Chapter 14: Among Ghouls

As the moon shone brightly in the sky, like her namesake the Grimmlord couldn't help but admire it. She threw a glance to the cave, from this distance she could hear the faint sounds of battle. On more than one occasion she had been tempted to go inside, screw what Amazon told her.

'He's been down there for a while now' she commented.

'Yes he has' Amazon agreed with arms folded glaring at the entrance.

'They are still fighting' White commented.

'You know what he's up against, the fact that he's lasted this long against it is something to commend.'

White looked at her with a pronounced frown 'I'm not so sure.'

'What do you mean?'

'I'm hearing more than two things in that place.'

'You think there are more' she shook her head 'that's not possible, it hasn't been that long.'

'Hasn't it?' White challenged 'I didn't think too much of it but Jaune once brought up our perception of time. We apparently have an immensely larger lifespan compared to humans without an effective measure of keeping track of time spent. He even said that he's been here for a long time but it feels less than what he knew.'

Amazon frowned, could enough time have passed for others to have followed in its footsteps. She shook her head, no it was unthinkable there was only one in that cave and it was battling Jaune. Her fists clenched when the fight is over either he will emerge or she will go inside to finish it.

She just hoped he would do enough damage.

\

Jaune wondered if he was dreaming, it's been…wow he had no idea. The two things, ghouls he's calling themtook the sword from him and attacked. That's when all hell broke loose and unfortunately they were just as tough as the other one. First he realized that the first one was not related to either of them even though they had the same messed up perma-smile.

If it was one of them they would have been dead no doubt but there were two of them and damn it hurt to admit but they were clever bastards. Meanwhile he's been slowly regressing into a primal beast every step of the way.

As of now he didn't even know what he was doing, it was like he was a spectator to his own actions but thing he did know for sure was that at the moment, he was losing. It was weird, he was so used to being the underdog outsmarting the tough guys. Now the situation was in reverse, he was the one that was stronger but he was being outsmarted by the two of them.

And the worst part? There's nothing he could do about it because with every second that passes he loses more self awareness until finally his rational, human mind completely shuts off leaving only the beast.

*CRASH*

Jaune smashed clear through the cave wall into..water? His mind didn't think too much on it if at all, hell he barely noticed he was in an entirely different part of the cavern, it was more spacious too. What he did focus on was the hulking form of the male barreling towards him.

'Come on Jaune this isn't you!'

Jaune roared and rushed straight to him in a single-minded charge, like a rhino. The thing about rhinos is that when they charge they get tunnel vision and are vaguely aware of what is happening around them. That's why when something wrapped around his ankles and he tripped right into a punch, he was shocked.

Then something whipped him into the adjacent wall.

Jaune's body hit the wall and dropped along with several pieces of splintered rock. He was dazed but he stood up anyway only for fist to crash across his face, something tripped him followed by a knee to the stomach then a point blank Grimmbeam to the chest launching across the cavern.

'Fight it Jaune!'

The female ghoul rushed into while he was down by launching a tendril. By instinct Jaune caught it and swung her into a wall before going after the male. Jaune's fist crashed across its mouth, actually knocking out a row of its front teeth. An uppercut lifted it off its feet just when a Grimmbeam hit his side.

'Dammit I thought you were smarter than this!'

Jaune stood up and glared at them except they were nowhere in sight.

*Sniff*

Just then the female swung around planted both feet in his gut, they arched and Jaune ended up near the ceiling. His eyes opened to see the male charging a Grimm beam, he located the female on the ceiling. He pushed himself off the wall towards the female who stuck a tendril and swung away from him. Jaune carved out a small trench where his claws scraped and glared at the female.

'Get a grip already!'

He switch his crawl to a crouch and charge Grimmbeam, she immediately flee but he was aware of the male running up the walls on all fours and at the last minute switched to him. The hit was successful and another was fired at the female but she used a tendril to swing out the way.

'WAKE UP!'

Jaune gripped his head but unfortunately his feet lost traction and he fell but mid-flight something crashed into him. His bleary eyes looked to see the male ghoul but before he could get him off they crashed. Jaune ended up being the cushion for what must have been a 100 meter drop. He had both arms gripped and the ghoul was snapping at him but Jaune's foot kept him at bay.

