I'm back baby!

I busted my ass to get this chapter out. My qouta per day was at least 2k words because I was really excited about this one. I need to type more per day I want to get these chapters out, actually. Probably 3k per day would suffice.

I think you guys are really going to like this chapter. I am bringing the last part of our harem in, and I'm giving this harem what every single harem needs. A little cliche that I thought would be perfect.

I'm also starting to play DnD guys! A few of my friends and I are playing a campaign right now. I'm the team Paladin (who is a total chad by the way.) I've also done my first homebrew oath which was interesting. I'm going to put it at the bottom of the chapter so you guys can see. (It actually ties in with the theme we're going for here. The concept of the Ubermensch, not DnD.)

Edit note (1/10/20): Edited something towards the bottom of the chapter for clarity.

Edit note (1/11/20): Touched up on Pyrrha and Jaune's conversation. Made things more clear about where she stands. Also made edits to just make it sound better.

Also, if you got another notification saying this chapter was posted, I don't know what happened. It surprised me too.

Edit (1/24/20): Added something to Pyrrha's outfit. Think Monika from DDLC.

"Come on, Jaune," Ruby spoke up, walking backwards in front of the boy. Her pace nearly at a skip. Each of Ruby's hands behind her back with a cheerful smile on her face. Seemingly able to navigate through the crowd without the use of her eyes. Before Ruby could run into anybody, however, she twirled back around and skipped on ahead.

He wasn't sure where this pep in her step was coming from. Jaune had several ideas for why though. Probably just him being there was the reason for her good mood. Or it was just Ruby being Ruby. If neither, Jaune was getting closer to giving up on figuring out what made that girl tick.

Just take the win...

Alas, Ruby dragged him off to lunch like she had done many days before. Jaune following unenthusiastically as he always did. Their little routine being the highlight of his day. Their banter, joking, and dorking out becoming Jaune's drug.

Who knew how much someone could miss just hanging out with their friends? Jaune didn't think it was possible. Apparently, stomping around Vale in the middle of the night with a blood lust going full throttle made certain things more appetising. Compared to slaughtering a half dozen guys in an alleyway, this was preferable.

He had gone so long without these little moments, Jaune experienced a withdrawal. His body aching for some regular contact with another normal person. With the newest dose coursing through his veins, the sensation of elatement took hold, washing away any doubts about himself from earlier today. His body and mind returning to some semblance of balance. It made him hope for more, coming from this girl or anybody who could provide.

His battered mind needed these moments. It was the only thing propping the boy up. His desire was the cause for these little moments, but it was everything to him. Even if he had seen Ruby yesterday; with everything that had occurred since he fled the school, Jaune felt like it had been a year since his last fix.

So, Jaune was going to ride this day out and figure out what to do from there. If he could actually find some joy here, then the boy was going to wring every last drop he could out from it. That little injection of dopamine was all Jaune relished right now.

Like I ever thought class was something I looked forward too...

Whilst enjoying this high, Jaune's senses picked up on anything and everything. He was able to pay attention to the girl in front of him; however, everything else came to Jaune as perfectly clear background noise. Their smells, annoying conversations, and every minute detail his eyes could catch. All in a slow-motion picture that Jaune dissected in the back of his head.

It all made the boy feel even less normal than he was before. Sure, Jaune felt like he could take on the world right now. Being a vampire and all, he was above any regular human or faunus. Jaune had also gotten back together with his friends too. However, being able to use magic, have hypersensitive senses, and turn into a swarm of bats just made Jaune feel like he was even more of an outsider. Compounded with everything carrying over from his last high school, of course. You have to build up from somewhere, and that's where Jaune got his start.

Heh... How weird can a person get?

Scratch that actually... Stupid question. People can get weirder. A dorky vampire is probably the best we can hope to get...

Just don't think about the situation... We're weird, but we're still Jaune. Being a vampire doesn't have anything to do with it...

Shaking the thoughts from his head, Jaune looked up to see the open doors of the cafeteria. A roar of voices spilling out and into the hallway. Their mindless cacophony causing Jaune's ears to ring slightly. The smells coming from within enticed the boy further, making him disregard the pain from his ears for the scent.

The thought of some good food made the boy's mouth water. He hadn't eaten anything since yesterday morning. Blood doing nothing to satisfy his body's nutritional needs. Unlike some nuggets or a half-decent hamburger, which would set him up for the next couple of hours.

That's if Ruby or Yang didn't pilfer all of his fries. Their appetites being the stuff of legend, only comparable to Nora's. The thought of Nora basically ransacking all of the pancakes made Jaune quake in fear.

