Chapter 18! Story's officially legal guys!
Nerdy: ugh…. *facepalm*
REVIEWS
DeltaGhost: Yeah, but this is a fic. Besides, if you check, you'll find that poly relationships are not that uncommon. Also, everything here is not really based on real-life stuff situations. That is not to say Pyrrha will be ok with joining the Harem from the get to go, we will carefully build towards that.
Nerdy: 8 bit pirate - indeed Modeus will. Pyrrha may be innocent now but who knows if that will last?
Wolfang21: Thanks for the help fam, but if Doomie comes back we might have to pull out some of the higher tier mofos. I am talking about the likes of 106, 049, 3000, and maybe one or two Thaumiel Class ones. Also, don't be worried, we do have Drunken Conquest, the fic in which I can promise good, WHOLESOME interactions between Ruby and Jaune.
Faightan Gaims: Then stick around to find out!
Nerdy: renokana - in short, yes.
Tsun: BIG ASS REV, HOMMIE! Gonna need to break it into pieces like before.
1: His strength will grow yes, and his OP-ness will develop in time. Read this chapter, for Origin has been foreshadowed. While not really on the same level, he should be decent enough to bash Cardin.
2: Plot convenience or the fact the girls have more limited magic, as it was mentioned before, and opening portals is more easy than altering the mind. Also, creating stuff only works with Abyss stuff, that stuff would drive people mad otherwise.
3: We will try to make differences from Cannon as much as possible, but some big events will still have to happen, such as the fight at the docks, the breach, etc. Only that they will be our own versions.
4: So far, the biggest change in him was that he learned to be honest with his feelings, not suppressing them as he has until now. It made him more open about what bothers him and whatnot.
5: Also, calm your horses! Origin WILL be used soon.
Random Quest: I'd say that the ones who are combat-good, like Lucy, Beel, Judgement, and Justice, even weakened in the human realm, could probably hold well against Salem for a while.
Nerdy: Deans1000 - he will get more forward in time but it has to be a natural progression.
Server Lock: ANOTHER BIG ONE!
1: Oh yeah, that is pretty accurate, ngl. If I were to guess, it has been less than a century.
2: Aura Sealing is not a well-guarded secret as far as its existence goes, but doing it is another story. Training is needed to learn how to seal someone's Aura, and even then, as said, before MANY TIMES, the stuff is regulated and there are laws against using that without solid reason or permission from a council.
3: I do not wish to spoil anything, but you are pretty right. Such a talk will happen someday, but not before Jaune feels he is ready to face that man again.
The second round was finished about ten minutes ago, the students have received a break period again to mend their wounds and rest. The ten students who made it further all were resting in their lockers, preparing for the next round. It has yet to be announced what it will be, the events being shuffled every year, but the Selection always ended wit fight between the first and second place. That much was certain to Jaune as he sat in his chair, Beel having left to grab some snacks for them. He was thinking about the levels of skill shown here today and reflecting on the tournament itself. He realized that he was still behind some of those people, despite his hellish training. Literally.
But when it comes to others - granted those are the ones who got knocked out at the start - he was not that far off. Sure, they were the top 50 last years of Sanctum, but it didn't seem that all of them had the same level of skills. That was obvious when one of the students mindlessly tried to charge with a large hammer, trying to hit with speed instead of making use of their large frame to tank hits and dish out heavy strikes. That was really stupid of that one guy.
It seems some of the students still did not know how to properly weigh out their options and think of effective strategies, having only the basic knowledge and skill needed to fight low-grade Grimm and they still showed difficulties with that in the second round. The only ones he could honestly offer praise to were the top 5 students, one being Pyrrha. He had no idea she was that big of a deal when they met, which actually explains her behavior at the time.
It was reminding him of Lucifer in a way and himself. They were lonely, always stuck at the top, where those below either try to buddy up with you or are too scared to act casual; or at the bottom, where no one spares even a glance towards you and just walks away, leaving you to crawl. Lucifer was at the top, having only Justice as a true friend and maybe Judgement. But everyone else was a subject or high-ranked demon searching for a favor. And he was at the bottom, ignored and rejected. But now they were in the middle, where they stood as equals.
He wondered what Pyrrha felt about it all. Was she feeling the loneliness at the top? He kinda figured it out that people have likely tried to befriend her for her fame and reputation. He sighed, leaning back on his seat, his new sheath, which needs a name, touching the chair. But back on the students. All in all, his own set of skills just needed to grow some more and he was confident he could count among the top 30 or 25 students of Sanctum in terms of skill. Not to mention he already faced the worst in Hell.
