Chapter 36 - Luctuosa Dæmoni Agnus Dei
Ruby
Kassius sprints beside Ruby, still possessed by Hyde but his energy is dwindling and soon Hyde will have to retreat back into Kassius and let him take over again. Ruby keeps up with them, her eye focused onto Nora as she lies in the arms of the Architect; they are not far from Beacon Academy at the moment. Ruby begins to count everyone, seeing Ren being helped by Oscar to get them back to the Academy.
Then it hits her.
"Where are Jaune and Pyrrha? You guys did find her, right?" Ruby inquires, looking at them, and Ren coughs as he turns to her, Oscar still holding him upright due to his injuries inflicted upon him in the crash.
"They were thrown the furthest...we didn't see where they landed." Ren answers as he looks around, Nora does the same as well, wanting to go and search for them. Hyde's burning hot eyes stare up to the sky and he roars out.
"Jaune! Pyrrha!" Hyde bellows, his voice reverberates between the trees as he hopes they can hear his voice. They heard his roar earlier when he battled against Kannix, but now they are being hunted down by none other than Vir Nominis Umbra.
But they hear no response.
Ruby feels her hand shaking ever so gently as she holds Crescent Rose – it feels like the Fall of Beacon all over again, the two of them missing out there and in danger. She makes her decision, closing her eye and then turning to them with a sharp exhale. "I'm gonna find them – both of them." She promises as she looks at Ren and Nora, feeling like she failed them last time. Oscar reaches out for her so then he can help her, and Kassius catches Ren before he falls.
"Go! Help her!" Hyde orders, helping Ren to get him to safety. Hyde truly has come a very long way, he is still in control of Kassius' body and he is actually helping them now. It really shows how much he trusts them all now, unlike how he acted in the past whenever Kassius snapped and let him take over.
Oscar dashes after her, the clock slows down around them and he catches up to her as she runs, then lets time resume again, running beside her. Ruby's eye turns and she gazes towards him with a happy smile to see him with her.
"Together." Oscar states, and she nods her head to him.
"I won't fail them...not this time." Ruby promises with stammered breath.
Little do they realise that they are charging head first into Umbra's cruel little game...
Jaune
The whistling continues around them, Pyrrha holds Jaune's hand ever so tightly, recognising the chilling tune so well. Crows caw as they flutter around them, landing in the trees. Jaune stops, his blue eyes focus onto one of them that stares directly at him. It tilts its head, the beak appears to be constructed from some form of diamond or crystal, with glowing red eyes. Unlike Qrow and Raven, the eyes seem to share the same burning hot light that the Grimm seem to have in their eyes. They all look exactly the same as each other, all with feathers formed from black smoke that trails off their bodies.
Pyrrha is shaking with terror, seeing the horrific memories sparking before her eyes, the sights of other poor souls being tortured in the worst possible ways. Either from their very fears or just in other gruesome ways, such as being eaten alive by Beowulves but never dying, in eternal suffering. When he drowned her in a lake of blood, when he fed her to Grimm, when he tore her apart with his bare hands. Vir Nominis Umbra is a force that should be feared, because he does not care who you are...only what you carry.
She closes her eyes, tears of fear stream down her cheeks from her eyes, sharp intakes of breath form in her body as she tries to fight her fears. She cannot get the terrible memories from her head, now she wishes her shattered memory could remember at least all these things. The terrors she saw in the Charred Forest, the screams of billions of tortured souls that never cease.
But all that fear...
It seems to pass when she feels his hands gently surround hers, his warmth passing into her arms and the rest of her body. Her green eyes open and he pulls her close, his arm round her to keep her safe from harm. Pyrrha cannot help but pull herself into his chest, wrapping her arms around his torso and pressing her head to his chest, hearing his heartbeat. Jaune caresses her long soft red hair with his hand, watching the Crows, then he softly whispers into her ear to ease her fears.
"Okay...no matter what happens next – at least we're together, so that means we'll be safe." He promises with a smile on his face. He has always known just what to say to ease her heart when she is scared, but that does not stop her pulse from beating out of control. She nods her head as she holds onto him.
"Yep..." She softly agrees with a tender and fragile voice.
"You're half-right." His voice states, causing Pyrrha to nearly leap out of her skin when the kind voice emerges from the shadows of the trees. Vir Nominis Umbra emerges from the shadows, hands held together above his waist, walking with what appears to be glee in every step he takes. "I mean...you are together." Vir Nominis Umbra clarifies with a chuckle, turning on his heel to face them, Jaune instantly stands in front of Pyrrha, and between her and Vir Nominis Umbra.
He knows what he did to her...
He will not let him do it again.
For such a simple and ordinary looking man, Vir Nominis Umbra creates one hell of a nerve-wracking aura whenever he appears. But that is exactly what makes him so scary, he can blend in so easily from the way he speaks, acts and even how he looks. "But safe? Tsk, tsk, tsk...I think not." He adds with a smirk on his face, shaking his index finger towards them. Jaune draws Crocea Mors, pointing the tip of his steel blade at him with resent in his blue eyes.
"You..." Jaune snarls with anger. Vir Nominis Umbra chuckles.
"So tell me, Jaune Arc, Pyrrha Nikos – why shouldn't I just kill you now?" He curiously and yet casually asks them with his kind-sounding voice, walking towards them. The couple are left speechless, unable to answer that question due to not having a clue of his motives in being here right now.
Vir Nominis Umbra slowly walks towards them, but Jaune grits his teeth, pushing forward slightly with Crocea Mors aimed at the Merchant's head. Pyrrha grabs his arm fearfully, because she knows what this being is capable of. "Back up!" Jaune orders with a snarl in his voice, Umbra recoils back and he looks back to see if anybody is behind him. He turns back and seems to playfully point at himself with a smirk, the man is so charismatic it is truly terrifying to witness. "You're not gonna hurt her anymore...I know what you've done, Umbra." Jaune snarls with animosity, eyes narrowed.
Pyrrha has never seen him this angry before...
Vir Nominis Umbra chuckles in his closed lips, actually dipping back slightly as he does it. "Oh you don't know the half of it, sweetie." He mockingly states as he stares at him. Jaune yells with anger, swinging Crocea Mors towards him, the blade cuts through his body and black smoke erupts from his body and he vanishes. Jaune backs up, and he thinks for a second he just killed him.