Ruby turned around, causing Jaune to relax slightly. She stopped right at the edge of the doors. "So, do you want to go find our friends..." she began hesitantly, seemingly afraid for Jaune's reaction. Her head bowing slightly, refusing to meet the boy's eye. One foot-dragging itself across the ground in a show of nerves. "...or just look for a random spot?"

Jaune knew she was talking about Weiss. Who else would she be? Suffice to say, the boy didn't want anything to spoil his day. He really didn't want to see Weiss. Especially if there was a repeat of yesterday morning. If he could stay away from his other friends too, then it would be for the better.

Ruby was one of the few Jaune could be around and not have any reaction. That being the voice inside his head, which hadn't made its appearance in quite some time. Yang was all right to be around as was Blake. Nora and Ren seemed to be out of the danger zone as well. However, Jaune couldn't count on that always being the case.

Testing the waters might be a good idea, so long as Jaune braced himself. He needed to find his limits if there was even a chance of him being able to live a normal life. Then blowing past them and getting accustomed to the next series until there was nothing left to stand in his way.

"Yeah..." Jaune agreed, trying to put on his best face. It seemed to give Ruby something encouraging as a smile appeared at the corner of her lips. "Let's look around for a spot..."

Ruby nodded, turning around and heading inside the cafeteria. Jaune followed right up until he stood before the doorway. He faced an overwhelming sense of apprehension. It froze his legs to the floor, trying its best to keep him from stepping inside. He was afraid of what might happen if he did. Jaune remembered the last time he came to the cafeteria, and he wasn't even aware of his vampirism.

Ruby turned around once again. She was already a few feet inside the cafeteria. "Are you coming?"

Move your ass Jaune... You said you were going to eat lunch with Ruby today. You haven't even felt the need to drink any blood since this morning!

Jaune nodded, prying himself loose from this fear holding itself over his head. Taking his first few steps inside the cafeteria, he was able to adapt himself to the booming cacophony, shutting out some of the sounds easily. The smells were something else Jaune was unable to deal with, however.

What the fuck...

Jaune made a colossal error.

The present scent of blood on the air practically begged the boy to seek out its source and drain it to the last drop. Jaune couldn't see where it was coming from. It was everywhere and nowhere all at once. It surrounded and tainted the very essence of the room. Every surface was drenched in this ichor.

This unholy stench filled the boy's nostrils, preventing him from focusing on another. There was no swaying Jaune's body from what it wanted. This feeling coming on stronger than the first time he lost himself to his blood rage.

*Ta-thump*

The sudden echo of a heartbeat proceeded a throbbing pain shooting through Jaune's entire body. Every nerve set itself alight as if they all had been cut at once. The pain comparable to somebody jumping on his chest, bouncing over and over again without end. His throat closing, refusing to allow even a short breaths worth of air into his lungs. The pain squeezed every last drop of air out of him until there was none left. Jaune dug his fingernails in his palm, attempting to alleviate the pain, but only drawing blood from within to no avail.

"Hegch," Jaune groaned from deep within his throat.

He wanted to bend over and vomit. But Jaune couldn't allow himself to show any sign of pain. If anybody touched him, he didn't know what would happen. As if the tiniest thing would set him off on a rampage. Everything in his path would be cut down like wheat under a scythe.

"Scgggh!" A bubble of air came rushing up past his vocal cords, creating a pained gurgle.

Jaune looked through the crowd using only his eyes. He needed to find an exit, but couldn't move from where he stood. Something was keeping him trapped inside this room. Whether it be man or beast, Jaune was unsure of. He didn't even know the first thing about how this blood rage worked. So, how the hell was he supposed to know what trapped him inside this room?

This sudden breach of Jaune's harmony became overwhelming. He was on the verge of passing out. This prison becoming the very epitome of all evil. No, this ghetto he was imprisoned within where only pain could be felt. No joy or meaning to this eternal damnation.

What force beyond Jaune's understanding would place him here to suffer like this. It had to be another object from within this room, acting upon his body. Jaune had to find it lest he cut down everything in his way.

He looked around the room once again. This time his eyes training themselves on where his friends sat. His dearest friends. Those who held within the highest regards.

*Ta-thump*

Another throb tore through his pitiful corpse. Jaune nearly collapsed this time under the immense pressure. It wasn't until he set his eyes onto Weiss that the pain grew even greater and travelled from a majority of his body down to his right arm.

Her beautiful eyes stared back at the boy with a look of sadness. They robbed Jaune of his ability to feel anger or anything in her presence. His body became washed over with an icy chill, ridding him of the pain for only a moment. This source originated from the girl. But why?

Aww... Fuck!

