Everyone stood in silence at the revelation they just witnessed. Frost is Ironwood's son and those that knew him were shocked, even Raven was shocked. Now that Ryder looks at them both, he can see the resemblance. Same eyes, same hair and almost same face. But what went wrong? Why is Frost, or sorry, Oliver working with Salem? These were some of the questions going through Ironwood's mind as he stared at his son, whom he hasn't seen in a long time. If Ironwood remembers, it's been 7 Years since he saw his son. He thought his son was dead. Qrow lowered his weapon as he looked at Ironwood.
"You have a son?" Qrow asked.
"I... I thought.... I thought he was dead." Ironwood admits.
Many feelings were going through Ironwood's head. Relief and disbelief. Relief that his son is alive and disbelief that he's working with Salem. What did he do wrong?
"You thought wrong." Frost said.
"Why... why are you with Salem?" Ironwood asked, his voice getting increasingly angrier.
"Where else was I supposed to go!?" Frost asked angrily. "Where were you when my peers at Atlas Academy abused me!? Where were you when Atlas turned on me!? Where were you when I needed you!?"
Ironwood just stood there, still angry that his own son was working with his mortal enemy.
"What are you talking about?" Ironwood asked.
Frost's eyes widened before they returned to a furious state.
"What am I talking about!?" Frost asked in absolute fury. "You mean to tell me that day after day, while i was being abused by my fellow Huntsmen and Huntresses in training for not possessing a Semblance and being weak, you were blissfully unaware!?"
This news stunned Ironwood. His son was being treated poorly in Atlas Academy, and he didn't know?
"So, every single time, every single day when I needed your help. Needed you to step in. You weren't even there!?" Frost asked his anger boiling over.
"Oliver i..."
"SHUT UP!" Frost shouts. "Don't even for a second try to say sorry!! I don't need your damn apologies; I don't need your sorrow!"
The temperature around the group began to drop and everyone noticed. Ice began to form around Frost.
"Oliver Jameson Ironwood, as your father I order you to stand down!" Ironwood said.
This only served to make Frost angrier.
"Oh, so now you want to be a father!" Frost said in anger. "Where was this 7 years ago!?"
Ironwood went to keep talking but Ryder placed a hand on his shoulder making the general look at him.
"General, I don't think words are helping right now." Ryder said. "it's only making him angrier."
"But-"
"I know you want to do something; he's your son." Ryder said. "But all your doing is making things worse."
Ironwood wanted to argue, but he knew that Ryder was right. So, he stepped back while Ryder turned his attention to Frost.
"Oliver, don't do this." Ryder said. "Salem seeks to destroy Humanity."
"If you honestly think words alone will stop me then your sorely mistaken." Frost said. "I'll ensure those who wronged me pay."
"Be the better man. Don't let what they did to you get under your skin." Ryder said. "Those who hurt who might not care for what they did, but you don't need to punish an entire Kingdom for the sins of a few."
"Who's going to stop me?" Frost asked. "You?"
"If I have to." Ryder answered.
"Then you'll die with the others." Frost said ominously.
Ryder sighs as he knows he isn't getting through to Frost. This leaves him with no choice but to take him down. Ryder and the others hear a familiar voice.
"Ryder!" Jaune called out. "The Evacuations are almost complete!"
Ryder looked past Frost and saw Team JNPR, Weiss and Blake rushing towards them. Frost looked over his shoulder.
"Guys stop!" Ryder called out.
Frost just grew frustrated that more people showed up, so he launched a large wave of Ice at them. Ryder's eyes widened before he quickly teleports to Weiss. Once he appeared in front of Weiss, Ryder quickly turned to face the incoming wall of ice and brought up a magic barrier. The wave of Ice spikes crashed against the magical barrier. A large amount of Icey dust covered the area. By the time the dust subsides, Ryder drops his barrier and glared at Frost.
"Kairos, keep the others safe." Ryder said. "Frost is mine."
Kairos just nods. Frost meanwhile didn't think Ryder could beat him alone.
"Do you actually think you can beat me on your own?" Frost asked.