'Use you head Jaune!'

A while later Jaune head collided with its jaw but instead of letting go it stood up and threw the Grimmlord overhead right into a lariat courtesy of the female ghoul. They both fired a Grimmbeam which he tried to block. He dug his clawed feet into the ground but found himself being pushed back. he could feel the skin off his left arm peeling off slowly, it was taking the brunt of the combined attack.

Eventually Jaune used his right arm to fire his own Grimmbeam, well not really, it was more of a short burst, more of a bullet than a beam. The distraction worked and while his left arm was healing he charged at them recklessly, ignoring the pain with another roar. They all leapt at each other and predictably it was Jaune who got overpowered and tackled.

Jaune kicked away the female and used his clawed hand to choke the male. As big as he was the ghoul started wheezing for breath using its massive hands to try and break Jaune's own. Jaune flipped them so he was straddling it. He winced at ghoul's attempts to break his hold but in his frenzied haze the pain was nothing. As the ghouls blood coated his hand he cackled maniacally. That is until a snarl from above alerted him to the female's movements, he looked up just in time for it to pounce and with one swipe from its claw severed Jaune's left arm from the bicep.

'Jaune!'

Jaune watched his arm fall in slow motion, the name ringing in his head. Then as if something snapped his senses together he shook his head.

He stared at his severed arm in shock "I, what?"

His head snapped forward only for a giant fist to snap it back. Jaune flew through the air and landed on his back.

'What the hell?'

His eyes widened from his position on the ground and he rolled away and hopped to his feet. He clutched his stump

"What the hell's going on here?" he rasped.

'Glad to see that thing knocked some sense into you.'

'Traveler!? I, what!? Am I dreaming?'

Instincts warned him to roll out the way and he narrowly dodged a tendril.

'Please tell me I'm dreaming'

'Afraid not but here's an idea. How about getting out of here and finding your sword!?'

Jaune cringed at the volume but complied and with all his might ran, except he didn't account for his newfound speed. To the two ghouls he was there one second and the next he was across the cavern, having run face first into a wall.

'Will you stop embarrassing yourself and run already'came the exasperated voice of the Traveler.

Jaune pushed himself from the wall "well sorry if I didn't know my own speed!"

'Noted, now get outta here they're attacking!'

Jaune saw them lunging after him and in a burst of distorted air Jaune flickered from their sight. The two Grimmlords blinked owlishly before sniffing the air, both their attention turned to Jaune's severed arm before lunging at it simultaneously.

Meanwhile Jaune appeared somewhere else in a burst of distorted air but kept running.

"Whoa, okay how did I do that?"

'Funny you should mention that.'

"And how are you talking to me right now?"

'It must have been when you absorbed that other Grimmlord.'

As if something struck him, oh yeah, he fought a Grimmlord…and won. He felt his chest, it was definitely smaller.

"Yes!"

'I wouldn't celebrate if I were you lefty.'

At this Jaune froze his eye trailed to his no longer bleeding stump "aw man"

'Yeah I thought that would be enough to burst your bubble.'

"Can I like, grow it back or something?"

'You seem to be taking losing an arm better than expected.'

"Well it's not like it isn't disturbing" he moved his stump "but it feels like that fight was a dream and I woke up with this where my arm should be. I think I would have been more freaked out if I actually felt my arm being ripped off."

'As opposed to waking up with a missing arm?'

Jaune shrugged "I guess so"

'…you've changed Jaune Arc.'

That statement and the tone of voice took him by surprise so much so that he didn't see he was running to the end of the tunnel.

'Look out!'

Jaune's gaze snapped forward just as he ran off a very steep ledge. Instead of screaming though he used his remaining arm to claw at the side of the edge. He planted his foot to the side and slowly he allowed himself to halt.

"Whoa"

What he looked at was the largest underground expanse he had ever seen. Stalactites encompassed the ceiling like spike of doom. Thick stalagmites were scattered across the ground next to bodies of water. The entire system was lit in a blue hue coming from the water bodies, no doubt from glowing algae he saw on a documentary once.

Jaune descended when Traveler spoke 'you should clean yourself up, they might be tracking your blood'

"Good idea" Jaune submerged himself in the nearest body of water, as expected it was really awkward washing himself with one hand.