This throbbing grew stronger and stronger, convincing Jaune this limb was going to just fall off. It began to feel heavy, almost as if someone tied cinderblocks to his hand. It continued on down his arm until it reached his right palm, beginning to intermingle with the open wound.

My shackles crumbled before me.

Their chains decaying with a phantom's touch.

No!

Jaune balled his fist up with all of his strength, causing his bones to creak. This pressure emanating from within was broken instantly, shattering into a million pieces. Whatever magic welling up had been dispelled, leaving Jaune feeling weary. Crocea Mors being sent back to where ever it remained imprisoned. A moment of clarity arose for Jaune to move.

He needed to leave this room and find somewhere private. Anywhere away from Weiss would be perfect. Better, away from Ruby or anybody else he knew.

Jaune looked back to Ruby. "Uh, sorry..." he feigned his apology. "...not feeling hungry right now... I'll catch you later."

He turned and fled the cafeteria, acting normally as he did so. There was no way Jaune could allow Ruby to sink her claws into him by letting her ask a question. If she managed to hold him down, then Jaune didn't know what would happen. He might lose control of Crocea Mors completely.

[Outside the Cafeteria]

Jaune walked briskly through the halls, trying to go anywhere but the cafeteria. Anyone who stood in his way were pushed aside as the boy sailed through the crowd. Some even falling over, hitting the floor after being shoulder-checked by the retreating vampire. Their complaints going unheard as his mind devoted itself to a singular desire.

Get out of my way, people...

Jaune's body felt hot. Not 'hot' as in warm from the sunlight or a light jog. Jaune felt like he was on fire. His right hand getting the worst of it. A hot iron being pressed against the limb wouldn't have come close to the heat radiating off of his digits.

Against the cold air conditioning of Beacon Academy, his skin might have let off steam. Almost as if he came freshly out of an oven. No, it would be better to say his body was generating this heat. It wasn't being applied to him. He was merely the heating coil.

Coward...

Fuck you!

Jaune twisted around, looking to see if there was some ghost following him around. This mocking presence just in the back of his head, cropping up when he really didn't need it. Jaune was prepared to go searching through the shadows to see if something was hiding there as well. However, his fuming anger subsided for a moment, letting Jaune trudge onwards.

Of course, he was pissed right now. Everything had been going so well today until now. His illusion had been shattered by an idiotic mistake when he thought there was some level of control he could maintain over his bloodlust. The voice only giving Jaune something to direct his anger at for a moment when there was nothing else to. The pain still clouding his thoughts from accurately dissecting the situation.

He didn't even think there was another factor at play here.

This outlying variable was Weiss. Not the blood in the air. Jaune had no problems dealing with that. He had sated himself for now. He didn't have the desire to take a single drop of blood the entire day. Even if Jaune could smell it on them, it elicited no reaction.

But why Weiss of all people? Jaune didn't know what was going on with her. That throbbing sensation had never occurred before. Not even when Jaune was still a newborn vampire who had only taken blood for the first time. Weiss also didn't have that vampire smell he had come across last night. So, it was likely there was something else screwing with Jaune's head. It hadn't even made its appearance when Jaune ran into her yesterday.

Jaune really didn't want to think Weiss was a part of his problems, but she ended up becoming one. The rejection and subsequent beration of his feelings stung for sure, however, it became the least of his worries once he became a vampire. Things like that didn't matter to Jaune anymore. It was no longer of any importance.

However, this radiance emanating from her body was going to be an issue. If Crocea Mors was going to try coming out whenever she was anywhere close to him, then Jaune needed to constantly make himself scarce. That meant with everyone else too. None of his friends could come close to him so long as Crocea Mors continued acting up.

It gave Jaune an excuse to avoid her at least. Not that he didn't have one beforehand. He would need something to dress it up. An actual legitimate reason that didn't have anything to deal with magic or vampirism. That was going to be the hard part.

That meant he would be using Weiss as a scapegoat to avoid all of his friends for now. It would be safer for them that way. Just letting them all hang out while Jaune went off by his lonesome. Keeping them happy by not breaking up their little group.

Suffice to say, Jaune's idea about playing the part was no longer an option. He couldn't play the comic book-loving dork until he figured out what was going on. It worked for a while before completely falling apart, which gave Jaune only the slightest bit of encouragement.

It all meant there was a way for Jaune to get out of this without his friends knowing anything. He just needed to start from the basics and learn how to fully control Crocea Mors.

Taming a magical sword was well within his grasp, right?

Of course, it isn't! Who am I kidding?! I don't have the first clue on how to use this damn thing! I just summoned it once! How the hell am I supposed to figure out magic?! That shit didn't exist until I accidentally used it for the first time ever!

