Jaune had royally screwed up.
Weiss wasn't even mad at him she was concerned to no end as they sat at the edge of the bed together, contemplating the fate that awaited Jaune come morning. A trial by combat…nothing to worrisome for an experienced warrior but Jaune was anything but experienced, at the very least he was decent.
"I messed up…I'm so sorry Weiss" Jaune said, hiding his face in his hands.
"I'm not mad at you my love," Weiss reassured him "we will find a way through this. I can have my men equip you with the finest armor."
In this instant Jaune was reminded how he didn't have Crocea Mors with him, that would've helped significantly, but then again he hadn't imagined ending up in a trial by combat. Against an unknown opponent nonetheless.
"What am I gonna do! Please Weiss can you not convince him to call of the trial by combat thing?" Jaune asked, half pleading.
Weiss solemnly shook her head "I'm afraid not. The Great Titan's will is law, at the very least he gave you a fighting chance."
"Oh great a fighting chance! Against who exactly!"
Weiss embraced Jaune to get him to calm down "let's go to bed my dear. You need your rest for tomorrow, don't worry I will make sure all will be alright, and you have everything you need."
Her reassurances weren't helping, but Jaune could agree that a good night's rest was needed. Enjoy some peace for what might be his final day.
In the early morning Jaune was awakened by Weiss' vicious shaking.
"Wake up sleepyhead it's time to get you prepped and ready" she said as Jaune groggily woke up asking "what? What's going on?"
"No time to explain go shower and get dressed and I'll show you something amazing!" Weiss said with the excitement of a young child.
Jaune did as he was told. A quick shower and clothing change later he had joined Weiss' downstairs as she and a few of her fellow officers stood in the entry hall of their mansion.
"Uhm Weiss what is going on here?" Jaune asked curiously.
"Oh Jauney last night I had my best researchers and officers come up with an incredible armor made just for you! I'm sure it will help you immensely. Bring it in boys" Weiss shouted.
A group of four armed men strolled inside holding a chest armor in their hands. Jaune looked at it curiously, it looked almost exactly like his own, white in color but instead it was adorned with the Schnee family crest and symbol on the front.
"And of course the sword!"
Weiss brandished a beautiful brand new blade and handed it to Jaune, feeling it in his hands, it was very light despite its somewhat bigger size.
"This is incredible, how did you get it?" Jaune asked curiously.
"A girl has her ways. Only the best for my man" Weiss said as she kissed Jaune's cheek rather possessively as Jaune looked at the equipment he was receiving for his upcoming fight, against an enemy he still didn't know about.
The Atlas Arena was the host to this fight, Weiss had been forced to arrange as per Thanos' orders. Such a trial was always a spectator sport in Atlas so a crowd had joined to watch the battle ensue. As Jaune waited at the entrance of the round arena, Weiss stood by his side wishing him the best of luck.
With a fiery passionate kiss that is.
As her lips detached she looked at Jaune with big eyes, a stark contrast to her usual military attire she was wearing "I believe in you Jaune. I know you can do it! I will be here for you I promise" she said softly, leaning against his shoulder.
"Thank you Weiss. You know…if it weren't for you I might not have survived these last few days. If I don't make it today, I'm glad I was with you" Jaune said.
Weiss looked somewhat somber "don't say that, you will survive. You're Jaune Arc, one of Beacon's best and brightest, my knight in shining armor."
"Now literally" Jaune joked, causing Weiss to chuckle.
"I have to get to my place, when I give the signal the fight starts. You can do this!" Weiss ended with a kiss on Jaune's cheek as she walked over to enter the arena through a special hallway designed to lead to a special seat, meant for only the highest ranking of the Atlas military.
As she climbed up to the seat, a giant chair overlooking the arena like a king watching a gladiator match, she stopped in her tracks as she saw a familiar figure leaning against said chair.
"Hello Weiss" Raven said with a grin.
Weiss grunted in annoyance "Raven, what an unexpected surprise. What are you doing here!"
"Watching the trial by combat of course. Wouldn't want to miss it for the world, number three was very happy to be partaking you know."
Weiss walked past Raven and sat in her special chair as the wild haired bandit tribe leader stood next to her with her arms crossed.
"I'm surprised you and him even talk, considering he cut of your daughter's arm and everything!" Weiss pointed out. Raven in response just shrugged "she shouldn't have nosedived into that one without thinking, that's on her. Besides if anything it helped her grow stronger."
"No thanks to you and your expert skills as a parent" Weiss pointed out condescendingly.
Raven just shrugged again, clearly uncaring about the younger woman's snide remarks.
"This must be interesting though, seeing your newfound boy toy having to fight it out with one of our members because he tried to attack the boss. I swear you can't make this stuff up" Raven bolstered with a smile.
"Is there any reason you are here other than to spite me! Because if that's the only reason I suggest you shut up now" Weiss said irritated. Raven just leaned against the chair and overlooked the arena.
The sign was given, it was time to begin. And Jaune entered the arena, armor on and sword in hand as the cheering crowd erupted in applause as he entered. Jaune would be almost flattered if this wasn't a life or death scenario.
