energies beginning to resonate in patterns that suggested unconscious tactical coordination. Jaune, Nora, and Ren had positioned themselves to control the office's exit points without appearing threatening-a deployment that spoke to the effectiveness of their recent training.

"The Saiyan instruction is already showing results," Beerus acknowledged with satisfaction. "Control, assessment, strategic thinking rather than immediate emotional reaction. Perhaps these enhanced mortals will prove worthy of the evaluation after all."

Whis's smile widened slightly. "Lord Beerus, I believe our intervention is beginning to have the intended effect. Shall we see how they handle the next complication?"

"What complication?" Beerus asked, though his divine senses had already detected the approaching energy signatures.

"It appears Salem's agents have decided to accelerate their timeline," Whis replied with clinical interest. "And they're bringing reinforcements specifically designed to counter cosmic enhancement."

The Trap Springs

The attack came without warning, as professional ambushes always did. The windows of Lionheart's office exploded inward, not from external impact but from directed Dust charges that had been carefully positioned during the night. Smoke filled the chamber instantly-military-grade obscurants designed to block both normal vision and most sensory enhancements.

But the attackers hadn't accounted for cosmic-level perception trained by actual Saiyans.

Ruby moved before conscious thought, her silver energy creating a protective barrier that intercepted the follow-up barrage of specialized ammunition. Beside her, Nova's transformation activated with the controlled precision Vegeta had drilled into him, golden aura flaring to exactly the intensity needed rather than overwhelming everything in its radius.

"Jaune, cover Lionheart!" Ruby called out, her tactical awareness enhanced by Broly's team coordination lessons. "Nora, Ren, defensive positions!"

The office transformed into a battleground as Salem's strike team revealed themselves. These weren't ordinary operatives-each bore equipment and enhancements specifically designed to counter the cosmic abilities demonstrated at Beacon's fall.

The leader, a tall woman with silver hair and eyes that reflected calculated cruelty, studied Ruby and Nova with professional interest. "Well now," she said conversationally despite the chaos around them, "Salem's intelligence suggested you'd be enhanced, but this level of control is... unexpected."

Her weapon came up-a custom rifle that hummed with energy signatures Ruby's enhanced senses identified as artificially generated Grimm essence combined with advanced Dust technology. When it fired, the projectiles didn't simply travel through space-they tore small holes in reality itself, creating miniature portals that made dodging effectively impossible.

Nova intercepted the attack meant for Ruby, his golden aura deflecting the spatial distortions with techniques Goku had taught him mere hours ago. "Whoever you are," he said with calm authority that surprised even himself, "you're outmatched."

The strike team leader smiled coldly. "Am I? Let's test that theory."

What followed was combat that transcended anything the students had experienced before Beacon's fall, but now they possessed the training to meet it. Ruby's silver energy lashed out with surgical precision, neutralizing threats without the overwhelming power expenditure that had characterized her earlier attempts. Nova moved with controlled grace, each transformation increment calculated for maximum efficiency.

But it was the coordination between enhanced and non-enhanced team members that truly surprised their attackers. Jaune's shield timing created openings that Ruby exploited instantly. Nora's electrical attacks synergized with Nova's cosmic energy in ways that multiplied their effectiveness. Ren's analytical callouts allowed the team to counter tactics before they fully developed.

"They've been trained," the strike team leader reported via concealed communication device, her professional demeanor cracking slightly as their carefully planned assault fell apart against unexpectedly competent resistance. "This isn't the uncontrolled power we expected. Recommend immediate withdrawal and-"

Her transmission cut off as Qrow's scythe found its mark, not killing but disabling with the precision of someone who had spent decades perfecting his craft. "You can tell Salem," Qrow said quietly as the strike team leader collapsed, "that her intelligence is severely outdated."

Aftermath and Revelation

As the smoke cleared and the unconscious attackers were secured, Lionheart found himself face-to-face with the students whose trust he had so thoroughly betrayed. Ruby's silver-gold eyes held none of the naive optimism that had characterized her at Beacon's start-only the steady gaze of someone who had learned that betrayal often wore familiar faces.

"You knew they were coming," she said without accusation, merely stating observed fact. "The office positioning, your nervousness, the way you kept checking the windows. You've been working with Salem."

Lionheart sank into his chair, all pretense of authority draining away. "Not working with," he whispered. "Surviving. Salem doesn't offer choices-she offers the illusion of survival in exchange for compliance."

"And how many students died because you chose survival over resistance?" Nova asked, his controlled tone somehow more devastating than anger would have been.

The question struck Lionheart like a physical blow. "All of them," he admitted, his voice breaking. "Every team that went missing. Every false alarm that turned into an ambush. I convinced myself I was buying time, protecting the academy, but I was just... just..."

"Feeding people to a monster to save yourself," Qrow finished with disgust. "We've seen your type before, Leo. They always have justifications."

Before the confrontation could escalate further, reality shimmered once more. This time, Beerus and Whis made their presence fully known, materializing in the office with divine authority that made even the recent combat seem trivial by comparison.

Lionheart's face went white as he experienced divine judgment firsthand-not as punishment but as absolute recognition of what he had become. Beerus said nothing, merely looked at the compromised headmaster with an expression that conveyed cosmic disappointment more devastating than any words.

"This situation requires correction," Whis announced with his characteristic serenity. "Professor Lionheart, your cooperation with Salem has been terminated-not by your choice, but by divine decree. You will assist these students in understanding the full scope of Salem's operations at Haven, or you will be removed from this universe entirely."

The threat wasn't delivered with anger or malice-merely as statement of fact that transcended mortal concepts of punishment or mercy.

New Foundations

Hours later, as the captured strike team members were transferred to secure holding and Lionheart began his testimony under divine observation, Ruby stood on Haven Academy's main balcony and watched the sun set over Mistral's mountains.

Nova joined her, his golden aura finally dismissed after maintaining controlled enhancement throughout the crisis. "We did well today," he said quietly. "The training made the difference."

Ruby nodded, her silver energy creating gentle patterns in the evening air. "But it's only the beginning. If Salem can corrupt a headmaster this thoroughly, how many others have been compromised?"

"That's what we're here to find out," Jaune said, approaching with Nora and Ren. His bearing had transformed over their journey-the uncertain boy who had questioned his place at Beacon was gone, replaced by someone who had learned that courage wasn't absence of fear but action despite it.

Qrow appeared from the shadows, The Long Memory gleaming with residual energy from the day's combat. "The good news is that Lionheart's testimony is revealing Salem's entire Mistral network. The bad news is that network is far more extensive than we feared."

"Then we dismantle it," Ruby declared with quiet determination. "Piece by piece, agent by agent, until Salem has no hold on this kingdom."

Above them, invisible to normal perception but clearly present to their cosmic-enhanced senses, three Saiyans observed with approval. The training had taken root. The students were becoming warriors. And the evaluation that would determine Remnant's fate was entering its next critical phase.

In the distance, storm clouds gathered on the horizon-but now those clouds carried not just the threat of destruction, but the promise of properly trained guardians ready to meet whatever darkness approached.

The journey to Haven had brought revelation, betrayal, and the beginning of true understanding about the scope of their cosmic responsibility.

And far away, in her castle of twisted spires and malevolent dreams, Salem felt the first tremors of genuine concern about forces she could no longer predict or control.

The cosmic balance was shifting, and for the first time in millennia, the outcome was uncertain.

Echoes of Training

Mistral Wilderness - Night Watch

The campfire had burned down to embers, casting dancing shadows across the small clearing where Team RNJR had made camp. Nova sat apart from the others, cross-legged on a flat boulder that overlooked their temporary sanctuary. His golden aura flickered softly around him-not the explosive, uncontrolled transformation that had characterized his early attempts, but the refined, measured enhancement that hours of Saiyan training had instilled.

His emerald eyes were closed, but his cosmic senses remained fully active, monitoring the area for threats while simultaneously working through the exercises Broly had taught him. Feel the energy. 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.

The Legendary Super Saiyan's words echoed in Nova's mind with particular resonance. Broly understood better than anyone what it meant to struggle with overwhelming power, to fear that the strength meant to protect could instead destroy everything you loved.

"The rage will always be there," Broly had told him during their training session, his massive frame radiating barely contained power despite his peaceful demeanor. "I won't lie to you about that. The Saiyan transformation feeds on emotion-anger, fear, desperation, even joy. But you can learn to acknowledge those feelings without being controlled by them."

