Multiplayer

by NeoShadows

Life is a game. In an attempt to save a friend during the Breach, Jaune Arc died. Brought back to life with powers of a Gamer, he must now attempt to beat the game called life. He's not alone though. Every win or lose ends in a Reset, so how will he beat a game that never ends?

13. Definition of Justice

Hey. It's NeoShadows.

Look, I'm not feeling too cheery right now. So forgive me for not uploading next week with a new chapter again. Or writing a DLC today. I've been exhausted, stressed, and depressed these last few days that I haven't even touched Chapter 14.

The reason? My Vet has given me some upsetting news. My little dog, Princess, has an infection inside her that's been making her really sick. The surgery to make her better is expensive and the only other option then treating it, is putting her down. It's been bringing me down, the poor girl won't even eat, I have to force feed her by clamping down her mouth to swallow. I have a few days to gather the money for the surgery, or else I have no choice but to end her suffering. As you can guess, all this has been draining and stressful. So I won't be writing for a bit. I have to focus on my little Princess these next few days.

Don't take this as a sign that I'm done writing. Not again. With Fairy Tail, it was because I was coming up with writer's block after writers block, making up stories with no clear endings or plots, and fulfilling my fan fueled fantasies. This story is different, it actually has a plot and its ideas are written down instead of just thought of that very day. I've written too much to leave it behind. So I'll be back, no matter what happens these next few days. I don't want to disappoint my readers again.

Alright, enough with the depressing mood! Let's get to some reviews.

GhostHornet: I will stomp you, just you wait. And 4th grade batsuit? Damn, I can't beat that. That's beyond anything I got to stop you. You bastard.

EiNyx: Well, a lot of what you have to say is kinda hard to swallow. But none the less, there is a reason for them. For Ren, it's suppose to be hard to like him so early in the story. He's not a bad guy, but he just doesn't care anymore. Which makes you wonder how he'll grow through out the story. Will stay the same? Or will he somehow have a change of heart? And how? As for the pacing, the story has only just begun. Literally. This is going to be epic in length, so there is a lot to tell. I don't like stories where you're already in Volume 3 after a few chapters. Especially with so much changing now. And OC's? They will be part of the story, but not in any too important roles. It's not like I'll randomly throw in some OP OC that can obliterate any Grimm with a swing of their weapon and get all the ladies. Can't tell ya how much I hate those. Or self inserts. I hate to say it, but I did that once in one of my stories. And boy do I regret it. Jaune is still starting out, he's a Noob. Boy has a lot of catching up to do, but he's getting there in his own pace. Your review doesn't come of like a flame, if anything it helps me work over some things. No such thing as a bad reviews. . . .Unless you're a Guest who can't even spell properly.

De Etan: Huh. That's really refreshing to hear. I'm glad you enjoy the OC's! They were interesting to develop and write, it's good to hear that you like them. Glad you're following the story.

Wandai: The review thing, yeah, that's still something I'm mulling over. I can't come up with a decision honestly. Writing the emotions playing through everyone was actually a bit difficult, so I'm glad you thought well of them. And trust me, you have yet to see the true OP bosses planned for this story. And Ren's Aspect is similar to a Command Center. Due to being the Mind, a lot of what he's capable of does rely on information. More to tell as the story goes on.

The NakedFlame: Opposite this? Eh, no. But you'll have to see for yourself.

Benthino: Really? Sweet. Are minds seem to think alike. Creepy, but cool.

A Fan1204: Glad you enjoyed my stories before. Sorry for not updating them by the way. I'm glad you've taken a chance on this one and come to enjoy it. Don't worry about the Cros Hare thing, the fact you still like it is enough. Criticism is needed, and with what's going on this chapter I can see how you would want to see how this plays out more. I did feel the end for Cross was the more shining moment in the last chapter, a good way for the poor guy to go out. And I love his play on words name, didn't think anyone else got that.

LoganHunter2: . . .Poetry. All I can say. But we'll have to wait and see how it plays out. Got a hell of a road in front of them.

Arvindr: Glad to hear. When I was planning this out, I knew I didn't want The Gamer aspect to completely control it. I grew so bored reading all that text describing the functions and such. As for Ren, honestly? I don't know. It came up as an idea while I was thinking this all over, back when this was originally a One Player game involving only Jaune. I wanted an opposition like force, something that shines a bleaker reality to such an idea. That, and I had been playing Undertale for a few hours while I was planning. The endless resets made me grow exhausted, tired, and want to quit. I just wanted to lie down and sleep the day away, like Ren. And then boom! Along with Ren becoming this jaded, tired Player, two other Players were born along with him. Making this a multiplayer game. It added something that not many of The Gamer stories had. He has such a role because it kinda fits him.

Alright, that's enough for today. I've got a lot to think about these next few days. God knows I've been lacking more sleep then usual. So enjoy the story.

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Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to RWBY. They belong to RoosterTeeth.

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Chapter 13: Definition of Justice.

Droplets of sweat flew by Jaune's face as he chopped another Beowolf in half. Panting, he raised his shield to block the flurry of claws wanting to tear him to shreds by its brother. Or cousin. Family friend? Did Grimm even reproduce like them? Let alone have friends? Things to think about when he wasn't dealing with a wave of wolf Grimm. Raking claws tore his back in his defending position. Another Beowolf had been released from the caged doors lining the walls of the stone arena he was dropped into half an hour ago. And it was smart enough to take a chance when it saw one. Blood drenched his favorite hoodie. Ready to dig its claws into the boy's skin, the Beowolf was halted in its attack by the weathered blade stabbing through the back of its head. It faded into wisps of lingering darkness blown away by another charging snarling dark wolf.

"Air Slash!" Jaune shouted, flinging a blade of pressurized air out of his sword. The head of the Beowolf was lobbed off, killing it mid flight. The experience points earned from its death went ignored as he fought off another mob of the Grimm. He held his sword close to his chest, closing his eyes just as the wave of dark creatures jumped onto him all together, "Hyper Blade!" His body trembled with overbearing power before he vanished into thin air. The Beowolves blinked, howling in pain a moment later as their limbs were tossed into the air by the blurring blade passing them by over and over again in a blitz. Their HP fell to nothing, leaving them to fade back to the darkness that created them.

+12,000EXP!

Blurring to a skid on his feet, Jaune stumbled. He caught himself as he grabbed his knee's to keep him up, panting lightly. This was draining him of his stamina quickly. Nonstop the Beowolves attacked him like some hunk of bloody meat in a shark infested pool. If this kept up any longer, he was going to drain his inventory of healing items. With that thought he called up his inventory with his scroll, phasing his hand through the hologram screen to take out a Small Aura Potion and Everybody Loves Grape Soda.

'Thank you, Ren.' Jaune smiled gratefully as he pumped a small bit of magic into the two items. They were soon trapped into clear bubbles of twinkling lights before he brought them together. A whole new item was created by the union, leaving him with a can of green soda. It was stamped with a grapefruit along with white bold letters running across it.

'Everybody Loves Grapefruit Soda, Synthesized!' +500EXP!

During one of their talks involving how The Game worked, Ren had shared with him Item Synthesize. It was a special ability granted to the Player that allowed them to create new items using other items. The possibilities were almost limitless, if they had enough experience and the items necessary to use it properly. The level of his Synthesize was actually connected to his progress in both Professor Pitho's and Professor Antheia's classes. Both of which we was doing well for the first semester, even if the candy obsessed teacher seemed to torture him with his odd Dust balls. With the new tasty drink in hand, Jaune wasted no time in downing the fruity health and mana recovery beverage. It healed about 1,200HP and 60MP! And the taste of fizzy grapefruit wasn't bad either.

Jaune sighed in content, smacking his lips. He could already feel the four gashes on his back mend. Blinking in a little jingle his MP bar completely filled. And just in time too. From the caged doors, eighty glowing red eyes peered through. With a whirl of rusty gears, the door raised up. Four large Beowolves prowled out on all fours before standing on their hind legs. Unlike their fallen brethren their bodies were bulkier in muscle mass, their fur white and their claws black as night. A Scan of the new Grimm was enough to confirm they were nothing like the average Beowolf.

'Beowolf(M)

2,300HP/2,300HP.'