Awkward but not uncomfortable and after a few minutes out the water his sensitive ears picked up approaching sounds.

"You really think so?"

'About what?'

"That I've changed? I know I'm stronger but I honestly don't feel that different, I think."

'Well think about it. Do you think the Jaune Arc that woke up here would shrug off losing an appendage as you have?'

No, he would been hyperventilating but then again Jaune's been through so much, he's lost several fingers and it was really painful for a moment. Compared to losing an entire arm he felt no pain losing, it was a small thing,

Besides "I can grow it back can't I? I've seen White do it before."

'Yes you can grow it back.'

"Good"

'I wouldn't do it if I were you'

"Why not?"

'You'll need the energy to kill the two Grimmlords'

Oh that's right, his opponents are Grimmlord's as well.

"What could I do with one arm?"

'You'd be surprised. You're stronger than them Jaune.'

"I am? Then how did I end up with one arm?"

'That's because you were nothing but a mindless beast back then. They were smart enough to handle your charges.'

"Why does that sound familiar?"

'Uh, maybe it's because it's the same thing you've been doing up until now?'

Oh

"Wait how am I me without Crocea Mors?"

'Well the only thing I can think is that you've evolved'

"Evolved" he mumbled.

'Yes, it's something every Grimm goes through remember? For it to take root though, something would have to shock them awake. I think I remember for me it was getting beaten to an inch of my regeneration by Amazon.'

Jaune grimaced, getting his ass kicked by Amazon is something he can relate to.

'And for you it was-'

"Getting my arm chopped off" he finished for him "yeah I figured."

'Look on the bright side, at least you have your mind back.'

Jaune allowed a small smile behind his mask "yeah, you really think I can beat them with one arm though?"

'Why not, it's not like they can turn into mist.'

"They can't? My memory is a little hazy after losing Crocea Mors."

'No they can't. The big one is stupidly strong and the smaller one uses tendrils.'

"Got it" he looked around, he had no idea where he was but he followed the sound of running water to see a river.

'Looks like we'll have company soon. Please tell me you have a plan.'

"I do- wait you're in my head, you should know the plan I thought of."

'I just wanted to provide you with the chance to say something cool. You just wasted said chance. Way to go…idiot.'

Jaune rolled his eyes but smiled anyway "so could I do more than just apparently going superfast?"

Though Jaune couldn't see it there's no doubt Traveler cracked a grin.

\

The Grimmlords arrived at the underground stream still sniffing the air. The male walked forward cautiously, his eyes darting around. The stream was surrounding by algae and flowers which glowed an ominous blue. He continued to sniff until he found himself looking directly into the water. Movement behind caused him to look only to see his companion following wet foot trails away.

Jaune used that chance to reveal himself.

It happened in slow motion, the ghoul turned when Jaune jumped from the river with a Grimmbeam in hand and thrust it right to its chest. The ghoul was blasted through a stalagmite where it groaned on the ground. Meanwhile the other ghoul jumped nearby but didn't dare go any closer.

It knew, it could tell something was different about him.

Jaune stood straight fist clenched and remained unwavering even as the water dripped from him. No he waited patiently for the ghoul to get up before speaking.

"That was for the sucker punch you gave me when I woke up."

The ghoul hissed with its mouth open showcasing its long tongue. Jaune cringed when he saw the drool, what was up with that?

'Two guesses what they did with your severed arm.'

Ignoring Traveler Jaune continued "I just want this to be perfectly clear, the first time I wasn't myself but right now" his fist clenched with an audible pop of his bones "you guys get to face me at my best…well sort of" he grimaced at his stump.

They chose that time to rush at him from both ways. Red began showing from the reaches of his knuckles and with a yell Jaune shot a Grimmbullet into the ground, creating an effective smokescreen. Both ghouls rushed passed each other while Jaune escaped, it took a moment for them to locate him. By that time Jaune had already launched a massive Grimmbeam at them.

Unable to dodge they fired their own Grimmbeams at him. Both beams collided with enough destructive power to carve a hole an destroy some nearby rocks. Jaune struggled for a bit before he ultimately pushed back. While the male was blown back by the shockwave the female took the full brunt of the beam and ended up being blasted away.