Nova's aura pulsed slightly as he processed the lesson. At Beacon Tower, when he'd seen Cinder's arrow pierce Ruby's shoulder, the transformation had consumed him. He'd become a force of pure destruction, barely aware of his actions beyond the overwhelming need to eliminate the threat. The memory of that loss of control still frightened him.

But now, maintaining his enhanced state while remaining fully conscious and in control, he could feel the difference. The power was still there-perhaps even greater than before-but it flowed through him rather than overwhelming him.

"Power without wisdom is just destruction waiting for an excuse," Vegeta's words joined the mental chorus. The Saiyan Prince had been characteristically blunt in his assessment. "You've accessed legendary transformation through instinct and emotional trauma. Impressive for someone with no training, but ultimately useless if you can't control it."

Nova opened his eyes, studying his hands as golden energy danced between his fingers. During the fight with Salem's strike team at Haven, he'd been able to maintain precise control throughout the entire engagement. No wild power spikes, no excessive energy expenditure, no moments where the transformation threatened to spiral beyond his conscious direction.

I'm getting better, he thought with quiet satisfaction. But Vegeta's right-I still have years of training ahead of me.

A soft sound drew his attention-Ruby, emerging from her sleeping bag and moving quietly through the camp. Even without enhanced senses, Nova would have recognized the careful way she moved, trying not to wake the others. But his cosmic perception detected something else: the subtle fluctuations in her silver-gold aura that suggested disturbed sleep, fragmented dreams.

He watched as she paused near the campfire, her attention drawn toward something in the woods beyond. After a moment's hesitation, she began moving in that direction, leaving the safety of their camp.

Nova's first instinct was to follow immediately, but Goku's training kicked in: Assess before acting. Not every situation requires immediate intervention.

His enhanced hearing picked up the sound that had drawn Ruby's attention-a voice, familiar yet impossible. Pyrrha Nikos, speaking from a recording that Jaune must have been playing during his own sleepless night.

The tactical situation became clear. Jaune was training alone, using recordings of Pyrrha's instruction sessions. Ruby had been drawn by the voice, likely triggering memories of Beacon Tower, of the moment her latent power had activated in response to Pyrrha's death.

Two people processing grief in different ways, Nova recognized, his analytical mind-sharpened by weeks of Vegeta's tactical drilling-assessing the emotional landscape. Jaune through repetitive training, trying to become worthy of Pyrrha's sacrifice. Ruby by confronting the memories she's been avoiding.

He remained on his boulder, maintaining his watch over the camp while giving them both space to process their pain. But his cosmic senses stayed locked on Ruby's position, ready to move instantly if any actual threat manifested.

The golden aura around him stabilized further as he settled into a meditative state that Broly had demonstrated-fully transformed yet completely calm, aware of his power without being consumed by it.

The Weight of Memory

Through the trees, Ruby watched Jaune train with an intensity that spoke of desperation rather than discipline. Each sword strike carried too much force, each movement slightly off-balance as emotion overrode technique.

Nova could feel Ruby's turmoil through their cosmic connection-the enhancement that linked them on levels beyond normal perception. Guilt, grief, determination, and beneath it all, a bone-deep fear that she wasn't strong enough to protect the people she cared about.

She's dealing with the same thing I am, Nova realized. The fear that our power won't be enough when it matters most.

Goku's voice echoed in his memory: "The thing about being strong enough to protect people is that you'll never feel like you're strong enough. There's always going to be someone stronger, some threat you couldn't predict, some situation where your best effort falls short. That's just reality."

"So how do you deal with it?" Nova had asked during their training.

Goku's expression had grown uncharacteristically serious. "You accept that you can't save everyone. You do your best, you train to get stronger, and you trust your friends to have your back when you can't do it alone. And when you do fail..." He'd paused, painful memories flickering across his features. "You learn from it. You get stronger. And you make sure that specific failure never happens again."

Ruby turned away from watching Jaune, her silver-gold eyes glistening with unshed tears. Nova could feel her making a decision-to give Jaune his privacy, to carry her own pain without adding to his burden.

That's so like her, Nova thought with a mixture of admiration and concern. Always thinking about everyone else, never allowing herself to fully process her own trauma.

As Ruby began making her way back toward camp, Nova finally spoke, his voice quiet but carrying clearly through the still night air: "You can talk about it, you know. The dreams. The memories."

Ruby startled slightly, looking up to find Nova on his boulder, golden aura painting him in warm light. "How did you...?"

"Cosmic enhancement," Nova replied with a slight smile. "Also, you've been having nightmares since we left Haven. I can sense when your silver energy fluctuates during sleep."

Ruby climbed up to sit beside him, drawing her knees to her chest. For a long moment, neither spoke, simply sharing the quiet companionship of two people who understood cosmic burdens that normal humans couldn't comprehend.

"I keep seeing the tower," Ruby finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Pyrrha dying. The power activating inside me. And every time, I wonder if I'd been faster, stronger, more in control..."

"She'd still be dead," Nova said with brutal honesty that would have seemed cruel from anyone else, but from him carried only hard truth. "Cinder was too powerful at that moment. Your silver eyes buying us time to escape was the best outcome possible given the circumstances."

Ruby's hands clenched into fists. "But now we're stronger. You have proper Saiyan training. I can control my silver energy without passing out. If we'd had this power then-"

"We didn't," Nova interrupted gently. "And torturing yourself with 'what ifs' is just another way of avoiding the present. Vegeta drilled that into me pretty thoroughly."

He let his golden aura flare slightly, demonstrating the control he'd achieved. "During our training, I kept thinking about the tower. About how I lost control, how I nearly destroyed everything trying to destroy Cinder. Vegeta pointed out that dwelling on past failures while ignoring present progress is just ego-being so focused on what I couldn't do then that I fail to appreciate what I can do now."

Ruby watched the golden energy dance around Nova with something approaching envy. "It's easier for you. Your power is straightforward-transform, get stronger, fight better. My silver eyes... I still don't fully understand them. And combining them with cosmic enhancement creates patterns even the Saiyans haven't seen before."

"Which is why Broly specifically mentioned you during training," Nova revealed. "He said your potential might exceed even legendary Super Saiyan transformation, because you're not limited by Saiyan biology. Your silver energy is something unique to Remnant, enhanced by cosmic forces that transcend normal universal rules."

The statement hung between them, heavy with implications. Ruby had been so focused on her inadequacies that she hadn't considered what her unique combination of powers might become with proper development.

"Goku wants to resume training as soon as we've dealt with the Haven situation," Nova continued. "He's specifically interested in working with you on merging your silver energy with Saiyan transformation principles. Apparently, there's a legend on their world about a transformation that combines divine power with Saiyan genetics..."

"Super Saiyan God," Ruby breathed, having picked up fragments about it during their brief training session. "The Saiyans mentioned it when discussing transformation types."

Nova nodded. "Your silver eyes might be Remnant's equivalent of divine power. Combined with cosmic enhancement and proper training..." He trailed off, letting Ruby imagine the possibilities.

Lessons in Control

They sat in companionable silence for several minutes, watching the stars wheel overhead. Finally, Ruby spoke again: "Show me."

Nova looked at her questioningly.

"The control exercises," Ruby clarified. "The ones Broly taught you for maintaining transformation without emotional triggers. I've been trying to do something similar with my silver energy, but I keep hitting walls."

Nova smiled, recognizing the request for what it was-Ruby's way of processing grief through action, through improvement, through becoming strong enough that future failures might be prevented.

"Alright," he said, standing on the boulder with easy grace. "First lesson: stop thinking of your power as something separate from yourself. That was my biggest mistake early on."

His golden aura flared to full intensity, then immediately dampened to barely visible levels before cycling through several precise intensity variations. "When I first transformed, the power felt like this external force that I had to wrestle into submission. Broly showed me that was backwards-the power IS me, just accessing potential that's normally locked away."

Ruby stood beside him, her silver-gold energy beginning to manifest in response to Nova's demonstration. "So instead of controlling it, I should..."

"Direct it," Nova finished. "Like breathing. You don't consciously control every breath, but you can deliberately breathe deeper or hold your breath when needed. Same principle with cosmic enhancement."