Mutants. Grimm that had been altered by an outside source. Anabel had told him that Holt liked to buy the nasty little freaks of nature from a guy he was acquainted with. They were tougher and more dangerous then the average Grimm which was saying a lot if you asked him. He already had to deal with a few of them fighting in the UGC, mostly Creepers and Beowolves. But never more then two. And now he was facing four of the white furred werewolves. And they weren't grunts that died with one hit. Their hides were tougher and resisted his stronger attacks better then their regular forms. This was going to be a tough fight. Jaune gripped Crocea Mors tightly, running by what remained of his healing supplies as he prepared to charge at the snarling werewolves. No doubt he was going to need to synthesize another batch of grapefruit soda again.

The sound of crackling fire entered Jaune's ears. A rush of passing hot air blew his hair forward as he suddenly found four javelin like batons fly past him. Their orange burning blades flew at the four wolves, leaving them with gaping holes in their chests as they pierced through them. They died with soundless howls as they fell over. Dark wisps mixed with flames lingered out of their vanishing bodies as the four javelins stuck to the walls.

"No one, but me, is allowed to rip you to shreds."

Jaune froze still at the sound of the venom filled voice echoing around him. Footsteps drew closer before stopping a few feet behind him. A sense of relief and guilt wracked his body. He knew that voice anywhere now. Only it was usually accompanied by the sound of rock music beating softly out of her headphones.

Turning his head to the voice, Jaune found Anabel's glaring green eyes staring back at him. She no longer wore her favorite black and purple stripped hoodie. Now she was garbed in a long sleeve black tight fitting combat dress that stopped mid thigh. Red lines ran along the dress's side, a skull buckled belt was tied around her waist that carried mini Dust thermos, and she wore red steel platted combat gloves. Her sneakers were replaced with a red steel toed combat boots. Both of her eye's looked at him with disdain, her lock of hair her hiding one of her eye's brushed back by a burned skull hairpin.

"Ann." Jaune reached his hand out once again to the betrayed punk girl.

"DON'T!" Ann shouted angrily. She didn't want to hear a word out of his dirty lying mouth. She didn't know if anything he had ever said to her was true. Was his name even Jaune? For all she knew his real name was John. To think she had let a rat into their hideout and answered his questions.

"I don't want to hear another word from a filthy liar. I'm done listening to your bullshit!" She yelled furiously, her eyes burning with pure hatred.

"You don't understand! I never even wanted to go undercover, the only reason I did so was to save you from the Friends of Faunus!" Jaune yelled back, trying to make her see his side of the story, "I know you're not like them. You're better then this, Ann! I was never doing this to lie to you and send you to jail as if it was my job! I just wanted them to lighten whatever punishment they carried out-"

"When they cuffed me and processed me?" Ann laughed in disbelief. "You were still doing this with the knowledge that they were going to take me in for my crimes! At the end of the day, I was still going to be rotting in a cell! Because I was stupid enough to fall for you fucking tricks!" Again the annoying feeling of hot tears pricking her eyes came up. The damn bastard had played her like she was some puppet! And here she had actually begun-

Ann swallowed the emotion back. She was done falling for his shit!

"Everything was a lie, just some way to gain my trust. Every moment we spent together hanging out was just part of your job to get me to spill the beans on the boss's plans. None of it was ever real." Ann's green eyes dulled, her body slacking as an orange red aura surrounded her. An intense heat blew out from her body, lightly burning Jaune's exposed skin.

No! This wasn't how he wanted things to go! All he wanted to do was save her from the hell she had fallen into. He didn't want to fight her! Ann was his friend, even if she didn't believe it. He couldn't raise Crocea Mors to a friend with ill intent.

"We of the FoF don't take lightly to sewer rats." Ann hissed, her body bellowing with a gale of hot air. She raised her right hand, pulling her fingers forward. The four javelin batons shot past Jaune, two of them flying into each hand as the other two floated behind her in an X pattern. Their orange bladed tips released flares of fire, "I'm done talking. I have an order to follow. Hope you said your goodbye's before coming here, Jaune." She spat, releasing a wave of heated air to hit him like an invisible wall. It was enough to knock off a hundred HP from his health.

'WARNING! Boss incoming, Anabel Wargray, The Orphaned Flame. Get Ready!'

"But I don't want to fight!" Jaune yelled over the roar of energy crashing against him. He refused!

'You have no Choice.'

Jaune stared wide eyed at the pop up message in his HUD. Was that The Game?

'FIGHT!'

"TOO BAD!" Ann yelled, vanishing into the air in a flaming blur. She appeared again above him, flinging one of her spears to his head. Jaune jumped back, missing the flaring spear skewering him. Landing by her weapon, Ann grabbed it and swung it for his neck, intent on cutting his throat. The blade of Crocea Mors blocked it. She grinned cruelly at him as they crossed weapons, gesturing her finger to point her floating spears to stare him down. Their points were coated in flames, elongating into thin heated needles.

Pushing Ann back, Jaune brought up his shield in the face of the new danger. The three needled spears shot at him, clanging against his blocking shield. 'Shit!' Jaune cursed silently, seeing the back of Crocea Mor's glow with an orange hue. Even if the spears weren't capable of melting the metal, the heat they produced was still enough to make it grow scalding hot. It was burning his skin.

With Jaune distracted by the drilling needles, Ann blurred right behind him, swinging her spear. She sported a slash at his back, melting the armor protecting his back with a scar. Jaune fought back a shout. At least he wouldn't have to worry about infection, the wound was cauterized. Abandoning his defense stance, Jaune jumped to his side. Just in time to miss Ann stabbing her spear forward with a burning needle. She swung her spear at him, firing another along. He sidestepped the firing flaming spear, bouncing back her swipe with swing of his own.

"I don't want to fight! Please, just listen to me!" Jaune pleaded, countering her flurry of spear thrusts. He swung his shield for his back, blocking another drill stab from one of her weapons.

"What part of shut up don't you understand!?" Ann yelled, skipping back as she called two of her spears to her. She batted the bottom of each weapon, sending them flying at Jaune in blurring wheels of orange red fire.

"Air Slash!" Jaune flung his own projectile back, sending a blade of air to counter the disks. Only one of the spinning spears was blown back, leaving him open for the sawing spear. Jaune grit his teeth finding it continuously sawing his chest piece, dropping his HP by 500. Stopping its revolution, the spear lashed its blade in an upward swing before flying back. Blood shot out from the nick at across his face, trailing down as he was forced to raise his shield above his head. Two falling spears bounced back from their descent. Ann quickly dashed within his guard, carving an X into his chest with her spears. 'I can't keep defending like this. She uses more then one weapon and it looks like she can control them telepathically. Is it her semblance? But she's also able to control flames.A barrage of lashing swings fell onto Jaune as he swung back his own sword to block.

Just what was he suppose to do? She wasn't an enemy, Ann wasn't another chance to gain EXP, she was his friend! How could he hurt her? A combined four speared thrust into Crocea Mors's flat blade soon sent him skidding back on his feet, leaving him panting from the intense heat she was producing around her. Evading her attacks was a complicated dance with multiple partners. She could control four weapons! That just wasn't fair. His weathered blade was even glowing with heat Ann's weapons drilled into it. If he kept this up any longer, it wouldn't be long till he wasted his recovery potions from the damage she was inflicting and died to her mad assault.

As much as he didn't want to, Jaune needed to fight back. If only to knock her out or something. Defending and evading wasn't doing him any good. He winced as he held his bleeding chest, thanking his aura for healing the damage. Nope, it definitely wasn't doing him any good.

Ann quirked an eyebrow as she called back her spears behind her, noticing Jaune raise his blade in an offensive stance, "You done faking like you care, Jaune? About time, I was never one for beating around a piece of dead meat."

"I do care. That's why I'll fight."

"Pretty messed up reasoning." Ann scoffed, spinning one of her spears in her hand, "Why don't you just cut the bullshit already? I know you're a liar, your covers blown, so why keep up the act any longer? Why are you pretending like you care?" She ground out angrily.

"Because I do! Why can't you see that!?" Jaune shouted.

"Because you were just using me! All this time, you were leading me on, making me believe that I could trust you! And you know what the most fucked up part is?" She laughed bitterly, shaking her head with the flames of her spears illuminating her face, "A part of me knew that something was up. You were asking questions about our locations, of our future plans. But instead of questioning it, I told myself you were simply interested in joining. Despite the fact you were too much of a goody two shoes to ever consider it!" Swiping her hand, Ann sent two of her spears drilling forward. A blade of pressured air collided against her attack, sending them back as Air Slash continued its flight. Crossing her spears, Ann retaliated with a large X of flames from her slashing points. Air Slash was obliterated in the roaring crossing flames.