Despite having Ignium's skills at the time, which included Blood Binder which nullified his fear, that isn't to say remembering all of that didn't terrify him now. His hand shook at times when he did remember. But it was alright, he knew it. He was not marked or affected, just scared of how different the Grimm and demonic beasts differ. The demonic beings were once someone from Remnant, that much he figured it out. Except the ones truly born from Hell, some of those creatures were people once. He knows they deserved it for the lives they lived, but taking lives like that is bound to affect someone in one way or another. But he prevailed.
He looked around the arena, seeing the empty field. No sign of the contestants yet, meaning the break was not over. He didn't know when it would be, but no use to worry about it now. One thing that did bother him and was the number of students. If every fight is conducted as a 1V1 from here, since he assumed the fights will be round three, then the number will eventually fall to 5, an odd number. No one can do a pairing with that, so he watched and waited for the announcer to shout again and let everyone know the third rounds' settings.
"Here you go, darling." He turned his head to see Beel with a bag of chips in her hand, handing it to him. He was so deep in thought he didn't even notice her return. "Are you ok, Jaune? You were spacing out." She pointed out, catching him in the act.
"Yeah, just thinking about the students and how they performed," he replied.
"Meh. You do not need to worry" Judgement said, then she took a swing of her soda. When she put the can down she continued. "From what I can see a good part of them should be around your level, more or less. I am confident you could pull a win against some of those guys if you get serious"
"That's...nice of you say, Judge," Jaune replied, giving her a warm smile. The demon girl looked away a bit, hiding a small blush.
"Don't mention it, I am just stating the truth" The demon replied, but Jaune could tell she was out of element here. Since she no longer had to hide her kind personality she got more...girly, would be the right word? She was still a merciless demoness that liked to work him like a slave when training him and she was still all in for that awe and struck stuff, but she seemed to relax some more.
"And the truth you have said, Judgement," Lucifer added, adding her own input while enjoying some popcorn. "After all, I wouldn't go around choosing a weak man."
"Well, he was weak at first, not going to deny that," Judgement said.
"Hey! I came a long way in those months!" Jaune protested.
"Maybe, but as said here, you still have a long way to go." Lucifer countered, flashing him a cocky smile. "It'll be a lot of time until you can call yourself a warrior, Jaune."
"Oh, stop you two," Beel said, taking her seat. "Jaune is training his ass off every day ever since we all moved in, so I think he deserves some honest praising."
"No, it's ok, Beel" Jaune replied. "They were just being real, that's all. I know I still got a long road ahead of me, but with you girls by my side I know I will make it to the end."
"Aww. That's sweet of you to say, Darling." Beel replied, leaning onto him slightly.
"Too sweet at times if you ask me…" Judgement muttered.
"Shush you three, it is starting!" Lucifer said, noticing the final ten students coming out into the arena. They all lined up in the middle, not taking into account their positions in the rankings.
"THE THIRD ROUND IS HERE, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN! NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY MENTIONING THIS! THERE HAS BEEN A BONUS FOR THE FIRST ROUND WINNER TO SOMEWHAT EVEN THINGS OUT, AND THEY HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THE FINAL ROUND! AS SUCH, PYRRHA NIKOS WILL NOT TAKE PART IN THE THIRD ROUND, BUT MOVE STRAIGHT TO THE FIRST ONE!"
This stunned the audience and Jaune even, the Selection not failing to surprise everyone even in those days. He watched Pyrrha step aside from the arena, going into the hallways. It looked like she would have some spare time before she needed to participate again. After she left the announcement continued.
"NOW, ALLOW ME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE THIRD ROUND NOW! THE THIRD ROUND SHALL BE A TRIANGLE ROYAL FIGHT BETWEEN THE NINE PARTICIPANTS, WHO WILL BE SEPARATED INTO THREE SETS OF THREE AND FIGHT UNTIL THEIR OPPONENTS ARE EITHER OUT OF BOUNDS OR IN THE RED! AFTER THOSE THREE FIGHTS ARE DONE, THE ONES WHO CAME OUT ON TOP WILL BE ALLOWED AN ONE HOUR REST PERIOD THEN COMMENCE ONE LAST TRIANGLE FIGHT AND THE WINNER OF THAT WILL FIGHT THE CURRENT LEADER IN THE RANKINGS, PYRRHA NIKOS!"