"You're about to find out." Ryder said before he activated his Semblance once more.
Ryder went straight to Amplify: Stage 2 and went to 15X Amplification. Ryder then launched himself at Frost and unleashed a hard right hook to his face. This punch launched Frost up into the air and Ryder chased after him. While airborne, Frost could still feel that punch as his Aura had flashed in a faded hue. He attempted to recover from the punch, but Ryder was already above him with his hands above his head. Frost's eyes widened at the speed he saw. Ryder interlocked his fingered before slamming his fists down on Frost causing him to go flying downwards at the ground. Frost hits the ground and causes the road beneath him to shatter like glass. Frost's aura flickered as he laid on the ground. He was getting angry, so he let his magic fully manifest. His eyes burst into blue flames signaling his powers had activated. Frost then quickly ascended off the ground and onto his feet before he looked up and saw Ryder floating above him.
"I don't want to kill you." Ryder said.
"You're going to have to." Frost said.
Frost then jumped up before he unleashed a massive wave of frost and ice in all directions. Ryder's eyes widen before he puts up a magical dome around him. The wave of ice covers his dome as buildings are destroyed. Once Frost stops his onslaught, he rockets into the sky at Ryder. Ryder drops the dome as the ice breaks and falls down. But Ryder is punched in the gut by Frost before he is launched up into the air. Frost gives chase and went to punch him again but Ryder suddenly vanished which caused Frost's eyes to widen before Ryder appears behind him. Frost swung his fist backwards, but Ryder ducked under it before he punched Frost in the face with a left hook and then a right hook before he spun around and kicked him across the face.
Ryder then teleports behind Frost and chopped his neck hard causing his aura to flicker again before he tackles Frost down to the street below at full speed. They rocket into the ground and kick up a bunch of Icey dust and ice shards. Ryder let's go of Frost and stood over him while Frost's aura flickered hard. Ryder then sent a punch into Frost's back shattering his Aura. Frost groaned in pain before he pushed Ryder off him. Our Earth born hero stumbled back before Frost stood up.
"You think I'm useless without my Semblance? Without my Aura?" Frost asked.
Ryder then hit him with a mean right hook to the face, hard enough to knock him out. When Frost's body hit the ground, he was out cold.
"I'd say so." Ryder said.
He then heard slow clapping as someone approached. He looked up from Frost and forward. His eyes widen but he then gets into a battle stance. Approaching him was Salem.
"Bravo." Salem said.
"You." Ryder said in hatred.
"How good it is to finally meet you in person." Salem said with a faked smile. "And to see your power firsthand was a sight to behold."
"Small talk won't save you, Salem." Ryder said.
"Perhaps not, but surely you know the futility of your situation." Salem said, dropping her smile.
Ryder just grins.
"I know how hopeless it was when i first learned of your Immortality, but there was hope and that hope is now set in stone." Ryder declared.
"What could you possibly mean?" Salem asks.
"Oh, nothing much." Ryder said casually. "There were these seven orbs that once collected could grant me any wish of my desire, and let's just say, i used them to remove your immortality."
"You're bluffing." Salem said, not believing him.
"Am I?" Ryder asked.
Salem just looked into his eyes thinking about it. Ryder then heard his comms light up.
"All evacuations are complete." Clover reports.
Ryder pressed his fingers onto his earpiece.
"Everyone fall back to Atlas." Ryder said. "Salem's mine."
"No, you're not facing her alone." Weiss said, sounding stern in her words.
"Too late, I'm looking right at her." Ryder reports.
"What!?" Weiss said in alarm over comms.
"Ryder, fall back now!" Ironwood said urgently.
"Not happening." Ryder said. "This has to end, no more running."
"Ryder please, listen to James!" Qrow said over comms.
Ryder said nothing.
"Ryder!" Qrow said, trying to get his attention.
Ryder removes his earpiece and crushes it. He then tossed it aside. He was going to defeat Salem; he was going to end this War. Here and now.
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Author's Note: It's time. RYDER VS SALEM!!!