Summer was sitting on the back of the Wyvern, Salem was beside her. Summer frowned “How are we supposed to get the relic from Vacuo? Whoever Ozpin appointed would certainly give us trouble.”

A slight chuckle escaped Salem’s lips “The headmaster appointed died, I didn’t have any part to play in that. He went out on a Grimm hunt and didn’t make it back, someone powerful took over the school. It won’t be long before we get the Relic if we play our cards right.”

It was not long before another Wyvern flew up beside them, a black bug Faunus with dark teal hair sat on the Wyvern next to pink woman with tricoloured hair “You are here for Relic of Destruction and the Summer Maiden. Consider them yours, I have little need for either of them. My own power is enough.”

Salem bowed as the woman carrying the sword flew over to Salem's Wyvern “My thanks Chrysalis, Queen of Vacuo Grimm Faction.”

Chrysalis shrugged “I have enough duties training up the next generation of Changelings, keeping those safe is not my problem.”

Salem took the sword from the woman as she got a closer look at woman’s face “What’s your name, Summer Maiden?”

The woman shrugged “Cadence, I was one of the stronger hunters and was the apprentice to the previous maiden Amore. As such as I was the one who inherited her powers when she passed.”

Summer smiled “Well Cadence, we have a Relic to pick up on the way back. We’ll be stopping in Atlas before taking over Vacuo, Vale and Mistral.”

Cadence raised an eyebrow “What about Atlas, I thought you wanted to rule the world? Isn’t that your big plan?”

Salem shuddered “That girl, General Ironwood’s daughter. I can’t normally sense the magic of another but hers’ was so huge that it’s impossible to miss. I’ve felt Discord’s, I’ve felt the god’s but hers’ was something else. It was as if all of reality could be consumed by it, we are naught but ants before a Wyvern.”

Cadence frowned “How are you going to get their relic if she is that powerful?”

Summer smiled “Well it seems she wants to hand over, the safety of Atlas is worth more than the Relic. In fact she made something stronger to replace it, our spies determined such from them.”

As they passed by Atlas, Diane teleported onto the Wyvern’s back with a smirk as emitted a relatively tiny bit of power “I trust you will leave Atlas alone. Because if I catch even a hint of you attacking I will bring my power down on you and those baubles will do nothing to me.”

Cadence shivered “I see what you mean? I only picked up a small glimpse but it was enough.”

Summer frowned as they returned to the castle “So what do you think will happen when all four Relics are close together.”

Salem frowned “I don’t know but I know they are powerful artifacts full of great power.” They entered the castle, Cadence was looking around the dark features of the castle. There was a great amount of dark power here, Salem entered.

Dr Watts frowned “Who is our new guest?”

Cinder frowned “She is the Spring Maiden. I would say she looks soft but you don’t go far being soft in Vacuo, her appearance is deceiving.” Salem put the crown on, strapped the sword to her back as she carried the staff and the lamp. They glowed as their powers combined sending a beam energy towards the stars, Salem froze as two massive humanoid beings one gold and the other purple.

The golden being was tall and muscular, deer antlers protruding from his head. The purple being was lean and slender, ram horns emerging from his head. Salem’s voice held traces of panic “The God of Light and the God of Darkness, the Relics were meant to summon them.”

The God of Light’s deep voice filled the room “Even now Salem, seeking power that you don’t deserve. It seems we should have removed you from existence earlier.”

The God of Darkness turned to his brother “I told you that she would cause problems in the future and that Ozma wouldn’t be enough to stop him.”

Before either God could act Diane teleported in “You are the two gods who forged this world but you failed to give humanity any challenges that they couldn’t use their magic to overcome. Now it’s time for me to correct that mistake.”

Diane’s hands glowed as she fired two powerful blasts, their forms shattered as the magics that made up their bodies emanated over the world. Summer blinked “What did you do to them?”

Diane smiled “I destroyed them while spreading the magic that made up their forms across the world. The world will start showing signs of change, there will be greater challenges for you to overcome when you take over Vale, Vacuo and Mistral.”

Diane teleported away leaving Salem’s faction to begin the next steps of their plans, meanwhile across the world changes were taking place from the massive discharge of magic. Most were minute, shifts in soil and slow changes to creatures in the wild. The biggest change came form the ruins of Mountain Glenn, the skeletal bodies left there glowed with destructive magic as the waves of magic flew over them.

The skeleton’s eyes glowing purple as they shambled out of the structures in droves, the Beowulves, Goliaths and Creeps were assaulted by the undead. The Goliaths crushed some under their feet only for the skeletons to reform, the Grimm started to fall from the relentless bony assault of undead. Soon for the first time in decades Mountain Glenn was free from the influence of the Grimm.

Now it was haunted by the skeletal remains of those who had fallen all those years ago roamed the ruins. While much was uncertain the power that Salem’s faction was going to bring to bear would reshape the world and ring about a new age.

Author's Note

Next chapter will be the takeover.