Jaune ran a hand through his hair, groaning loudly. He felt the need to punch something hard. Unfortunately, there wasn't a single towel dispenser or vampire aside from himself running around. However, the nearby pillar was looking pretty appetising to go wild on.

Don't do it Jaune... Ms Goodwitch hasn't come after you for the towel dispenser, so best to not attract her attention.

Jaune looked around for somewhere else to go. There had to be a place where the boy could find his solace. Not too many bathrooms in this building were isolated enough to where Jaune could chill out, and nobody would ever go inside.

A nearby stairwell offered an idea that Jaune was going to take advantage of, however. The roof where Weiss had made her rather public rejection of the vampire. It served as a fitting joke since Weiss went up there to get some time alone too.

A little known fact about that roof was how empty it could be on certain days. Sometimes a hundred or so people would head up there for lunch, sometimes barely anyone at all. Jaune happened to know from prior experience today was just going to be the latter.

Just his luck.

[Roof]

Putting a few quarters inside of a vending machine, Jaune selected a bottle of coffee from among the choices available. The beverage tumbled out from a slot on the side, which he snatched up and downed a sip of. The slight bite of a light roast running over his taste buds brought a sense of relief to the boy. It was nowhere near the quality of coffee Jaune could brew, but it was something.

A few feet away from the boy was the door leading out onto the roof. A part of him was nervous to even head outside right now. He couldn't hear anybody out there, and neither could he smell anyone. The incident with Weiss giving Jaune second thoughts about going anywhere with lots of people.

What if there was another person just like her out there? Someone with that kind of aura about them surely had to exist. If there were other vampires, then it was a definite possibility. Jaune didn't want to risk something like that happening again. Not because of the pain, but the mere chance Crocea Mors would unleash itself without allowing Jaune to hold it back.

His right hand still felt heavy too. That sensation hadn't worn off yet. Actually, it felt a few pounds heavier than it was supposed to. As if a sword was held within that limb.

The thought was frightening but informative. Jaune knew where the sword was. However, as to the what, the sword took a form of when Jaune wasn't using it was a mystery. Maybe when this feeling wore off, the weight from within his arm would vanish completely?

Just relax Jaune... We're in the clear for now.

He took a deep breath and headed for the door.

Pushing it open, Jaune shielded himself from the oppressive glare of the sun. It did not have any more significant impact due to his vampire senses, actually, having less of one. However, it still blinded him nonetheless. He headed for the shade immediately to get some relief.

Once his eyes adjusted, Jaune was able to see there was not another soul out here. He was surprised, expecting there to have been one or two other people up here. His senses weren't that strong as to be able to pick out the lone diner from behind a steel door a hundred feet away from him.

Oh, yeah... My luck is all over the place today.

Jaune took the chance to admire the weather. A nice warm seventy degrees with cloudy skies. The perfect weather for sitting on your ass on top of a roof. Even better when you're by yourself.

Too bad I didn't bring my earbuds...

He made his way over to the collection of tables and benches, perusing the options available today. Jaune didn't feel like having any intrusions upon his privacy, so he opted to head farther back, and away from the front rows of seats. Here, Jaune was at the edge of the roof where he could overlook the courtyard in peace. A quiet place where he could sit down and wait out this lunch hour.

Maybe I should skip? Nothing is stopping me from doing it... Mom might have an objection if the school calls her through. Or Ruby might come looking for me...

Jaune tossed the idea out and laid down on the bench. The coffee hanging loosely out of his left hand like every movie drunk person sleeping in a hammock. Except this wasn't a hammock Jaune was stretched out on, but a steel bench with welded wires, preventing any person from sleeping comfortably on it.

The criss-cross pattern from the hard steel wires was already digging into his back, leaving an impression in the flesh. Luckily, Jaune didn't mind. It was probably one of the most comfortable places he laid down in the last twelve hours. The other two being his bed and a sandy shoal.

Closing his eyes, Jaune felt his body relax for a moment. The pain slowly drifting off, and the pleasant balance he held beforehand seeping back to him. Jaune almost felt like falling asleep right here and now. There was a half-hour left to lunch, which was plenty of time to catch a quick nap.

Then the door to the roof opened and shut. Jaune decided against looking to see who it was. Taking a peek would only reveal his position. Not that he wasn't curious, only locking eyes with the person would probably lead to them finding Jaune quicker. If his luck was holding out, the person would sit down far away from where he sat and wouldn't bother him.

From this distance, Jaune could tell it was a woman. Her heels clicking along the floor echoed in an almost dramatic fashion. She stepped twice to the right, pausing for a second, then stepping five times to the left. The woman stopped here, not moving for several seconds. Jaune was confused as to the reason why.

