Jaune stared at the ceiling, a grimace painted his features. Why was the cave ignored until now, and why hadn't the genma within been noticed outside it at all? Had past beacon hopefuls stumbled on the cave and been killed before? A heavy sigh left his lips as he sat up and dressed in a simple shirt and jeans. He needed to clear his head, if he didn't rest tomorrow would be far more harrowing.

Jaune found himself on the dorm's roof shortly after, watching the clouds pass the fragmented moon. Was he ready for whatever waited for them past the cavern's shrine? He hoped his team was strong enough, Those corpses they fought hadn't been more than fodder, he could feel it in his gut. The creak of hinges sent Jaune spinning on his heel, Tentsubasa already in hand by the time he was facing the door. "Ruby? What are you doing up?"

"Me? What about you?" Ruby crossed her arms as she approached, Jaune had dispelled Tentsubasa when she reached him. "You okay Jaune? You can talk to me, you know."

Jaune sighed. "I'm fine Ruby, just thinking…"

"About the cave?"

"Yea, so many things just don't make sense. And I can't shake the feeling there was something worse down there." Jaune rubbed the back of his neck and turned back to the sky.

Ruby stepped next to him and nudged him with her elbow. "Whatever's down there we can take it. I know we can."

Jaune ruffled her hair, chuckling as she scrambled back and grumbled, before heading to the door. He looked back over his shoulder at his partner. "Thanks Ruby, let's get some sleep."

"No problem bestie!" Ruby sprinted to him and they left the rooftop.

—-

"You found Genma?" Ren grimaced and pushed off the wall he was leaning against. "Did you kill them all?"

Jaune rubbed his neck. "We only cleared the first room and took the orb. We figured it was best to gather ourselves before we delved deeper."

"Fool!" Jaune heard everyone's weapons as Ren got into his face. "That orb could have been sealing worse things within, did you think!"

Jaune waved his friends down as he stared back at Ren. "I hadn't thought of that, sorry. All the more reason we should prepare and clear out the cave as soon as possible. Will you come?"

Ren was silent for a moment before he sighed and stepped back. He glanced back to Nora before they nodded and he looked back to Jaune. "Yes, it would be best if we were there."

"Alright. Meet us at the cliffs in an hour." Jaune smiled and put his hand out. "It's good to have your help Ren, thank you."

Ren ignored Jaune's hand and walked to the door. "I am doing this because I must, nothing more."

He stalked off without a further word. Nora smiled and made for the door as well before turning back to everyone. "Renny is just worried, if those baddies get out a lot of people could get hurt."

"I just wish he'd see we're on the same side."

"He does, he just has to warm up to you guys." Nora turned back to the door and walked out, leaving Jaune and his team to themselves. Ruby came up and nudged Jaune in the side before smiling.

"That went well." Blake said as she joined them.

"Do we need that moody jerk though? " Yang asked. "Those zombies were pretty freaky, yeah, but we took em out easy enough."

Jaune huffed and summoned Tentsubasa. "You've seen how strong even someone like me is with the Oni Gauntlet. There is no way the entire clan was taken out by something as weak as that." He dispelled the blade. "Besides, Ren seems to know a lot more about this stuff.'

They left the room and started down the hall, Ruby sidled up next Jaune as they went. Giving him a soft smile. "Are you going to use your new sword?"

"I hadn't thought about it." Jaune replied.

"We gotta see what it can do, maybe you can make lightning come down from the sky!."

"I don't think that would be useful in a cave Ruby." Blake remarked. "Though if it's anything like Tentsubasa the power will come from the blade itself."

Jaune summoned Tentsubasa as they reached the cliffs. "Either way, it will be good to see what Raihari can do."

Ren and Nora arrived shortly after them, Nora still had her hammer with her, but Ren's weapon was unseen. Once they arrived the group leapt off the cliffs and Jaune broke his fall once more with Tentsubasa's explosion. He looked up to see Ren descending in a cyclone that carried him down. In his hands was a double bladed weapon as long as a staff. Its blades faced opposing directions, so that one would cut after the other if spun. Once Ren had landed Jaune could see that the weapon had a similar look to his weapons, but was more jagged and larger, more pronounced. Jaune glanced at Ren's arms and saw no gauntlet.

"Whoa! Where'd you get that?" Ruby was immediately in Ren's space causing him to back up as she eyed his weapon. "It's so cool! What does it do?"

Ren ignored her and looked to Jaune. "Where is the cave?"

"Hey! What's your problem? Ruby just asked you a question." Yang moved to get into Ren's face but Jaune put a hand on her shoulder.

"You don't have to like us," Jaune stepped up to Ren, "But my team and I are on your side. You keep acting like this then how are we supposed to trust you?"

They regarded each other for a few moments.

"Senpumaru is personal." Ren answered without looking away. "I'll aid you, but that is all."

"Fine then, the cave is this way." Jaune patted Ruby's shoulder as he walked past and led them to where the cave was. The heavy air followed them as they delved into its depths. Eventually they made it to the cavern with the shrine. Jaune held his hand to stop everyone as he called forth Raihari to replace Tentsubasa and inched into the space. After scanning the hollow he turned back to them all and nodded. They spread out and Ren approached the shrine.

"Well?" Jaune asked as he came up behind Ren. "Was the orb being used to seal them in?"

Ren shook his head. "It appears it was set here as a place to keep it. We would be dealing with genma already otherwise."