Seeing the deadly flame pattern rush towards him, Jaune held his shield before the flames. 300HP was chipped off from blocking it alone. "You played on my loneliness, like a wolf tracking a wounded prey you jumped on the weakness and used it to your advantage. You made me believe that you were actually my-" Another barrage of crossing flames slammed into Jaune guard, pushing him back bit back bit and depleting his health in the slamming pyres.

Ann bit her lip, shutting her eyes as she stopped her attacks. She hated it. The fucking emotion he had dug up. Dug up and smashed to bits when she had begun to believe. Believe that she had a-

"Friend." She bit out, a single tear slipping past green eyes. That single tear gleamed in the crackling flames crawling the arena. Jaune felt the rock of guilt in his threaten to tear right through him.

He didn't want this. The look of betrayal on her face. It wasn't right!

The sounds of guns cocking dragged Jaune out of his thoughts. Turning his head around, he was surprised to find several FoF grunts standing on the outside of the arena. They lined up in a ring circling the arena with their guns trained on his body. Little red dots shined from their scopes, dotting themselves over his body.

"Ready at your command, Boss!" The female head of the grunts shouted.

Ann nodded her head, wiping off the traitorous tear, "Damn Boss, sending me troops when I can handle things myself. Fine, I don't care what it takes." She glowered, "I'll take whatever firepower I can to kill you! FIRE!" She barked.

"YES MA'AM!"

Slamming her spear forward, Ann vaulted high into the air with a burst of fire. Allowing the grunts to unleash a rain of gunfire onto the knight below safely. In her suspension, Ann swung one of her spears around, landing her feet on its handle. Fire blazed from the end of the spear, keeping her flying as she rode on the flaring jet.

Jaune began to sweat in the face of the firing bullets. Snow White may have been a sadistic, sexy freak, but she rewarded him one of the best rewards in the game so far. If he ever met her again(which he hopped he never did), he would thank her on his knees with grateful tears for his first spell.

"Reflect!" With his palm stretched out in silver magic energy, Jaune raised it above his head in a shout. A dome of mirror pixel glass then shielded his body from the ensuing bullet rain. The bullets fought the barrier but lost their struggle as they were encased in the energy keeping them back. And with the sound of the glass dome shattering, the bullets were bounced back to their owners.

'You're just a dirty bag of surprises, aren't you?' Ann scowled as her men were temporarily out of commission. The reflected bullets had some added kick to them. The grunts laid back with stars above their heads. Didn't matter though, she wouldn't be caught off guard now.

Riding her spear across the air as if she was standing on a broomstick, Ann began to spin one of her spear above her head, creating little balls of fire. They hung around her back in a halo as she stopped her spin. Gesturing her finger at the blonde knight below, she commanded the balls of fire to strike him down.

Jaune went on the run, evading the streaking balls of fire as he waited for Reflect to charge. He wasn't proficient enough to continuously call on the spell when he wanted, but it wasn't as time consuming as Hyper Blade or Gale Speed. He just had to watch out for his MP. Reflect consumed 15MP whenever he used it. Human sized clouds of fire decorated the arena as he continued to dodge the burning balls, raising the temperature higher in their fight. His hoodie was being drenched in sweat.

Having had enough of Jaune evading her attack, Ann maneuvered herself to fly closer to him. Catching him as he was forced to raise his shield from a falling blast, Ann twirled herself around, moving her spears in a dance of slashing tips. The attack stunned him, dropping his guard as he stumbled forward. An orange hue lit up his face, his eye turning to the last of the streaking flames locked onto him. 'This is going to hurt.'

A plume of blossoming flames erupted once the balls hit their mark, roasting Jaune's body in a bonfire of licking flames. 'Jaune Arc, 2,000HP/4,800HP. 70MP/90MP.' Tearing away the flames, Jaune called on his inventory to heal the damage. He didn't have time to synthesize a better potion as he skipped back from a diving stab, had to settle for a Breakfast Bar. Biting into the cinnamon oatmeal feverishly, he gulped it down along with blocking the clawed like slash from Ann's spears, restoring 800HP. Again and again, Ann rained strike after strike of her burning spears against his guard relentlessly.

"Fight back!" Ann hissed furiously, smashing the hilt of her spears against his worn blade. He had a sword, why wasn't he using it? Did he see her so lightly that he didn't need to use it to beat her? All he was doing was blocking, was he planning on wearing her down before delivering the finishing strike?

Pushing the burning girl back, Jaune sucked in a deep breath before charging with his sword swinging in response. About time, she grinned darkly as she prepared to counter. Calling on her spears to cross over another in a makeshift barred shield in front of her, Ann was prepared for the falling strike. She would blow him back with a bursting flame and then drill into him in his stumble.

Jaune grinned as his swinging blade was ready to slam into Ann's defense, catching her by surprise as Crocea Mor's sword flashed brightly before making contact, "Smash Guard!" Sending his sword away into his inventory, Jaune delivered a glowing yellow knuckle studded fist in its stead.

Smash Guard was an ability he had picked up while training with Yang. His hand to hand had certainly improved since he was put through her hellish drills, rewarding him with three new abilities for his training. The one he was drilling into Ann's shield broke any guard that was lower then his own defense and cost the difference, which in this case was 27MP. Well worth it.

The crossing spears dispersed under the physical blow, flying back from Ann's hold. She stared wide eyed at the blonde huntsman. How did he do that? He should have been blown back by her countering flames!

With Ann's defense gone, Jaune was left with an opening. 'All I have to do is knock her out. I don't have to deplete her aura to nothing to win, I just have to stop her from fighting back!' "Power Strike!" Aiming for her head, Jaune sent her flying back with the amped fist.

'Anabel Wargray, The Orphaned Flame.

15,000HP/16,000HP.'

A thousand HP, that was good, Jaune nodded determinedly as he followed after her in a stance Yang had taught him. He just needed to knock her health down low enough to knock her out from the fight. That single hit alone told him that she had low Defense.

Ann grit her teeth openly as she swung her spear down to skid on the earthy ground, "Don't mock me! Fire!" Vaulting into the air again, she called upon another rain of gunfire to riddle the blonde.

"Reflect!" And again, Jaune bounced the bullets back with his mirror dome. Which left him to evade the falling balls of fire again.

"Start fighting back like a man, dammit!" Riding the jet of her spear, Ann put him on the guard as she swung her spears around her. That damn shield of his was becoming an annoyance! "You have a sword, use it! Stop blocking like a bitch and take this fight seriously!"

Breaking the chain of swings, Jaune collapsed his shield into its sheath and swept her feet with a kick. The blow sent her falling that he followed up with an uppercut to send her up in the air. "Hunter's Axe!" Flipping backwards, Jaune dropped a falling ax kick on top of Ann's head, slamming the blue haired girl back to the ground.

Ann grinned up at Jaune with blood trailing down her head, "That's more like it!" She shouted. Calling two spear in front of her, she batted them to fly at the blonde in flaming wheels. Still caught in the air, Jaune could only raise his forearms up to block. He couldn't raise his shield quick enough to stop the wheels. His health was dropping again, he winced. Burns were flaring up on his blocking forearms.

With a gesture of her fingers, Ann brought the wheels back. She then lined them in front of each other, collapsing the spearheads below the very front before joining them together into one four yard length spear. The tip of the extended spear burned brightly before stabbing it forward.

Jaune saw the piercing tip rushing towards him. Flipping over it, he fell onto the handle before dashing along it.

"Get off!" Breaking the long spear back into fours, Ann was still too late to stop the kick to her head. She grunted as her face lite up in pain, falling back as she spun her spear around. The points of her spear lite up in flames again, spinning around madly as she sent them firing after Jaune like drills.

A gash opened on the side of Jaune's abdomens as he tried avoiding the drilling tips, spilling blood as his aura began to wane again. He needed to end things as quick as possible. The heat surrounding her made fighting close quarters a chore. Seeing her weaponless for a brief moment, Jaune charged in with his fists blazing with magic. "Power Strike!"