Until he turned around, seeing Pyrrha with wide eyes as Umbra stands behind her, looking at her with a smirk. She can feel the icy cold aura behind her back, then his hand as he touches her shoulder, walking around her. Vir Nominis Umbra stretches his arms out with a smirk as he walks between the two of them. "Missed me." He scoffs, and Pyrrha moves around him, standing behind Jaune again. To see her, this scared is actually heartbreaking, the girl that was never scared of anything seems to be more jumpy than ever whenever this Soothsayer appears around her.
"Interesting..." Jaune says as he keeps Crocea Mors pointed at him, despite seeing that the attack did absolutely nothing. And yet he burst into the same black smoke that the many Creatures of Grimm tend to explode into when they die.
"Indeed, however it is in my name at the end of the day." Vir Nominis Umbra states, piquing his curiosity from that statement, clearly his name means something. Otherwise he would have never mentioned that in the first place.
"What the hell are you?" Jaune questions, almost snarling as he says it, keeping the tip of his sword placed towards his face.
"Ah...ain't that the question of the day. Why don't you try and guess, or let the gooseberry next to you have a crack at it." Vir Nominis Umbra scoffs, calling Pyrrha the gooseberry, essentially calling her the third wheel, the unloved one in a love triangle. Pyrrha stares at him, and Jaune scoffs.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Jaune questions. "She is no gooseberry." He coldly states, making Umbra snicker at that though.
"Well, there's an idea I'm not responsible for." He scoffs.
"I fought like hell to find her, I am not letting her disappear from me again." Jaune states, which does warm her heart, but their foe always seems to know exactly what to say next.
"Oh, Jauney boy...You can't lie to me, I have seen your dreams in your life. I have been watching the group of your brave warriors for a...very long time now. I saw the way you looked at Weiss Schnee. Although..." He chuckles, and Jaune's eyes widen when he walks towards him, his body slims and gets shorter, the curves in his body form and his clothes transform into a white dress. Long white hairs grow out from his bald head and the ponytail drops down his shoulder, her large blue eyes gaze up at him longingly. "Who could resist me?" He asks him in the voice and form of Weiss Schnee, Pyrrha looks utterly shocked but she knows the game he is playing. Because he tortured her with this idea when she was trapped in the Charred Forest.
"Enough!" He yells with rage, striking Umbra disguised as Weiss, the only reason he did that was because he saw Umbra shift into her body. Little do they know that this ability he has displayed to them has already sparked the fall of the White Fang as they speak.
Umbra suddenly appears behind the three of them. "I must say...some of your cute dreams definitely would make me blush...if I had a true organic form like you fleshy things." He says, waving his hand towards the two of them. Jaune approaches him again, he is very brave to challenge this mysterious being so aggressively, but he has now sheathed his sword back into the shield on his belt, simply because he knows there is no point in doing any of this.
"Where'd ya pick up this crappy personality of yours? Huh? Because it's really getting on my nerves." Jaune snarls, staring at him, and Vir Nominis Umbra scoffs at that. The Soothsayer points at his chest and then laughs.
"Me? You should look in a mirror, dear boy." Vir Nominis Umbra advises, but Jaune's face does not change at all.
"Should I?" Jaune grills, Pyrrha looks increasingly concerned because this is all part of his cruel game. He is pushing all of Jaune's buttons to anger him as best he can. And he is doing a valiant job so far.
"Without a doubt, do you not remember yourself seven years ago? Good god you were so annoying!" Vir Nominis Umbra groans, grabbing the bridge of his nose. "You see..." He casually approaches Pyrrha and heavily plants his hands onto her shoulders, she jolts and fear courses through her veins, her green eyes bulge from her sockets with trepidation. "The stunning Miss Pyrrha Nikos here was head-over-heels for you, she could not keep her feelings bottled up forever...she was about to explode. You know I'm surprised she didn't just leap onto you and start making sweet, sweet love in a bed..." Vir Nominis Umbra chuckles, using his ability to create the different scenarios based around the Seven Deadly Sins again, here he is using Lust. "But...you were still too thick to notice even when she was spending so much time with you. Even at the dance, she practically told you she was falling for you, and yet you let her walk away." He states, slowly walking towards Jaune.
Jaune's blue eyes dart towards Pyrrha, and it hurts his heart when she sees the look on her face. There is the hint of sadness and jealousy over Weiss, since everything that Umbra is saying is unfortunately all true. Pyrrha must have hated Weiss for how much Jaune fell for her instead of Pyrrha. "However...there is still one thing that amazes me – a beautiful warrior, one who could have the most handsome knight bed her...she fell...for you?" He scoffs, pointing at the young Arc.
Jaune stands there and he looks at his reflection in a puddle, and he can see what he means...he has always seen that side of it. Why me? She could get so much better than a loser like me..."Exactly what I was thinking." Umbra states, hearing Jaune's thoughts as he approaches him. "You are literally the example of what someone would not want to be a Huntsman for: your inability to fight without the help of your comrades, your blindness to a girl's love, the ridiculous blonde hair on your head..." Vir Nominis Umbra comments, even poking his head when he says that. Pyrrha stares at Umbra, now clenching her hand into a fist.
Yes he made mistakes...
But she loves Jaune, and will never let Umbra torment him like that. But he keeps going and going and going. "The weapon passed down as a family Heirloom, the lack of armour, the voice of a ten year old boy. I'm surprised you don't have a little puppy at your side, just to show the world how much of a pathetic failure you are." Vir Nominis Umbra concludes with a smirk, staring directly into his eyes.
Pyrrha can't take it any longer. "Shut up! He is not a failure!" Pyrrha shrieks, surprising Umbra and he swivels round to her, smiling as he sees her there. He chuckles, walking towards Pyrrha, she instantly begins to regret her choice now to defend Jaune. But Umbra does nothing, as always, he always tends to do that sort of thing. Just to scare them.
He sighs.
"Alright then, enough chit-chat...let's get to the matter at hand, because you've yet to answer my question, children." Vir Nominis Umbra gleefully states, still circling them with his hands now behind his back, walking with a skip in his step, smirking constantly with what appears to be purely evil confidence.
"Uh...Question?" Pyrrha nervously asks him, and he stares at her, she can see the glimmer of red inside of his brown irises.