As he entered the area and walked to the middle, a silhouette appeared before him, a figure in the middle of the arena, which he presumed to be his opponent. As he walked closer the figure's appearance become more clear.
Spiked up red hair, dressed in black and red, a sword at his side and all too familiar mask on his face…
"No…it can't be!" Jaune mumbled out.
The figure looked at him with a grin, stepping forward, fully in the light of the arena revealed as none other than Adam Taurus.
"Well well…look what she brought in…one of Beacon's students" Adam said with a smug condescending look.
"I know you. You are Blake's crazy ex, the leader of the White Fang" Jaune responded.
Though his eyes where hidden behind the mask, Jaune could feel the immense anger beaming of off the man in front of him. He had heard plenty of stories about Adam Taurus, a disgruntled Faunus and revolutionary who took things way too far.
"I should've known the Schnee girl would cause this much of a mess, they always do, seemingly in every world," Adam spoke "but I'm not complaining. The Great Titan gave me the opportunity to take out an annoying human as you."
The bull Faunus took a battle stance as Jaune readied his sword, a sword appearing from the gauntlet on his hand.
A bell was rung, the word "START" loudly yelled across the entire arena.
Adam was the first to make a move, grabbing his sword and immediately striking it towards Jaune, who stood his ground and blocked it with his shield. Adam sprung backwards and instead threw his weapon, aiming at Jaune's feet, but once more the move was blocked by Jaune's timely intervention with his shield.
Jaune took a few steps backwards as Adam rapidly moved forward, grabbing his sword of the ground and striking forward, Jaune parried it immediately with his new sword, feeling amazed by how fluidly it moved.
"Your new toy won't save you!" Adam yelled as his sword struck against Jaune's.
Jaune unblocked the swords and went in for a kick against Adam's leg, only for the bull Faunus to immediately jump backwards and out of the way.
"You really are pathetic! I can't understand what she sees in you. But then again Schnee's aren't known for their smart decisions" Adam bolstered with a wicked grin on his face.
"Dude," Jaune replied wiping the sweat of his face "you have issues."
"You're right. I do indeed have issues, issues with disgusting creatures like you!"
Adam once again lunged forward and hit repeatedly, the hits either blocked by Jaune's shield or sword. And while the young warrior struck back, Adam parried with his own sword, which glowed upon impact.
From the stands Weiss was watching the fight intensely, her hand clutching Myrtenmaster, but her eyes never leaving the sight of the battle. Raven noticed this.
"Don't think about interfering now princess. The boy needs to learn to fight his own battles, I do hope he knows about Adam's semblance" Raven said in a clearly mocking tone.
Weiss made a mental note to hit Raven in the head someday.
The fight went through without break as Adam repeatedly attempted to get a clear hit on Jaune, only to fail as the blonde warrior either parried or moved away just in the nick of time. Every repeated failure of hitting only stirred Adam up even more.
Jaune once again struck with his blade, which Adam jumped out of the way off. But in a surprising move Jaune lodged his sword into the ground and used it to lift him of the ground just as Adam's feet landed on the ground, and before he could react Jaune slammed his shield right into Adam, sending him flying several feet away.
The crowd cheered with a raging applause. Weiss looked at it with clasped hands of happiness.
Adam got off the ground, his scowl showing his absolute frustration.
"I won't be defeated by a human!" he yelled.
Jaune grabbed his sword out of the ground as Adam ran towards, almost with lightning fast speed. The young warrior barely being able to keep up with the slashes until he suddenly found a searing pain in his right shoulder.
And in that moment another slash came, Jaune blocked with his shield but the force send him flying backwards into the ground.
"Jaune!" Weiss yelled out distraught while Raven looked on with a gleeful expression.
Adam's blade glowed a crimson red as energy surrounded him. Jaune looked and saw his sword meters away from him.
"It's time we end this!" Adam said as the energies around him swirled up into his blade. Jaune lifted his shield in front of him as Adam swung his blade forward, a beam of energy releasing from it and heading straight towards Jaune. Unable to move away, the new shield being his only protection.
And as soon as the energy hit he was knocked backwards, the shield breaking in half as Jaune fell backwards from the energy attack, his aura breaking in the process.
A tear streamed down Weiss' face as she proceeded to stand up from her seat, until Raven pulled her back with a clear warning "don't even think about it!"
The crowd was once more cheering wildly as Adam moved towards his opponent, who was laying on the ground, aura broken and almost as good as down for the count.
"What's this human boy! Already finished" Adam taunted with a smirk.
Jaune's arm slowly moved to the ground, trying to pull himself up "you know I think I figured you out Adam?"
"Is that so?"
Jaune's face twisted in pain, but regardless he still tried to stand up "you blame everyone else for what you became. Never thinking once about how it was you who drove everyone away…especially Blake."
Adam's gleeful smirk turned into a scowl "what did you say…" he muttered angrily.
Jaune, despite the pain and his body and broken aura stood up "she left you because she couldn't stand to look at the monster you became. Or maybe the monster you always where deep down inside…she couldn't love you anymore, not now not ever…"
Adam growled, clutching his sword so much it almost looked like it could crack.
