Hello internet! I welcome you back to another chapter of The Paladin's Game. Sorry about the late upload. But I hope you all had a great holiday, I got to play with my sisters husky for a week. So I was set. Why don't you guys leave me what you got in the reviews down below. Also, speaking of checking things out. Why don't you guys head on down to the polls and vote on what story you guys want me to do next. Now let's get on with shall we? Oh! Also, adding my own special review section for my boy Tsuyo.
Beta: Soda-fiedPsycho (I'm retiring due to laziness. - S)
Tsuyo no seishin Comment: Yes indeed if Jaune wants to catch up to his peers. He has got to put the work in, there ain't no easy way here. Also, with your thoughts on making the regen percentage based. Your logic has once again convinced me and shall be put into effect...right now!
Comment of the week goes to… AzazelTheFallen: First, thank you for pointing out the typo in the chapters. I fixed it as soon as you pointed it out. Second, I am sorry but the paring has already been set in stone. At first I didn't really want to do a harem, but during planning for this story. I couldn't really think of a different parring that I wanted to do. Now that being said, I promise you that I won't focus on romance to much in this fic. I have other future fixes for that. I image for this fix is that of an action/fantasy anime type situation. With a harem thrown in there cause protag gotta protag. Now that being said, the Harem will not be massive. Nor will it be completely devoid of romance. Cause all good stories have to least have a little bit of romance in them. It just won't be the main focus. I hope that eases your worries. If not, then i'm sorry. But I hope you stick around anyways.
Honorable Mentions:
Merendinoemiliano: First of all, don't worry your not annoying at all. Second, don't worry Arkos will have its time to shine in a future fic. Just not this fic.
Hzchb11: Thank you for pointing that out I shall have it fixed when this chapter is posted. Second, I do not think he would really think something is up. Teens sneak out all the time after all. Plus, Jaune hasn't really done anything that outstanding...yet. But if he did know, I am certain that man would keep it along with his many other secrets.
I do not own RWBY or anything made by Roosterteeth…
Today has been a day. First I was almost late for class with Doctor Oobleck and then barely after making it there in time, Cardin decided to hit me with a spitball which took me an hour to get out of my hair. After having two more confrontations with Cardin, I got a quest to help save the guy who hates me. I still don't know how I was going to pull that shit off.
I now have six of the three girls I know crushing on me which is again, something I don't how I had pulled off. Even with my huge increase in charisma, girls use to avoid me like the plague back in Ansel. Now, I got three beautiful girls whom all of which could probably be models if they wanted to crushing on me. "How could I be so blessed yet so trapped at the same time?" I wondered as standard on top of the roof of the dorms. Ah yes, I almost forgot to add that to the pile of the shit that has happened today.
After combat class I came to the simple yet critical conclusion. I was way over my fucking head. I mean I don't know how I really missed it in the first place. Guess that's just another thing I have to thank the gamer ability before. So after classes I had a talk with the game and after pointing out another problem with my regen skills it has been saying a slew of curses at finding yet another potential glitch that it promised to fix.
We, or rather I, had decided that I couldn't do this alone. So working in collaboration, we had devised that party system. A simple system that will let me invite some of my friends into a party. Where they won't get the same full gamers abilities as I do but instead watered down versions. They do get to share experience with me, though. They even get to put their ability points where they want to when they level up. Of course there were limitations such as if I can't see their level I couldn't invite them to a party. This made it so I can't just coast on higher level players, well at least not to an insane degree. I also had to reach a certain point in affiliation with them first. The person could leave whenever they wanted to, or if I had to I could kick or even ban them from joining in my parties.
All in all I liked the system, but then there came the problem of who I invite to the party first. Ruby had been the first pick, but upon using Insight. I realized she was too high a level for me to read, something that made me feel inadequate yet also inspired considering she was only fifteen. That unfortunately meant that I couldn't party up with her. Pyrrha was the same but that wasn't so surprising. I also had to make sure the person wouldn't freak out.
