Neo heard a familiar 'ding' in the system. Blake, Raven, Pyrrha Shizuka and Neopolitan had all gotten the same notification. It seemed different, as it played a small tune that reeked of 'get ready for a fight'. They checked the system and in popped a quest. For each of them.
[Ding! Confront and defeat Adam Taurus with Yang Xiaolong in the attack on Vale at the final day of the Vytal Festival!
-Part of the main quest!
-Not optional!]
Blake nervously broke out into a cold sweat upon seeing her obligatory quest.
[Ding! Confront and defeat Tyrian Callows, Hazel Reinhart and Arthur Watts with Qrow Branwen in the attack on Vale at the final day of the Vytal Festival!
-Part of the main quest!
-Not optional!]
Raven quietly read the quest out in her mind, not really knowing who Tyrian Callows is.
[Ding! Assist the Old Wizard Ozma in his confrontation against Salem until help arrives in the attack on Vale at the final day of the Vytal Festival!
-Part of the main quest!
-Not optional!]
Shizuka uncharacteristically tensed when she read that. She'd been told Salem was the big bad of this world and she was supposed to help the hero hold her off until help arrived. Good thing she was what Neo called their 'white mage' since according to Neo, nobody fucks with the White Mage.
[Ding! Confront and defeat Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai with Roman Torchwick in the attack on Vale at the final day of the Vytal Festival!
-Part of the main quest!
-Not optional!]
Neopolitan grinned and cracked her neck. She knew those two lackeys were tough but her and Roman were better. The only better team she could ask for was herself and Neo. Since they could often tell what the other was thinking.
[Ding! Confront and defeat Cinder Ella Fall with Pyrrha Nikos in the attack on Vale at the final day of the Vytal Festival!
-Addition: Defeat the Wendigo reincarnator and learn the truth of his existence!
-Part of the main quest!
-Not optional!]
Neo got the message and narrowed her eyes at the additional objective. She was still trying to figure out who the reincarnator was. She figured it was likely her half brother but he wasn't this smart. Antagonistic? Yes. But he could barely pass grade four, let alone manage to work with Salem and prod at her sorest memories. Pyrrha had also received the same quest, minus the addition. She gave Neo a cursory glance, which spoke volumes about her worry. Neo told them all Cinder had the other half of the Maiden powers and would be significantly more enhanced than the average person.
[>Neo²: That confirms it. They're gonna be attacking at the Vytal Festival<]
[>Prettykitty: I have to face Adam again<]
[>Spartanwaifu: You okay, Blake?<]
[>Prettykitty: I'll be fine I think. I had to face him again anyways. I ran from him last time but I don't wanna disappoint a certain someone by running away this time..<]
Blake glanced at Neo, who was under a parasol with Neopolitan, returning a smile at her.
[>Neo²: You won't. I trust you, Blake. What'd the rest of you get?<]
[>Yangsyummymummy: Some finks named Tyrian Callows, Hazel Reinhart and Arthur Watts. I'm fighting them with Qrow apparently]
[>Neo²: Fink..? That brings me back. Patrolling the Mojave almost makes you wish for a Nuclear Winter.. Anyways! What? Those two aren't supposed to be involved yet. I guess Mommy Salami is taking off the gloves to come grab Choice herself<]
Neo sighed. She started thinking of the total clusterfuck the giant whale Grimm along with the black river that spawned Grimm would cause. Now that magic empowered everyone, she was pretty sure she couldn't just one-shot Salem with Rhongomyniad like she did with the Grimm at the tunnel. It was an unexpected consequence and lesson not to mess around with Noble Phantasms. But her hype to use it was really high and caused the current circumstances.
[>Icecreamwaifu: Roman and I get to beat up Fire bitches' kids!<]
Neopolitan gave her an ecstatic smile that was contagious.