"I know you remember, I can see your memories..." He says, but he repeats the question anyways, perhaps because he just loves the sound of his own voice. "Tell me why I shouldn't just kill you both now?" He asks them, continuing to walk around them. Pyrrha raises her finger, stammering as she attempts to give the evil entity an answer.
"W-Well...B-Because...Jaune why?" Pyrrha asks him, struggling to actually figure out why he has not done it. He could have done it, he managed to bring three kingdoms to their knees in the span of half an hour, and he could easily strike down to Hunters.
Jaune looks at her with confusion, with the expression of really? Pyrrha though is stumped by his very simple question. Jaune's eyes focus onto Vir Nominis Umbra, he still smiles, and they are right to be scared.
He looks normal, no fancy clothes, no ridiculous haircut, just a middle aged man with an average body type and looks. He never screams or whispers, just talks intelligently and very monotone. He does not wield a giant sword, does not move like a ninja or blast laser beams out of his eyes He does not transform to a monstrosity, to a magical entity or to a dark lord of the underworld...
His normality is what makes him so frightening, a very calm and down to earth individual, some might say he could be your neighbour. But when the time has come, he stops time, takes a soul, appears and vanishes into shadows or perhaps just pushes somebody's age to the point of death in a second, all while remaining his temper, as it would be another day at the office.
That is what makes him so terrifying...
So what would it be like...
If he did raise his voice?
He did lose his temper?
Jaune does not want to find out, so he comes up with an answer to his question, one he believes to be correct as well. "Because...killing us quickly would be too easy for you, wouldn't it? You like to make people suffer, you feed off it, and so you want to see us struggle instead of having a quick end." Jaune presumes, and Vir Nominis Umbra stops circling them, then approaches the pair of them, stopping right in front of them.
A smile curves across Vir Nominis Umbra's face as he stares at them, and a faint laugh grows within him. "You guessed...correctly, Mr Arc. Perhaps I had you wrong, you are not as blind as a mole." He scoffs, and Jaune looks confused, since he was not with Oscar for the mole comment in Arkhonex when he first met the entity.
Vir Nominis Umbra suddenly appears on one of the branches of a tree, posed in a rather comical position, like he is posing for a camera. He has his hand supporting his head and elbow pressed against the branch. "So then! Here is the game I have set up for you, neither of you will be leaving the forest until you complete it." He begins to explain. "I have developed a collection of Realms, all of which are like Mazes that you must find the exit point in order to gain entry to the next." He explains to them, Pyrrha continues to hold Jaune's hand tight as they listen to his explanation. "But the thing you must remember is that every single realm you enter will have a threat created from your own natures, your fears...and all your sins..." He warns them with a smile on his face.
"How do we know we've done it?" Jaune questions as he stares at the Soothsayer in the tree.
"Ever played a video game?" He inquires, and Jaune raises a brow.
"Yeah..." Jaune answers suspiciously.
"Tell me, how do the level structures work?" He asks, and Pyrrha is the one that answers. That surprises them both, since Pyrrha would have been expected to know the least about Video Games.
"Every level gets harder...and ends with a boss fight..." Pyrrha remembers from playing games with Jaune and Nora, even with Yang and Ruby at times. She never won but was just happy to actually have fun with her friends for once.
"Points to Nikos." Vir Nominis Umbra cheers sarcastically. "In the same way, every single layer of the Mazed Realms will each have a deadly danger, and each of them will become more threatening the deeper you go." He warns with a smirk.
Unexpectedly, they both begin to feel extremely light headed, seeing the landscape around them crumbling apart and pieces of it rise into the sky around them. Jaune glares at Vir Nominis Umbra as he smirks at them. "Good luck – and sweet dreams..." He sinisterly says with a smile on his face.
They both pass out onto the ground, Pyrrha falls into his arms, and he holds her close to keep her safe, and their eyes close, falling asleep before him. Umbra remains there with a smirk, watching them both with a smile.
The game has begun...
Pyrrha
The chirps of morning birds resound from outside of their window in their bedroom. The sun has risen over what appears to be the fields of Mistraalian Farmland.
They own a lovely little house and a large plot of land outside of the Kingdom of Mistral, with a cat curled up in the corner with black fur covering its body. In their bed, Pyrrha is still asleep, wearing a night gown around her body as she is snuggled up to Jaune, who has his arm around her. They both slowly begin to awaken from their slumber, looking around, then their eyes meet.
They both gasp and like two people that have huge crushes on each other, they start to act very nervous and shy. Even embarrassed as she sits upright. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to..." Pyrrha stammers, not certain of what is happening. She then looks at her finger and gasps, seeing that she has a wedding ring and a beautiful emerald and diamond engagement ring on her finger. Jaune has a wedding ring as well, meaning they have been married and are living a happy life together.
But...
They have been transported here...
This must be the first layer of Umbra's little maze of realms he has created. Pyrrha moves the bed sheet off her body and she sits there, rubbing her head and Jaune sits beside her, they both look at each other awkwardly. But she smiles and rests her head on his shoulder, as if she is happy of this environment that they are sat inside of. Pyrrha stands up from the bed and Jaune stands up as well, they both look around the room curiously to feed their confusion. "Are we...married?" Jaune asks her, and they both look at their rings, then Jaune's eyes focus on something behind Pyrrha. She follows his eyes and gasps, seeing the photographs of them both on a cabinet behind her.
A picture of them both with happy smiles on their faces, Jaune wearing a suit and a tie, and Pyrrha looks utterly beautiful in a white Wedding Dress. Her tiara around her head and her red hair curled to bring out her large green eyes. She slowly approaches the picture frame, picking it up and gazing at it...rubbing her thumb across Jaune affectionately. This...is what she has always wanted, a future with Jaune. She turns to him with a smile on her face and he smiles back nervously, despite the fact they both know they love each other...they still are nervous around each other.
Jaune looks down when hearing the black cat meowing as it rubs its body against his leg, running down the hallway and into the living room. Pyrrha puts the picture frame back down onto where she found it, and she follows Jaune into the other room, looking around. The living room has a couple sofas inside, a television above a fireplace, pictures on the walls of their times together. The kitchen is attached to the living room, tiled with white marble pieces everywhere, and she walks over to something on the wall.
