The Vytal Tournament. Most would say that this was the Vytal Festival itself. The truth was that it was much closer to the climax and end of the entire Festival. Student representatives from the four academies fighting one another for sport in a showing about unity and peace between the four kingdoms. Jeanne doesn't get it, especially considering the spectacle that these tournaments seem to have. The fans' support, while nice and a definite welcome in Remnant, can be just as terrible when the one their supporting loses. It is inevitable in competition. While the competitors may be respectful enough, the larger the number of fans, the higher the chances that there would be bad eggs among them.
Team JNPR are making their way to the arena. The bright light at the end of their metallic tunnel was just as blinding as the noise from it was deafening. Cheers and chants mesh together into an incomprehensible mess of noises. When the light had dissipated, Jeanne could see that at the center of it all was the ring. A circle of metallic plates elevated from the ground through a series of steps. Making their way on it, from behind them, the same kind of barrier that they had during combat class appeared.
Team JNPR and their opponent, team BRNZ, then met at the center. There were three boys and one girl from that team. From what Jeanne could see through Jaune's eyes, their weapons were some kind of razor disks, a baton, claws and a sniper. The girl holding the sniper was their ranged attacker? Presumably, she would keep her distance while the rest of her team engages in the melee. Then again, most of the weapons of this world is also another weapon.
Presumably the leader of team BRNZ, the boy using the claws was standing in the middle. He was whispering to his team. It was inaudible and even if it was, it would have to be coded. Not necessarily complex but a simple team formation or maybe some kind of team attack. Jeanne knows that their own team had some just like it.
As Professor Port and Doctor Oobleck were announcing from the booth, the barrier that held the two teams began to show their stages being randomized. It was split in two, one for their side and the other for their opponents. On team JNPR's end, their stage shows a stormy mountain. To create weather conditions in a controlled environment like this must have been some logistical nightmare. Rocks and boulders were scattered on their side providing cover from range attacks with the aforementioned mountain being in its middle.
On team BRNZ's side, they received dense forestry. Excellent for stealth and would definitely aid in cutting their opponents off and picking them one-by-one. The trees also provide a height advantage that their sniper could use. Depending on the thickness and strength of the wood, bladed weapons may be stuck on them and there is the risk of wooden pieces flying off like shrapnel. If the trees were set on fire, that was another tactic that could be used.
The countdown for the match had begun. Jeanne, still dematerialized, was observing their opponents. It was the initially plan for team JNPR. They needed to draw out their opponents before they could capitalize with their numbers. Team JNPR also had a quality to them. Pyrrha Nikos being a championship fighter who has beaten entire teams was definitely a threat. Nora Valkyrie was a powerhouse when it came to raw strength while not being slowed down, and her synergy with Lie Ren was second to none. While Jaune may be the most unassuming when compared to the rest, that will be used to his advantage.
"They might come for me," Jaune reasoned before the match began. "Be it as leader or just as a sort of weak-link. If they get me out, they'll think they have a huge advantage. We can use that."
At first, Pyrrha had protested such an action saying, "you shouldn't risk yourself like that, Jaune."
"It's alright," Jaune defended. "Jeanne will stay dematerialized until then. Once that happens, we'll get the jump on them."
As such, even now, Jeanne chose to stay in her spirit form. That might explain the few confused faces the audience members have when looking at the picture of Jaune and her. Namely, that she herself was seemingly absent.
"…2," declared Port. "1. Begin!"
Team JNPR, with Jaune leading the charge, clashed with team BRNZ. As predicted, the sniper of their team had split from the rest, taking cover among the trees. The bright colors of her clothing made her rather easier to find though. Still, with the other three engaging in the melee, it didn't matter that she was easier to see.
As team BRNZ executed their plan, so too did team JNPR. Jaune and Pyrrha had their shields up as they blocked the view from their three opponents. This resulted in all members essentially being split into a series of single battles with the unlucky member of BRNZ having to handle the only duo of Ren and Nora.
A single shot fired past Jaune's side. The sniper had already begun her harassment. Shooting between all the members to break whatever momentum JNPR may have in order to build their own rhythm.
"Jeanne!" he shouted. "Let's keep two of them on us!"
"Right!"