So maybe Ren? We sorta bonded as we were the only two guys in our friend group. Thinking about it now, he would probably actually be a good first choice. We already consider ourselves friends, and he even suspects something is up. If all the times he sends a suspicious glance my way every time I use, or mention my semblance is any implication. I guess that just means I will have a talk about it with him tomorrow then. But first, I had to wait for a certain someone.
As if on cue, the door to the roof opened and out came out one Pyrrha Nikos. Resident champion and all around badass fighter.
Also, someone who for some reason has a crush on me. Again, still trying to figure that one out. "Uh, Jaune? Why did you call me up here?" She asked.
"It's nothing really Pyr." I said using the nickname I had given her. "Just wanted to talk you about something." I finished.
Pyrrha eyes widened in mild surprise. "Oh? What about?" She asked, a small hint of excitement in her voice.
"Well Pyrrha as you know, I'm not exactly the strongest fighter out there." I said nonchalantly, she looked ready to protest. But I stopped her. "I'm not trying to put myself down or anything. It's just true, I was never able to get much training before Beacon. It was a miracle that I survived initiation." Well, actually I technically didn't as I just so happened to get resurrected by the game which brings to question, surely Ozpin had to have cameras set up right? So why wasn't I currently in a underground lab being used as a lab rat to see how I came back from the dead. Well actually now that I think about it, I did crash into something that strangely looked like a security camera before hitting the ground. So I guess it was just dumb luck on my part. Though I should be more careful, just in case.
Anyhow, I shouldn't let my thoughts distract me in a middle of a conversation. "That's why I want to get better, so I don't hold you guys back and who better to help me then the four time champion who just so happens to be my partner?" I asked. Pyrrha gave me a look up and down before smiling.
Then she shoved me to the ground. "First of all your stance is all wrong. Second, I would be glad to help." She said giving me a hand. Which I so graciously took, pulling me up.
She gave a bright smile as she took a step back. "Well, seeing as how I don't have my weapons and gear on me. How about we just run through some forms first?" She asked.
I smiled as I went into my inventory and pulled out two wooden training swords. "Actually, I came prepared for this." I said, tossing her one of the swords which cost me a couple hundred lien. But it was a worth investment in my book.
Pyrrha gave the sword a couple test swings before nodding her head. "Yes, I think these will do nicely." She then got into a ready stance, holding the sword in one hand. "First, let's test out your skills." She said, as I got into a stance of my own.
Character Quest: Totally Just Two Friends Sparring Received!
Totally Just Two Friends Sparring
Quest Objective: Spar against Pyrrha Nikos and impress her with your skills.
Bonus Objective: Beat Pyrrha Nikos
Rewards: +10 Affiliation with Pyrrha Nikos, +5000 Exp
Failure: +5 Affiliation with Pyrrha Nikos
Do you accept?
Y/N
I mentally accepted the quest as I smiled to myself. Seems like either way, I won't technically lose. "On three?" I asked, and she nodded.
"One." I stared.
"Two." She continued, I gave a small pause for dramatic affect.
"Three!" I shouted, and instantly I used Flash Step Strike to close the distance and go for a overhead strike.
However Pyrrha effortlessly moves out of the way, and with a swift counter. She hits me in the chest, knocking me back, along with the air in my lungs. She didn't even flinch as she immediately went for another strike for my mid section. I moved to block it but it turns out to be a faint as she instead goes even lower.
Kicking her legs out and taking my legs from under me. Much to her surprise I recover quickly, preventing myself from hitting the ground with a one armed handstand. Then pushed myself off the ground and onto my feet before she could take advantage.
I then went for a Blade Wave. Pyrrha rolling away from the attack, and before I could go for another one, she actually throws her sword at me like a javelin. Causing me to briefly panic and hit up in the air. I however made the mistake of taking my eyes of my opponent as she my head to launch herself into the air while also kicking me to the ground and rearm herself with the wooden weapon. Taking a step back to keep myself from falling on my back.
