Well I arrived at a place with a lot of steam… System had been jabbering on for the last few minutes about congratulating me and stuff.

But I really wasn't in any mood. I need to get back to Remnant somehow. "Listen, System was it?" I started "As much as I would LOVE to listen to you praise me. I need to get back… Any possibility you can do that?"

System stayed quiet for a moment before answering "Do you mean Earth or Remnant?"

That raised a lot of red flags "What do you mean by those choices?"

System seemed rather annoyed. "What I mean, Justin? Or do you prefer Achilles? Doesn't matter, what I am asking is if you would like to go back home where you belong? Or would you rather go back to the world you found yourself in. Honestly with what you wrote so far, it'd be a shame if you just ended things here."

Another red flag "You've been reading my drafts?!" I yelled.

System then giggled "Not the only thing I've been reading. Man you are into some seriously messed up stuff. Didn't you have a fiance? And this Esdeath person, man it's no wonder you took a shining to Weiss."

And like that, I feel violated. "Hey do NOT GO THROUGH A MAN'S SEARCH HISTORY!"

System then retorted with "Well you shouldn't have set your passwords to Always Remember. Including this website called Reddit."

After some thought I decided. "So… about those choices earlier? I choose Remnant."

System seemed to stay silent for a moment. "... Alright I suppose. But before I put your mind back, wouldn't you like to rest your weary muscles in this nice hot spring checkpoint?"

I crossed my arms. Knowing her, it's not that simple.

"Aww… what's that look for?" System asked.

"What's the catch?" I asked. Honestly I am 100% done with this game System is playing.

"What do you mean? There is no catch." System defended. Like she thought I would be an idiot

I rolled my eyes "With every challenge I faced on my way here. I learned there's nothing here without a catch, ESPECIALLY with something as simple as 'relax'. So spit it out." I deadpanned.

System sighed defeatedly. "Fine. Such a fun nazi…"

"HEY!" I yelled "THE NAZI'S COMMITED WAR CRIMES! I HAVE NOT!"

"Alright, alright, simmer down." System deadpanned. "Anyway, the catch is that you have to enter with a partner of the opposite sex. Notice I said sex, not gender. This oughta get the cancel culture off my back…"

"Cancel Culture? Wasn't this game made in like, 2018?" I asked.

I then heard the sound of a buzzer like I was on America's got Talent followed by System yelling "SHHHH! Don't break the fourth wall! Only I can do that!"

I then felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to find that I am face to face with Mitsuru from Persona 3. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but hear you and that voice arguing."

I groaned "Please. It started it!"

"Did not." System defended.

Before I could argue back. Mitsuru covered my mouth, which is definitely a first. She then said "Me and this… gentleman, will enter."

Wait, was that supposed to be an insult?

… Not gonna lie that kinda hurt a little. Ow.

"Hm… ok! Have fun you two~ This guy has a thing for ice queens." System said while I'm sure having a sadistic smile on its face.

(System here: I did ;)

I just quietly growled with my arms crossed in frustration as we walked to the area that houses the hotspring.

We then entered the hotspring. Inside we were met with a cat in a coat and a big-tittied milf looking girl. I honestly wasn't really paying that much attention until a ping-pong paddle was thrust into my hand. "Wait what's going on?"

Mitsuru looked rather displeased with the fact I wasn't paying any attention. "We were challenged to a ping-pong game. I expect you to keep up with me."

Wait… I'm no good at this. I only played this game on the Wii. "Um… I'll try not to let you down." I chuckled nervously.

And so the ping-pong match of the century began. It was intense between both combatants. None wanting to back down!

(Hey it's me, I managed to wrestle control back. And to YOU, System, quit being overdramatic!)

What really happened was we were challenged and I did fairly decently. Even managed a curve shot which no one saw coming, not even me if I'll be honest. It's almost like I have plot armor or something.

In the end, me and Mitsuru barely won. And we were allowed to move on. But before we did. We made a decision to use the hotspring… What System failed to tell us was it was a shared bath. Meaning me and Mitsuru were in there together. Now I've seen enough anime to know that you're supposed to not wear any clothing to a hot spring. So yeah, it was a bit hard to keep a certain part of me from awakening.

But we did have a nice conversation despite being at least 10 feet apart. It was to be safe, not whatever System was thinking. She talked about her friends and what she had gone through. I talked a bit about my struggles and what I last remembered. She nodded somberly "So… why do you still have your arm?" she asked.

I looked at my left arm. "That is a good question. One that a certain someone has yet to answer!" I said irritatedly at the sky, or what would be if we weren't in a cave. Besides that, I know she was still around.