There is a mantle on the wall, one that has Milo and Akuou attached to it, and Crocea Mors with the shield as well beside hers.
She continues to look around and Jaune enters another room, seeing a cot in the corner...and he gasps. His eyes widen when he sees what is inside...
A tiny baby that has Pyrrha's eyes, a little baby boy...
Pyrrha follows him and she covers her mouth with her hand...astonished by the beauty of what appears to be their child. The baby coos, reaching up to Pyrrha's finger as she gently tickles the baby's belly, making the little boo giggle playfully. It brings a tear to her eye as she sees what appears to be her own baby, and Jaune smiles when he sees her so happy. He has not seen her that happy since the dance...and he cannot stop admiring how beautiful she is. Her eyes are taken away from the baby, and she looks directly into Jaune's eyes...longingly.
She holds his hand and she lets him pull her close. She gently presses her forehead to his, then they get closer and closer to kiss.
Then they hear the sound of the door knocking...
She sighs...
So close...
They both leave the cot and approach the front door of where the baby is sleeping. Jaune reaches forward and grabs onto the handle of the door, opening it.
Stood there is a man, wearing a beige suit and a hat on his head and some formal trousers and shoes. He takes the hat off, revealing his shaven head as he smirks, and bowing before them. "Ah! Hello there, I hope you like your home!" Vir Nominis Umbra greets charismatically, their eyes widen with fear when they see that he is here.
They nearly forgot that this is actually one of his Mazed Layered Realms...
It has taken the beauty away from it pretty much instantly.
Vir Nominis Umbra steps into their house, scuffing his boots that he wears on the mat before entering. At least he has some respect. He approaches the cat that waddles over to his feet, meowing curiously before him. The entity slowly looks down at the cat and smirks, and then turns to his two subjects that he is testing. "Lovely place...really is, beautiful views..." He speaks, stretching out his hand towards the stunning green fields of Mistral.
Jaune and Pyrrha know his game, and they are not falling for his hollow words, the constant theatric at all times. "Get to the point, Umbra." Jaune demands, his eyes turn to Crocea Mors on the wall. He can expect that he will need it soon, not against Vir Nominis Umbra though; against whatever it is he has waiting for them in this layer. Umbra looks at his clothes and he sighs.
"But I got all dressed up for you!" Vir Nominis Umbra complains like an upset child, pouting his lip at them both. Jaune is not smiling; he is ready to strike him if he must, despite it having no affect against the entity. Vir Nominis Umbra's face then changes, into a sinister smirk and they can see very clearly...the glowing red irises that flicker behind the brown ones that he has forged to blend in with his prey. "As you wish." He sighs; suddenly there is a blast of black smoke around his body which transforms the clothing that he wears. The beige suit and trousers transform into his original clothes, the coat he wears over his shirt, and a detached hood around his neck, hood draping down his shoulders. The belt with a multitude of potion vials and other assorted form as well, and he paces back and forth before them, smiling away.
"What is this?" Jaune questions, looking around at the place, confused of how this place would have some sort of deadly danger. It is all so beautiful opposed to anything he has stated would come first. Vir Nominis Umbra continues to walk around the room, picking up the photograph of her and Jaune, and then his eyes swivel round to meet those of Pyrrha Nikos. She feels a jolt of nervousness and fear in her heart when his brown irises meet hers.
"Why don't you tell him, my dear?" Vir Nominis Umbra asks her casually as he stares at the picture he holds in his hand. Pyrrha looks at him with timid eyes, even beginning to blush as she looks at him. Jaune looks confused, and he raises his brow when he looks at her, to find the answer to his question.
"Pyrrha? What's he talking about?" Jaune inquires...her voice is soft spoken and with a shaky breath.
"It's...my dream..." Pyrrha shyly answers, looking down at the floor with what appears to be sadness. She does not want to risk scaring him off, since if he knew that she wanted this with him when they first met, he would have run a mile from her. Jaune looks around at the place, and it all begins to make sense...it is in Mistral, the architecture is very similar to her style of clothing as well. Lots of bronze coloured cutlery and mugs as well in the cabinets. Even the baby, she has made it clear that she has always wanted to be a mother some day, but Jaune would have never expected that he is the one she would want to father her child. His eyes return to her emerald ones, and he smiles kindly to her, as if he could not fall even deeper in love with this girl.
But before he can even say a word to this elegant beauty that stands before him, making his heart beat faster than it normally should...Umbra just has to sneak his own little words in there. "Aw...isn't she just adorable?" Vir Nominis Umbra coos, crossing his arms as he stands beside Jaune and bumping his shoulder. "How could you have not noticed her love for you sooner, Jauney-Boy?" He inquires, still using the nickname that Cardin gave him years ago...he nearly forgot about that name.
Well...I guess it's better than Crater-Face.
Jaune sighs, closing his eyes when he keeps on mentioning that. "I was young and stupid." Jaune admits, which does upset Pyrrha slightly since she never wants him to pull himself down on past decisions. They have each other once more, that should be enough, but with Vir Nominis Umbra still seeming to be interested in poor Pyrrha...they may never be free. Not unless they can find a way to beat him once and for all...but at this rate? That does not look very likely from how powerful this entity appears to be.
"Yes you were!" Vir Nominis Umbra laughs, walking past him and Pyrrha, exploring their house and he approaches their baby. Pyrrha runs towards him and stands between him and their child, despite it not really being their baby...she still acts like a mother would. Umbra scoffs and Pyrrha realises that the cooing of her baby has vanished...her heart goes cold and she spins around.
The baby is gone.
She gasps and spins back around, seeing Umbra holding the baby in his arms somehow with a smirk on his face. He walks around with their baby in his arms, muttering to the child as he wiggles his finger just above his head. The baby reaches up to his finger, giggling adorably, and then he stops as he holds the child, staring at them. "This is all her idea, Mr Arc. The wish she has dreamt in her head ever since she realised who you were." Vir Nominis Umbra explains, still holding the child, Jaune stare at him with his fist still clenched.
"I know, Umbra...she told me everything. About how you tricked her." Jaune snarls with anger and Umbra raises his brow questionably at his statement there.