He guided Ruby through the exercises Broly had taught him, adapted for her silver energy rather than golden Saiyan transformation. The techniques focused on conscious awareness rather than emotional triggers, on understanding the energy's natural flow rather than forcing it into artificial patterns.

"That's... actually working," Ruby said after several minutes, her silver energy stabilizing into steady patterns rather than the chaotic fluctuations that had characterized her earlier attempts. "Why didn't we figure this out before?"

"Because we were trying to learn by ourselves," Nova replied. "Broly spent decades mastering legendary transformation. Goku and Vegeta have been Saiyans their entire lives. We're essentially toddlers trying to run before we can walk-we needed guidance from people who've actually walked this path."

Ruby's expression grew thoughtful. "The Saiyans kept emphasizing that we're not alone in this fight anymore. That we have support from beings who understand cosmic power..."

"And who have a vested interest in making sure we succeed," Nova added. "Beerus made that pretty clear when he confronted Salem. We're not just representing ourselves anymore-we're proof that mortals can be trusted with transcendent power."

The weight of that responsibility settled over them both. They weren't just students trying to stop an ancient evil. They were participants in a cosmic evaluation that would determine whether their entire world deserved to survive.

"No pressure, right?" Ruby said with gallows humor that made Nova smile despite the seriousness of their situation.

"Actually, weirdly enough, I find it less pressure," Nova admitted. "When it was just us against Salem, the odds seemed impossible. But with Saiyan training, divine oversight, and the knowledge that we're not alone... it feels achievable. Difficult, but achievable."

Ruby nodded slowly, her silver-gold aura finally achieving the stable, controlled state she'd been striving for. "We should probably get some sleep. Tomorrow we continue investigating Haven's compromised systems, and something tells me that's going to get complicated fast."

Nova let his golden transformation fade, returning to his base state. "Agreed. Though I'll maintain watch for another hour-my Saiyan metabolism means I need less sleep than baseline humans now."

As Ruby made her way back to her sleeping bag, she paused and looked back. "Nova? Thank you. For understanding. For not treating me like I'm fragile."

"You're one of the strongest people I know," Nova replied simply. "Not because of cosmic enhancement or silver eyes, but because you keep moving forward even when everything seems hopeless. That's real strength."

Ruby smiled-a genuine expression that reached her eyes for the first time since Beacon's fall-and returned to camp.

Nova resumed his position on the boulder, his senses extending to encompass their entire area. The conversation with Ruby had crystallized something important: they were growing not just in power, but in wisdom. Learning to accept help, to process trauma without being consumed by it, to understand that strength came from connection rather than isolation.

Broly would be proud, Nova thought, remembering the Legendary Super Saiyan's emphasis on emotional processing. And Vegeta would probably call it adequately acceptable progress, which from him is basically high praise.

Meanwhile - The Atlas Expedition

Several hundred miles northwest, in the frozen approaches to Atlas, another group of Saiyan-enhanced warriors made their own way through Remnant's hostile wilderness.

Daikon moved with purpose at the head of their small formation, his enhanced senses constantly scanning for threats while his mind remained focused on their mission objective: reaching Atlas and extracting Weiss Schnee from her father's control before Jacques could use her as a propaganda tool.

Behind him, Scarlett and her younger sister Aiko maintained a conversation that would have seemed casual to any observer, but Daikon's enhanced hearing detected the undercurrent of tactical assessment in their words.

"The temperature's dropping faster than projected," Scarlett observed, her combat-trained instincts evaluating environmental factors. "We'll need to adjust our approach vector if we want to avoid triggering Atlas's perimeter defenses."

Aiko's wolf ears twitched beneath her hood, her hybrid nature providing sensory advantages even her Saiyan sister couldn't match. "I'm picking up automated patrol patterns about fifteen kilometers north. Military-grade recognition systems, probably tied into Ironwood's defensive network."

Neptune walked beside Scarlett, his natural confidence tempered by weeks of intensive training under her personal instruction. The transformation from academy student to cosmic-enhanced warrior hadn't been easy, but he'd proven surprisingly adaptable.

"So we can't just fly over the border," Neptune summarized, his tactical thinking having improved dramatically. "Atlas's sensor grid would flag enhanced individuals immediately, especially after what happened at Beacon."

Beat and Note brought up the rear, their matching Saiyan heritage evident in the easy way they moved through terrain that would have challenged normal humans. As twins, they shared an almost telepathic coordination that made them devastatingly effective in combat situations.

"The question," Beat said, picking up Neptune's thread, "is whether Jacques Schnee is working with Salem's network or just being his usual controlling self."

"Does it matter?" Note replied with characteristic bluntness. "Either way, Weiss is essentially imprisoned in her family manor. That makes extraction necessary regardless of motivation."

Mercury Black walked slightly apart from the group, his presence still somewhat awkward despite having thrown his lot in with the Saiyans after abandoning Cinder's imploding coalition. His enhanced legs-the cybernetic replacements his father had given him-carried him through the snow with mechanical precision.

"You know," Mercury said with the sardonic humor that characterized his coping mechanisms, "I'm pretty sure breaking into one of the most secure locations in Atlas qualifies as suicidal even with cosmic enhancement."

Daikon glanced back with a slight smile. "Good thing we're not breaking in, then. We're being invited."

The statement made everyone stop and look at him questioningly.

"Invited?" Scarlett asked with raised eyebrows. "By whom?"

Daikon pulled out a communication scroll-military grade, not civilian-and displayed the message that had been waiting when they'd reached the last settlement before Atlas's borders.

To the enhanced individuals approaching Atlas: Winter Schnee requests your assistance in extracting her sister from deteriorating family circumstances. Entrance coordinates and security bypass codes attached. Time sensitive. -W.S.

"Winter Schnee," Neptune breathed, understanding dawning. "Weiss's older sister. She's Special Operations in the Atlas military."

"And apparently has been monitoring enhanced individual movements," Aiko added, her analytical mind processing implications. "Which means Atlas's intelligence network is more sophisticated than we assumed."

Mercury let out a low whistle. "A Specialist personally arranging for enhanced warriors to infiltrate Atlas and extract someone from the Schnee manor. That's either incredibly clever or spectacularly stupid."

"Or both," Beat and Note said simultaneously, then grinned at each other.

Daikon studied the message again, his enhanced perception detecting no signs of forgery or deception. "Winter Schnee has her own reasons for wanting her sister away from Jacques's influence. And based on what we know about the Schnee family dynamics..."

"She's not wrong to be concerned," Scarlett finished. "Jacques Schnee has a history of using his children as assets rather than treating them as family."

The group resumed their trek, but now with specific coordinates and the knowledge that their infiltration had just become significantly more complicated-and possibly more dangerous.

"One thing bothers me," Mercury said after several minutes of silence. "If Winter can arrange all this, why not just extract Weiss herself? She's got the authority, the training, the access."

"Because it would be seen as military interference in civilian affairs," Note explained, her tactical education evident. "But if enhanced individuals who happen to be friends with Weiss stage a rescue, it's a private matter between concerned associates."

"Plausible deniability," Neptune summarized with grudging respect. "Winter gets her sister away from Jacques without creating an incident that could destabilize Atlas's already strained political situation."

Daikon's expression grew more serious. "It also means we're walking into a situation where Atlas's internal politics are probably as dangerous as any external threat. Stay alert, trust no one except Weiss and Winter, and be ready to evacuate fast if the situation deteriorates."

As they crested another ridge, Atlas finally came into view in the distance-a gleaming city floating impossibly in the sky, held aloft by technology that bordered on the mystical. It was beautiful, intimidating, and according to Daikon's instincts, currently home to threats that had nothing to do with Grimm or Salem's direct influence.

"Alright team," Scarlett said with command authority that came naturally to her. "Final equipment check, then we begin our approach. Remember-we're not here to start a war with Atlas. We're here to extract one girl from a bad situation."

"And if Atlas security decides our presence IS an act of war?" Mercury asked pragmatically.

Daikon's smile carried no humor. "Then we demonstrate why cosmic enhancement makes traditional military response inadequate. But let's hope it doesn't come to that."

They began their final approach toward the coordinates Winter had provided, each warrior mentally preparing for an operation that could go wrong in countless ways. Behind them, the sun began to set over Solitas's frozen wastelands, painting the snow in shades of crimson that reminded them all too clearly of the blood that had been shed at Beacon.

Weiss Schnee was about to learn that having friends with cosmic enhancement meant never being truly alone-even when trapped in a gilded cage by those who should have protected her.