Well, the Selection surely doesn't fail to surprise the audience, that much was obvious to Jaune. He waited to see the fight commence, but then he felt his scroll buzz. A text? He felt himself get worried as he thought it was one of the girls back one texting him to tell him the house was no more, but as he got it out his heart rate went back to normal when he saw it was just Pyrrha who texted him. Good.
He opened it and read it, the redhead apparently asking to meet outside the arena if he'd like. "Is it that girl?" Lucifer asked, leaning and peaking at his scroll to confirm it. "I see. Well, I don't think you should keep her waiting, Jaune. Or rather said, we shouldn't keep her waiting" Her words got his attention.
"What do you mean, Lucy? You want to meet her?" He asked, feeling somewhat nervous since Lucifer wanted to meet Pyrrha. He knew he was in a strange relationship with multiple girls, but polygamy was not that uncommon in Remnant, there being even a couple like that in Ansel. But still, it is not seen with good eyes by everyone. He hoped Lucifer would not say anything to make him seem like a bad person to Pyrrha, or weird. Hell's common sense is not like the Remnant common sense.
"Sure. You seem fond of the girl and I want to meet her, mainly to make sure she doesn't end up stealing you from us" Lucifer replied with a hint of jealousy in her voice. He knew demons didn't mind sharing, but maybe she was worried he'd ditch the supernatural girls for a human one? Like him? That sounded about right to him, seeing as, while they do not mind sharing him, they would be wary of anyone trying to take him away from them all.
A bit ironic, really.
"I doubt she would if she knew you girls laid your claim already " He replied with a smile, a small innocent one seeing that Lucifer was actually acting a bit jealous. It made her seem somewhat more human this way instead of the devil herself. However, his words didn't seem to really appease her, so he flashed her a larger, forced smile and waved his hand around to disarm the bomb before it blew up. "I mean, not that you alone are not enough to intimidate other girls, Lucy, you do have your own charms that make other ladies jealous." Jaune prayed to both the Brother Gods and God himself for help.
And his prayers be answered, Lucifer smirked. "And do make sure to remember that, Jaune." She replied, the boy letting free a cheer of victory in his soul. "Either way, let's not keep the poor darling waiting, shall we? Judgement can take notes on the fights"
"No issue here, Jaune!" Added the mentioned demon.
"In that case…Let's go?"
Pyrrha Nikos was a girl of many talents and virtues, or that is what she likes to think. Luckily, she was certain patience was a virtue she had as she waited outside the arena in the cold, having gotten her pass to leave until tomorrow when the final fight would take place. Her Aura was keeping her warm, despite the cold outside and her somewhat revealing armor. She was waiting for Jaune, having spotted him in the audience earlier in the company of three other women of shorter stature. They looked somewhat mature and older despite their height, and their whitish hair was strange. Family trait? Maybe they were some kind of Faunus?
No, better not think like that. It is rude to assume one's race. Besides, he did mention he was renting a room, so maybe they were other tenants? He did mention the ones training him were female. At least he was being honest with her, not hiding details.
She stayed still, waiting for him to show up, she looked over her scroll again to make sure the message did get sent when she heard someone's voice. "Pyrrha!" She turned around, seeing Jaune walk to her with another girl in tow. Or rather said, woman, seeing the way she carried herself. Proud and confident, definitely not some school girl but an experienced woman. She also caught sight of something else, something new; two swords on Jaune's back held in a new sheath, one recognizing as the one he had last night. "Glad to see you're doing fine. I also wanted to congratulate you on your ranking. Also...YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOU WERE THE TOP STUDENT OF SANCTUM!" He said a little bit louder than intended, but Pyrrha understood.
She nervously replied. "Sorry!" before she began to explain. "I just thought that, well...Dust, how should I put it?"
"Having problems trying to justify your little white lie, Invincible Girl?" Lucifer said, teasing Pyrrha a bit. "Just take a breath, sister, and answer truthfully. Jaune is too much of a soft dork to hold a grudge over something so simple."
"I don't know if I should be mad or take that as a compliment," Jaune muttered. "But Lucif- Lucy has a point, Pyrrha." He said, almost dropping his companion's actual name in the mix by mistake. "I am not mad or anything, but I do wanna know why you'd lie to me. I mean, I know we only knew each other for a bit, but I think I'd know if you were a...Oh, I get it now."