"Tricked? I think not – I am no liar or cheat, Jaune Arc, I simply create fun little ideas into people's heads...all based on facts." He explains, walking past him, still holding the baby, and Pyrrha walks forward, standing beside Jaune as he stands in the open doorway. "The idea of Destiny? Who says that was a lie? Destiny has always been an idea, that someone is destined for a certain fate; I merely planted an idea in her head. No lie was created; her friends never did care for her, only her money and her fame. Unfortunately that was her childhood until she met you." He explains to him, stood in the doorway, and Jaune looks at her, feeling even worse for her when he realises that her friends never cared about her. No child should ever have to learn that in their lives.
Jaune releases his fist, calming himself down to also ease the feelings of the girl he loves stood right next to him. "Fine...what's the danger here then? This place looks quite nice." Jaune questions, and Vir Nominis Umbra looks around at the place.
"Indeed it is – constructed from the dreams of Pyrrha Nikos after the Night of the Dance when you gave her the best night of her life. I mean it could have been better if you were alone that night." He comments with a cheeky grin on his face, making a very suggestive idea. They both look at each other and then blush shyly and he chuckles. "Well...perhaps one day you will experience what it is like." He states with his hands together, still using the Sin of Lust as he speaks to try and manipulate their thoughts.
Luckily they are both too socially awkward to fall for that.
Vir Nominis Umbra chortles through his closed lips, still holding the baby in his arms, and he begins to explain this layer to them. Allegedly this is the easy one, so hopefully it is not too difficult to complete. "We all are able to create beautiful landscapes with our minds...with every dream...every idea...a realm is created, an alternate universe is formed where your idea is real." He explains, pacing back and forth in front of that doorway. Parallel universes are an absolutely terrifying idea indeed, because what he just said – in theory – is correct. Every idea one creates in theory creates a completely brand new universe way that idea is actually real, so if someone created the idea of Dinosaurs driving cars and humanity were fossilised...that would exist in a parallel universe.
Infinity is truly a scary concept to think of.
"But even the most beautiful places can turn cruel...can become monstrous to look upon." He says, and he slowly turns around to face them with a smirk on his face, holding their baby in one arm as he raises his hand above his head.
"Everything changes...in an instant." He speaks with truth and power, snapping his fingers, their eyes widen with shock when they hear the distant boom, like a deafening crack that echoes across the entire world. Their hearts skip a beat with awe when witnessing the blue sky flushing with a blood red hue, the grassy fields ignite across the entire landscape, and the stench of fires burning everywhere fills the once clean air. Jet black smoke rises into the sky, turning the once white fluffy clouds into aggravated storm clouds that crackle with red lightning, torturing the planet itself. Pyrrha's eyes watch in horror as her dream transforms into what she feared seeing again, seeing Umbra smirking constantly as the wave of destruction draws closer. The shockwave nearly knocks the two of them over but Umbra does not move, but the baby vanishes into a cloud of orange embers around them, since it was not real. Just an idea or a wish created by Pyrrha's dreams that has just been annihilated by Vir Nominis Umbra. The shockwave burns the clothes they were wearing off their bodies, and now their bodies are wearing the armour they wore before being thrown into this Realm, Pyrrha's Onyx Phantom version of her armour, and Jaune's armour. The windows shatter around them, smoke flows inside and the plaster render peels off, charring the wood and the walls themselves. The distant screeches and wails of millions of souls crying out in agony at once echoes around them.
Jaune stumbles...this is his first ever time seeing the Charred Forest with his own eyes instead of only hearing it from the words of Ruby, Pyrrha and Yang of what it appeared as. The moon is completely shattered above their heads, Umbra retains that smile on his face and his eyes faintly glow bright red behind those brown irises of his, hands still held close together. The ground is cracked in places, mountains crumbling and floating into the sky in the distance, souls being tormented endlessly in this realm.
Pyrrha's eyes are wide and glassy.
She is back there...
The Charred Forest has reclaimed her and now has Jaune as well. This must be the first part of his cruel game. They both walk out from their destroyed home, feeling the hot howling wind that blows their hair around as they emerge, Umbra stood out there in the charred grasslands. "Wh-What have you done?" Jaune questions fearfully and Vir Nominis Umbra smirks villainously.
"Welcome to the first Layer...to make it to the next one you must find the exit point in the Charred Forest. But beware; the creatures around here are rather...unforgiving." Vir Nominis Umbra warns as he walks backwards, vanishing in a puff of black smoke and the black crystal skulled Crows and Ravens all fly away from where he was stood, cawing constantly. The two of them watch the crows; Jaune turns to Pyrrha and sees the terror in her eyes, feeling her shaking palm in his.
"This...This is a bad place..." She stammers, utterly terrified. He turns and looks her in the eyes affectionately.
"We can do this – together." He assures, feeling something against his foot. Seems Vir Nominis Umbra has honour after all, since he has left them their weapons at their feet. Pyrrha crouches down and picks up Milo and Akuou, whilst Jaune picks Crocea Mors back up as well, sheathing it in the shield, then clicking the trigger. The shield folds the blade out and extends into the Claymore which he holds in both hands, looking around.
Suddenly there is a roar, and they both stare forward as a pack of Grimm Beowulves emerge from the fog, snarling viciously with glowing red eyes.
"Just like old times." Jaune chuckles, raising his Claymore up.
They must find the exit point from the Charred Forest into whatever challenge awaits them.
The light gleams across their blades at the Beowulves growl savagely, foaming at the mouth, licking their jaws with their red tongues, flaring their white bony teeth at them. One of them barks, charging towards the two of them, and Jaune rushes forward with his Claymore, roaring as he swings with all his might, carving straight through the black fur coated creature. The Beast yelps with agony, jet black plumes of smoke billow out from its wound, glowing red innards shine bright from its injury. He severed corpse erupts into black smoke around them both, and Pyrrha jumps through the smoke towards her foe. She yells out as she spins around through the air, cutting the tip of her sword across the leg of one of the Beowulves. The huge Wolven Creature collapses to one knee and she spins round and slams her shield held sideways across its face, cutting a deep gash into the bone where the black smoke pours like blood from. She swiftly follows that attack up with the aggressive thrusting of Milo into its left eye, killing it instantly.
