The Shadow has a face.

"My my... so this is the being that has given my apprentice so much trouble."

The voice came suddenly, smooth and powerful that belied unimaginable strength. You allow yourself a small smile as your suspicions were confirmed.

"I was wondering when I'd catch your attention... Salem."

The darkness coalesced into a single point, a writhing mass of shadows that steadily took form into a dark, regal woman in midnight black robes.

The Queen of Grimm stood before you corporeally in this spirit realm, tall and grandiose in her poise appropriately taking the air of a monarch looking down upon a peasant. Pale arms riddled with blood red veins crossed evenly below the swell of her chest, blackened eyes boring into you with intrigue. You doubted she'd be able to physically harm you from across the planet, but you refused to take chances. She was, after all, the embodiment of Darkness in the absence of Remnant's deities. Standing to confront her, you flare your aura brilliantly, you light a stark contrast to her darkness.

"You have quite some nerve showing up in this world to challenge me," she states. "You obviously know who I am, so why? Why go out of your way to risk my wrath?"

"I've taken a liking to this world and its inhabitants," you answer simply. "The Deity brothers abandoned Remnant and I saw a vacancy."

She snorts with indignation.

"So you say. I've been watching you for quite some time, Michael, and your motives are far from selfless. Preying upon innocent Huntresses with intent to breed, how scandalous of you. You even killed my dear Tyrian and sent Roman Torchwick running futilely from his fate. Far from the conduct of a virtuous God."

"Ah see, that's where you're mistaken. I don't claim to be wholly virtuous and sex is merely a means to an end. I have a vision for this world, a vision I intend to bring to fruition. A Remnant without Grimm, without war or suffering, and I have little care for rules dictating Divines must stay out of mortal affairs. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Intriguing," Salem states to humor you. "And how exactly do you intend to accomplish all of this?"

"By impregnating as many women as possible of course. Worthy mothers to bear powerful sons and daughters."

"And what makes you think I'll simply allow your spawn to roam freely?"

"To be fair, your approval is of little consequence. You're a powerful woman Salem, with a far greater understanding of reality than most. Be smart here. Would you prefer me an enemy or an ally?"

"Interesting. It's almost as if you have something of value to offer me."

"How about freedom from a cursed existence?"

Her eyes narrow at your suggestion.

"Excuse me?" she asks, a dangerous undertone in her voice.

"I sympathize with you, I truly do," you continue as the both of you begin to circle each other. "Your existence wasn't kind to you, in this life or the last. Even worse still, you're unable to move on thanks to the meddling of a certain pair of siblings, and so your soul has been overtaken by hatred and darkness. Truly a terrible way to live. So what if I told you I could free you of this burden? What if I told you... I could restore your humanity?"

"I would say that our talk is finished," she states factually. "Experience has taught me not to make deals with deities, light or dark. I'm forging my own path, regardless of who stands in my way. Now I believe we're done here. Be gone."

At that declaration, the shadows whirl around their dark master in a furious storm and with a wave of her hand, Salem sends them rocketing in your direction with intent to kill. You raise a hand in defense, aura flaring as you carve the darkness in two, each half jetting along your flanks furiously. Such pure hatred and malice has your skin crawling, you could literally feel the decay singing at the hairs upon your arms. The Lady of Grimm sneers at you and your defiance, redoubling her efforts and pouring every ounce of hatred into the ****. The pressure upon you doubles, forcing you to raise both hands in defense and step backwards whilst you grit your teeth with exertion. She was strong, tremendously strong, far more powerful than Cinder could ever hope to be, and this was a mere projection of her true nature. God's warning remained steadfastly ringing in your ear while the full weight of His words finally became clear; Salem was not to be underestimated.

Outside of the reality "bubble" that was your own battleground, Team RWBY is driven into a furious fight for their lives as Grimm swarm the apartment roof. Beowolves, creeps, and even Nevermores angrily circle and attack the four girls at the behest of their dark master, intent on ripping them to pieces without pity or remorse. The thought of losing any of your girls, not just the ones battling for their lives protecting you, sends your blood boiling.

"Yes... that's it Pretender," goads the dark queen. "I can feel your anger and hatred for me, but what could you possibly do in this position? I have you pinned and at my mercy. It's only of matter of time until my pets finally break through and make a fine meal out of your concubines. It's time that you learned your place."

Loathe as you were to admit it, she was right... partially at least. As you were now, you couldn't hope to challenge Salem directly, not in person, but this projection could be more easily managed if you played your cards right, though you lacked the luxury of time to properly plan. Right now, you needed to clear out the immediate Grimm and banish the Witch's presence from this valley, at least for the moment until you could leave with your girls. Only one idea came to mind, and you had no idea what it would do to your body. Mustering your strength from within, you manage to crack a smile at your dark adversary.

"And you... can kindly fuck off."

Your words are quiet but carry the weight of a freight train. With a furious yell, your aura surges brilliantly reminiscent of an explosion. Divine light tears effortlessly through the surrounding shadows, banishing them to the deepest pits from whence they came, much to Salem's rage and disbelief. Out of reflex, she lifts her arms to shield herself against such radiant power but with her merely being present in spirit, she was left at the mercy of your energy and like the shadows that were once at her command, her form blown apart in a cloud of scattering black smoke, punctuated by a livid scream. You won this battle, but now you had to fight a war. Salem was now your enemy.

With her presence banished for the time being, you're ripped out of the trance and come hurtling back into reality with as much grace as a drunken Florida Man. All at once the sensation of fire erupts across your body and you pitch forward upon your hands, gasping desperately for breath. Eyes wide and sweat matting your brow, your vision spins and clouds as you struggle in vain to maintain consciousness. Your stomach lurches next and it takes monumental willpower not to empty its contents onto the concrete between your hands. As the darkness of fatigue swallows you whole, all you could comprehend was eerie silence followed by a frantic screaming of your name. Perhaps this time you bit off a little more than you could chew.