I was put on the literal back foot as Pyrrha came at me with a vicious set of stabs and slashes. It was taking all that I know to keep myself from being absolutely demolished and even then it wasn't doing so well. As many of her attacks got threw, each one electing a wince or similar sound of pain.
I was able to break away as I managed to force her sword to hit a pipe before pinning it with my own. My smug smirk, however was quickly gone however as she kicked me in the face. I felt my nose break from the impact only for it to then heal itself immediately. Even if I healed, that put some new found fear in me as that just proved even with my aura up she could do some serious damage.
Using a Blade Wave to get her to back off. I decided that the direct approach was not the best one here. Seeing as how she far outclassed me in any and all skills so far which meant that if I wanted to win this, I was going to have to start using what was around me. Looking around, there were pipes and a giant fan in my vicinity. This meant that I would somehow have to make this work.
Before I got a chance to think of a plan Pyrrha was on me again, so I quickly moved to the side and was forced to jump over some of the pipes. And when she tried to get over to attack me, I forced her back with stabs of my sword. It seemed that right now the only thing keeping me from getting my ass kicked from Pyrrha was the pipes but they would only stall her for so long. That means that I need to work fast if I want to make this work. I looked to Pyrrha, who was looking quite content to wait me out of the pipes.
But while she knew I would have to move sooner or later, I doubt she expected me to run to the side of the building and fall off. "Jaune!" She screamed in worry. Yep, definitely didn't expect it. Working fast I grabbed one of the window ledges before I could fall to far. Once I caught myself, I pulled myself up as fast as I could. Before I went to jump to the other ledge and make my way around the corner. Once I made it around the corner, I used Jump to reach the ledge. Pulling myself back up, I looked to see Pyrrha looking over the ledge. I felt kinda sorry for making her worry but I still tried to sneak behind her so that I could make her surrender only for when I was about to have my sword against her back.
Pyrrha, either from instincts or something, immediately turned around and disarmed me before pinning me to the ground. "Gah! Okay you win!" I yelped.
Pyrrha seemed to realize what she was doing as she immediately let me go. "Oh my Gods! I'm so sorry Jaune." She apologized, as she helped me up.
I rubbed my lower back as the pain from her knee digging into my back faded almost instantly. "No, I probably deserve that for what I just tried to pull." I said, and any regret she seemed to have vanished in a second as she punched me in the shoulder. "Ow! That too." I said, now rubbing my shoulder.
"What were you thinking doing something like that? Nearly gave me a heart attack." She scorned, and I couldn't help but look away from her withering gaze.
"Ah, well…." I started, taking a glance at Pyrrha to see that she had downed the 'I'm waiting' pose as I liked to call it. "I..thought... it would be, the only way I could beat you." I said, feeling like I was kid who just got caught stealing from the cookie jar. Deciding the floor was probably the best thing to look at right now. I did just that.
Eventually I heard a sigh come from Pyrrha. "Just, don't do that again please? I would rather not have my partner jumping off roofs." She asked, and I actually looked up to see that she had an ever so small smile on her face.
"But what if I need a badass entrance?" I asked with a smirk of my own, and Pyrrha response was a light chuckle while she shook her head in mirth.
"Then maybe but first let's get back to training." She said. We both walked back to the middle of the roof, and I took note of how Pyrrha kept my back near the door, away from most of the ledges. "Well, first things first. You have a good mind for strategy, are able to use the terrain for your advantage." She said, and I stood a little bit straighter at the praise. "However, your swordsmanship is still below average. You seem to rely too much on aura based attacks and abilities." She finished and my growing arrogance shrunk back up.
Though I couldn't say she was wrong, my fight with Cardin was probably all the evidence needed to prove that she was right. "So, what do we do to fix that then?" I asked, and Pyrrha smiled.
"Well, it's quite simple. We fight and I correct you where you need correction." Without another word she sprang at me and our fight began once again.