Her eyes widen with shock, still with the monster caught on her blade, seeing another Beowulf bounding towards her and lunging forwards. It roars monstrously, but Pyrrha transforms Milo from its sword form and into the rifle form, pushing the barrel further into the dead Beowulf's eye. She pulls the trigger and there is an almighty crack that resounds, sending a bullet that flies straight through the back of its head. Black smoke erupts from the corpse and the bullet flies towards the other Beowulf, nailing it in the head, they both slowly evaporate into ashes.
Pyrrha turns with her natural state of worry for Jaune's safety, but he is not the weak boy that she once knew at Beacon. He ducks down and narrowly misses the huge claws of the Beowulf that just went for him, cutting through the air itself. Jaune explodes with fury, running towards that very same Beowulf, and plunging the huge extended Claymore Blade of Crocea Mors into its chest, black smoke pours out from its wound. It roars with pain as he pushes it into the floor, ripping the sword from its chest and cutting the arm off another monster. He also has other weapons on him as well, a small carving knife that he pulls from his belt and he slashes it across the throat. Black smoke pours from the laceration, and he stamps down on its leg with his Claymore in the grasp of his free hand. He rolls across the Beowulf's back and he manages to throw Crocea Mors into the ribs of another Beowulf, ending it instantly with a yelp. Jaune stands on the Beowulf's back and he rips the knife from its shoulder that he used to swing round onto its back. Jaune jumps up in the air with that knife held in both hands, plunging it straight into the skull of the Beowulf, instantly killing it. It falls to its knees and Jaune rolls off it as it erupts into smoke, sheathing his knife and picking Crocea Mors back up as the Beowulf is reduced to black smoke that floats away from them.
Pyrrha looks utterly astounded by how much he has improved on his skills since she last trained with him, he has become a very impressive warrior indeed. She smiles happily when she sees him do that, until suddenly a clawed hand slashes across her aura and knocks her onto the ground. She slides across the ash covered ground, her green eyes focus onto what just attacked her and they widen.
The huge Leshen with the missing Antler...it is the Lord of the Wood. It just left the forest mere moments ago; perhaps it took Kannix somewhere and has come here to the Charred Forest under the command of Vir Nominis Umbra. The creaking wood groans with every movement the near silent being makes, it swings its claws downwards towards her. Pyrrha strafes out of the way, sliding across the ash, her heels dig through the ash coated soil as she does that. Jaune stands there with her, and he looks around at the place.
There are houses around them...
They do not have the time to waste to risk fighting the Lord of the Wood, and the Grimm must be infinite here. This must be where they come from, if Vir Nominis Umbra is who they think he could be. And if he is, then they are dealing with something completely out of their league.
But Pyrrha does not seem to be aware of this factor, so Jaune stops her, placing his hand on her shoulder to get her attention from the slow moving Leshen that approaches them. "We haven't got time to fight that thing." He warns, and she looks at him with confusion. "Remember what Umbra said – we need to find the exit point from this layer..."
Pyrrha's eyes dart around, seeing the Lord of the Wood getting closer over time, roots digging into the soil the closer it gets, burning coals fitted into the sockets of the Stag's eyes. "Where do we start?" She asks him nervously, and she trusts him not only because of her feelings, but Jaune has always been the best strategist. His eyes focus onto one of the houses; he knows that the Leshen can teleport through becoming the Crows, so one of them is going to have to keep him busy when the other searches for a way inside.
"We'll take turns; one of us keeps the Lord busy while the other searches in the house!" Jaune tells her, and they both sprint towards the closest house, having to sprint directly at the Ancient Leshen as well. The massive Tree Spirit growls as he swings his clawed bark hands at them, Pyrrha slides under his claws on her knees whilst Jaune rolls under his arm, just missing it. The Lord of the Wood slowly turns around, watching them as they approach one of the creaking, old abandoned houses.
Black smokes begins to envelop the Lord of the Wood as it watches the couple getting closer, vanishing into Crows and Ravens which all caw at once, flying towards their position. They both get to the building, it appears to be some sort of Butcher's House, the front door is the store and the upper level is the home accommodation that the builder created for themselves. Jaune looks at Pyrrha, and she looks at him. "Um...who's going in first?" She asks him.
"You go." Jaune nervously answers.
"Why me?" Pyrrha asks.
"Ladies first."
"But the boys always get the doors."
"Alright – let's settle it this way." Jaune says, clenching his hand into a fist to play Rock, Paper Scissors with her. She quickly joins in and they start to play the game, shaking their fists. They both stop and show which they have chosen.
Pyrrha chose rock.
Jaune chose scissors.
"Go." Pyrrha orders, like they are a married couple, and perfect timing as well. The Lord of the Wood crashes down in front of her, instantly swiping its claws towards her face, she ducks down, only just missing its attack. She rolls under its legs and she kicks it in the spin, beginning to fight it.
Jaune smashes through the closed door, looking around at the counter and he jolts for a second, seeing Vir Nominis Umbra behind the counter dressed up as a Butcher as well. He even wears one of those white hats that Butchers wear. He smiles as he enters, hands on the counter as if he is serving a customer some of his fresh goods, despite them all being rotted and charred. "Oh! Whaddya know? A new customer! What can I get you?" He asks him sarcastically as he enters, looking around and ignoring him. "I have some fantastic delicacies on offer." He chuckles as he pats the rotted corpse of a pig that hangs off the ceiling, Jaune barges through to search through the house, and Umbra does not even stop him. He just keeps on making comical comments towards him.
Vir Nominis Umbra scoffs as he pushes through the gates of the counter to get through and find wherever this Exit Point is lurking in this Realm. "Oh I bet you're one of those vegetarian lot aren't ya, you big flop-aired wuss." Vir Nominis Umbra comments as he watches him barge by.
"Shut up, I'm not buying!" Jaune retorts as he walks up the steps into the house that is built into it, and stood in the stairwell in the corner as he plays with his fingers is Vir Nominis Umbra yet again.
"You know, you really do inspire me. Such a failure in life and trying to prove he is something more to a girl who has had so much success in her own. It's really very romantic." He chuckles, but Jaune continues to block him out as he searches around. He kicks a door in the room open, looking in the bedroom that lays in there and he stares at Umbra who lies in the bed in a rather seductive pose. He then transforms his body into the body of Weiss, his voice changing to hers as well.