Then the woman started moving once again. Her footsteps were getting closer. Jaune's anxiety rose with every step coming his way.

Fuck... Leave me alone, please.

The woman's footsteps nearly eighty feet away and still approaching. A gust of wind rolling through Vale, blew from her direction. Her scent carrying over to where Jaune sat. His nostrils picking up the sweet smell coming off of her.

It was a pleasant aroma. Jaune could tell there was some sort of citrus among the scents. It was anything pungent; however, the smells of deodorant and perfume were more overpowering than anything else. Those were the only smells aside from the always present smell of blood on the wind.

No...

Her footsteps remained unflinching. They were doing this to spite Jaune's will that this person would stay as far away as possible from him. The boy's body stiffening in anticipation. He openly waited for the opportunity to vanish into a swarm of bats.

Go away...

Jaune could feel she was almost on top of him now. Her light breathing making its way into Jaune's ears. A short pause on her breath as the woman fumbled with something, opening a zipper and pulling a plastic bag out from inside a lunch box.

An object moved in front of the sun, creating a shadow over Jaune's face. He opened his eyes for a moment; however, he could only see a blue haze cast over everything and obscuring the woman's face from view. This person stared back at the boy was a seemingly neutral expression. Although her eyes told Jaune a different story.

"Jaune," she began in an almost sing-songy tone. "Coffee doesn't count as food..."

Hugghhh... Damnit... Wait... Coffee is food.

She backed away, exposing Jaune's eyes to the harsh light beaming down upon him. Before he could raise his hands to shield himself, the woman swung her arm downwards, releasing an object. The last thing he saw was a small bag rapidly closing in on him.

This object smacking Jaune square in the face, letting out a little wrinkle sound at the impact. He reacted appropriately, jerking suddenly as his poor attempt of a reaction. But it was too late to do anything about it. The sandwich bag just sat on his face for a few seconds. It saved his eyes from being cooked by the sudden rise in UV rays but also blocked Jaune from being able to see anything.

The woman sat down in the remaining space just above Jaune's head. A few more shuffling sounds coming from her as she opened what sounded like a lunchbox. Jaune lay there for a few seconds, before getting up.

Grabbing the bag off his face, Jaune sat up and twisted his body to make it parallel to the girl sitting next to him. He looked down at the bag in his hands, finding it was a sandwich bag containing two sandwiches. Both were cut into two similarly shaped triangles with the crusts missing. They almost seemed like works of art. They were perfect.

"You should eat, Jaune," the woman said, after swallowing her previous bite. "It's going to get warm sitting out in the sun." Jaune could feel her gaze turn unto him.

Jaune wasn't sure if he wanted to eat. The incident from earlier sapped any appetite he had, leaving him wanting nothing. A part of him didn't feel like eating another person's food since she was handing Jaune what felt like a significant portion of her lunch.

"Are you sure," Jaune asked, holding up the sandwich bag. His arm felt weak, even lifting something weighing less than a pound. "This is your lunch. I don't want to eat it if you're going to go hungry, Pyrrha."

Jaune looked over to see her with another sandwich in hand. Her long-flowing scarlet wolf-tail gleaming in the sunlight. The locks tied up with a length of golden ribbon. Two long tassles hung off from the remaining cloth, running down her back. The girl's expression remained neutral, albeit a sliver of a smile in the corner of her lips. Her eyes holding a bright and very confident look to them. An angel having come to Jaune's aid.

Pyrrha swallowed the bite she had taken. "It's fine, Jaune," she said, grabbing her lunch box. The red-head tilted it so he could see inside. There was almost a half dozen of these small sandwiches as well as a bunch of fruits and other vegetables. "I have more than enough, so go ahead..."

Pyrrha Nikos.

Basically the prettiest, smartest, and the most athletic girl at Beacon Academy. Top of the junior class, constantly competing with Weiss for first, giving the Heiress a run for her money every second of the day. She's the student council president as well as a major player in several other clubs at the school. On top of that, Pyrrha was also a nationally recognised athlete with dozens of sponsors clamouring for a chance to slap her name on top of their products. These same benefactors responsible for an immense fortune she built up.

Even ignoring her achievements, Pyrrha was basically a benevolent deity here, being one of the nicest people you could meet. She would go out of her way to help those around her and even participated in tons of volunteer work for the clubs she was in. You didn't have to ask, and Pyrrha would just seek you out if a person even looked like they needed assistance.

Out of every girl at Beacon Academy, Pyrrha never left the top five in any guy's list.

And she's Jaune's childhood friend, which made things interesting.