"Exactly, Jaune." Pyrrha sighed. "The reason I lied to you was not that I didn't like you, but because I am sick of people treating me like, well...Me, the Invincible Girl, instead of me, Pyrrha Nikos, redhead Huntress-in-training. I thought that, since you seemed oblivious, if you wouldn't know the whole truth then you wouldn't change to be like all those other people who-"
"Stop," Lucifer said, commanding her. "Look, Pyrrha? I get what you have on your heart, but next time please try not to give Jaune here a heart attack, ok?"
"Hey, don't talk as if I am not here!" Jaune said quickly, then he turned to Pyrrha. "But yeah, that's kinda it. I was surprised to find out all of that about you, but I am not mad. Better find out now than later when we are sparring, because now I know you will be kicking my butt." He said, admitting his lack of skill which made Pyrrha snort.
"So...We are still...friends?" She asked, to which she received a smile from both Jaune and Lucifer. She then lunged forth at Jaune, crushing him in a hug. Lucifer looked at the two, but not with jealousy, but with pride. Pyrrha was like her, more than the girl realized. She was lonely at the top but wanted to go down for a long time now. A difference from Lucifer who had to be dragged, but in the end both were shown the way by the blonde.
However, ever after Jaune returned her hug, the champion seemed to take one too many seconds in it. "Oh...He didn't lie when he said they were training him well," Pyrrha thought, feeling his muscles in the hug. She took distance from him afterwards, a light blush on her cheeks. "So, I see you got a new sword and sheath...Any reason for the quick change?"
"It wasn't really a quick one, more like just the timing making it seem so." Jaune replied, pulling out both Crocea Mors and Clarent. "Lucy here and another of the girls I am living with got me this sword. " He showed her Clarent, Pyrrha taking a second to marvel at the blade. She saw the symbols and soft glow, wondering what they meant and if Dust was used to make the sword. "The sword is also a classic, so no alternative forms, but I did have to get a new shield-sheath for them both. Now, the shield is the one with new modifications, having a-"
"Jaune, darling, I think you better reveal the secrets of your new shield at the house, during your spar. It would be wiser to take her by surprise." Lucifer suggested, Jaune nodding his head and letting out a small laugh.
"Sorry Pyrrha, looks like you will need to learn the painful way." Jaune replied jokingly, Pyrrha putting on her own little smile of mischief.
"Well, at least I know the pain will be on your side of things, Jaune" She said back, allowing herself to act a bit cheeky about it. Jaune and Lucifer both snorted hearing her, chuckling.
"Touche, Miss Nikos," Jaune said, then the announcement played in the arena.
"AND WITH THAT, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, THE THIRD ROUND'S FIRST HALF ENDS WITH THE LAST FIGHT COMMENCING IN 1 HOUR! THE WINNER OF THIS FIGHT SHALL FACE PYRRHA NIKOS IN THE FINALS!"
"That was quick!" Jaune said aloud, then he looked back at Pyrrha who seemed to have gotten tenser, a serious expression on her lips. "Something the matter?"
"Huh?" She turned to them. "Oh, sorry, I didn't realize I was staring. But yes, one of the competitors, Azul Salieri, is most likely the reason the round is over so quickly. His semblance is...problematic, and it has earned him the second place in Sanctum"
"How problematic are we talking about here?" Lucifer asked out of curiosity.
"Very. He uses it all the time, virtually abusing it." Pyrrha replied. "The teachers and everyone tells him not to rely on it for everything, but he is stubborn and doesn't really listen. He is from Vale, actually, from the countryside. So maybe that explains it as I heard people from there can be like this"
Jaune hummed a bit hearing her, thinking a bit. "Details about it?" He asked, trying to see what information Pyrrha had. He had seen many cool semblances in there, so she needed to be more accurate if Jaune was to think of advice for her.
"It's like he teleports around!" She said. "One moment he is there, the other is over there. He can do the same with weapons too, or objects in general. I do think he burns his aura fast."
"I see. In that case, why not try to outlast him on Aura?" He suggested, catching Pyrrha's attention. "It is clear he can disarm you and moves around quicker, but if you can tank out enough of his hits until he can no longer use his semblance then you should get the advantage. Not mention if you can use your semblance to deflect his weapon like you did-"
"How do you know about my semblance?" Pyrrha asked, stunned. No one knew her semblance, only a chosen few. It was a secret.
"Oh, I noticed you using it back in the first round" He revealed, surprising Pyrrha. To be able to see her use her semblance so quickly and put the pieces together was astonishing. What she didn't know, however, was how Jaune had to dodge fireballs in Hell, then Judgement's punches. He got quite the sharp eye from having to keep up with those.