Jaune stares at Umbra in the form of a very dear friend of his as he stares right at him, with those mimicked blue eyes of hers. Umbra slowly and sensually slides his fingers across his leg disguised as Weiss and Jaune stares at him in her body, but not following his hand that moves up towards the skirt. "Am I desirable?" He asks him in her voice and Jaune scoffs, turning and kicking the other door open, seeing Umbra stood in the other room as he brushes her long off-centred tail of white hair. He turns and stares at him in her pyjamas that she used to wear. "I bet you'd love to see what's behind this, wouldn't you?" He continues to annoy the living hell out of Jaune with this call-back to his own foolishness.
"Enough with the crap, Umbra!" Jaune shouts with frustration, and he tilts her head when disguised as her.
He kicks the next door open and he gasps, eyes wide with shock...because what Umbra did here is cruel beyond belief. Stood before him is Umbra but disguised as someone else, taller than he is with a slender and yet athletic and muscle renewed body of a very attractive young woman. She has long curly blonde hair and blue eyes like his with a smile on her face, wearing similar armour to what he has, but designed for a woman. She holds out her arms, speaking in a tender voice. "How's this instead?" She asks him curiously...
It is his oldest sister...
The one who was killed and he visited the grave of five years ago.
Skyler Arc, the sister he lost and looked up to, killed by many Grimm when she tried to save her team and the people on Vytal. He stumbles back when Umbra walks out of the room towards him in that form. But that seems to drive him over the edge and he screams with rage, swinging Crocea Mors through Umbra's body, and black smoke bursts from where he cuts through, the deep laceration is there but the smoke slowly returns back to where he gap was, filling the hole.
Skyler's beautiful body fades away and returns back to Vir Nominis Umbra's Soothsayer form, he looks at where he swung and he shakes his head. "Who do really want, Jaune Arc?" He questions.
"I know who it is – you evil monster – stop bringing the past back." Jaune snarls, almost yelling at him with tears forming in his eyes from that cruel trick he just did to him. Vir Nominis Umbra keeps his hands close together with that pure evil smirk on his face as he stares down at him.
"You claim this...but why do your dreams claim otherwise?" He asks him, still planting some form of idea into his head. Jaune blinks, and Vir Nominis Umbra is gone instantly, and he pushes his sword into the ground to get back up. He searches around and it appears to be that the Soothsayer has left them for the time being, but that does not mean he will not return to torment them some more later.
He looks around, hoping to find some sort of Exit Point...what does it look like?
He touches one of the mirrors in the room but nothing happens when his fingers press against the pain other than leaving stains of his fingerprints on them. He sighs, backing up as he looks around. He looks up at the sky when he hears the dark and demonic voice of Vir Nominis Umbra as he speaks around them. His voice sounds much different, deeper and far more sinister than that of the form he has chosen. "Remember...time is running out." He warns, and he looks out the window, seeing more Grimm charging towards their position.
Pyrrha is good...but not that good...
The Invincible Girl rolls past the Lord of the Wood, slashing Milo across the back of its leg and then sprinting directly towards it. She jumps upwards and runs up the chest of the creature, stabbing it in the head with her spear, holding on with all her might. The Lord of the Wood snarls, grabbing her by the waist and throwing her away from its body. She flips through the air and lands on her feet flawlessly, raising her black and gold shield up, still marked with the colour scheme of the Onyx Phantom. The Lord of the Wood stands tall, and it raises its hand towards her, and suddenly a flock of crows and black smoke gather behind it, a deep screech builds and builds behind it. Pyrrha's glistening emerald eyes widen and she gasps, standing with strength as she holds the shield upwards to stop the crows from harming her. The Lord of the Wood blasts them all towards her, their crystal beaks scrape across Akuou and her aura, pushing her through the ash covered soil. And eventually they stop, and the Leshen continues to walk towards her.
Jaune bursts out from the Butcher's swinging Crocea Mors across the Lord of the Wood's chest, cutting a deep gash across the bark and black smoke leaks from its wound. It staggers back slightly but it continues to walk after them. "Not that building! Come on!" He tells her, grabbing her forearm and running as fast as he can from the Lord of the Wood, and the oncoming army of the Grimm.
The Leshen stands there and it slowly presses its huge clawed hand against the soil, and there is a pulse of deep red and black energy that makes the ground ripple. A pair of Grimm Creeps burst from the soil and land in front of them, roaring aggressively as they charge towards them, slamming their heads into their shields. Jaune is pushes back but he scrapes the shield across its head, twisting Crocea Mors down and driving it cleanly into the soft point in the back of its skull. The blade protrudes out of its throat afterwards; it collapses to the ground and eventually disappears into a cloud of smoke.
Pyrrha sprints towards the Creep that she kicked back after striking it away from her with her shield, and the Lord of the Wood continues to slowly pursue them. She extends her sword into the Spear form, spinning round as she slashes across its body, then throwing it towards the Creep. The spear stabs into its chest, taking it off the floor and pinning it to the wall. They both approach the next building, another house but not a Butcher's this time. "Swap!" Jaune calls out, turning to stare at the massive Leshen that walks towards him, scraping its claws together to sharpen them. He gulps nervously, he can challenge it but that does not take away the intimidation it creates.
The Lord of the Wood unexpectedly dashes towards him in a cloud of black smoke and Corvus Birds, it swings its claws at him horizontally, but he ducks down and only just misses the attack it delivered, as it marches towards him this time. He sheathes the sword into his shield and draws the Claymore version of Crocea Mors, glaring at the beast. It raises its arm and huge roots form in its arm like a massive whip, it swings the huge weapon back and forth, ripping the ground up in every attack as it approaches. "Oh come on!" Jaune exclaims, rolling out the way as the Lord of the Wood slams the root whip down where he was, and that would have crushed him.
Pyrrha sprints into the building, aiming through the iron sights of her Rifle, slowly walking inside of the house, it would have once looked very pretty but now it is just a burned mess, a charred memory of what once was. She carefully steps through the house, knowing that Umbra must have set something up in here, this is his Realm after all, anything could be hiding in there.
She turns a corner and instinctively fires and screams with fear when she sees her stood right before her. Cinder Fall, but the version of her when she last saw her. When she killed her six years ago. Still with both eyes and wearing her old maroon coloured dress with fiery orange markings covering it. The bullet travels through her waist and the woman vanishes into a puff of smoke. She called it; of course he had some sort of nasty little trick up his sleeve. She carefully walks into the building, checking her corners to find anything that resembles an Exit Point.