The training continues. The memories persist. And across Remnant, warriors enhanced by cosmic forces prepare for battles that will determine whether their world survives the attention it has drawn from beings who could erase universes with a thought.

Reunited Hearts

The Atlas Approach - Evening Camp

The group had made camp in a sheltered valley approximately thirty kilometers from Atlas's border, using natural rock formations to conceal their presence from aerial surveillance. Scarlett had established a perimeter using techniques taught by the Saiyans-subtle energy barriers that would alert them to any approach while remaining invisible to conventional detection methods.

As the others worked on establishing their temporary base, Mercury found himself drawn away from the main camp, ostensibly to scout the immediate area but really just needing space to process everything that had happened since Beacon's fall.

His cybernetic legs carried him silently across the snow-covered ground, the mechanical precision of his movement a constant reminder of his father's "training methods." But lately, those memories had been overshadowed by older ones-fragments of a childhood he'd thought lost forever, triggered by a familiar presence he never expected to encounter again.

Aiko.

The name alone sent complicated emotions cascading through his mind. When Cinder had ordered him to help coordinate the attack on Beacon Tower, something had broken through the walls he'd built around his past. A flash of wolf ears, a girl's laughter, promises made by children who didn't understand how cruel the world could be.

In that moment, watching Cinder prepare to kill Pyrrha Nikos, Mercury had made a choice that surprised even himself. Instead of following orders, he'd sabotaged key elements of the attack coordination, created openings that allowed some students to escape who otherwise wouldn't have, and ultimately fled before Cinder could realize his betrayal.

And then, stumbling through the chaos of Beacon's fall, he'd encountered them-Scarlett's group of Saiyan-enhanced warriors. And among them, with wolf ears twitching in recognition, had been the girl from his fragmented childhood memories.

"You know," a familiar voice said from behind him, "for an assassin trained to be hyperaware of his surroundings, you're remarkably easy to sneak up on when you're lost in thought."

Mercury turned to find Aiko standing a few meters away, her wolf tail swishing slightly in the cold wind. Even in the fading light, he could see the amused expression on her face-the same look she'd given him countless times when they were children, before his father had destroyed everything good in his life.

"Maybe I'm just comfortable enough around you not to maintain combat alertness," Mercury replied with his characteristic deflection through humor. "Or maybe I wanted to see if your tracking skills had improved since you were eight."

Aiko moved closer, her enhanced senses reading micro-expressions that Mercury thought he'd learned to suppress. "We haven't really talked. Not properly. Not since..."

"Since I remembered you existed and realized I'd been working for the people who would have killed you without a second thought?" Mercury finished with bitter self-awareness. "Yeah, kind of been avoiding that conversation."

"Why?" Aiko asked simply, settling onto a flat rock with unconscious grace. Her wolf ears flattened slightly-not in aggression but in concern. "Mercury, you saved lives at Beacon. You betrayed Cinder, knowing what she'd do if she caught you. You threw away everything you'd built with them because..."

She trailed off, waiting for him to complete the thought.

Mercury was quiet for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the distant lights of Atlas floating impossibly in the darkening sky. "Because seeing you-remembering you-reminded me that I used to be someone different. Before Dad. Before the training. Before I learned that the only thing that mattered was survival at any cost."

He finally looked at her, really looked at her, seeing not just the wolf-Faunus-Saiyan hybrid warrior she'd become, but echoes of the girl who had been his only friend during the brief period before his father had taken him away.

"You promised you'd find me," Mercury said quietly. "Do you remember? We were six years old, and Dad was taking me away for 'advanced training.' You grabbed my hand and said you'd find me, that we'd be friends again, that nothing could keep us apart forever."

Aiko's eyes widened slightly, a flush beginning to color her cheeks. "You remember that?"

"I didn't," Mercury admitted. "Not for years. Dad made sure of that-psychological conditioning, trauma reinforcement, all the fun techniques that turn children into weapons. But when I saw you at Beacon, fighting alongside Scarlett's group... everything came rushing back."

He gestured at his cybernetic legs with bitter humor. "Dad took my legs as punishment for 'weakness'-for having attachments, emotions, anything that might interfere with being the perfect assassin. Ironic that the very attachment he tried to erase is what ultimately made me betray Cinder."

Aiko stood, moving closer until she was within arm's reach. Her wolf ears twitched with barely contained emotion, and her tail had stilled completely-signs Mercury had learned meant she was experiencing something intense.

"Mercury," she said softly, her voice carrying layers of meaning he wasn't quite ready to process. "I never stopped looking for you. Even after Scarlett found me, even after we learned about the Saiyan heritage, even while training with cosmic enhancement... part of me was always searching for the boy who was taken away."

Childhood Promises

They stood in silence for several heartbeats, the only sound the wind whistling through the valley. Finally, Mercury broke the moment with characteristic deflection: "Well, you found me. Congratulations. Unfortunately, the prize is a morally compromised assassin with trust issues and a body count that probably disqualifies him from 'childhood friend reunion' protocols."

"Stop," Aiko said firmly, her hybrid nature giving her voice an edge that made Mercury actually listen. "Stop hiding behind sarcasm and self-deprecation. I know what your father did to you. Scarlett did research after we found you-Marcus Black's reputation, his 'training methods,' what he did to his own son."

Her flush deepened, but she pressed forward. "I also know that despite everything he did to you, despite Cinder's manipulation, despite having every reason to become just another monster in this world... you chose differently. At Beacon, when it mattered most, you chose to save people instead of helping kill them."

Mercury felt something crack inside the walls he'd so carefully constructed. "You make it sound noble. It wasn't. I saw you and panicked. Simple self-preservation-couldn't very well help murder someone I used to care about."

"Used to?" Aiko challenged, her wolf ears perking up as she caught the tense. "Past tense? So you don't care anymore?"

The directness of the question caught Mercury off-guard. His usual deflections and verbal agility failed him, leaving only uncomfortable honesty. "I... don't know. I spent years training myself not to care about anything. It was safer that way. Caring about people gets you hurt, gets them hurt, creates weaknesses that can be exploited."

"And yet here you are," Aiko pointed out, "traveling with a group of Saiyan warriors to rescue someone you barely know because your childhood friend asked you to come along. That doesn't sound like someone who successfully trained himself not to care."

Mercury opened his mouth to respond, found he had no adequate counter-argument, and closed it again with visible frustration. Aiko's smile was gentle rather than mocking.

"It's okay to care, Mercury," she said softly. "It's okay to have feelings, attachments, people you want to protect. That's not weakness-that's what makes the cosmic enhancement worthwhile. Power without connection is just destruction. The Saiyans taught us that."

She took a deep breath, her flush spreading from her cheeks to her ears-both the human ones and the wolf ears atop her head. "Which brings me to something I've been trying to figure out how to say since we found you..."

Mercury tensed slightly, recognizing the body language of someone about to make themselves vulnerable. His instinct was to deflect, to make a joke, to avoid whatever emotional honesty was about to happen. But something about Aiko's earnest expression made him stay quiet.

"When we were kids," Aiko began, her tail swishing with nervous energy, "before your father took you away, I... I had feelings for you. Not just friend feelings. I had the biggest crush on you, even at six years old."

The admission hung between them like a physical thing. Mercury stared at her, his usual composure completely shattered by the unexpected confession.

"I know it sounds silly," Aiko continued rapidly, her embarrassment growing with each word. "We were just children. But even then, you were kind when you didn't have to be. You shared your food with me when other kids made fun of my wolf features. You stood up to bullies twice your size because they pulled my tail. You made me feel like my hybrid nature was special instead of wrong."

Her hands twisted together nervously. "And then you were gone, and I spent years wondering if you were okay, if you remembered me, if maybe when we were older and I found you again, I could tell you how I felt..."

She forced herself to meet his eyes, her own shimmering with emotion. "And now you're here, and you're not the same boy I remember-how could you be, after what you've been through? But Mercury, I need you to know that my feelings never changed. If anything, they got stronger. Watching you choose to betray Cinder, seeing you struggle to figure out who you want to be instead of who you were forced to become..."

Aiko's voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "I've been in love with you since we were six years old, and I have no idea if that makes me foolish or if there's any chance you could ever feel the same way, but I couldn't keep pretending these feelings don't exist."