"Oh come on now, I have no control how you come here. I just picked a random name and hoped for the best. Though I do think I have you and someone else confused. So after you're done relaxing here. I've got something to tell you." She then stayed silent. Despite me yelling over and over again.

So, after that episode, we stayed silent throughout the rest of our time there. Honestly it was so relaxing. Just letting my muscles relax after so much rigorous combat and… that guy. I almost could fall asleep if it weren't for the fact I was somewhat next to a Weiss 2.0 with extra ice. Who would most definitely impale me if my little friend decides to awaken. Which goes without saying; I don't want to be a pincushion again.

[A couple hours pass]

So I apparently dozed off. Mitsuru was kind enough to awaken me before she left. Once we were both clothed and exited the area, we said our goodbyes and that's when System talked to me again. "So, I do have a way to put you and your friend back to Remnant. Though I'm not sure what it'll do to you when you return. I'll need a verbal answer before going through with this."

This is the first time that System seemed to actually care for the contestants. I've gotta ask "Do you really? Because I seem to recall my friend saying at the end of this game, you didn't have enough power to send everyone back."

"That is true… But I do have enough funds, thanks to the battles you had, to send the two of you back." She answered. Good that she's not even trying to hide it I suppose.

"So, you wanna go back?" She asked once more.

I then said, without another moment of hesitation, "Yes."

System then sighed "Alright, but before you go, I'll need you to know something. If I am in need of contestants again, I will claim you first in your world. Understood?"

I shrugged "Sure sure, whatever. Just send me back! And give me my laptop back too!"

Soon I felt a weird sensation. Like being in the middle of an earthquake sensation.

And after a brief flash of white, I soon found myself in a hospital bed. With things blurry once more. Great… Back here I see… I went to reach for my glasses with my left arm, I was suddenly reminded of what had happened. I turned my head to look at my left arm to see my arm that was now a stump. And I reacted in a calmer way than most probably would…

…

Ok fine.

I screamed which alerted the staff and restrained me. They then put anesthetic or something in me. Because I calmed real quick after that.

Soon after much time had passed, and a therapist came in. They let people see me after the therapist left. Among the first was my team… or what was left of it. I noticed a certain black cat was missing. "Where's Blake?" I asked.

The rest turned to each other with a somber understanding. They then turned their attention back to me. "Achilles… she went home. She said she needed to process things…" Yang explained.

I sighed. Well at least we won't have to deal with Yangst I suppose. But I was hoping to get my last words to her out to try to change her mind. I guess that's a bust. "I see… And Pyrrha?" I asked.

Ruby, Yang, and Weiss gave each other another glance before Weiss explained to me about her injuries. But thankfully, she was saved… But I feel like they're holding something back.

"I know you're hiding something." I told them. At that moment, my friend Aaron stepped in.

Weiss urged everyone to leave "It's best if Moon explains it." She said as she walked the others out.

Soon it was just me and him. The door shut behind Weiss.

With them out of earshot, it's time to get an update. "So… Status report?" I asked.

He then sat down next to me with a heavy sigh. He looked like he was trying to come up with how to say things. Before long he spoke. "You're not gonna like this…" He said with a somber tone.

I sat up, much to my body's protest. I nodded at him to proceed.

He sighed again and picked his head up to look me directly in the eye. "Keoth… He is now blind thanks to Cinder."

My god… I know he wanted to protect Pyrrha as much as I did. And now he's blinded for possibly life? God I need time to process this."So… What about you?"

He stayed silent for another moment. I swear I saw a tear run down his face before he answered "I killed Roman by mistake. He slammed my finger into the trigger. Now Neo won't respond to my calls or texts."

I nodded. There was nothing I could say to lighten the mood. So I felt like I should change the subject. "So about what we may have dreamed?"

Aaron shook his head at me "We'll discuss what happened there later. I'm not in a mentally good place."

I then noticed something. His sleeves are looser than normal "Where's Judas Priest?" I asked. I may know the answer but I need it confirmed.

He didn't answer right away. Though he was looking me in the eyes and said "I put them away for now. I don't want to use them after what I did."

I nodded with understanding of what he ment. Hell I wouldn't want to use Porfyros Drakos if it was used for murder either. On that note, my limbs feel stiff. "How many days was I out for?" I asked.

Aaron shrugged "Two maybe three. I lost count to be honest. Your team has been visiting you a lot to make sure you're ok." He told me.