You know that cliche where the main character of a manga has a friend as a kid, and then the main protagonist leaves for a couple years before coming back to their hometown, finding out that their childhood friend became really hot? That was Pyrrha Nikos personified. She owned the trademark, copyright, and they're still paying royalties to her for using the cliche. Nobody else could even hold a candle to Pyrrha on that.

A glow up (though never really needed it) that made Jaune jealous of his own strike at puberty. Pyrrha's genes hitting her like a semi-truck loaded to max capacity.

Jaune remembered Pyrrha being there since the first memory he had. They were practically glued to the hip for almost ten years, doing everything together. Those were some of the fondest memories he had of his childhood. Even better as both families were especially close, Pyrrha essentially becoming an adopted sibling to the Arc children. Jaune's sisters were obsessed with Pyrrha, counting her among their friends as well.

Alas, all things had to come to their final conclusion. Jaune and his family moved from Vale to Florida, leaving behind Pyrrha. A trade of scenery Jaune hated as much as Pyrrha did. The red-head becoming inconsolable when she learned of their departure. All of this beginning Jaune's six long years of isolation.

The first time in those six years Jaune saw her, however, was before his father's funeral. Pyrrha running up to Jaune and wrapping him up in the biggest hug she could manage. Make-up running down her face from the tears pouring out from beneath her eyelids. Once the funeral was done and Jaune headed back to his home, the two did keep in touch for a while until they fell off once again.

Childhood best friends could drift apart over time, and that's what happened to these two. It was a possibility the two could reignite their spark and get their friendship going again, but then Jaune ran into Ruby. Then things were never really the same between him and Pyrrha in the months after returning to Vale. They were friends, but nowhere as close as they used to be.

"Thanks," Jaune replied, unwrapping the bag and pulling one-half of the contents out.

The bread was still dry, not having the chance to become soaked from any condensation. From the outside, Jaune could tell there were mayonnaise and mustard as the two toppings to this dish. Inside there was a layer of lettuce, creating the foundation with a think layer of turkey next. On top of that were was a few tomatoes, some swiss cheese, and finally a layer of thinly sliced ham.

Jaune took a bite, perking up slightly as the taste slammed into his buds. It was immaculate. The mustard, and mayonnaise not overpowering, but adding that little flavour the sandwich needed. It was spicy mustard as well, which gave an additional kick. The little crunch from the lettuce and tomato, making this first dive a satisfying one.

For not having any food in the last twelve hours, Jaune's stomach felt delighted. It growled like a lion, urging the boy to take several more large bites. He finished the sandwich, but it left him wanting more. The little drop of mustard on his pinky finger becoming the next one on his list.

"How was it," Pyrrha asked, having set her food down some time ago. Both of her hands remained in her lap, but the rest of her body language told Jaune she was becoming rather antsy.

"Good," Jaune said with a snort. "Your mom's cooking is great... I forgot how it tasted." He looked over to see Pyrrha staring at him with a narrowed-eye gaze. Her lips morphing into a slight pout.

"And you are assuming I didn't make these myself," Pyrrha replied with an accusatory tone. She crossed her arms, beginning to put more emphasis into her pout.

It was cute seeing her try to feign anger. Jaune almost fell for it but knew better.

"Heh, Pyrrha," Jaune began, leaning back onto the bench. "Of your many virtues... cooking has never been one of them." He cupped his chin to think for a second. "Actually, the last time I saw you cook anything, you managed to burn water..."

How the hell does someone burn water?!

Pyrrha invited her friends over for dinner once a few months back. Her parents were cooking a pasta dish, which she tried to assist them by boiling the noodles. Only a few minutes later, the fire alarms were set off as Pyrrha somehow let the water overboil and then a fire got started in the kitchen.

Fun times...

Jaune felt Pyrrha shift away from him. Whether out of embarrassment or comfort, it was up for grabs, however, her face turned a light shade of pink. Her pout disappearing entirely, replaced with a smile she was trying to hold back.

"Yes..." Pyrrha agreed in her usual tone. "I suppose not everyone can be gifted in cooking. That would probably be your talent..."

Yeah... Efficient killer too...

"However," she continued, drawing out the last syllable. "I didn't come up here to talk to you about our talents..." Her voice held a tinge of nervousness to it, showing she was carefully approaching the subject as Pyrrha did with everything.

Great... Hoping we could avoid this subject.

Jaune let his head fall backwards, landing on the bench's backrest. A slight groan escaped his lips, giving Pyrrha his own impression on the matter.

She had helped him a little bit here and there when it came to Weiss. Both before and after their little spat began. Pyrrha had encouraged his feelings for Weiss as did Ruby. Once everything fell apart, both girls jumped to support Jaune without him asking.