Processing the Impossible

Mercury's mind, trained to process tactical situations and identify optimal responses in microseconds, completely failed to provide him with any framework for handling what he'd just heard. His usual arsenal of sarcasm, deflection, and emotional distancing seemed utterly inadequate.

"You..." he started, stopped, tried again. "You've been... since we were six..."

Words failed him entirely. Aiko watched him struggle with an expression that mixed hope and terror in equal measure, her wolf ears flat against her head in anticipation of rejection.

"Mercury," she said quietly, "you don't have to say anything. I know this is complicated. I know you've got a lot to work through. I just... I couldn't keep it inside anymore. Especially not when we're about to walk into a potentially dangerous situation in Atlas. If something happened and I never told you..."

"Why?" Mercury finally managed, his voice rough with emotion he didn't know how to process. "Why would you waste feelings on someone like me? I'm a killer, Aiko. I've done things that would make you sick if you knew the details. My father literally cut my legs off and replaced them with weapons. I'm not... I'm not someone you should love."

Aiko's expression shifted to something fiercer, her Saiyan heritage showing through in the intensity of her conviction. "Don't tell me who I should or shouldn't love. You don't get to make that decision for me."

She stepped closer, closing the distance between them until Mercury could see the gold flecks in her amber eyes. "Yes, you've done bad things. So have I-Saiyan training isn't exactly gentle, and Scarlett's missions aren't always about protecting innocent people. We're all trying to figure out who we want to be while dealing with who we've been forced to become."

Her tail wrapped partially around Mercury's leg-an unconscious gesture of connection that made his breath catch. "But I saw who you really are at Beacon. Not the assassin Marcus Black created. Not Cinder's operative. The real Mercury Black who chose to save lives even when it cost him everything he'd built."

"That was one moment," Mercury protested weakly, his defenses crumbling under the force of Aiko's earnest conviction. "One decision doesn't erase years of-"

"One decision is how change begins," Aiko interrupted gently. "The Saiyans taught us that too. Vegeta was literally a planet-destroying villain before he chose differently. Broly was a weapon of mass destruction until someone showed him he could be more. One moment, one choice, one person willing to believe in you-that's all it takes to start becoming someone different."

Mercury felt something he'd thought his father had successfully destroyed: hope. The fragile possibility that maybe, just maybe, he could be more than the weapon he'd been shaped into.

"I don't know how to do this," he admitted, his voice barely audible. "Caring about someone. Being vulnerable. All the things normal people take for granted. Dad made sure I wouldn't."

Aiko smiled, and despite her embarrassment-her face was still flushed, her ears still colored with self-consciousness-her expression carried absolute certainty. "Then we figure it out together. That's what people who care about each other do."

She reached out slowly, giving Mercury every opportunity to pull away, and took his hand. The touch sent electricity through him-not from Dust or enhancement, but simple human (and Faunus, and Saiyan) connection that he'd been denying himself for years.

"I'm not asking for promises or commitments," Aiko said softly. "I know you need time to process everything. But I wanted you to know the truth. That someone sees who you really are-not the weapon, not the assassin, but Mercury Black-and loves that person anyway."

Mercury's tactical mind finally provided him with something useful: absolute honesty. "I don't know if I can be what you deserve. But... remembering you, finding you again, it's the first time in years that I've felt like maybe I could be someone worth caring about."

He squeezed her hand carefully, still not entirely comfortable with the gesture. "I can't promise I'll be good at this. I can't promise I won't mess it up with my issues and trauma and all the dysfunction Marcus Black installed. But..."

The words stuck in his throat, years of conditioning screaming that vulnerability was weakness, that attachment was a liability, that caring made you a target.

Aiko waited patiently, her wolf ears perked forward in encouragement, her hand steady in his.

"But I'd like to try," Mercury finally managed. "If you're willing to be patient with someone who's spectacularly bad at this whole 'having emotions' thing."

New Beginnings

Aiko's smile could have lit up the entire valley. Her tail wagged with unrestrained joy, and her flush deepened to the point where even her wolf ears were bright red with embarrassed happiness.

"I've been waiting years to hear you say something like that," she admitted, her own emotional walls finally crumbling. "Though I imagined it being more romantic and less awkward. Possibly with better lighting and less snow."

Mercury surprised himself by laughing-actual, genuine laughter that felt foreign after years of using humor only as a defensive mechanism. "Sorry to disappoint. My romantic training was somewhat lacking between the child abuse and assassin indoctrination."

"We'll work on it," Aiko said with mock seriousness that dissolved into giggles. "Consider it part of your rehabilitation-learning to be romantically competent."

They stood together in the fading light, hands clasped, processing the magnitude of what they'd just acknowledged to each other. It wasn't a fairy tale moment-both of them were too damaged and too realistic for that. But it was real, honest, and for Mercury, the first time in years that the future seemed like something other than endless violence and moral compromise.

"Your sister is going to kill me, isn't she?" Mercury said after a moment, practical concerns reasserting themselves. "Scarlett doesn't strike me as the type who'd be thrilled about her little sister getting involved with a former villain."

Aiko's expression turned mischievous. "Oh, she already knows. Saiyan enhanced senses, remember? She probably heard this entire conversation from the main camp."

Mercury's eyes widened in horror. "You're joking."

"Nope," Aiko confirmed cheerfully. "Enhanced hearing, emotional sensing, and she's been training me for years-she knows all my tells when I'm crushing on someone. Pretty sure she figured it out about five minutes after we found you."

"And she hasn't killed me yet because...?"

"Because despite being terrifying when she wants to be, Scarlett actually wants me to be happy," Aiko explained. "Also, she agrees with me that people can change. She's going to put you through intensive testing to make sure you're serious about being different, but she won't stand in the way if you actually follow through."

Mercury processed this with the fatalism of someone who had learned that embarrassment was inevitable. "Great. So now I have to prove myself to both the girl I like and her cosmically enhanced, militarily trained older sister. No pressure."

"Look at it this way," Aiko said with barely contained amusement, "if you can survive Scarlett's scrutiny, Salem and Cinder will seem easy by comparison."

Before Mercury could respond, Scarlett's voice carried across the valley with perfect clarity: "Aiko! Mercury! Stop having emotional breakthroughs and get back to camp! We've got mission planning to finalize!"

Despite the commanding tone, Mercury's enhanced hearing detected amusement underlying Scarlett's words. Apparently Aiko's assessment of her sister's awareness-and acceptance-had been accurate.

"Told you she knew," Aiko said smugly, then pulled Mercury into motion. "Come on. We should probably show our faces before she decides to test your commitment by making you spar with Beat and Note."

"Would she actually do that?"

"Absolutely. Scarlett's idea of relationship counseling involves seeing if you're willing to get beaten up to prove you care. It's a Saiyan thing."

Mercury allowed himself to be pulled along, his hand still clasped in Aiko's, marveling at how much his life had changed in the span of a single conversation. Weeks ago, he'd been Cinder's operative, emotionally dead and morally compromised. Now he was holding hands with his childhood crush while preparing to infiltrate Atlas alongside cosmic warriors.

Dad would have hated this, Mercury thought with grim satisfaction. Which probably means I'm finally making good decisions.

As they approached the main camp, Daikon looked up from his tactical planning and gave Mercury an appraising look that suggested he, too, was fully aware of what had just transpired. Neptune grinned knowingly. Beat and Note exchanged glances that promised future teasing.

But Scarlett's expression, when Mercury finally met her eyes, carried something unexpected: approval.

"Mercury," she said simply, her voice carrying the authority of someone who commanded respect through competence rather than fear. "Welcome to the complicated experience of caring about someone while preparing for combat operations. It's about to make everything both more meaningful and more terrifying."

"Looking forward to it," Mercury replied, surprised to find he actually meant it.

Aiko squeezed his hand once more before releasing it to check her equipment. The mission still awaited. Atlas needed infiltrating. Weiss needed rescuing. And Mercury had just committed to trying to be someone worthy of the faith Aiko had placed in him.

It was terrifying, exhilarating, and absolutely nothing like the life Marcus Black had planned for his son.

And for the first time in years, Mercury Black faced the future with something other than cynical resignation: he faced it with hope.

Warriors Rising

Mistral Wilderness - Dawn Training

The sun had barely begun to paint the eastern sky with shades of gold and crimson when Ruby Rose squared off against Nova Belladonna in the forest clearing they'd marked as their training ground. Morning mist still clung to the ground, lending an ethereal quality to the scene as two cosmically enhanced warriors prepared to test the limits of their newfound abilities.