2 Hours Later...
Laying on my back, I took in as much air as I could as I debated whether a roof could make a good bed or not. "Alright Jaune, I think that was a good first session. I must say I am impressed with how fast you can learn." She praised, and I smiled as a blue screen popped up.
Congratulations! You have completed the quest Totally Just Two Friends Sparing! You have gained +10 Affiliation with Pyrrha Nikos! You have gained 5000 Exp! Your Sword Mastery has increased by 5!
I gave off a mental whistle at the blue screen. Only two hours of sparring with Pyrrha, and I got five levels in Sword Mastery. That was pretty good in my opinion. "Well, couldn't learn so fast if I didn't have such a good teacher." I praised.
Pyrrha blushed. "W-well, I think it's time we head to our dorms and sleep." She said.
"Just give me a couple minutes. I just want to...recover." Pyrrha gave a hasty nod and left the roof and as soon as she was gone, I got up and went to the door. Rest Point.
Opening the door, I was greeted to the sight of the study. Almost immediately I could feel my body rejuvenate faster than ever as my fatigue effect went away. Looking at my scroll, I found that it was around midnight meaning I still had a good five hours of grinding before I had to meet Ms. Goodwich for early morning training. Game, can you show me all the combat related skills I have that can be leveled up?
~~Insight (Level 34) {35%}- You can see up to 50 levels above you, and can now see the quality of gear. As well as a quick background of things when casting Insight.
~~Detect Evil (Level 9) {98%}- Can detect a hostile presence within 10 meters. Range increases every level
~~Feather Fall (Level 5) {10%} - Can control your descent, control increases every level
~~Leadership (Level 5) {45%}- Gain a 5% bonus to Chr, and increase the chance people will follow you
~~Strategy (Level 14) {70%}- Able to make plans
~~Precognition (Level 20) {64%}- Able to slow your perception of time to come up with multiple different strategies to defeat your opponent [Cost 100 MP]
~~Shield Mastery (Level 25) {2%}- You are 25% more proficient in using shields
~~Sword Mastery (Level 25) {0%}- You are 20% more proficient with using swords
~~Resistance (Level 36) {5%}- 36% resistance to diseases and poisons
~~SP Regen (Level 16) {79%}- Regen 16% SP per sec
~~MP Regen (Level 12) {82%}- Regen 12% MP per sec
~~HP Regen (Level 14) {55%}- Regen 14% HP per sec
~~Holy Ember (Level 4) {69%}- Can Deal 5-10 damage to Grimm or unholy beings per sec. Can be boosted with a holy symbol [10 AP a sec]
~~Taunt (Level 7) {0%}- Able to distract enemies from your allies and instead have them focus on you. The better the taunt the better the chance
~~Aura Sense (Level 6) {82%}- Allows you to see things that are masked in Aura in a 10 meter radius
~~Free Running (Level 5) {54%}- You are able to run across different terrains much easier.
~~Pain Tolerance (Level 14) {88%}- Reduce all damage taken by 14%
~~Basic CQC (Level 5) {0%} You are able to perform basic CQC moves and unarmed attacks are 5% more effective
~~Blade Wave (Level 7) {0%} Shootout a wave of energy that does the same damage as a regular attack, Range of 7 Meters [200 AP]
~~Flash Step Strike (Level 1) {30%} Travel up to 10 feet and strike [100 AP & SP]
~~Magical Resistance You are 1% resistant to magic
I dismissed Insight and Leadership the former because I am always grinding that skill, and the latter because there was no way I could level it by myself. I also dismissed Magical Resistance because I didn't know how I could level that up.