Ann threw her forearms up to block the hit. A heavy pressure blew back her hair, powerful enough to send her hair clip flying away in the gale. Her lock of hair fell back to cover her left eye as she struggled against the power blow. "It's about time you dropped that fake caring act!" She grinned savagely, raising the heat around them to sweltering degrees. She could see a light steam linger from his body as he panted from the temperature. Good, the more he suffered, the better, "How are you liking my semblance, Flame Conductor? It allows me to control the flames I've created with Dust like some fancy orchestra conductor. While I'm not one for busting out such a fancy power, I'm more then happy to give you a scolding taste of it!"

"Fire's not really my taste." Jaune panted lightly, his throat dry as he gulped. He shook his head, flinging sweat around as he looked back softly at the orange aura clad girl, "And just because I'm fighting you, doesn't mean I don't care about you! All I want to do is save my friends from that psycho and save you!"

"I don't need saving!" Ann shouted back in fury, feeling insulted. She pushed back the fist, aiming a high kick to his head. Jaune ducked under the kick, rearing his glowing fist back for a punch to her gut. She spun around the attack, lashing out with another kick of her steel toed boot. Missing again, she moved quickly on her feet to dash in with flurry of her steel knuckled fists. They feel into barrage of countering and attacking, landing whatever blows they could through their dance, "I'm not some damsel in distress that needs saving! I know what I'm doing, you bastard! Stop trying to make this about saving me like you fucking give a shit! All you're doing is further pissing me off! So why keep spilling the same sappy bullshit to save your life!"

"AND WHAT PART OF ME CARING ABOUT YOU DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND!" Jaune roared in equal fury. He was done trying to play nice with her. If she wanted to hear the truth so badly, he'd give it to her! "Stop trying to pretend like I never gave a damn about you! All those times we hung out, all those times we talked, all those times we joked around with another, they were never a lie! As you're friend, all I want to do is free you from the terrible line of work you're forcing yourself into to pay for some lonely dream that doesn't even make sense!" Catching her fist with his own, Jaune spun the shorter girl around him, bouncing on his feet to lash out with a kick to her head.

Struggling to shake away the pain stabbing her head, Ann snarled as she gestured a single finger above her head. The action brought her spears back to float above her in an X to touch their tips together. A towering fireball of licking flames sparked from the spears that overshadowed the two, "And you want to save me by throwing me into a jail cell? You're just some over privileged huntsman that was hired to bring our organization down! You would never know about the struggle to achieve your dream at whatever cost! So stop trying to make me fall for your shit!"

'What do I have to do to prove to you I only want to help?' Jaune thought in frustration as he watched Ann lift the towering flames above her head with a mental command of her weapons. That did not look like something Crocea Mors could safely block, the damage would most likely be in the thousands. Reflect was the only option.

With grunt of exertion, Ann roared as she heaved the ball of lashing flames higher before slamming it down onto Jaune. The very air around the flames twisted around it as it bore down onto him.

"Reflect!" Just before the attack hammered into him and consumed him in its pulverizing fire, Jaune chanted his spell, creating his mirror shield. It fought to break apart the magic reflection shield, cracking the pixels. Jaune could feel the overbearing pressure it exuded slam into him through it. Even the heat bypassed Reflect, cooking him from inside and draining his health. 'Come on, come one, come on!' Reflect had to send it flying away, otherwise he wasn't sure he would survive the incinerating impact.

Luck was on Jaune's side. Even as his spell shattered to pieces around him, it was able to send it bouncing across the room. An explosion tore a massive hole from its impact, sending burning metal beams and rubble falling below. The FoF grunts by the area scattered to avoid the falling debris, sweating at the roaring flames crawling around the arena.

"This is getting out of hand." The leader of the small group breathed in panic. She knew Anabel was strong, but she never knew she was that strong! The boss's left hand lady was a monster.

Ann panted tiredly as she glared back at the equally tired blonde across from her. That last move had taken a massive amount of energy out of her and her aura. It should have been enough to finish him off! But no, she tiredly shook her head. Jaune had to keep fighting back. Whatever fancy combat school they sent him was paying off.

Jaune struggled to stay on his feet, lifting his head up as he sucked in fresh air as if it was water. 'Jaune Arc, 1,805HP/4,800HP. 0MP/90MP.' A sharp pain wracked his body as he flinched in agony. He used up more Mana then he had which resulted in a terrible backlash in return to for carelessness. 200HP was chopped off from the pain. He needed to heal fast and do his best to avoid any attacks that needed Reflect. He was out of magic to even use any of his useful moves.

He looked defenseless, now was her only shot, "Fire! Waste every bullet you got right now!" Ann yelled as she prepared to vault up from the encircling gunfire.

The grunts nodded without a word as they unleashed automatic hell upon the exhausted knight. From all corners, glowing red shells fired upon the two in dome wall of hot metal closing within.

Moving her spear to send her up, Ann's eyes flew open in cold shock as the spear failed to release a firing burst. The flames she kept within her weapons must have been used up with her last attack, she couldn't manipulate them without anything fueling them with her Dust! She was left standing like a helpless duck before the bullet hell falling onto them. Realizing their mistake as they saw their boss fail to evade the gunfire, the grunts fell into panic as they moved to jump down and try to protect her.

But they were too late. The bullets hit their marks as they shut their eyes from the grisly scene. The sounds of bullets digging into flesh and blood splattering haunting their ears. 'Master's going to have our head on pikes.' The leader of the grunts cursed, her body shivering at the enraged wrath of their normally grinning leader. Poor Anabel, she didn't deserve such a death. Slowly opening their eyes, they were afraid of what awaited them before being stunned into silence. The leader gasped at the scene, not believing what she was seeing.

A warm wetness began to drench Ann's short battle dress created by the tall blonde body hugging her tightly against his chest. His shield was held clasped in his hands encircling her waist, blocking any bullets from wounding her. Frozen in his embrace, Ann's trembling green eyes looked up at the blood streaked face of the boy protecting her. Why? Why did he save her?

Jaune coughed suddenly, spitting blood as what little aura he possessed struggled to heal his bullet riddled body. Thank god, he made it. He weakly smiled as a rose petaled bar slowly filled up, 'Thank you, Ruby. I'll be sure to buy you a kings ransom in cookies and strawberries when I see you again.' Gale Speed was truly a blessing.

"You-You idiot." Ann trembled, her eyes quivering as tears gathered shamefully, "What were you thinking? You could have died just now!?" She yelled.

"What do you mean? Weren't you trying to kill me?" Jaune wheezed with a laugh. His shaking hand struggled to lift up but powered through the pain as he patted her blue head with a grin, "You're my friend. And I protect my friends with everything I've got."

"CUT THE BULLSHIT ALREADY!" She cried angrily, her hands flying to his chest to grip his blood soaked hooded sweater. How many times did he have to throw around that word!? He wasn't her friend, she was his mission. She was a criminal with blood stained hands, with dark secrets normal people couldn't handle, who's stolen from people of all age and race without a care! How could he ever see some street rat as a friend!?

"Why can't you just drop the act? Every word that leaves your fucking mouth only makes the pain worse. You have nothing to gain from repeating the same lie over and over again, so why do still keep yapping on? Why can't you treat me as the enemy, a filthy lowlife criminal, instead of a friend?"

"Sorry, but I just don't know how else to tell you the truth. I know I sound like an annoying broken record that won't stop repeating the same sappy song over and over again, but it's the honest truth. And you're wrong." He chuckled tiredly, swallowing back a mix of stomach bile and blood. "You're none of those things to me, you're just someone willing to do whatever it takes to reach her dream. I know that feeling, the desire to do whatever to even scratch at your dream."

Jaune shut his eyes, a ghost of a smile reaching his face as he felt Ann grip his chest harder. He could feel the grunts aiming their guns on his back, their fingers trained on the trigger in case he made any move that would harm their boss. She had told him her secrets, it was only fair he shared his own.

"Officially speaking, I'm not qualified to enter Beacon. I was the worst of the worst when it came to school, let alone combat. And my family didn't help, they kept me away from the combat schools in hopes that I would grow up working some normal job that wouldn't constantly put me close to death. But that didn't stop me from lying my way in." He had saved up so much Lien for those fake documents, cutting back on everything. For such quality forgery, it practically cost him an arm and a leg. But it was worth. He would have killed for the chance to be trained as a huntsman, as a hero like his father and ancestors. His eyes turned somber at the thought of the string of lies he made since the day he decided to fake his way in. So many lies, risking his friends safety because he wasn't strong enough to help them or save them when they needed him. His lack of training literally cost him his life, if it weren't for The Game making him a Player he would have stayed dead.