"I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you saw me in the cafeteria," Jaune asked rhetorically, knowing the truth by this point.

He wasn't dense enough to think Pyrrha came up here if she hadn't. Clearly, Jaune was troubled by the situation, and she followed him, seeing that he may have needed a shoulder. Not that he needed one now, but a few weeks ago, sure.

"You ran away after getting into a staring contest with Weiss," Pyrrha confessed, turning back to him. Her tone remained polite. "Which sounds like something you would do, Jaune..."

"Really?"

"Yes..." Pyrrha said hesitantly again. "Unfortunately, you have a habit of running away from your problems. Or you try to ignore them until they get out of hand."

Ouch...

Damn... She read you like a fucking book.

"I understand she may have hurt your feelings, but it's not going to help anybody if either of you continues to neglect your negative emotions..." Pyrrha turned her body away from him once again. "...because it is going to lead to more than just you being hurt. It's already putting a strain on the rest of our friends. They are actively choosing between you and Weiss."

"Pyrrha..."

"I've already voiced my displeasure with this scenario, Jaune," she continued, not giving Jaune a chance to speak up for himself. "To both you and Weiss. Each of you are handling the situation poorly. However, it doesn't matter anymore. Putting the blame on one person will not solve your problem."

Jaune brought his hands up to his face, wiping the tension out of his muscles. "I get it," he said, getting Pyrrha to stop. "Running away from my problems..."

"Something that hasn't changed since we were kids," Pyrrha cut in, reminding him of the old days. A snicker leaving her lips. "Still keeping your childhood personality is both one of your best features as well as your biggest flaw. A lot of our friends haven't changed for the better, however, so you have that one advantage. Being dorky, and still having that active imagination does help with your image."

Jaune felt himself blush at the notion. Sure he had grown up and acquired new tastes over time, but he could agree there wasn't a lot of change. Pyrrha didn't seem to think it was a bad thing. However, he wasn't sure if his other friends felt about it in the same way.

The sound of the lunch bell signalled the end of their conversation. Pyrrha quickly packed up her lunch and stood up from the bench. A quick swipe of her hand removed any trace of crumbs that remained on her clothes.

"Listen, Jaune," Pyrrha spoke up once again. "Please do talk to Weiss sometime. It would be good for each of you to sort out your feelings and get over this. If not to clear things up with her, then do it for Ruby. I will admit it rubs me the wrong way to see her so sad. It brings down the rest of us, and Nora has to compensate."

Not gonna happen for a while... Even if Nora is terrorising everyone.

"I know," Jaune admitted, feeling like crap about Ruby. "But it's not a good time for me to go talk to her. I want to keep my distance until I'm ready. Things are kind of difficult for me right now..."

Jaune knew Pyrrha meant well, but she couldn't do anything to help him. His problem went far beyond him and Weiss. However, just showing up and being there for him was as much as Jaune could hope for.

"Of course," she agreed, turning to head back inside the building. "You need to do this at your own pace. Don't try to rush it if you can't help it... Also, I'm here if you want to talk." She looked back at him once again, staring at him as if she was expecting something to happen. "Are you coming or are you going to skip class?"

How did she know?

"I-I'm coming," Jaune answered, making up his mind on it. "Ruby would come looking for me if I did. You would tell her where I am too."

"Maybe..."

[Vale: Later that night.]

Jaune crouched down on a rooftop, surveying the city from above. The sounds of the metropolis echoing throughout the night sky. Millions of lights ensured there would be no darkness on this most auspicious of evenings. His hair blowing in the wind, getting pushed back behind his ears.

Jaune felt the need for blood. His every fibre needed it. His body constantly throbbing, feeling the urge to hunt something. Nothing like the pain he felt earlier, but one from the adrenaline pumping through his veins. His right-hand burned.

Tonight, let the curtains of our Grand Guignol rise... The grand stage shall be open to all...

Jaune felt it.

He turned around completely, looking for the exact source of this feeling. It was off in the distance, sequestered in a series of brick buildings containing apartments. One of the poorer sides of town.

He transformed into his bat form, clearing the distance almost instantaneously. He touched down in an alleyway, knowing the source to be just in the darkness. His eyes could not see it just yet. But he knew it was there.

This aura emanating from the shadows was nothing like those vampires Jaune had met last night. It was nothing like Weiss'. It was a vile miasma that corrupted all living things. It was potent, as well. Jaune feeling this hatred deep within his bones. Any normal person would have collapsed in the presence of this creature.

Jaune headed deeper into the alley. He could hear what sounded like a struggle going on within. A young woman fighting back an attack. It looked like her assailant had the upper hand. Her hormones permeating the air for a second only to be snuffed out by this aura.