Ruby's appearance had changed subtly over the past weeks of intensive training. Most noticeably, a brown-furred Saiyan tail now swished behind her with increasing natural grace-a physical manifestation of how deeply the cosmic enhancement had integrated with her biology. The tail had appeared three days after their encounter with Goku, Vegeta, and Broly, emerging during a particularly intense training session as her body fully adapted to the Saiyan genetics that had been woven into her enhancement.

"Remember what Goku taught us," Nova said, his golden aura flickering to life with controlled precision that would have been impossible weeks ago. "Start at ten percent power and gradually increase. The goal isn't to win-it's to maintain perfect control while adapting to escalating intensity."

Ruby nodded, her silver-gold energy beginning to manifest around her. But now, threaded through that familiar power, Nova could sense something new: ki. Not the cosmic enhancement they'd been granted during the evaluation, but the natural life energy that all living beings possessed, now awakened and growing stronger with each training session.

"Broly said my silver eyes might be acting as a catalyst," Ruby said, settling into a combat stance that combined elements of Qrow's training with techniques the Saiyans had demonstrated. "Converting cosmic enhancement into something that resembles natural Saiyan development. Hence the tail and the increasing ki reserves."

"Which means you might eventually be able to transform without relying solely on the cosmic enhancement," Nova observed, his analytical mind-sharpened by Vegeta's tactical drilling-processing the implications. "True Super Saiyan transformation powered by your own developed ki rather than borrowed cosmic energy."

Ruby's tail twitched with barely contained excitement. "Goku seemed really interested in that possibility. He mentioned something about 'hybrid vigor'-how mixing different power systems sometimes creates capabilities that exceed either individual source."

"Are we going to discuss theoretical power development," Nova asked with a slight smile, "or actually spar?"

Ruby's grin was answer enough. She moved first, her speed enhanced by weeks of learning to channel ki properly. Not the overwhelming velocity of someone using cosmic enhancement as a blunt instrument, but the refined swiftness of someone who understood how to minimize wasted motion and maximize efficiency.

Nova met her attack with a defensive technique Vegeta had drilled into him: minimal movement, maximum effect. He redirected Ruby's strike rather than blocking it directly, using her own momentum to create an opening for a counter that he pulled at the last moment.

"Better," he acknowledged as they separated and began circling. "Your strikes are getting more precise. Less reliance on cosmic enhancement to compensate for technique."

"Beat and Note gave me some pointers during their visit yesterday," Ruby replied, her silver-gold aura pulsing with each heartbeat. "They said I was fighting like someone with unlimited power rather than someone who needs to make every movement count."

The twins had indeed visited, materializing from dimensional concealment to provide additional instruction while Goku, Vegeta, and Broly focused on other enhanced students across Remnant. The Saiyan training network was more extensive than anyone had realized-multiple teams working with different enhanced individuals, all coordinated by Whis's cosmic awareness.

Nova launched his own attack, a combination of strikes that tested Ruby's defensive capabilities without overwhelming her. Each movement was calculated, precise, designed to teach rather than simply dominate.

Ruby's tail wrapped around a low-hanging branch, using it as an anchor point to alter her trajectory mid-movement-a technique that would have been impossible before the tail's emergence. She spun with it, creating angular momentum that she channeled into a kick that Nova barely managed to deflect.

"Creative," he said with genuine approval. "Using the tail for tactical advantage instead of treating it as a liability. Goku will be impressed when he sees that."

They continued their spar, gradually increasing the intensity as promised. Ten percent became fifteen, then twenty, each increment requiring greater focus to maintain the controlled precision that separated training from actual combat.

Ruby's ki continued to grow more prominent in Nova's cosmic senses. It was still dwarfed by her silver-gold enhancement, but the natural energy was developing rapidly-fed by constant training, emotional growth, and the unique interaction between her silver-eyed warrior heritage and Saiyan genetics.

"Your ki is almost visible now," Nova observed during a brief separation. "When you move, I can see it flowing through your body-reinforcing muscles, enhancing reflexes, preparing for attacks before you consciously decide to make them."

Ruby looked down at her hands, concentrating. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, faintly, a red aura distinct from her silver-gold enhancement began to manifest. It was weak, barely perceptible, but unmistakably ki rather than cosmic power.

"That's new," she breathed, wonder evident in her voice. "That's... that's my own energy. Not borrowed, not granted by cosmic evaluation. Mine."

Nova felt a surge of pride for his friend's progress. The implications were staggering-if Ruby could develop natural ki to supplement her cosmic enhancement, she might eventually access transformations that were thought impossible for non-Saiyans.

"Should we tell the others?" Ruby asked, her practical nature reasserting itself. "Jaune, Nora, Ren-they need to know what's possible with proper training."

"After breakfast," Nova decided, his own stomach reminding him that even cosmically enhanced individuals needed fuel. "Right now, we should-"

He stopped abruptly, his enhanced senses detecting something that made his golden aura flare involuntarily. Ruby tensed beside him, her own awareness picking up the same disturbance.

Three massive energy signatures had just appeared at the edge of their perception. Not hostile, but so overwhelmingly powerful that instinct screamed danger despite rational recognition of who they were.

"Goku, Vegeta, and Broly," Ruby identified, her tail puffing slightly with nervous excitement. "They're coming here. Right now."

The morning mist seemed to part as three figures materialized in the clearing with casual disregard for normal physics. Goku's orange gi was pristine despite the dimensional travel. Vegeta's arms were crossed in his characteristic pose of judgment. And Broly, massive and intimidating despite his gentle demeanor, studied them both with eyes that missed nothing.

"Not bad," Goku said with genuine warmth, his assessment of their training session evident. "You've both improved a lot since we started working with you. Ruby, that ki development is way ahead of schedule!"

Ruby's face flushed with pride and embarrassment. "I've been practicing the exercises you taught us. The meditation, the energy circulation, the conscious awareness of life force..."

"And it's paying off," Broly confirmed with his deep, resonant voice. "Your cosmic enhancement is beginning to resonate with your natural ki instead of suppressing it. That's the key to achieving true transformation rather than borrowed power."

Vegeta's critical gaze swept over both of them, analyzing their stances, energy control, and the residual traces of their sparring session. "Your fundamental techniques are acceptable," he said, which from him was high praise. "But you're both still relying too heavily on instinct rather than conscious tactical decision-making."

"That's actually why we're here," Goku interjected, his expression growing more serious. "The situation at Haven Academy is about to escalate. Salem's forces know you're there, and they're planning something big."

Nova's golden aura stabilized into combat readiness. "How big?"

"Big enough that we've decided to accelerate your training," Vegeta replied. "The cosmic evaluation requires you to face challenges, but we're not going to let you walk into slaughter unprepared."

Broly stepped forward, and despite his size, moved with surprising gentleness. "Ruby, your tail and ki development suggest you're ready for the next stage. We're going to teach you how to access Great Ape transformation-and more importantly, how to control it."

Ruby's eyes widened. "Great Ape? But isn't that the thing where Saiyans look at the full moon and lose control?"

"When untrained, yes," Goku confirmed. "But with proper instruction, Great Ape form becomes another tool rather than a liability. And for you, with your silver-eyed abilities and cosmic enhancement combined with natural ki... the results could be extraordinary."

He turned his attention to Nova. "And you're ready to learn Super Saiyan Grade Two. More power than your current transformation, but still controlled and sustainable. You'll need it for what's coming."

"What exactly is coming?" Nova asked, his tactical mind already processing combat scenarios.

Vegeta's expression grew grim. "Haven Academy has been compromised at every level. Lionheart's corruption runs deeper than you discovered. Salem has positioned a strike team specifically designed to counter cosmic enhancement, and they're planning to attack within the next forty-eight hours."

"Moreover," Broly added, "there are elements at play that go beyond Salem's direct control. Ancient forces native to Remnant that the cosmic evaluation has awakened. Not necessarily hostile, but powerful and unpredictable."

Goku's characteristic optimism tried to lighten the moment. "But that's why we're here! You've got actual Saiyans training you, divine protection from Beerus and Whis, and teammates who are getting stronger every day. Sure, the challenges are big, but you're ready for them."