"I don't know what I would have done to become strong, and the thought sometimes scares me. All I ever wanted to be is a hero, even if it meant lying and cheating my way to one. I'm not from some rich family, I'm not talented or smooth like others, I'm not even clever enough to stay out of trouble. So I lied my way in, telling them I was qualified to fight. I lied to so many people close to me, tried to be someone I'm not, and risked the lives of those I wanted to protect due to my lack of training. But despite it all, I would repeat every mistake if it meant finding the same friends in every life that see me for me. Even you."

A single teardrop fell onto Ann's cheek as she looked into the hurt blue eyes staring back her. The tear slid down, dropping onto her combat dress to mix with his blood.

Truth. He spoke the fucking truth. There wasn't a shred of dishonesty in his eyes and she had come to learn to find such an emotion when speaking to people. It was a nice little trick she had picked up after working with so many dirt bags in the past. But no matter how hard she dug through the blue eyes tearing up, she couldn't find a single microscopic grain of it in him. She bit down on her lips, shutting her eyes in frustration as she began to pound on his bleeding chest.

"Then why couldn't you just follow through with your initiation if you were really my friend!? Boss would have ignored everything you were up to and let you join if you only-"

"Chopped off Velvet's ears?" Jaune shook his head with a deep scowl, "I'm not that kind of person who would hurt others because of some stupid belief. The faunus don't deserve such treatment, their as human as you and me! She's no different then you, you're both my friends. I couldn't bear to hurt either one of you like that."

"But you would have been safe! We wouldn't have to fight like this if you did! A true friend would have done whatever it took to stay by my side!"

"Maybe, but would you really be friends with someone like that? Would I be any different then the people you worked with for Lien? Would you call someone like that your friend?"

Ann's pounding fists paused, clenching tightly as they rested against his chest. Her head fell onto his shoulders as her thoughts spun. She didn't know what to say to that. Would he still be the same man who had paid for her meal all those weeks ago without a thought of wanting anything in return? The same man who spent so much on dinner for both of them just because she was hungry? Or would cutting off the bunny girl's ears only taint his personality, losing whatever made him who he was?

Could she call such a person a friend?

No, she grudgingly shook her head, her tears falling as she rested against his wounded body. Everything that she despised, his innocence, his carelessness, his bright attitude, his goofy and dorky personality, are what made her see him as Blondie, the boy she had come to see as a friend. He betrayed her to the police to lock them up, to stop the horror and cruelty they believed would save the faunus and make them human, in hopes of lightening whatever punishment they threw at her. Because he wanted to save her from the dark underworld she fell into. Even if she hated him for it.

"Blondie!" Ann cried, hugging his body tightly as she cried into his shoulder. She hated it, being reduced to a crying girl. But the damn idiot had broken down the walls she kept around her heart. Once this mess was all over with, she would be sure to kick his ass for this.

Jaune smiled sadly at the crying blue haired girl. Finally, he was able to reach out to her. He sighed in relief. His body still ached with his wounds finally shutting and stopping the bleeding, but he would put up with it ten times over for this. Unfortunately he still had to take care of some business and cut this short. Blake and Velvet were still Holt's hands. Whatever he was planning with Cardin, he needed to stop it now. Cardin was in a dark place, he could see it in his eyes. Something was eating at the brown haired mace wielder, leaving behind a dangerous aura around his body. The day was far from over with, there was still much to be done.

Ann frowned in confusion, grudgingly sniffing back her tears as Jaune lightly pushed her off. He grabbed her by her shoulders, keeping her within arms reach as he sadly frowned at her.

"Ann, I need to stop Holt from whatever he's planning. I know you probably don't want me to go after him, but he still has my friends. I need to save them, but I know you'll try to stop me. I can see it in your eyes." He chuckled softly, already seeing a scowl on her face.

"So please, forgive me for this. I'll take whatever punishment you have for me when this is all over with later."

"What are you talki-!" Ann's eyes flew wide open as she found herself turned around. Jaune's strong hands suddenly grabbed her waist in a grapple before lifting her body high into the air.

"Timber Fall!"

Grunting in slight pain, Jaune arced his back, slamming Ann's body headfirst onto the ground. Her eye's instantly rolled over, her body slumping in his hold as she passed out.

Yup, she was going to beat his ass raw when this was all over. A cherry would blush at the color she would leave his ass when she was done with him. They were going to have to invent a new color for it.

The jaws of all the gathered FoF members dropped at the ruthless display they witnessed. What the hell!? They were watching a heart pulling scene a moment ago, only for it to devolve to a finishing move in a wrestling match! That asshole!

"He's knocked the boss out! Kill him!" The leader of the group roared.

"Reflect!"

With his Mana finally charged back to full, Jaune wasted little time as he called upon his reflection spell. The HP above the grunts heads dropped to zero as the bullets flew back, hitting their marks. Their bodies hit the ground with groans, dropping their weapons as they joined Ann in the land of unconsciousness.

+58,000EXP!

"And still no level up?" Jaune grumbled as he picked up Ann. Taking out his scroll, it looked like he was only a thousand away from reaching lvl15. He frowned noticing a message, tapping it as he fixed the blue haired girl over his shoulders.

It was Pyrrha, and she was messaging him about the chaos that had fallen onto Vale along with the leader of the FoF kidnapping Blake and Velvet. She was asking for help. He groaned tiredly as his head fell. Well, he knew where they were. So no need to run around searching for them. If the FoF already sprung up their attack, then their was no need to hide about their location. He would just send everyone their coordinates and location. Help was much needed right now.

With his HUD's map of the area in his view, Jaune began to run out the arena and head for the massive smoking hole created by Ann's attack. All he needed was to navigate the slightly confusing layout of the main hideout and make it to the large arena above. No need to waste his recovery potions now, his aura was already regenerating and would fill it back up soon.

"Just wait a little longer, Blake, Velvet, Cardin." Jaune whispered, jumping through the opening to find his friends.

"I'll be there as fast as I can."

---

A shout of pain escaped Blake's lips as she was sent flying back from a wide swing of Cardin's mace. With bleary eyes she flipped in the air, landing back on her feet with a grimace. Cardin meet her in her landing, dropping Beaufort down onto her like a hammer. She raised her arms to block, swallowing a scream as the falling mace threatened to break her arm apart. He wasn't even using both hands! Pulling his mace back, he swung for the cat girl's head, grinning darkly as her head was smashed to bits.

The image of the gruesome death was robbed from him, fading away to a shadow after image. He growled, searching for the traitorous animal. There was no need to find her as a moment later her legs kicked the back of his head from above. She jumped back as she sent him stumbling forward.

"Stop playing, and die already!" Fighting back the pain, Cardin leveled the tips of Beaufort at the cat eared girl. He pressed down on the hilt's button, parting the tips to fire a larger then normal fireball. It streaked through the air, closing in on Blake.

With a flicker, Blake flipped over the attack by switching herself with an empty shell of her aura. Only for the head of the Cardin's mace to clamp down on her waist. A firing chain extended from its hilt, giving him farther reach. With a powerful tug, Cardin swung her body around, smashing her into the walls repeatedly.

Holt hummed in interest from the spectators seats, "I think I've discovered what Cardin's semblance is." He scratched his chin in thought, keeping a tight hold on the squirming bunny faunus seated close to him. "See, I thought it was something like creating explosions after his little display of anger yesterday, but now seeing him fight has made it much clearer. I believe it acts like an amplifier, amplifying his strength, defense, speed, or whatever whenever he needs it. His hands must have had some Dust residue on them that the force from his grip had created a spark, blowing a bit off my chair. It explains the random spikes in his abilities every once in a while, don't you think?"

Velvet didn't answer, instead choosing to glare at her captor. He was keeping her hostage to watch her friend being beaten around by a classmate to the death and later cut her bunny ears off. And he was casually chatting to her like some old friend? The man must be insane.

"Come on, bunny girl." Holt whined, popping a few kettles of popcorn he had somehow brought up with his baffling semblance, "Talk to me. It's been so long since we saw each other. How you been? Eat any interesting snacks lately? You seeing anyone right now? What's your three sizes?" He grinned cheekily.

A sharp slap to his cheek was her answer. Spoil sport.

"Clearly you're in no mood to be gossiping right now."

"How could I be talking to the man who brutally slaughtered my own people!?"

"I did no such thing. I simply gave them some slightly painful cosmetic surgery, free of charge. Is that so wrong? Wanting to make you animals fit into society like me?"