"How dare you…."
"And she won't love you! In this world or any other world!" Jaune screamed.
"AAAHHHH!" Adam saw red and lunged immediately forward with his blade, not caring how or why, he was going to end this pathetic human's life for once and for all.
But as the blade reached Jaune's head, he ducked below as Adam's blade missed its mark, Adam's face turned from anger to worry as in that moment Jaune moved his half broken shield upwards hitting the palm of Adam's hand in one fell swoop.
His blade went swirling meter's away. Adam looked at dejected and shouted "no!" but before he could move Jaune grabbed his face, immediately head-butting him full force.
The crowd roared as Jaune proceed to land punch after punch on Adam's face, with the bull Faunus unable to respond or block in time, followed by a kick which send Adam backwards.
Weiss and Raven watched with intrigue at the sight as Adam was barely standing on his legs, exhausted, aura almost depleted from the numerous hits he received.
Jaune detached the half broken shield from his hand, and much to everyone's surprise he threw it forward at full speed, where it soon collided with a shocked Adam's forehead.
The Faunus stumbled backwards, his aura broke as did his mask as he fell backwards to the ground, the broken shield landing next to him. Adam felt completely discombobulated from the hit, looking around he saw Jaune's sword on the ground a few meters away from him. Quickly turning in an attempt to crawl towards it.
His efforts where soon in vain as Jaune stepped his boots on Adam's hand, the bull Faunus groaning in pain as a bloodied and battered Jaune looked at him. He saw it for the first time, the Schnee brand mark on Adam's face, right over his left eye, a permanent reminder of his hatred.
Kicking Adam in the face, Jaune moved over to grab his sword and walked around Adam, standing behind his fallen enemy as he grabbed him by his hair and placed the blade against Adam's throat.
The crowd went wild, screaming in vitriol and happiness "FINISH HIM!" FINISH HIM!" "FINISH HIM!"
Adam's face looked nothing short of beaten and defeated as his eyes met Jaune's.
"You see what they did to me," he scowled, referencing the scar on his face "what they did to so many like me, in so many worlds! Thanos offered me a way to make it right! To protect my people! To protect them from monsters like you and her!"
Jaune's eyes went cold as he pressed the blade further against Adam's throat, drawing a small amount of blood and causing the Faunus to scream.
Everyone in the crowd watched intensely as the scene unfolded, expecting a blood bath. But instead what they got was a surprise as Jaune removed the blade and let go of Adam, causing him to fall face first into the dirt.
"Not every human is just a monster waiting to reveal itself Adam, and I'm not like the people who hurt you, and maybe after today you will know that," Jaune spoke softly as he raised his sword and planted it in the ground next to Adam "keep your life, I paid my dues here, tell your boss that."
With that Jaune turned around and walked away, not giving his fallen opponent a second glance. The crowd was silent for a moment as Adam was seething with rage, but Jaune didn't care! He had won the fight.
And as he walked the crowd erupted in laughter in applause, praising him and his battling capabilities, the best entertainment in months. Jaune stood silent for a moment looking at the stands filled with people before him, cheering him on, praising him as if he was a gladiator that had overcome all odds. It felt odd to be so praised especially by people he didn't know, Jaune imagined he wasn't used to it but in this. He felt fulfilled, simple and easy.
"AAAAAHHH!"
Jaune turned his head as a scream was heard, seeing Adam hurl towards him, his sword in his hand, aiming straight towards him. Instinctively Jaune closed his eyes in that moment.
Seconds passed but Jaune felt nothing, and as he opened his eyes again he saw why.
A Glyph had appeared around Adam's feet, trapping him in place, and another held his hand stuck in midair. "What is this!" he yelled out as Jaune looked upwards. Multiple Glyphs appearing in the sky.
Both Jaune and Adam turned their towards the sky as they saw the sight of Weiss running down the Glyphs, Myrtenmaster ready and armed and a bloodlust in her eyes as she struck forward.
Adam coughed up blood as Myrtenmaster impaled his chest, piercing it straight through. Jaune looked on in shock as Weiss' hateful eyes met Adam's.
"You….he will….make you pay for…" Adam's mumbled out before his head dropped and blood ran down his chin. Weiss removed her weapon from his chest as Adam dropped down to the ground like a limp lifeless puppet, taking his final breath as he hit the ground.
Weiss looked over at Jaune and before he could ask any questions she grabbed his hand and pulled him along saying " we need to go now!"
The two of them left the arena as the crowd looked on and was still cheering and yelling. A black bird appeared next to Adam's body, before turning into the figure of Raven Branwen as she leaned down and closed Adam's eyes and watched as the pair of multiverse crossed lovers ran out of the arena in a haste.
"Things just got interesting" she spoke with a grin on her face.
A/N: We are nearing the end people, damn what a story so far. And to all of you who guessed, yes it was indeed Adam. Damn I'm becoming predictable, but only 2 or 3 more chapters to go before the end, hope you are all looking forward to it!.