[>Neo²: Glad to hear it but avoid killing them if at all possible. I'll tell you some things to say to piss off Emerald during the fight later<]
[>BoobaphysicsFTW: I have to help the headmaster hold Salem off until you guys arrive to help..<]
Shizuka had tightly formed her mouth into a line and nervously thought of how she would be able to even do such a thing besides healing the old Hero.
[Neo²: Oh fuck me silly Salem's really gonna fight? Like actually participating? Yeah we gotta beat these jackholes fast. I'll need to tell the teams. They'll be unprepared when they attack. Ozpin's getting his people ready for a fight and we still have time to train. I'm kicking the training up to 'Spartan Mode'<]
Neo got up and scrolled through the system and buying a cheap megaphone. She pulled it out and cleared her throat before yelling into it.
"ATTEN-SHUN! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU LINE YOUR MAGICAL ANIME-LIKE ASSES UP HERE NOW!" She yelled out, making everyone, who was playing or reading stiffen up and walk over, even Qrow.
"Kid.. is this about the thing Oz-" Qrow had his mouth shut by Raven as Neo nodded at her and lowered the megaphone.
"I have something of significant importance to tell you. I'm one hundred percent serious in this. This is something you should be aware of as it involves the whole fuckin' world. At the final day of the Vytal Festival, Vale will be attacked by the bad guys. You know? The ones Roman was spying on for us? Forgot only Ruby knew that.. But it's true-" Neo was interrupted by Yang's awkward laugh.
"Well.. actually Ruby did tell us about that and that you and Ozpin knew. It made sense since.. you know? The missing two months and my Mom coming back?" Yang shrugged as the rest of team RWBY and JNPR looked away awkwardly.
"Okay.. Thanks for keeping it a secret, RUBY.." Neo shot a withering glare at Ruby, who was looking everywhere but at her.
"So.. these bad guys are basically 'simp joker scorpion faunus', 'my sister died to the bad guy so I joined them because Ozpin sends kids to die', 'GivE mE pOwEr rAwR', 'Big brain time', 'Shadow the Edgehog', Two mildly redeemable teens and of course 'Pissed off Immortal ex who wants to die'. Call her Mommy Salami if you want?" Neo categorized all the bad guys they'd be facing into different descriptions.
"What's with those names.." Weiss asked with a blank look on her face.
"My annoyance at volumes four to eight.." Neo whispered while rubbing her temples.
"Despite my dumbass names for them, they're strong. Even without the enhancement of magic. 'Mommy Salami' or.. Salem, is over at least a thousand, strong in magic, commands the Grimm and is immortal. As in unkillable by conventional means. Don't worry about killing her though, the goal is to stop her from taking some powerful magical artifact from under Beacon" Neo finished, seeing a myriad of different emotions from all of them.
Shock and fear from the ones who had no idea. Trepidation and anxiousness from the ones that did know.
"Why weren't we told this earlier..?" Ruby asked as Yang nods and agrees.
"You're literally in year one of training to be Huntstresses.. Not even full blown Huntsmen know about Salem. The closest to Ozpin know. Like Raven, Qrow, the Headmasters and who they confide in.. OH! Qrow tell Ozpin that Lionheart is Salem's bitch. He works for her. Damn, he slipped my mind!" Neo said casually as Qrow widened his eyes.
"What!? How the Hell do you know this!? Agh.. damn it!" Qrow took out his scroll and quickly walked away after calling Ozpin.
"Anyhow.. We're all going to be fighting and defending Vale from the White Fang, Grimm and the big bads. So I'll be training you guys hard as fuck until the Vytal Festival kicks off.." Neo nodded approvingly once she saw the confusion fade from their faces, replaced by determination.
"Yang, you need to control that temper of yours. You get impulsive when you're pissed and that could cost you an arm and a leg.. most likely just an arm" Neo whispered the last part.
