A Problem

> "*I am going to make sure that your death is the most painful I've wrought since my creation!*"—Apollyon, enraged after losing his recently-healed eye

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Brewing Conflict

Chapter 5, titled "A Problem", is the fifth chapter of the rewrite of *The OMEGA Subject*. It was published on June 19, 2020, on Fanfiction.net.

## Summary

The chapter begins with Apollyon tackling Duke Melas. He and the rest of the initiates engage the Grimm in combat. Harley Graec is almost immediately removed from combat, leaving the three remaining initiates to face Apollyon in close quarters. Duke is quickly pinned as Zeus Graec checks on Harley. Just as he is about to lose the contest of strength, Khryseis Minoa leaps in and stabs her dagger into Apollyon's left eye, rendering him half-blind once more. As the two initiates recover, Apollyon promises death before roaring and charging.

Ozpin and Glynda, hearing the roar from the cliff, quickly search the cameras to find its source. Ozpin is quick to locate the source, seeing Apollyon engage the last initiates in the forest. Glynda rushes to them in the hopes of saving them as Ozpin watches on, witnessing the death of Duke.

The scene returns to Apollyon as he drops Duke's corpse before setting his sights on Zeus. The fight is quick and results in Zeus' death. Before Apollyon can continue, he smells the arrival of another huntress and leaves Khryseis with a promise of a future encounter. Glynda bursts into the clearing just as he's left and comforts Khryseis. Before they can leave, Khryseis tells Glynda that Harley is alive, and they take her unconscious body as well.

The scene changes to the team ceremony, with Khryseis and Harley being the only students not on a team of four. When they are called up, they are given the choice of either joining another team, working together, or leaving Beacon. They both choose to work with each other. Following the ceremony, Ruby Rose approaches the duo and offers assistance in dealing with the loss of their teammates. Khryseis thanks her before they go to their dorm. As Harley enters the bathroom, Khryseis pulls out her dagger and thinks back to the battle before promising to take Apollyon's other eye.

The scene changes to Ozpin in his office with Glynda, Qrow joining in on a call. They are briefed on the situation on the headmaster and given tasks. When Qrow hears his, he tells Ozpin that he still needs to find the attackers of the Fall Maiden. Ozpin denies his request, telling him that his position as headmaster could be in danger because of the situation. Qrow grudgingly accepts his new task and Glynda departs after receiving hers, leaving the two huntsmen alone. Qrow asks for Ozpin to make sure his nieces remain safe, which Ozpin promises.

The scene changes once more to Roman Torchwick, paying a White Fang grunt for Dust. He gets a call from Cinder Fall and asks for more men, which Cinder accepts. She then tells him of her friends in higher places procuring a project to assist her in her plans. The call ends not long after, with Roman grumbling about her vagueness. He hears his accomplice, Neopolitan, approaching and tells her what the call was about. Then, he assigns her to find out what she can about the pet project Cinder mentioned before turning to a map of Vale and pondering on where to go next.

The scene changes one last time to Apollyon taking up residence in a cave once used by a large Deathstalker. He falls asleep inside, his last thoughts being on how the black void he sees being more welcoming than before. After that, the chapter ends.

## Characters

### Major Characters

* Apollyon
* Blake Belladonna (First Appearance)
* Cinder Fall
* Glynda Goodwitch
* Harley Graec
* Khryseis Minoa
* Ozpin
* Ruby Rose
* Weiss Schnee
* Yang Xiao Long

### Minor Characters

* Duke Melas
* Jaune Arc (First Appearance)
* Lie Ren (First Appearance)
* Roman Torchwick (First Appearance)
* Neopolitan (First Appearance)
* Nora Valkyrie (First Appearance)
* Pyrrha Nikos (First Appearance)
* Qrow Branwen (First Appearance)
* Zeus Graec

## Trivia

* In the original draft of the chapter, only Khryseis was slated to survive. However, a last-minute change allowed Harley to survive as well.