I expected as much

"Glynda and the other remaining huntsmen managed to clean up the rest of the grimm and now are working to rebuild Vale. That just leaves the White Fang, Cinder, and her faction, And Salem to deal with." He continued.

I nodded again "Thanks for the update. But why is Weiss still here? I thought she'd be up at Atlas with Keoth by now."

Aaron took a sharp inhale through his teeth and stroked his beard, which to say the least, looks much better than my with how worried he looks, that can't mean anything good. "See… Jacque now has an interest in you. Since your last name is Vermilion. He even took a blood sample while you were knocked out."

That… honestly scared me. Like, I know the last name I took is or at least was a big name in Remnant but this is just uncalled for.

"Wait so he told the doctors to take a sample of my blood without my consent?!" I asked.

Aaron nodded and leaned forward. "Here's the thing, he probably suspects something is up. I looked through all sorts of books while you were knocked out." He then grabbed a book from under his armpit that he stored it under. "And I came across this book."

He tossed it onto my lap and I opened it. I flipped through some pages to get a general idea of what he was talking about. "It appears the Vermilion name was a household favorite at one point, and managed to instil fear amongst its enemies. Each one of them became a hunter. And most of their semblances had something to do with either their love for humanity or their rage. The ones during the great war had something closer to their rage Being somewhere in between a semblance like Yang's or just a straight up berserker mode." Aaron explained as I read through some of the passages.

Honestly it seems as though they had to have been legendary. "But something must have happened to make the name die down. Didn't it?" I asked as I turned my gaze away from the book.

Aaron nodded as he continued to explain. "It seems after the great war here, the Vermilion household started receiving bad luck. Some died by disease, some died by a rival who wanted the Vermilion name to be erased. Some were straigh up murdered in their sleep. Filnwen being the last on that long string. After that, the parents went into hiding, fearing their enemies instead of facing them like before. Then Fortuna La Porte happened. The goal was to burn the last of the Vermilion household. And supposedly you died in that. And now that he knows you're alive, he's going to try to capitalize on that."

I tilted my head at Aaron "Why though? I'm nothing more than a commoner in his eyes."

He gave a deadpan expression "Are you really becoming as dense as a harem anime protagonist?"

"No." I replied quickly "I just don't understand. I have no money, no fame, nothing. Why would he be interested in me?"

He dropped his head with a sigh expertly and mumbled something under his breath. I leaned close in and said "What mumbles?"

He then shot his back up at me and said "To breed the Vermilion name back to life by spreading Weiss' legs for you most likely." Like he was peeling off a band-aid

And like that. I shivered. I cannot fathom what bad an idea that is. Especially coming from a guy who doesn't know his original family tree. "Why?!"

He shrugged. "Who knows? But I will help you out here. If the results come back negative, just say you were adopted. And if they come back positive, I doubt you have much to worry about."

And as if on cue, Jacque came storming into the room. Just my luck. Maybe that's my semblance, misfortune like Qrow… God I hope not.

Jacque took one look at my friend and said "Can you please leave. I must speak with your friend in private." Aaron glanced over at me then got up "Alright. Good luck my dude."

On his way out he bumped shoulders with Jacque. After looking offended and dusting off his suit. Jacque finally spoke to me, "So… You're the boy that is on my daughter's team?"

I tilted my head slightly and said "yeah, what of it? If this is your attempt at being an intimidating figure, you're not doing a good job."

Jacque, completely ignoring my statement, then asked "And you are a Vermilion?"

I rolled my eyes at him "Yes, you're like the fourth person to ask me that."

He squinted at me. "Funny, I don't remember the Vermilion household having more than one child."

I shrugged "Yeah well they did. Got a problem with that?"

Jacque then paced through the room and over to the window "I don't know why you're acting so hostile towards me. I only have your best interests in mind." he said condescendingly.

I then cupped my right hand over my ear towards him "Hm? Couldn't hear you over the sound of you patting your own back!" I yelled back.

Jacque seemingly turned himself to face me and seemed unfazed by my insult. "Then let me be clear; You are to join us when we go to Atlas, at least there you'll receive proper treatment for your… injuries."

I tilted my head inquisitively at him "And if I refuse?"

He shook his head as he came closer to me with his hands behind his back "Young man… You cannot refuse this offer. The medcare that the Schnees have will help you more than the situation you find yourself in right now, since you seem to not have any health insurance and your parents haven't come by at all to help you."

Damnit, he's got me there. Though to be fair I didn't think about getting it since I thought Huntsmen get off scot free. "Plus, I already have your weapons on my ship. And I don't want to go through the trouble of unloading them."