Surely it must stand out...
She slowly and gently opens one of the doors in the house, peering inside as she searches for this thing. There is nothing inside of it and she then closes it, but yelps when Vir Nominis Umbra is leant against the wall next to her with his arms crossed. She stares at him and he smirks, looking at her. "It's a good thing I didn't show him some of your other dreams, I think a thank you is in order?" He chuckles with a smirk; she rolls her green eyes and walks away from him.
She was a teenager who was experiencing sexual attraction for the first time; her mind is going to dream of some rather exciting things. She looks into another room, nothing of interest apart from Umbra being stood in there as well, sat on the windowsill, kicking his legs back and forth. "You really must be craving to experience what it is like aren't you? To lose your virginity?"
"Shut up." Pyrrha snarls, closing the door, but it has no affect because now he is beside her, looking at her still.
"To see what he looks like...under the hoodie? Under the clothes in general?" He questions, still using the Sin of Lust against them, smirking as she walks past him. "Would you like to se-"
"No!" Pyrrha shouts as she walks past him.
"Ah...you'd rather experience the real thing yourself...I get it." He chuckles, walking with her as he ponders alongside her.
"Can you please stop being annoying for at least five seconds?" She asks him, which was a pretty silly question to ask. Because he literally waits five seconds until he starts speaking again, prodding her mind and her sexual attraction to Jaune.
"You know maybe you should just get the jump on him, next time you two have the time when you are alone...just spring it on him. It's the best way to get his attention." Vir Nominis Umbra suggests, and she rolls her eyes.
"I dunno what I was expecting." She sighs, closing her eyes as she walks around the place. Unlike the torment he put Jaune through, he is just pushing Pyrrha's buttons...perhaps he is waiting to hurt her for something special later on? That actually makes this whole debate they are having much more terrifying in fact.
She opens another door and he peaks in there with her with a smile. "You know, I have actually heard that intercourse improves relationships." He adds, smiling with every comment he makes, and Pyrrha rolls her eyes, closing the door and turning around, pressing the barrel against his head. He looks at her and pouts his lips. "Did I get my point across?" He asks her curiously.
"Yep." She answers, pulling the trigger, knowing it won't kill him but just to make him go away. But she can still hear his voice echoing around her, but not that demonic one that they heard earlier, still the Soothsayer's voice.
"Well at least I have offered some advice; I have seen lots of lovers you know." He chuckles.
Advice from a Demonic Entity...how could this day get any weirder?
She finds yet another door, so she carefully pushes it open with her hand, and she gasps with relief from what she finds. It appears to be a glass wall that is fragmented, all the shards floating in the same place with a faint whispering howl emerging from it. Light is emitted from the Exit Point and she smiles. "Jaune! I've found it!" She calls, and Jaune slices his Claymore across the leg of the Lord of the Wood to bring it down to its knee. He sprints towards the house but the Leshen is not about to give up that easily.
It pushes its hand into the soil, and roots begin to tunnel their way through the soft and weak soil that they were stood upon, working their way closer and closer to where they are. Jaune runs into the house, but falls onto his face as a root wraps around his ankle, slowly pulling him back to the Lord of the Wood that begins to rise back up. "Pyrrha!" Jaune screams, and she gasps, wide eyed and sprints to his aid. Pyrrha grabs onto his hand and holds on tight.
"I've got you!" Pyrrha promises, slashing the roots from his heel and the Leshen snarls with annoyance, walking towards them again. She holds him close and points at the Exit Point. "There it is!" She tells him, they both turn and sprint as fast as they can, and they both notice Vir Nominis Umbra stood in the house to their left with a smile on his face. They both look at him then stare forward as they leap into the Exit Point.
The Lord of the Wood transforms into the form of the black smoke and swarm of Crows and Ravens, cawing as they fly towards the collapsing Exit Point that they just escaped through. The Lord of the Wood just makes it inside as it collapses.
Jaune
They just made it through, landing onto the carpeted floor of a familiar building. Jaune holds Pyrrha in his arms; he has become so protective of her, that he just wants her safe. She lies on his chest and looks into his eyes, smiling affectionately at him. He ever so gently caresses her long red locks of hair, sitting up with her in his arms, the timid young woman has her head gently pressed to his chest, they look around and their eyes look befuddled.
They are...
In Beacon...
It is the Dormitory Hallway; many doors to different rooms stretch out before them as they look around. There is a flash of black and red energy, and Vir Nominis Umbra materialises before them with his hands held close together. "What a cute couple." He comments with a smirk, they both remain there on the floor in each other's embrace, she feels safe with him.
"What is this?" Jaune questions as he looks around the area, and Vir Nominis Umbra examines the place with a smirk.
"Welcome to the next Layer – I call it the Hall of Fears..." He tells them with a smile. "Similar to your previous challenge, you must locate the Exit Point in this Realm, however every room, every turning may have a little surprise in store for you. And remember...this hallway is under my command...so don't expect things to be...normal." He advises with a grin, vanishing in a red crackle of energy, black smoke trails off from where he was.
They both look into each other's eyes, holding each other close.
"We can do this..." Jaune whispers as he gently holds her, and she closes her eyes as she holds onto him.
"I trust you..." She whispers with love glowing in her heart.
They must simply find the way out of this Game of Shadows he has created for them first.
Author Note - Vir Nominis Umbra is a cruel monster...
What did you think of this chapter? The next few chapters will surround our beloved couple here and on their journey through this Game of Shadows that Vir Nominis Umbra has created for them, and as you can see the next one shall be exploring their fears themselves. This chapter was quite fun to write, showing the power that the entity has was awesome and also his personality always cracks me up. The bit with Umbra giving Pyrrha relationship advise was one of my favourite bits just because of how he does not seem to give a damn about anything. It was sweet of Pyrrha's dream to be of having a beautiful life with Jaune as well.
Arkos is a beautiful romance and I cannot wait to develop it further!
Please review and let me know your thoughts of this chapter and what you thought of it overall, especially with the Main Villain of this series, what do you like about him?
(By the way, if you are looking for some cool stories out there, check out Tutor71's Hero's Rebellion story he is writing, quite a cool premise and story overall!)
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
- Matt