"We were doing just fine till your hate group-"

"Saved your village, your family all those years ago." His brown eyes looked at her from the corner of his vision, silencing her. "My organization saved them from freezing to death in a grave of snow because no one else would. The humans left you all to die knowing that your village was caught in a terrible blizzard. But did they lift a finger to save any of you? No, and do you know why? Because your animals and animals dying in the wild is nothing new to worry about."

"Don't you dare try to use that as an excuse for all the horrible things you've done! You're no better then the White Fang!" Velvet shouted angrily, doing whatever she could to take his hands off of her. A link of chains bound her wrists together, making it difficult to move around. He was treating her like some pet bunny.

"Am I? The Fang only cares about themselves, my organization cares for both sides of the coin. But we know better then hope for humanity to recognize the faunus as equals." His eyes watched the fight below, scowling as Cardin stamped his mace into the ground to release wall of racing flames.

Humans were selfish creatures. They believed they were better then all the species that walked the earth, ruling over the lands as kings with no equals. That is until they discovered a second species that dared to walk beside them, the Faunus. Their jealousy and greed created a rift between the two species, wishing to banish their animals bodied brothers to have the world to themselves. To this day, the rift could still be seen clear as day. Nothing had changed, even if people believed they were making small steps to accept each other. The Schnee Dust Corporation, The White Fang, they were perfect examples of the times refusing to change. In the end their was only one solution, one peaceful solution.

Amputation, humanization. The faunus only made up a small ten percent of the population on Remnant, it was practically laughable. The only way they would ever be accepted is if they were human as well. And what good did being a faunus do them? Night vision and a few other lousy abilities that they no longer needed in this day and age. Being a faunus was a curse that separated you from the world. You were ridiculed, looked down on, treated no better then wild animals or worse, the Grimm. Humanity blamed their brother for the dark emotions drawing the monsters from the depths of whatever darkness they were birthed. So what was the harm in losing that curse to fit in? All it took was a simple snip and they would look no different then human. Hurt like hell, but it would be worth it.

Holt was a prime example of the humanization working well. Since that day so long ago, the day he had no choice but to cut his ear and tail off to survive, the people of Remnant never once questioned his humanity. Humanity was nothing more then a cosmetic appearance, it's what separated the two species for so long. And because of it, he now walked Remnant with no fear. And he wished for the same freedom for his kind too. They would realize one day in the future that what he did was a blessing in disguise. And they would thank him for gifting them humanity.

Or they would die cursing his name like filthy animals.

"The White Fang wishes for genocide, the Friends of Faunus wish for equality. The world may see us as monsters chopping off limbs, but they'll one day see the gifts we've given the faunus. 10% is such a small number, it's only smart that we abandon our animal ancestry to unite with the 90% of the world. We must change ourselves to be accepted, it's the only way and you know it."

Blast after blast of fire trailed after Blake's running form, each one drawing closer in their aims. Rearing his mace back, Cardin launched himself after his prey on the tailcoat of the explosion. He swung his mace for her side, cursing as she switched with a shadow. He spun it around, spinning on his foot to bash her chest. Blake moved away from the attack, using it as a free shot to slam her elbow into his face. The blow sent him stumbling back in surprise, clutching his slightly bleeding nose. With him stunned, Blake went in to knock him out. Only for his searing blue eyes filled with anger and despair to stare back at her.

She had caused this. She was the reason why he was filled with so much hate, so much anger, so much pain. She felt her heart clench at the sight. It was because of her and the White Fang that they had created a tortured bully, one that was more then some ordinary racist. Cardin's hate had reason. And Blake was that reason.

Seeing Blake pause, Cardin stabbed his mace forward, detonating an explosion against her abdomen. Sent back in a fireball, Blake snapped out of her despair to once again evade the blasts firing from his weapon.

Blake huffed as she dodged the licking explosion chasing after her. Her body was bruised and covered in dirt created by Cardin's mad swings. She never knew he was this powerful. Back in Beacon he had displayed some impressive strength, but nothing this impressive. It was like she was fighting a completely different person in his place. One of her eyes flinched as her hand flew to her side. Part of her clothing had been ripped apart, revealing the horrible bruising running along her ribs. She wouldn't be surprised if he sprained a rib or two. Her aura was struggling to heal the damage.

The snapping clamps of Beaufort soon shot after her. She swung her head to the side, missing the tips chomping down on her face for a grapple. Cardin reeled the head of his mace back in, calling on the strange new power coating his body to his legs. With a burst of high speed he appeared in front of Blake, spinning his mace around in a chain of swings. Blake struggled to duck and evade his devastating swings, sweating as his mace grazed her cheek. Blood seeped from the small wound as she skipped back from another hammer swing. The Dust crystal within erupted in a plume of towering flames, hiding Cardin from her sight.

Her back snapped as she found him slamming his weapon behind her. She was sent skidding on her side into the plume of flames. Through the pyre, she fell to her back, coughing and hissing from the burns littering her body.

'I can't keep this up much longer. My aura is starting to drain to nothing.' Blake tiredly panted as she tried to get back up. Without Gambol Shroud by her side, she was unable to do much damage to a juggernaut like Cardin. Her exhausted yellow eyes gazed back the mace wielder parting his explosion with a wave of Beaufort, his eyes livid with blistering anger and hatred. It made her smile grimly as his words bounced around her head.

'It's your fault. You killed my mother and unborn little sister!'

Her past had come to haunt her it seemed. Those horrible crimes she had committed under Adam's leadership found her after so long. And they came in the form of the brown haired boy wanting to strike her down. All this time, she had thought he was just another racist, someone who refused to see her kind as anything more then animals because of their extra appendages. But no, he had a reason, a deep seated hatred for the bloodshed they had caused long ago. Their very first crime had caused the deaths of over a dozen humans and for what? To tell the world that they were more then willing to spill blood to be treated fairly? She should have spoken up long ago, maybe she could have been able to change Adam's ways before they fell deeper into the hole.

Blake shook her head with a dead laugh. What was she thinking, nothing would have changed Adam's line of thinking. Not even her.

"What's so funny?" Grabbing Blake by the scruff of her torn school blazer, Cardin picked the faunus girl up. He glowered at the dirty faced cat girl covered in scratches and burns, "You think it's funny? The sins of your past that took away my mother and little sister? You thinks it's funny that you animals took away my family life in an instant, with a press of a fucking button!?"

"It's not that." Blake weakly croaked, Cardin's grip beginning to strangle her. "I'm sorry for what happened to your family, I truly am. But will killing me put your mother's soul at rest?"

"You don't get to talk about her like you knew her!" Cardin roared, She had no right to say anything about her, not after she had a hand in killing them both! All she was doing was blinding him further with rage. "I don't care if she believed that her festival could bring humans and faunus together, your kind is nothing but savage animals that were willing to use a kind woman's trust to slaughter her and others for a stupid fucking message!"

"Tell me." He hissed furiously, tightening his hold as he felt his strength spike, crackling the air, "Was it worth it? Did you get your message across?"

Tears gathered in Blake's eyes in memory of the day. The sounds of terror and anguish that followed the explosions haunting her to this day. No, it wasn't worth it. And she had realized it too late. Even if she had left the White Fang, that would never change the things she had done. She was no better then Adam. Her cat ears flattened as she sadly shook her head.

Beaufort was raised high in the air as angry tears filled Cardin's own eyes. His eyes were wide in absolute fury, his body trembling in rage. Just as he thought. Not even she thought it was worth it. And she dared to feel bad for what she had done? The new power created by his aura ignited the fire crystal on top of his mace's hilt, lighting the tips with blazing fire. They parted, ready to tear off the damn faunus girl's head.

This was justice, justice his mother and sister were robbed of so long ago.

'Please, don't hate them for it.'

"I'm sorry, I really am. I know nothing I can ever say will change what I did long ago, but I really am sorry for playing some part in your mother and sister's death." Tears trailed Blake's cheek in face of the roaring fire in his hand. And the agony and fury in his eyes.

So this was how it was going to end? Dying for her sins? Guess this was what they called justice. Her sins could no longer be evaded any longer. She had spent so long running from her problems and mistakes, it was only fair that she died to one of the people who's life she had ruined while in the White Fang.

'Please, don't hate them for it.'

