Absolute harrowing pain was all he felt.
Pain was good, pain meant his nervous system was still mostly intact; as such that meant he himself was still kicking. A burning sensation ran along the lower half of his body causing a hoarse cough to erupt from his lungs, no sound erupted however, instead his lower body was soaked in the colour of crimson.
In all the stories of heroes, where the huntsmen come and save the day; they all seemed to leave out the sections of how damn agonizing death felt. Funny that.
Perhaps it was because of his current situation however; body crippled beyond even his auras' repair, his armour torn from his body and replaced with scorched burns. If the multiple broken bones and wounds around his body didn't bleed him out, the thin crimson line along his throat surely would end his suffering within the next few minutes.
Head rolling to rest upon his shoulder, he turned his attention to the cause of all his suffering, eyes resting upon the spasming form of a slender woman.
Cinder Fall, the woman who dared try to rob them of their futures.
She laid crumpled upon the stone tiles, arms constantly roaming around herself in a final act to cleanse herself of her wounds; not that it seemed to be working. Her eyes however; the dammed golden orbs were bearing into his own, endless amounts of fury and wrath rested upon her gaze.
He'd had to play cheap to even stand a chance against a fighter like herself, he knew the consequences of his task within the final crusade and the chances of his survival. So, when her blade erupted through his chest, the young man didn't cry out or scream for mercy.
He merely smiled and proceeded to twist his blade into her very own stomach.
The fact that none of her minions came to her aid was proof that Ruby's' plan had worked, no doubt claiming her victory over the 'Queen' at this very moment and bringing hope back into the world of Remnant. A victory well-earned in his book, one that took so many innocent souls that had yet to flourish.
"H-How…You.." Huh, she was trying to speak to him even now, she was persistent he'd give her that. She seemed intent on clawing her way over to his mutilated corpse but her own body refused to budge from its' location and instead she settled for a somewhat disgusted expression. He wanted to reply with something snarky and arrogant; but all that came forth was muddled gargling and more blood-soaked clothing.
He seemed to be holding on longer than he expected, though the dimming of the world around him was a slight hint it wasn't for much longer.
He didn't want to die, no one did. He was leaving behind a loving family and more-so a loving team. Ren and Nora were like siblings to him, they grew up with him from the early days of Beacon to the 'end of all days' of now; sticking with him through the easy and the harsh times. They had each other though, always did and always would, when this war was all over they would at the very least have someone to seek comfort with.
Ruby was someone he honestly hoped would become literal family in the upcoming months to this event, their relationship rising above platonic just a year prior to this battle. Even in those dark times, Ruby was always a candle in the dark to everyone around her, especially with the fall of Beacon…With the death of his partner.
God; it was true, life did flash before your eyes as you died!
He'd miss them all; Ruby, Ren, Nora, the rest of team RWBY, hell the staff of Beacon still had a fond place in his hearts. It suddenly occurred to him that he hadn't spoken to the rest of his family since he made sure they got to a safe haven away from the Grimm.
He pitied the soul who brought the news to his mother; whoever it was he'd meet them in the afterlife.
The ringing sensation in his ears became more apparent and the colours around him became more blurred than they had once been. He was moments away from embracing death, moments away from escaping all the damn pain and suffering. With a final gaze at the now limp form of the pawn of the 'Queen', Jaune Arc allowed his eyes to come to a close.
He'd never know that a few moments later; a rose and her allies came through the doors; calling out his name.
They won, that's all that mattered. Right?