"Ruby you need to work on your Silver Eye powers and unarmed fighting. Yang and Qrow will teach you the last part. The first part relies on emotional control so prepare for Hell.. I'll be putting you through an emotional grinder" Neo winked at her, making Ruby shiver.
"Weiss you need to perfect your glyphs and conquer your fear of the summoning. Blake, you should focus on what you are now but add on Senjutsu. Try to meditate and feel the energy in nature. Your race is able to grasp Senjutsu far easier than others and it'll help you in the fights coming" Neo looked at the two, who just nodded.
"Nora, you should also be less impulsive.. Try to take a note from Ren's book and think before hopping into danger. Ren, you need to be a little impulsive sometimes. Both of you can train each other in those things and switch every day. Also, for gods sakes just GET TOGETHER ALREADY! It's so obvious you check each other out!" Nora and Ren both got red in the face as she yelled at them.
"L-Leader!!? We're not-" Neo raised a finger.
"No you totally are don't even bullshit me right now.." She cut off any further denial as Ren and Nora snuck glances at each other.
"Pyrrha, you need to show no fuckin' mercy. I need you to fight this upcoming fight like your enemy killed the one you love most. Aside from that? Keep up the regular training you do" Neo saw Pyrrha's brow twitch at the thought of the ones she loved dying.
"Finally.. Qrow, teach Shizuka how to fight unarmed, she has the talent for it" Neo gestured at Qrow, who looked at Shizuka's arms, which looked soft and supple but underneath he knew her muscles were freakishly strong for some reason.
"OG? I want you to train with me and surprise attack the others during their training. It'll help develop your fighting style and their awareness. Be cheap as fuck too. Spam your semblance if you want, use your illusion eyes and have fun" Neo finished with a smirk matching the one Neopolitan was wearing now.
"I have to practice with the Yamato, Rhongomyniad, Maiden magic, Lightning magic and the Proxy form. I'm hard to kill in it but I need to test its limits" Neo finished and used her semblance to make it look like Vergil's coat was draped over her shoulders.
"Good luck and try to stay motivated, okay? World's depending on us" Neo watched as they all began to separate into groups around the beach and train.
The month they trained was brutal. Neopolitan kept ambushing them and fighting them using her full strength and tricky semblance along with her illusion eyes, which they learned to avoid. Neopolitan herself switched her tactics multiple times and went after Yang the most, alongside Neo. They always plucked a hair string off during the fight, which set Yang off all the time in the beginning. But after multiple beatdowns due to her recklessness, Yang learned restraint.
Blake learned a strange new natural power that flowed all across Remnant. It wasn't magic but it was very strong. It enhanced her body to a ridiculous standard and empowered her semblance even further. She could now create what Neo dubbed 'Shadow Clones'. Though they didn't look like shadows at all and she could touch them. That gave her a particularly naughty idea she'd save for later.
Ruby and Weiss made amazing progress in their Summoning and Silver eyes. Neo had made her watch a show downloaded to her scroll called 'Your Lie in April' and 'Code Geass' to start off. Then she had informed her Salem's bunch had been the ones to kill Summer. That did the trick to draw out her anger and despair. The only thing left were to call out her powers at will by controlling and directing her intense emotions.
Qrow trained Shizuka a little too well. She honestly reminded Neo of Tsunade now the way she punched and kicked up sand with every blow. Raven helped them all train their weapons along with Qrow when he wasn't terrified of Shizuka bending him in half.
Pyrrha had become a tad bit more ruthless. But only if Neo took a different form with her semblance. She hated hurting Neo, even if it was really hard to.
And finally... Ren and Nora became a couple. Both rubbed off on each other and had managed to balance the other out without changing themselves too much.
Neo got far too enthusiastic when using Yamato and constantly quoted him and referenced Vergil memes to 'channel her inner Vergil'. It seems to have worked..? She could reliably use Yamato's power more than she could at the beginning due to her swordsmanship mastery.
It was time to return to Vale, where the battle for Choice would be held at.