Their opponent, the one using the disk-saws suddenly felt a change in the momentum. It was a small one at first, a sudden thrust. An invisible swing. Each time Jaune's opponent would strike at his shield, Jeanne would manifest only partially to break his momentum. The moment's opening was then abused as Jaune attacked with his own sword and shield. It was efficient on the aura levels as Jeanne never really stayed beyond those minute moments.
The rate of fire on Jaune was increasing. That was good. By splitting themselves, team BRNZ would be at a disadvantage when it came to one-on-one battles. The strategy, Jeanne guessed, is that they would knock each member of team JNPR one-by-one until they would have the advantage. Jaune's opponent seemed to be the strongest and fastest among them. It was possible that they planned on having him take out Jaune early and thus secure the numbers.
Pyrrha's opponent was using claws. Given her semblance, those claws would not be as effective being metal. If he were creative, the reach of that metal could be utilized. Pyrrha wasn't one to be showy with her semblance, often keeping it a secret. The claws reach also meant that he had to get in close. Not everything he wore was metal and that can be used which he did. Kicks and knees were thrown in the mix which Pyrrha could not subtly move aside.
Ren and Nora's opponent was rather skillful. He was using a baton and had to deal with Nora's strength and Ren's finesse. Most importantly, he had to deal with their teamwork. Next to Jaune and Jeanne, it was him that received more support from the sniper in the trees.
Thus far, the battle has only occurred in the middle. Team JNPR was slowly making ground with a few setbacks here and there.
"Nora!" Jaune then shouted much to Jeanne's surprise. "Get to the mountain!"
"You got it!"
Jeanne hadn't noticed it yet but the mountain now has a rather small cumulonimbus cloud. The thunder and lightning had begun to cover a larger area of the mountain.
Jaune then turned inward. "Jeanne, let's get to that sniper."
"Yes, Jaune."
As Jaune and his opponent then clashed once more, Jeanne manifested herself fully. With a full frontal kick, their opponent was tossed aside. Not enough to knock him out, but more than enough to clear the path.
From the announcer booth, professor Port can be heard commenting on the current situation. "It seems that team JNPR's fifth member has finally showed herself ladies and gentlemen."
"That's right, my dear audience." Doctor Oobleck's speedier speech seemed to be best fit for these sorts of things. "Mr. Arc's Semblance allows him to summon a familiar. Not just any familiar but one who could think and act on her own. In so doing, JNPR essentially acts as a five-man team. This allows them to have the advantage of numbers and afford a tactical flexibility that traditional four-man teams could not afford, such as allowing their other member, Miss Valkyrie to activate her semblance by using the lightning bolts that has appeared in the arena."
"What?" Jaune's opponent suddenly shouted in shock. "May, get her out of that mountain."
Unfortunately for them, the two blondes were already close to the sniper. Jaune kept his opponent in check while Jeanne leapt up to disrupt May's aim and thus allowing Nora to reach the mountain's peak unimpeded.
"Pyrrha! Ren!" Jaune then commanded them. "Gather them all here!"
"Done!" Pyrrha wasted no time at all. Combining both her semblance and a shield bash to throw the opponent into the forests.
Ren needed more time but he managed to do so by using the hooked nature of his weapons to grab and restrain his opponent. Ren then delivered a double-kick to the body and grabbed his opponent by the neck to throw him at the target.
A flock of grenades flew in a heart-shape. They were covered a rather small area but being explosives meant that explosion would be concentrated on the target. A target that Jaune and Jeanne were in the middle of.
"I did not think this as thoroughly as I thought I did," Jaune said.
"I got you, Jaune!" declared Jeanne. In an act of what seemed to be betrayal, Jeanne swung at Jaune like a baseball. It had a different purpose though. Namely, it got Jaune out the target area mere moments before the grenades fell. Pyrrha caught him as Jeanne quickly dematerialized.
Team BRNZ had taken the brunt of those explosives as they collectively lost a chunk of their aura. It was not finished yet as Nora descended from the skies her hammer held overhead. Slamming down, the ground shook from the impact as each member of BRNZ flew into the air.
"Pyrrha with a finish!"
Throwing her shield like a disk, Pyrrha used her semblance so that her shield hit each member and returned perfectly into her hand. The crowd cheered and roared with each successive strike of the bronze shield.
Team BRNZ then fell on the ground. Breathing but definitely unconscious. JNPR's victory was without a doubt.
"And with that!" Port declared. "It appears that team JNPR has won by knockout!"
AN: I'll never understand how those clouds managed to form in the arena other than magic.