Feather Fall requires me to fall off things and land safely, something I can do on the way to the cliffs, so I can jump off those to. That shall be the first thing I do. After I reach the emerald forest, I should use Flash Step Strike and Holy Embers for around an hour and see how much I can level those up. Thanks to my mini-map danger sense isn't needed that much any more. But it's still useful so I should leave it on, not like it costs me anything anyways. The same goes with Aura Sense I suppose and so after the first hour I should work with Basic CQC and Pain Tolerance as well as Taunt. For around two hours, then work on my Sword Mastery and Shield Mastery for the remaining time then book it to Ms. Goodwich. All the while my regen and Free Running skills should level in the background. Can even possibly level up my Climbing skill if there is enough time.
Congratulations! Strategy has increased by 1!
Grinning from ear to ear I double checked my status and after making sure that I was indeed full in everything. I left my rest point and went to go start my grinding. With step one being to jump off the roof.
Five Hours Later…
Walking into the arena with a smile on my face I saw already in position as she held her tablet in one hand and her coffee in another. "You seem to be in a rather good mood today ." She stated with a raised eyebrow.
I just shrugged, "I'm just in one of those moods."
She gave a hum and a nod but said no more as she pressed a button on her tablet and I was greeted with fifteen robots. "You may begin when ready." Unleashing my weapons, I gave nod as all the robots came to life and charged towards me.
The first robot came at me with it's sword arm, trying it's best to gut me like a fish. But with my shield in it's way the effort was fruitless and with my shield in its face it was useless which followed by a decapitation it became wireless. I looked to the robots and asked, "Who's Next?"
1 Hour Later…
Game, can you please show me all the skills I leveled?
Sword Mastery has Increased by 2! Shield Mastery has Increased by 2! Holy Ember has Increased by 5! Basic CQC has increased by 4! Pain Tolerance has increased by 2! Detect Evil has increased by 3! Aura Sense has increased by 4! Flash Step Strike has increased by 4! Taunt has increased by 3! HP Regen has increased by 3! MP Regen has increased by 4! SP Regen has increased by 2! Free Running has increased by 6! Climbing increased by 2!
I nodded my head as I looked at all my increased stats. Couple that with the level up I got from grinding the grimm and I was one happy camper, of course my day had only just begun. Or well, it at least technically did so who knows what else what the day will bring, especially after I have that talk with Ren. Speaking of which, I should try and find the man. Thanking the professor, I left the arena and immediately pulled out my scroll and messaged Ren.
J:Hey Ren u up?
R: I am now.
J:Oops, sorry about that. Anyway, I need to talk to you about something. Meet me at the Library?
R: Sure.
Turning off my scroll, I put it into my pocket and headed off to the library. When I got there I was met to a waiting, and slightly tired teammate. "Hey." I greeted. Ren giving a nod in return.
I walked into the library, motioning Ren to follow. Which he did, and I led him to the deeper parts of the massive library. Stopping just outside of the doorway to the rest point. "Okay, so what do you want to talk to me about?" He asked, his eyes inquisitive. "And why we couldn't just talk about it in our dorms, let alone this far in the library." He said.
I laughed about that. "Well, the reason why were so deep in the library is because that the librarian...kinda, sorta, hates my guts." He raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. "Also, I didn't want Nora or Pyrrha walking in on what i'm about to tell you."
Ren crossed his arms. "And that is?" He asked, and I took a deep breath and I noticed that he got a little nervous for a second for some odd reason.
"Well, I know you have been...curious about what my semblance is." His body both relaxed and tensed at the same time, as he remained quiet to let me continue. "I think it will be better just to show you. Game. Form Party JR and invite Lie Ren."
Ren Pov…
"Game. Form Party JR and incite Lie Ren." As soon as Jaune said that, a blue square popped up into my vision.
Would you like to join the Party JR?
Y/N
"Just hit the yes." Jaune said, and I followed his orders. Tapping the Y, I immediately felt a tingle go threw my body as before I was greeted to a status page?