"We have two days," Vegeta stated with tactical precision. "Two days to bring your combat capabilities to a level where you can survive what Haven is about to become. It won't be comfortable, it won't be easy, and you'll both wish we'd never shown up. But when it's over, you'll be warriors rather than students playing at cosmic power."

Ruby and Nova exchanged glances, their cosmic connection allowing unspoken communication. They'd been preparing for this-training, improving, learning to channel their enhancement with precision rather than panic. Now the moment had arrived when that preparation would be tested against threats designed specifically to counter their abilities.

"When do we start?" Ruby asked, her silver-gold eyes reflecting determination that transcended any doubt.

Broly's smile carried approval. "Right now."

Intensive Development

What followed was training that made their previous sessions seem gentle by comparison. Goku worked with Ruby on ki development, teaching her exercises that would have been considered impossible for non-Saiyans if she hadn't been demonstrating them successfully.

"The key is understanding that ki isn't separate from you," Goku explained as Ruby floated cross-legged several feet above the ground, her developing red ki aura mixing with her silver-gold enhancement. "It's your life energy, your willpower, your spirit made manifest. The cosmic enhancement gave you the potential, but ki is what makes that potential truly yours."

Ruby focused on the sensation of energy flowing through her body-not the overwhelming cosmic power she'd been granted, but something more subtle and fundamental. With each breath, she could feel it growing stronger, more responsive to her conscious direction.

"Now," Goku continued, "I want you to push that ki into your tail. It's a Saiyan limb, which means it's naturally connected to transformation abilities. Learning to channel energy through it is the first step toward controlled Great Ape form."

Ruby concentrated, directing the flow of ki toward her tail. The appendage twitched, then began to glow with faint red energy that pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat. It was uncomfortable-like learning to use a muscle she'd never consciously controlled-but not painful.

"Excellent!" Goku praised. "You're adapting way faster than most Saiyans do. Probably because your silver eyes are helping your body understand energy manipulation on an instinctive level."

Meanwhile, Vegeta had taken Nova to a different section of the clearing, where the Saiyan Prince subjected him to brutal tactical analysis while demonstrating the principles of Grade Two transformation.

"Your current Super Saiyan form is adequate for basic combat," Vegeta stated with his characteristic bluntness. "But it's inefficient. You're burning energy at twice the necessary rate because you haven't learned to minimize power leakage."

He transformed in demonstration, golden aura blazing with perfect control. "Watch carefully. This is standard Super Saiyan-fifty times base power, significant speed and strength enhancement, but sustainable for extended periods."

Then his aura intensified, muscles bulking slightly as power spiked noticeably. "This is Grade Two-also called Ascended Super Saiyan. Roughly double the power of standard transformation, achieved by pushing ki circulation into overdrive. The physical bulk you're seeing is a side effect of increased energy density, not the actual source of power."

Nova studied the demonstration with his enhanced perception, noting how Vegeta's ki flowed through specific pathways, reinforcing certain muscle groups while maintaining flexibility in others. "But there's a tradeoff, isn't there? The increased power comes with drawbacks."

"Perceptive," Vegeta acknowledged with grudging approval. "Grade Two sacrifices some speed for power, and the energy consumption is approximately thirty percent higher than base Super Saiyan. It's a mid-range transformation-more powerful than basic but not as refined as higher forms."

"So why teach it to me if it's not the most efficient option?"

Vegeta's smile was sharp. "Because you're going to face opponents specifically equipped to counter your current capabilities. Having multiple transformation levels gives you tactical flexibility. Sometimes overwhelming power is exactly what a situation requires, efficiency be damned."

He powered down and gestured for Nova to transform. "Now show me your best Super Saiyan. We're going to identify every inefficiency in your current form and fix them before teaching you how to push beyond."

Nova's golden aura blazed as he accessed his transformation, maintaining the control he'd developed through weeks of training. But under Vegeta's critical analysis, he could feel every micro-fluctuation, every moment where power leaked unnecessarily, every instant where his energy flow stuttered rather than streaming smoothly.

"Your transformation is emotion-driven," Vegeta observed clinically. "Which means your power spikes when you're feeling protective or angry, but drops when you achieve emotional equilibrium. We need to reverse that-make emotional stability your baseline power source, with spikes coming from conscious tactical decision-making rather than reactive fear."

The training intensified. Vegeta attacked without warning-not seriously enough to cause injury, but with sufficient force that Nova's protective instincts triggered involuntarily. His power spiked, just as Vegeta had predicted.

"There," Vegeta said, even as he deflected Nova's instinctive counter. "That spike. That's wasted energy caused by emotional reaction. In combat against someone like Cinder, that kind of fluctuation is a weakness she'd exploit ruthlessly."

Nova forced himself to breathe, to center his emotions while maintaining transformation. It went against every instinct-his Saiyan power wanted to respond to threats with overwhelming force, his protective nature demanded he escalate to match any danger to those he cared about.

"Control doesn't mean suppression," Vegeta corrected, reading Nova's struggle through decades of experience. "It means choosing when and how to escalate rather than reacting blindly. A controlled warrior is far more dangerous than a powerful berserker."

Nearby, Broly worked with both students simultaneously, his unique perspective as someone who had learned to master legendary power giving him insights that even Goku and Vegeta couldn't provide.

"Your transformations are still tied too closely to specific emotional states," Broly explained, his deep voice carrying the weight of hard-won wisdom. "Nova, you transform when feeling protective. Ruby, your silver eyes activate in response to Grimm or threats to others. These are powerful triggers, but they're also limitations."

He demonstrated his own transformation-massive power flowing smoothly through his frame without the violent surge that characterized most Saiyan changes. "True mastery comes when you can access your full power regardless of emotional state. Happy, sad, angry, calm-the strength should be available whenever you choose to use it."

Ruby descended from her floating meditation, tail swishing thoughtfully. "But isn't emotion what makes Saiyan transformations possible in the first place? Goku said they're fueled by feelings."

"Triggered by feelings," Broly corrected gently. "But once triggered, maintained by will. The difference is crucial-you don't want to depend on staying angry or scared to keep fighting. You want the transformation to become as natural as breathing."

He powered up to his legendary form in demonstration-green-tinged golden aura blazing with power that made even Goku and Vegeta pause in their training to observe respectfully. But despite the overwhelming strength radiating from him, Broly's expression remained calm, almost serene.

"This is power without rage," he said. "Strength without loss of control. It took me years to achieve, but you both have advantages I didn't-proper training from the start, and enhancement that's already teaching your bodies how to handle cosmic-level energy."

He powered down, the transition as smooth as his transformation had been. "Now, both of you, I want you to spar against each other while maintaining absolute emotional equilibrium. No spikes, no fluctuations, just steady output regardless of what's happening in the fight."

Progress and Revelation

As the morning progressed into afternoon, both Nova and Ruby began showing remarkable improvement. Ruby's ki continued to develop, growing from barely perceptible wisps to a noticeable red aura that supplemented her cosmic enhancement. Her tail, initially awkward and sometimes problematic, became increasingly natural-an extension of herself that enhanced rather than hindered her combat capabilities.

Nova, under Vegeta's relentless instruction, learned to smooth out the emotional fluctuations that had characterized his earlier transformations. His golden aura became more stable, more consistent, burning with steady intensity that didn't spike wildly in response to perceived threats.

"You're ready," Vegeta finally announced after watching Nova maintain perfect transformation stability through a series of increasingly intense combat scenarios. "Grade Two will push your limits, but you've developed the foundation necessary to handle it."

He demonstrated once more-the subtle shift in aura intensity, the slight physical bulk increase, the palpable surge in power that made the air itself seem to thicken. "The key is channeling ki through secondary pathways that are normally dormant. It's uncomfortable at first, like forcing blood through vessels that aren't used to the pressure. But with practice, those pathways open permanently, making the transformation accessible whenever needed."

Nova studied his own ki flow, using the enhanced perception Vegeta had taught him to identify the secondary channels being discussed. They were there-subtle networks of energy circulation that his current transformation barely touched.

"Attempt it," Vegeta commanded. "Don't worry about succeeding immediately. First attempts usually fail. The goal is to identify where your energy flow encounters resistance."

Nova gathered his ki, pushing it into the pathways Vegeta had indicated. Immediately, he felt the resistance-like trying to force water through a blocked pipe. His power spiked, his aura flared chaotically, and pain lanced through his enhanced physiology as energy tried to flow where it wasn't yet ready to go.