Cardin shut his eyes in frustration, 'Shut up! This is justice, Mom! She killed you, she killed your unborn daughter! How could I forgive such an animal from taking you away from me and Dad!?' Why were his mother's words coming to him now? He was setting things right! Blake, the traitorous faunus had been there. She had a part in her death, as little as it might have been. An eye for an eye, wasn't that something the religious old farts said? Well this was a death for two deaths!

'Please, don't hate them for it.'

Of all the times, why couldn't she shut up!? He didn't need this, he needed justice! This was so their souls could finally rest! Shaking his head, Cardin crept his burning mace tips closer to Blake's face, intent on delivering the justice the girl so rightfully deserved.

'Please.'

Blake's eyes welled with wet tears, her fear and remorse glowing in his weapons flames. Cardin ground his, his hand trembling the closer he edged his mace. Despite what awaited her-

'Can't you see the look of pain and sadness in their eyes when you treat them horribly? Their human, just like us!'

-She smiled. A sad, regretful smile. The same one his mother had worn when she laid in bed connected to machines. The two images overlapped another, stopping his mace an inch from scorching her skin.

'DON'T HATE THEM FOR IT!'

With hot tears running down his face, Cardin shut his eyes as his chest heaved with emotion. What was so wrong in seeking payback for his family?! This was what they called justice! Right? What else was he suppose to do in the face of one of his mother and sister's killer!? He wasn't his mother, he couldn't forgive them for killing them both! So what was he suppose to do!?

'Nothing is that easy, Cardin' His mother smiled down at him. Her long brunette hair fell down her back, swinging as she washed the dishes beside him. He stood on a stool, too short to reach the faucet. Cardin's big blue eyes stared curiously at his beautiful mother, her bright smile warming his cheeks as she ruffled his hair with soapy fingers, "I know your father thinks it's impossible for us all to get along, but there's no quick solution. It takes time for others to get along, let alone forgive each other. I know your father is still steaming after what a fox faunus had done to him when he was little, biting off a bit of his ear in a fight. But nothing ever worth doing is ever easy! Trust me, in time I'll have your father acting properly with faunus!" She happily proclaimed with a pumping fist.

"You sure? Daddy's pretty stubborn." He pouted. He could still remember hearing his dad curse out the deer faunus under his breath in the market yesterday.

"Yup! Trust me. Being angry and resentful won't get you nowhere in life. You'll only be hurting yourself, and worse, the ones around you. That's why your father's trying to change." She grinned down at him, tapping his nose playfully.

"He knows I don't love people full of hate."

The grip on Beaufort weakened, his mind in turmoil as his mother's words refused to leave him alone. 'I'm doing this for you! I just want make them pay, that's justice! So, please-'

"Stop looking at me like that!" Cardin yelled in a cry, slamming his mace to the side. An erupting cloud of dirt and flames towered next their bodies, shattering the arena floor to bits and nearly puncturing through. The falling burning debris scattered around them as his grip on Blake slackened, leaving her feet dangling closely to the ground. Blinking away the tears, Blake gazed at Cardin's shaking frame in confusion.

Being angry and hateful was so easy. You didn't need to know a thing to hate the person with such strong passion that it eats away at your soul. It ate away at you, like a disease. Turning you into a monster that could only froth at the mouth and snarl to the innocent and misunderstood. The kind of being no mother could love even in death.

And even with what he's become, Cardin knew without a doubt that his mother would still try to save him, forgive him for all that he's done. Because she believed there was good in everyone. He dropped Blake from his grip, standing back as he looked at his trembling hands stained with bits of her blood. The cloud of burning red faded from his mind, leaving him to stare at his work.

What was wrong with him? This wasn't what he wanted! He wanted to be hero, to bring glory to his once proud family name, to be recognized as a great huntsman like his father had once been! A huntsman so great that his mother would be proud of him even in death. When did he begin to fall so low as to try to kill a girl?

But she was part of the attack, Blake had some hand in killing his mother and sister. He couldn't forgive her for her sins like that! Yet he would be disrespecting his mother's memory if he killed her. What was he suppose to do? His thoughts were counter arguing another in a bitter fight of emotions.

From the stands, Holt scratched his head at the scene. Well, that was certainly unexpected. He was sure Cardin would finish the girl off. She was defenseless and only had her semblance to save her. He practically delivered her to the kid on a plate, with a nice bow to boot. Eh, he shrugged as he called on his shadows to hold the bunny girl still. No skin off his ass, he could use Cardin's hesitation to humanize the girl. Then he would kill her off.

Warping beside the struggling huntsman in training with his semblance, Holt patted the boy's trembling shoulder's with a grin.

"I see you've come to your senses, my boy. I knew you were better then that. She may be White Fang, and even responsible for your hatred of the faunus, but even she deserves to die as a human instead of an animal." Grabbing spare knife from his coat, Holt pushed the small blade into his free hand. It was time he joined his little family. Cardin would fit in nicely, "Go ahead, free her from her curse. It's the only way her kind can ever fit into society. It's what your mother would want."

A vein throbbed on Cardin's forehead in response, his grip coming back to life.

"No."

Holt blinked, cleaning out his ear. Something was in there messing with his hearing it seemed. Because for an impossible second he could have sworn he heard Cardin say no.

"I'm sorry, what?" His eyes hardened, narrowing as Cardin swung his head to him. The boy's blue eyes were blazing with anger, anger that should not have been pointed to him of all people.

"You heard me." Cardin glowered, breaking the knife to pieces with a spike of strength. "I said no. This isn't what my mother would have wanted! She believed that humans and faunus could get along without stooping to something like this!"

"So, what? You're just going to forgive the girl for killing her? Please, don't kid yourself. You already beat her up badly from the looks of it. Chopping off her ears is the only light punishment you could give her."

"I'm not saying I forgive Blake! But I know I'm better then this! I'm better then you!" Cardin wasn't going to listen to Holt like some mindless drone. What would amputating her ears do? It wouldn't bring his mother and sister back to life. At the end of the day, a faunus was still a faunus, no matter the animal limbs or not. Even if Holt said he was a perfect example of it working. Holt was still a faunus.

Better then him? Holt had to stop himself from laughing, "Better? We're the same, my boy. Only I'm trying to make the world a better place, one your own mother would dream of. Where both species are one and the same. And you're just a boy lost to his hate. I told you, I can give that hate purpose. All you got to do is listen to me."

"No thanks." He scoffed. He was done listening to people telling him what to do and what to feel. The only person he would listen to now was himself. "I'm done letting my anger consume me. I'm not some lunatic that thinks chopping off animal ears and tails will make them human. I'm not some hate filled bastard that's willing to throw everything he's worked for, for some petty revenge that won't bring him peace! I'm a Huntsman! And we have a job." Cardin glared, raising his mace to stare down Holt's frowning face, "To stop lunatics like you."

"Careful what you're saying, Cardin." A dark purple glint shined from Holt's left eye as his shadows danced around his body in an aura, "Are you really stupid enough to throw away your chance at revenge, your chance to become stronger, your chance of survival, to fight me? Don't tell me you're willing to die protecting these animals too? Haven't I told you before?" He growled with a dark savage grin.

"I hate hypocrites."

"Don't get me wrong." Cardin grinned back, his body pulsing with his own gold aura, "I still hate the faunus, but we huntsman have a job: Protect every living being within this city. Including these animals. The sheep have to be watched over, no matter how dirty or annoying they may be from the big bad wolf. And my, what big teeth you have there, Holt."

"The better to tear you limb from limb with, my boy." Holt spat venomously. His fingers clawed the air, straining as he fought control over his want to rip his so called apprentice to bloody chunks. "And I'm no wolf, I'm more of a Jackal."

"Who gives a shit?"

"I thought you did."

"I do, but I'd be spitting on my mother's memory if I crossed this line. Bit me."

"Oh, I'll do more then bite you, you little traitor!" He roared, swinging his arm to the side to call on his weapon. He had such high hopes for Cardin, he truly believed he would understand where he was coming from. But what did he get in return for bringing the boy closure? A slap to his face. Unforgivable, just like that blonde punk that played with his little Ann's emotions.

There was no question anymore, Holt was done playing around with these kids. They were undermining his cause, halting progress for a better future for both faunus and humans. Punishment needed to be dealt. Death was all that awaited them.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz!

Holt clicked his tongue as he answered his earpiece. The head leader of the grunts he sent out to watch over Ann, Hilda something. What did she want? "This better be good, Hilda! My blood pressure is already skyrocketing right now and I need a medication of slaughter to bring it back down!"