I sighed agitatedly. It appears I have no choice... "Fine, I'll join you on your trip to Atlas I guess…"

Just then the doctor came in and greeted me. "Oh, good morning Achilles. Glad to see you awake!" He was a rather middle aged man with black hair and a small bit of peach fuzz on his upper lip. He glanced at Jacque "Mr Schnee, a word please?" Jacque took a side glance at me, then he walked out of the room as Weiss snuck in.

She waited until the door was shut before speaking with me. "Wait… You're coming with us?" she asked me.

I shrugged "Well, it's out of my hands. Besides you never really talk about home to us so I'm curious as to what your manor looks like… Even though I prefer being in the woods away from people."

She made a slight giggle. Jacque then entered the room "The kind doctor has informed me that a certain test is taking a while to process. Regardless, he will call me with any updates. We will be leaving tomorrow morning. Weiss should help you to our airship."

He then exited the room leaving me and Weiss alone again. "Just like after the Emerald Forest huh?" I asked with a tinge of sarcasm. This time she didn't giggle. She was looking at where my left arm was.

I know where this is going. "Why?" She asked.

I looked down at what remained of my arm and rubbed it. I don't know if I want to say why I did it, or how I knew what was going to happen. All I could manage was "I couldn't let any of you suffer."

She then sat in a chair next to me "I thought you said you weren't going to try to kill yourself." She argued. "And yet you faced down a terrorist and barely survived. You were bedridden for three days!"

I glanced back up at her "Well sometimes the world has other plans for me." I told her with a shrug.

Weiss shook her head at me "You really are an idiot, you know that?"

I smiled at her with a small chuckle. "Tell me something I don't know." I retorted.

As if she said 'bet' in her mind. She then told me "Your friend Keoth will be in Atlas will be mostly with Ironwood though."

"Huh, well I guess it makes sense. He is one of his students." I noted. She then stood up "I have to meet father before we come get you tomorrow. He says he 'wants to make sure I'm ok before heading home'. Which I don't buy at all. So… see you tomorrow?"

I nodded. "Yeah, not like I have anything else going on now."

She then left. Which left me alone to my thoughts.

Weakling the beast told me You let him injure you.

I mumbled to it "I told you to shut up a while ago. So do that."

We will go after him, right? It asked.

I'm in no mood for revenge anyway, so I told it "No, we will not be doing anything for a while."

I don't think the beast liked that response because I heard it growl. Come on. I know you want to ruin him. Twist his mind with fear. Make him feel the fear that you have as of right now.

"Shut up…" I mumbled.

I know when you're angry, when you're enraged. You will need me eventually. Besides, we both know he will get his comeuppance, either by the blonde and the cat's hand, or by ours.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. "Please just stop. I don't want to deal with you right now."

Dread it, run from it. Destiny arrives all the same. It said.

"You do NOT get to quote Thanos here. Now shut up and let me sleep goddamnit!" I yelled. Which in hindsight wasn't a good idea, because the doctor came running in.

He looked around the room, then at me and asked "Who were you talking to?"

Welp, I already look crazy, might as well go all the way to clinically insane. "Oh just the voice in my head that refuses to shut up when it needs to."

After a moment of confusion from the doctor, he wrote something down in his notebook then left.

After that, silence. Good, I need rest anyway. I have a long trip ahead tomorrow, and a migraine I will have to endure that goes by the name Jacque Schnee. I'm just hoping that my anger issues won't be easily triggered on this trip.

[The next morning]

Well this is a new experience. The doctors this morning were very hesitant of me trying to get out of this bed on my own. But I managed, after all I lost my arm, not my legs.

I got to talk to Aaron before I left. I told him to make sure they don't end up hiking across Anima. And if he feels like he needs to, tell them what they need to know at the moment. We then gave a hug to each other.

I told him "Rest, we have four months before things start to happen again." I then walked out of my hospital room.

Weiss escorted me out, by Jacque's will, mind you. And I said my goodbyes to Yang and Ruby. And just as I was about to board, I noticed a single leaf drift across my vision. Following it with my eyes I noticed Pyrrha and Jaune sitting on a bench nearby. I waved to them and then entered. I will say this though, after what happened last time I was in the air, the damn thing fell apart while I was in it. Suffice to say I didn't really have any reasons to nap.

Even when the cabin lights dimmed. I just stared out the window, with a feeling that I had not felt in a long while… grief. I looked back down at my arm and rubbed what was left of it again. I stared back out to the distance, dreaming, wondering, hoping… praying…