Jaune took advantage immediately and rushed after the closest of the two, the male. He jumped up and aimed a knife hand down but the ghoul's eyes snapped open and Jaune ended up with a punch to the face. Jaune was sent flying but he landed on all threes and made a bee-line up a column.

The ghoul went in pursuit but then Jaune suddenly turned to look down at him and fired three Grimmbullets. The first two missed but the last one hit him in the face where he crashed to the ground. Jaune suddenly pushed off avoiding a tendril towards the swinging ghoul and punched her in the face, he then grabbed her leg and they both descended towards a jagged stalagmite.

*CRASH*

Their landing echoed around the cave mostly due to Jaune, he was sure he might have fractured something with that landing but it was worth it since the ghoul was impaled on the rock formation. The ghoul managed to land a stab through his shoulder but he didn't even notice since sure enough the ashes began moving towards Jaune and he felt re invigorated.

'I could get used to this'

As the remaining ghoul stood up Jaune looked at its beaten body. This fight was almost unfair despite it being a Grimmlord he was fighting against. Jaune didn't pay it any mind, he was lucky they were weak. He squared his feet and concentrated. Soon enough a new arm was grown and with both at his side he strode confidently towards the agitated ghoul.

Jaune wouldn't lie, it is freaking weird growing an arm, he kept flexing it for some kind of flaw but as far as he could it was the same as the old one. After moving his fingers for dexterity he looked at the ghoul and smashed his fist into his palm in a very Yang-like manner.

Ugh, to think there would be a day when he would copy Yang to look intimidating….he really has changed.

The ghoul had been growing wary by the second but now its face looked in absolute horror.

'Huh, maybe this worked too well.'

Suddenly Jaune's eyes widen, he wasn't staring at him.

*Sluuuurp*

Jaune felt a shiver run down his spine and he spun around to where the ghoul was impaled.

"What the.."

\

Wolf was pacing now, the fight had moved to a place her sensitive ears couldn't pick up. She didn't know what was going on anymore and she was worried. What the heck was he fighting so long? If he was even fighting anymore. She paced over to Alpha and smacked him on the snout.

To his credit the sleeping form didn't even flinch, he just opened his eyes lazily.

'What now, are we leaving?'

Wolf's gaze narrowed 'you know something about what Jaune is supposed to be fighting right?'

The Grimmlord's gaze looked toAmazon who was still staring at the cave entrance almost as if in a trance.

'I want answers.'

He looked to his charge 'not my place to sa-'

'Either you start talking or I go in there'she snapped.

'No!' he stood, fully awake now.

'Then start talking cause I'm getting really curious about what's in there.'

Alpha looked really uncomfortable now, pressured between telling her and wary of the Amazon.

Amazon decided to spare the older Wolf Grimmlord the trouble by speaking herself 'the thing inside the cave, it feeds on us. Before that it used to feed on Severos and before that it used to be like us. Before it was corrupted into what it currently is I used to call it by a different name.'

\

Jaune watched as it licked the last drops of no doubt his blood from the ground on all fours.

'Jaune we need to get out of here'

'What, why?'

'Because you can't beat it!'

'How do you know that?'

'Because Amazon couldn't beat it, now let's go before it notices where the source of that blood it seemed to can't enough of comes from!'

When the last drop of blood was finished it began sniffing the area until it went in Jaune's direction.

'Dammit too late, it's got your scent'

Jaune backed up looking at the blood splatter on his healed shoulder before looking back at it. Jaune did a double take upon seeing its face. 'It' they keep saying 'it' but from Jaune's perspective there was nothing ambiguous about it.

Because no matter how Jaune sliced it, that thing is definitely female.

\

'I used to call it my sister.'

To Be Continued

Author's Notes: I didn't think I would update so soon but don't get used to it. I promised myself I would update at least one of my stories every week and I usually update my two RWBY stories together but since I'm already done and halfway through he next I might as well give you something to look forward to.

Besides the quality of this chapter, to me, seems subpar compared to last week but I succeeded in bringing in another character and if anyone can guess who I based it on before next chapter then…huh…you're really good and Guests don't count.