Rounding a final corner, Jaune finally witnessed this creature. It was a man. Nearly Jaune's own height and build. He was dressed in loose white rags, tattering as they hung off his body. His skin, white as snow, but not pale. An albino. The same with his hair, mimicking the lack of melanin. His long locks parted down the middle, flowing down to his shoulders.

The woman he had within her arms was put into a stiff headlock. Jaune could tell she was pregnant. Her hormones and bulging stomach giving his the signs. A look of fear on her face. Jaune couldn't stand by and watch.

"HEY," he spoke up loudly, giving some presence to his voice. Jaune's kips curling back into a half-snarl.

The man looked Jaune's way. His lips curling into a disgusted sneer. "You dare speak that way to me, Boy," he replied angrily, almost shouting. His accent thick. A central European origin, Jaune guessed.

He twisted his arms only a little bit, snapping the woman's neck with ease. Her corpse dropping like a rock, hitting the floor with a light thud. He stepped over her body, heading straight for Jaune. The boy, in turn, backing away slightly.

"You pathetic inbred monkey," the man shouted again. "Where do you get off, shouting at me like that when you haven't even lived more than a quarter-century? YOU THINK YOU CAN TALK TO ME LIKE AN EQUAL?!"

He came closer and closer to Jaune. The boy staring into his eyes. The eyes of another vampire. Jaune feeling every ounce of the man's might, just from his mere presence.

Only after a few seconds without a word, the man's expression changed from one of anger to pure unadulterated joy. His smile stretching across his lips, showing his fangs. Jaune's own snarl vanishing in a mere instance. Their tense standoff broken by the sudden change in mood.

Then the man spoke, slightly cocking his head to the side.

"Ah... Leonhardt..."

So, Pyrrha and Jaune's conversation was meant to be a tough love lecture. Basically, she politely tells him to get over himself and go talk to Weiss. Just in a sympathetic way as Pyrrha would do so.

Based this oath off of the Oath of Enlightenment, which was actually pretty close to the final product you have here. I know there is a lot more that goes into something such as the Ubermensch, but I've simplified it to make it fun for the game.

Oath of The Ubermensch:

The Oath of The Ubermensch is a sacred vow of self-development. The ultimate goal for those who swear to it is to become the Ubermensch. The followers of this path are members of mystic orders or individuals who find themselves searching for the greatest of causes. Through sheer willpower and constant meditation, one can develop themselves enough to establish their own set of values, and break the notion of living one's life from day to day, being another part of the grand stage with nothing to show for it.

Tenets of The Ubermensch:

Life is Meaningless:

There are no evils,

There are no sins,

There are no further chains that might bind you,

All taboos have been rendered meaningless.

There is nothing in this life that calls for meaning. Everything is merely an arbitrary creation of another human. Life has no direction or purpose beyond survival. Those who swear to this path must find acceptance with this one truth. You must surpass this crux and formulate your own ideas.

Passionate:

You must believe in the power of yourself with all your heart. Your passion shall mould those around you. You must not suppress any emotions, feeling all that is natural to you. You must weed out those who would impose their own boundaries onto others.

Oath Spells:

3rd: Armor of Agathys, Compelled duel

5th: Detect thoughts, Enhance ability

9th: Plant growth, Remove curse

13: Dimension door, Banishment

17th: Cloudkill, Conjure volley

Channel Divinity:

3rd level:

Longinuslanze Testament:

You summon a holy lance imbued with the power of the sun. This lance is your creation. A figment of the willpower you behold. An object that subverts all known creation, loyal only to yourself. To strike something down with this weapon imbues fire damage onto the target. This is additional to the base damage of a lance plus your attack bonus equivalent to 2D6 of damage per turn if they fail a constitution check. This is reduced to 1D6 of damage if they succeed.

Mind Over Matter:

You augment the strength of your body with the might of your will. When you fail a saving throw or break your concentration on a spell. You may use Channel Divinity as a reaction to succeed.

Aura of Will:

Starting at the 7th level, you may use your willpower to affect those around you. Your enemies will become ill with your very presence before them. All must perform a constitution roll to defy your own.

Superhuman Endurance:

Beginning at the 15th level, you can stimulate your body through pure willpower when threatened. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to gain resistance to that instance of damage.

Thus Spoke Zarathustra:

At level 20, you may use the mastery of your willpower to affect the very world around you. Counting as an action, you gain the most potent capacity of your entire being. You gain the following benefits for 3 minutes:

You are capable of stopping time for the duration of this ability. You may cast spells without the cost of components. You have advantage over attacks.

After using this feature, you must take a long rest before it is able to be used again.