'Master. . .I'm sorry, we couldn't stop him. He was. . .too strong. Annabel. . .'

"What?" Holt paused breathlessly, his hand pausing the odd spiked knuckle hilt from rising further from the pool of shadows. They lost, even with Anabel? How!? "Where is she!" He shouted into the ear piece angrily, a hint of worry seeping through his voice.

'We're sorry, he took her with him as he escaped. We couldn't stop him. We're sorry.'

No, they weren't sorry. Not as sorry as they were going to be when he finished with their corpses. Ripping the little gadget off his ear, Holt crushed it in his grip with a guttural growl.

His little Ann was in the hands of the rat. The little snitch was probably going to haul her away to the police to lock her up. As if he was going to let Jaune escape with his precious little Ann. His blood would touch the ground before he stepped foot out of his lair.

A sudden rise of heat caught Holt's attention. Falling back to the ground, he fell into his shadows for cover, evading the giant boulder sized ball of flames aimed for him. It streaked past his lingering silhouette, striking the wide eyed bunny faunus in his stead.

Rising back from his semblance, his flat stare greeted Cardin mid firing of his mace. Really? Talk about poor aim. He shook his head with a laugh before breathing out his nose. As much as he wished to tear him apart, he had much more important matters to take care of.

"I guess your mother's watching out for you in death still, Cardin. Because I have someone more deserving of Death Rattle then you. Lucky you." Nothing mattered more then Ann right now. He'd be damned if he let his little girl fall into the hands of the police. "What was with that aim anyway? No wonder you don't use a gun mechanism with your weapon, you can't hit the broadside of a ship." He smirked, unaware of the bellowing clouded figure jumping for his back.

Or so they thought. Piercing the shadow silhouette that had been Holt with an aura clad kick, Velvet tucked and rolled to land beside Blake. Her dark brown eyes glared at the wisps of shadows lingering behind his copy.

"Ohohoho! Clever boy. Firing a shot to free the other animal to gang up on me. But I have a more annoying prey to hunt down right now. Don't fret though."

His dark chuckle echoed as a towering plume of shadows erupted like geyser where he once stood. The force of it hit the three hunter's with a lashing gale as they shielded their eyes. Two large human like hands stretched out from the shadows with bone like armor plates, black as night. An odd gorilla like growl escaped the shadows, a single burning red eye peeking out to stare hauntingly at the three.

"I have a better suited playmate to keep you company. Play nice now, you hear?"

The monster within the darkness raised its massive arms in the air, slamming them down to the ground like an earthquake. The ground trembled as Cardin, Blake, and Velvet struggled to keep their footing as the shadows were ripped apart by the terrifying nightmare. Revealing the massively tall gorilla Grimm with a patch of burned skin on the left side of its bone masked face. It's head twitched, tilting as it stared the three shell shocked teens down with a glowering stare.

"What. . .What is that?" Blake asked in a trembling voice. She'd never seen a Grimm as menacing as the one staring them down. Its fists were big enough easily grab her like a fruit and squish her to mush.

Velvet fought back the fear crawling up her body in face of the beast, "It's a Beringel. A Grimm unseen so close to urban cities. It's smarter then the average Grimm and it's capable of untold disaster. What's a man like Holt doing with a monster like this!?"

The Beringel howled, blowing back the wind as it reared its fists back. It didn't know where it was right now, but it would settle for the little meat bags.

Stepping in front of the unarmed faunus girls, Cardin swung his mace to block the giant bone platted fist. Beaufort's hilt met the fist, stopping the Grimm from smashing their bodies to broken heaps. A rush of stinging pressurized wind blew back against him from the thundering impact. He grunted, the damn monster looked strong but this was insane! Biting back the pain in his arms, Cardin focused the odd new power coursing in his veins for strength, pushing back the Beringel's fists. He panted from the exertion of strength, cursing as he countered another of its blows.

"Don't just stand there, idiots!" He shouted loudly, finding a small opening in the monster's swings. Parting the tips of his mace, he fired its chained titanium head for its own. It stared emotionless at him as it clamped down on its face. Cardin grinned, pressing down on the button of its hilt. Flames erupted from the Dust within, shrouding its face in crackling smoke.

Blood rushed out of his mouth as the dark gorilla clapped its hands on both sides of his body suddenly. An auraless human would have been reduced to a pulp of showering blood. Cardin's aura struggled to ward off the monstrous pressure threatening to break every bone in his body. Burning red eyes stared at him as the smoke parted away, leaving very little damage on its face.

What the hell, Cardin struggled to breath as the Beringel increased its grip. Grimm usually died with one blow of his fire Dust crystal. It was a point blank detonation for crying out loud!

Poor meatsack. The Beringel hooted as it continued to add pressure. It's eyes gleamed at the sound of pained shouting the hunter made. So crunchy.

A heavy blow for the back of its head rung the Grimm's head, sending a splitting force down its body. It released its grip on Cardin as it grabbed its head, stumbling back. Leaving it open for falling hammer fist for its already aching skull.

Ready to fall to his knees from the pain wracking his body, Cardin was surprised to find Blake and Velvet jump back from their attacks to catch him.

"W-What the hell a-are you idiots doing?" Cardin stumbled over his words as he glared weakly at the two faunus supporting him. They should have taken the opportunity to run while they could.

"Saving you, of course. We can't just leave you to fight a monster like this by yourself. You're only a first year after all." Velvet smiled lightly. "I can't let my junior show me up."

"I made a horrible mistake long ago. One I can't ever take back! I'm done running away." Blake's aura was still recovering from Cardin's beating. But that wouldn't keep her from fighting. She closed her eyes, hardening her resolve as she called on the power within in her to come back. With the knowledge of what she had done to Cardin in the past floating in her mind during their fight, she had been unconsciously holding back her strength. Bet your ass that there was nothing stopping her now from fighting at her full strength. Her yellow eyes moved back to Cardin's own, gazing at him with sympathy.

"I'm not asking you to forgive me, but I am asking you to set aside your feelings until we've dealt with this Grimm. You could do whatever you want after then. For now, just trust me to fight by your side."

The Beringel howled as it shook away the pain. It turned its eyes back to the hunters, swinging its fists for the three.

Blake replaced herself with a shadow copy, Velvet jumped over the fist, and Cardin dashed out of the way. Again the ground shook with the thundering impact. It swung its head in search for its prey only to find the gray armored boy appearing out of thin air in front of its platted chest. Flames danced around the tips of Beaufort before Cardin stabbed it forward. Twin ax kicks for its head accompanied the explosion courtesy of Blake and Velvet as the grotesque gorilla howled in pain.

"Not like I have much of choice." Cardin grumbled as he dodged a bullet fast punch. Bouncing to his left, he threw up to the two faunus girls two hunter knives he kept hidden in his sleeves. Little gifts from Holt he had no use for. They quickly caught the blades, stabbing them down into the beast's back. The knives materials were luckily durable enough to harm it, digging deep into it. It shook the annoying humans off, slipping the knives off.

Blake and Velvet landed back to Cardin's sides, readying themselves as the Beringel stomped its fists down in frustration.

With a sigh, Cardin popped out the Dust in atop of Beaufort's hilt and replaced it with a fresher one from his pouch tied to his waist, "We can save all the teen angst for later. Right now we have a gorilla to put down."

No one ever said being a huntsman was easy.

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Abilities, Skills, and Perks List:

Smash Guard[5AP]: A strong physical blow that breaks the guard of a Player's target. The Defense stat of the Player must be greater then their target's and will cost an MP difference if successful. This Ability has a 70% Accuracy Rating. Example: Player DEF(15)Target DEF(9)= 6MP Cost. Useless against Machine Type enemies.

Hunter's Axe[2AP]: Performing a flip, the Player slams their aura coated foot onto the targets skull. Has an Accuracy of 75% and 10% chance of inflicting Daze.

Timber Fall[3AP]: A grappling move that holds the target in their arms before delivering a backwards head slam by bending the Player's spine back for a complicated wrestling blow. Deals an amplified 15% in Strength and has a 20% chance to inflict Daze and Defense Down.

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So, again, I won't be uploading next week. Though I do have 2,000+ words written down, so it's going. I just need some time to get my personal life together. I'd only upload a half assed chapter with how I'm feeling right now and that's not fair to you guys. I'll be back, I swear. Just give me some time. Apologies.

NeoShadows fading in and out.