Lie Ren
Class: Rogue
Main Title: The Tranquil Monk
Sub-Title: The Peaceful Mind
Level 56
HP: 9900/9900
MP: 14,700/14,700
SP: 1225/1225
Str:120 (90)
Dex: 232 (522)
Vig: 88 (66)
Int: 168 (294)
Wis: 243 (608)
Luck: 2 (4)
Chr: 100 (175)
~~Observe Level 44
~~Calm Mind Level 64 {Semblance} [300 AP cost per person/per second]
~~Martial Arts Level 72
~~Gun Mastery Level 48
~~Bladed Mastery Level 44
"W-what is this?" I asked in bewilderment.
"That it your stat page, it lets you look at your stats and skills." He explained, "Have you ever played a video game before? Specifically an rpg?" He asked.
I nodded my head slowly. "Nora and I played some when we were younger." I explained as I felt some form of disappointment of my server lack of skills. There was also the fact that my Vig, which probably meant Vigor, was suffering from a debuff, same with my Str. I just hope it's not because of some sickness or something. Wait, I am getting side-tracked. "Jaune, when did you unlock this? And how?" I asked.
Jaune rubbed the back of his head. "Oh, well I unlocked it during initiation. After I uh…"
After he died.
I took a step back as I looked at the screen in front of me. "Wait? This thing talks?" I asked.
"Yeah, though it can be a bit of an ass." Jaune said, glaring at the blue screen that appeared in front of him. He then closed it as he locked eyes with me. "But yeah after I...died in initiation. I was able to activate my semblance and now where here." He said.
I couldn't help but glare at him suspiciously. "Jaune, a semblance can't bring someone back from the dead." I said, and Jaune looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
"What do you mean? A semblance can do anything...right?" He asked, some doubt creeping into his voice into his head.
I shook my head, "No Jaune, a person's semblance does have limits. For example, there are no recorded semblances of someone being able to control time itself. Or being able to ignore physics." I said.
Jaune looked worried. "Yeah, but those are like really big limits right there. I mean you are talking about the things that make up the universe. Surly, something as coming back to life would be simple." He reasoned, and I felt a little bad for what I was about to say next.
"Jaune, there are no records of someone having a semblance like this. You can't come back from the dead, once you die. Your soul leaves your body, meaning your body has no more access to your semblance or even aura. To have a semblance like that would be unnatural." I explained.
Jaune just shook his head. "You said, there are no records of this right?" He asked, and I nodded my head. "W-well, that just means I am the first. Besides, information gets lost all the time. If it was ever recorded in the first place. Besides me being here is just proof that it can happen." He said, his voice calm and filled with a renewed confidence.
I sighed, "I guess you're right." I relented, but I made a mental note to keep an eye on Jaune.
This didn't feel right, and I wanted to be able to help my friend. "Alright, now that it out of the way." Jaune said. "Ren, I want your help." He said, and I raised an eyebrow.
"What for?" I asked.
Jaune pointed to himself. "Well first, for you to understand. I need you to cast observe on me. Just look at me and think the word." He explained and I nodded my head. Observe.
Jaune Arc
Class: Paladin
Main Title: The Pretender
Sub-title: Acolyte of Light
Level 33
Exp: 1856/29,616
HP: 19,819/19,819
AP: 5450/5450
SP: 1315/1315
Str: 58 (99)
Dex: 56 (87)
Vig: 146 (314)
Int: 77 (131)
Wis: 58 (90)
Luck: 1 (1)
Chr: 96 (202)
The Pretender? Making a mental note of that, I waited for Jaune to explain. "As you can see, I am not exactly the strongest fighter around. And I would like you to help me get stronger." He then stuck out his hand. "What do you say?" He asked, and I looked at it before shaking it.
"Alright, I will help you because you are a friend. But I also want to try and understand this power of yours more." I said, and Jaune nodded. I have a feeling that everything is going to become a lot more...complicated.
Here we go! This weeks chapter! Hope you guys like it! Anyway, in a bit in of a rush. Got a job interview this Tuesday and I am preparing like a mad man. That being said, hope you all enjoyed this chapter. If so leave a review to let me know, also don't forget to vote in the polls! This is Journeymen signing off...