"I see...Well, I guess there is no hiding it now. Can you keep the secret?" He nodded. "My semblance is polarity. I can control magnetism, to put it simply"
"That would explain your title' Lucifer remarked. "Changing the trajectory of weapons so they miss, giving the impression you are untouchable. Clever, I must say."
Pyrrha blushed a little at the compliment. "Thanks."
"And it is really a cool semblance." Jaune added, adding to her blush as well. "I mean, the applications of it are amazing just to think about! But I guess it is only fair to tell you mine as well. Now, when I said it kicks ass, I was not kidding."
"What's your semblance then, Jaune?" Pyrrha asked out of curiosity.
"I call it Aura Overdrive." He said, already catching her attention. "I can amplify mine or the aura of others, but also, depending on my mood, recharge my Aura faster or slower."
"Amplify Aura?!" Pyrrha said aoud, stunned by the concept. If one were to amplify the effects of their Aura then the natural protection would grow, the semblances would be stronger, and the healing would be faster as well and more intense. His semblance, as she saw it, had a lot of uses both for him and others. He was right when he said it was kick-ass, because it was. "Have you ever tried it on others?" She looked at Lucifer.
"I do not have Aura, sorry." She said, dismissing the bomb. Demons did not have Aura, they were like Grimm. They simply couldn't have one. "However, another friend of ours does, but it is weak. Her semblance is nice, however." She said, confusing Jaune. Then he remembered Judgement. Her chains could pass as a semblance, after all, so he figured out it was a plausible explanation. "Her Aura and semblance grew a lot, it was honestly ridiculous." Ok, now she was bullshiting for his sake.
"Can you...If it's not too much to ask that is, amplify mine for a bit to see how it is?" Pyrrha asked, however, when she did, Jaune felt an itch in his arms. Origin. He didn't know how, but he knew it. He had it for half a year now, and he has not taken any semblance with it. Was this an effect of it? If he touches Pyrrha now, he might take her semblance, leaving her without it for a day. He could not risk it.
"Sorry, Pyrrha. I cannot. Not that I cannot or don't want to, but I dislike using my semblance too much in public. It is kinda flashy and attracts stares." Lucifer looked at him, noticing the lie he told. Pyrrha, on the other hand, didn't notice he was lying and simply looked down a bit.
"Oh. I see. Well, that's fine, we could do it another time if that is fine?" She asked, still curious about his power.
"Sure." He said, this time truthfully. He had to research Origin some more before he could be more confident being around her or touching her for that reason. The girls did not have semblances, so it was fine. He thought about asking Mr. Colt for his, but that would imply telling him about his venture into Hell, which was not a good idea. "Anyway, our other companions are likely to be here any moment now once the last fight is over. I want to see it all to the end, so I think I will head back. But do you want to meet later after the fight? I'd like to introduce you to the others."
"Hmm. Send me a message and I will see if I got time, ok?" She asked, to which he nodded. "Great. I guess I will see you later, Jaune." She said, then she began walking off, Jaune and Lucifer doing the same back inside the arena. However, Lucifer spoke up during their walk.
"You lied to her." She said, pointing out his sin. "You got better at controlling your semblance since Hell, so it is not that flashy when used for simpler actions such as amping. Why, Jaune?"
"It's Origin" He said, making her arch an eyebrow. He was rubbing his right arm, scratching the now calming itch. "It is reacting to other people with a semblance. Powerful ones. Almost as if it is alive…"
"I see. We will have to ask Beel to help me run a small spell or two on you to make sure that thing is not doing anything bad to your body and soul" She said. "Other than that, you better keep your promise to that girl next time you meet."
"We Arc never go back on our word." He said, eventually arriving with Lucifer back to their seats, the fight starting again just a little while later. There, Jaune was able to spot the boy Pyrrha mentioned earlier, his name having been announced since he came out on top. It was obvious now, Jaune could see it. His Aura was low, having only used his semblance about five times before it was halfway through the yellow. Azure Salieri. He was standing proudly with his spear in hand, a proud expression on his face.
Both him and the girls agreed that Pyrrha had her work cut out for her, but from what Jaune could see he was already working on a plan for Pyrrha to give her an edge. He knew this might be unfair, but it is not against the rules to discuss strategy with a friend, correct?
Sorry for the shorter chapter guys. Busy with school and stuff. KILL ME!
Discord server: /TbyNN3qPhB
Nerdy: the waifu has finally arrived. Also, for anyone who has been following my account, the stories will continue, albeit at a slower pace than this. I know a certain someone will be very happy to hear this.