He powered down, breathing heavily. "That... was unpleasant."

"Progress," Vegeta stated with satisfaction. "You identified the resistance points. Now we know where to focus development. By tomorrow, those pathways will be open enough for your first successful Grade Two transformation."

Meanwhile, Goku's work with Ruby had reached a critical juncture. Her ki development had progressed to the point where he felt comfortable introducing her to the theoretical framework of Great Ape transformation.

"Normally," Goku explained, "Saiyans with tails transform into Great Apes when exposed to specific wavelengths of light-like from a full moon. The transformation is automatic and, without training, completely uncontrollable. But you're not a normal Saiyan."

Ruby's tail twitched nervously. "Because of the silver eyes?"

"Because of the silver eyes, the cosmic enhancement, and the natural ki you're developing," Goku confirmed. "Your power system is unique. Which means your Great Ape form-if you can access it-will probably be unique too."

He created a small sphere of energy in his palm. "This is condensed blutz waves-the same type of light that triggers the transformation. Normally I'd never expose someone to this without extensive preparation. But your silver eyes seem to process light-based energy differently than normal Saiyans do."

Ruby stared at the glowing sphere, her enhanced senses detecting the way it resonated with her tail. Even without direct exposure, she could feel something stirring-an instinctive response to energy that called to her Saiyan genetics.

"The goal isn't to trigger full transformation," Goku clarified quickly. "Not yet. Right now, we're just seeing if your body responds to the stimulus, and whether your silver eyes can modulate the effect to prevent loss of control."

He held the sphere closer, and Ruby's tail began to glow with faint golden light. Her silver-gold eyes brightened, processing the blutz waves through her unique hybrid nature. Power surged through her-not the cosmic enhancement she was familiar with, but something more primal, more directly connected to her Saiyan genetics.

"That's it," Goku encouraged. "Don't fight it, but don't surrender to it either. Let your silver eyes filter the transformation through your conscious mind."

Ruby felt the power building-massive, overwhelming, demanding release through physical transformation. But her silver-eyed heritage, designed to impose her will on hostile forces, exerted control over the process. The Great Ape transformation wanted to consume her consciousness, but her silver eyes refused to allow it.

The result was unprecedented: power surged through Ruby's frame without the physical transformation into Great Ape form. Her aura blazed brighter, her ki reserves multiplied, her physical capabilities enhanced dramatically-all the benefits of the transformation without the loss of control or massive size increase that normally accompanied it.

"Incredible," Goku breathed, watching in amazement. "You're accessing Great Ape power while maintaining human form. That's supposed to be impossible without mastering Golden Great Ape form first!"

Ruby opened her eyes-still silver-gold but now rimmed with crimson that spoke to the primal power flowing through her. Her tail had grown thicker, more muscular, radiating golden energy that mixed with her cosmic enhancement to create patterns of light that defied normal categorization.

"It feels..." she struggled to find words for the sensation. "Complete. Like pieces of myself that were always separate are finally working together. The silver eyes, the cosmic enhancement, the Saiyan genetics, my natural ki-they're not competing anymore. They're cooperating."

Broly approached, his legendary power sensing something in Ruby's transformed state that made even him pause with interest. "You've achieved something remarkable," he said with genuine respect. "A fusion of power systems that shouldn't be compatible. Your body has found a way to channel Great Ape transformation through your silver-eyed abilities, creating something entirely new."

Vegeta and Nova had stopped their training to observe, both recognizing the significance of what they were witnessing.

"That level of hybrid power," Vegeta said slowly, his analytical mind processing implications, "could make you competitive with opponents far beyond your current tier. If you can stabilize it, maintain it, learn to use it tactically..."

"She could become the most powerful non-divine being on Remnant," Broly finished. "Perhaps the most powerful being, period, depending on how far this hybrid form can develop."

Ruby powered down slowly, the transformation releasing gradually rather than all at once. She was breathing heavily, exhausted from the strain of channeling such massive power, but exhilarated by what she'd accomplished.

"That," Goku declared with his characteristic enthusiasm, "is exactly the kind of progress that makes training worthwhile! You're not just learning to use borrowed power-you're creating something new, something that's entirely yours!"

Evening Assessment

As the sun began to set, the three Saiyans gathered with Nova and Ruby for final assessment of the day's progress. Both students were exhausted-training with actual Saiyans had pushed them far harder than anything they'd experienced-but the improvements were undeniable.

"Tomorrow we continue," Vegeta announced. "Nova, you'll achieve your first successful Grade Two transformation. Ruby, you'll learn to access your hybrid Great Ape state at will rather than requiring external stimulus. By sunset tomorrow, you'll both be ready for whatever Haven throws at you."

"What about the others?" Nova asked, his protective instincts extending to Jaune, Nora, and Ren. "They're not cosmically enhanced. Will they be safe when things escalate?"

Broly's expression grew thoughtful. "Your non-enhanced teammates have their own strengths. Jaune Arc's tactical awareness and leadership capabilities, Nora Valkyrie's raw determination and electrical affinity, Lie Ren's emotional control and analytical precision-these aren't cosmic powers, but they're valuable nonetheless."

"More importantly," Goku added, "they ground you. Keep you connected to what you're protecting rather than getting lost in power escalation. The strongest teams aren't always the ones with the most power-they're the ones where every member's strengths complement each other."

Vegeta's assessment was more pragmatic: "They'll need to learn to fight alongside cosmic-level combatants without becoming liabilities. That means understanding their limits, staying out of engagement ranges they can't survive, and trusting their enhanced teammates to handle threats beyond their capabilities."

"We've been working on that," Nova confirmed. "Tactical positioning, coordinated attacks that let them amplify our effectiveness without exposing themselves unnecessarily. Pyrrha's lessons about team synergy have been invaluable."

The mention of Pyrrha Nikos created a moment of somber reflection. Her death had been the catalyst for so much-Nova's first transformation, Ruby's silver eye activation, the enhanced students' understanding of what they were truly fighting against.

"She would be proud of what you've become," Broly said quietly, his words carrying the weight of someone who understood loss. "Both of you have honored her memory by becoming stronger, wiser, more capable of protecting others."

As the Saiyans prepared to depart, returning to the dimensional space from which they observed and occasionally intervened, Goku placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder.

"Remember-power is just a tool. What matters is why you use it and who you're protecting when you do. Never lose sight of that, and you'll be fine."

Vegeta's farewell was characteristically blunt: "Don't disappoint us. We've invested significant time in your development. Prove it was worthwhile."

And Broly's final words carried gentle wisdom: "Trust yourselves, trust each other, and trust that the strength you've developed is real. You're not children playing at power anymore. You're warriors."

The three Saiyans faded from normal perception, returning to their observation posts while leaving Nova and Ruby alone in the clearing as twilight descended.

"We should get back to camp," Nova said eventually, though neither of them moved immediately. "The others will want to know what we learned."

Ruby nodded, her newly developed tail swishing thoughtfully. "Nova? Do you think we're really ready for what's coming?"

Nova considered the question seriously. "I think we're more ready than we were yesterday. And we'll be even more ready tomorrow. That's all we can control-continuous improvement, constant vigilance, and absolute commitment to protecting the people we care about."

"When did you become so philosophical?" Ruby teased, some of her natural playfulness reasserting itself.

"Vegeta's tactical analysis sessions involve a surprising amount of philosophy," Nova replied with a slight smile. "According to him, Saiyan combat prowess and strategic thinking are inseparable. You can't truly master one without the other."

They began walking back toward camp, where Jaune, Nora, and Ren waited with questions about the day's training. Behind them, the setting sun painted the sky in shades of gold and crimson-colors that matched the auras of warriors learning to channel cosmic power through skill rather than desperation.

The story that would become known as "Remembrance" was about to begin, and the enhanced students of Beacon Academy were finally becoming the guardians they had been meant to be.

To Be Continued

With training complete and transformations mastered, the stage is set for the events of Chapter XXXIV: Remembrance. Two teams pursue separate missions-Nova's group confronting Haven's corruption while Daikon's team infiltrates Atlas to rescue Weiss. Hearts have been revealed, powers have been developed, and warriors stand ready to face whatever darkness awaits.

The cosmic evaluation continues, and the gods watch with interest as their chosen champions prepare to prove whether mortal beings can truly be trusted with transcendent power.

To be continued in Chapter 34: Rememberance