"Let's move forward then." Jaune turned and waved everyone up. Jaune stepped up and opened the door, which into a room with scrolls along the walls and another door at its end. As everyone Stepped inside swirling dark portals opened and zombies stepped out. At least twenty surrounded the group. Their swords and spears ready.

Several sword wielders rushed the group, who had pulled their weapons out. Jaune blocked one swing before kicking another zombie onto its back. He turned to block a spear wielder who had stabbed at his side. Stabbing forward he felt electricity course through his body as he pierced it, before his blade blurred and voltaic arcs shot into the hapless corpse. Its charred remains dissipated as Jaune blocked another sword. Kicking the offending body back he risked a glance at his companions.

Ren had dispatched several surrounding him, and Nora crushed one that had attempted to strike Ren from behind with her hammer. Yang and Blake were working through the ones that had come after them, Yang would knock them back and Blake would finish them while they were on the ground. Jaune dodged another blade and skewered another through its skull before spotting Ruby, who had moved further away from the group and was cleaving through the spearmen that had followed. Jaune thrust down into the cadaver still on the ground and started absorbing the orbs once it ceased to be.

"Keep aware, they know we're here." Ren stated when he finished.

"Is that even a big deal?" Yang asked. "It's been a cake walk so far, with all of us here I bet we won't even break a sweat."

Ruby groaned. "Thanks sis, you jinxed it!"

"Come on Rubes, you think this has been way too easy too right?"

"Well…"

"Enough." Ren said. "Take this seriously or leave."

Ruby ducked back as Yang stepped forward, but Jaune got between them. "Ren's right, if an ass. We don't know what could be down here. For all we know they're trying to wear us down."

Yang huffed and stalked forward toward the door. Jaune patted Ruby on the shoulder and smiled when she looked up. She smiled back and sprinted over to Yang. Blake passed him with a nod before he turned back to Ren. "Do you know what those lights are? And why does the gauntlet absorb them?"

"They are the souls of genma." Ren stated. "The gauntlet was made to absorb them and use them as power."

"Genma's souls…"

"Yep!" Nora exclaimed. "It's the only way to really stop them. Now come on you two, we got legs to break."

Jaune nodded and they walked to the door where the rest of the group was waiting. Everyone tensed as Jaune moved forward and opened the door to reveal an even larger cavern than the last. It was at least twice the size of Beacon's cafeteria, and there was a schism that cut part way through its floor. Skeletons littered the floor and fleshy growths covered the walls and stalagmites. On the far wall was an emblem of some kind, a crack spread throughout it. The fleshy growths appeared to originate from the cracked emblem. Sitting in front the emblem was a large humanoid creature with dark blue skin and large tusks for teeth. It wore a mistrali helmet and shoulder pads and had a massive curved blade at its side. Jaune crept into the room, when suddenly the monster looked up at them.

"Dinner's here." The beast exclaimed as it stood. "It's been awhile since I've had human meat."

"You will starve demon!" Ren shouted as he charged past Jaune, his dual blade clasped in hand.

"Ren!" Nora charged after. Before they reached half way through the room dozens of portals opened, zombies pouring out along with hunched creatures with spiked backs and meat cleavers.

Jaune swapped to Tentsubasa and followed, unleashing its magic burst as the first group reached them. He cut into rancid flesh as the sounds of combat rang around him. Blocking a blow, then kicking the attacker back. Cutting down an enemy before facing the next. He saw Ruby flitting through the swarm out the corner of his eye, rose petals trailing behind. Yang's gauntlets burst out somewhere behind him and he saw monsters fly from Nora's hammer. A spear scraped across his aura and he shoved Tentsubasa into the zombie's stomach.

"Jaune, Look out!" Ruby shouted and Jaune turned to just block a spinning object that tore against him till his blade flew back. The whirling thing dug into his aura before two more rammed into him, sparking against his aura before all three bounced back. They uncurled to reveal the armadillo looking creatures. Jaune grit his teeth as two of them jumped and spun toward him once more, he cleaved Tentsubasa forward and released another burst of light, reducing the monsters to nothing along with a few more zombies. He blocked the third's strike and slashed into its tough hide several times before it finally fell into nothing. Ruby was suddenly next to him looking him over. He gave a shaky smile before surging forward and digging Tentsubasa deep into a zombie's gut that had been coming up behind Ruby.

Jaune felt a pull as a whirlwind formed in the cavern, several of the remaining genma were pulled into the maelstrom and were ripped asunder. Jaune took the reprieve to absorb the many souls that floated around him. Feeling some of his strength return he looked around. The large genma still stood in front of the emblem, grinning to itself as it watched the battle. Yang crushed the skull of the last zombie that had attacked her and Nora was finishing off one of the armadillo monsters. Blake leaned against one of the cleaner stalagmites. Ren's storm grew still and the last of the lesser genma souls danced in the air around him. The souls all flew into his left hand and he turned to the large genma.

"There was a genma that looked like you with red skin and a club that destroyed the village Kuroyuri. Do you know him?"

The Genma picked up its blade and stomped forward. "You know little Osric? Course that foolish brother of mine would let one of the Oni clan escape. Well Laertes will be taking your head then little morsel!"

Laertes charged forward and swung, missing as Ren ducked and cut into his side with Senpumaru. Nora leapt up and brought her hammer down only for Laertes to grab it by the head and fling her into a wall. Her aura sparked as she fell back to the ground. Ren screamed and swung again, only for his blade to be deflected. Jaune switched to Raihari and rushed forward to skewer the genma. Laertes backhanded him and sent him flying back, his aura flashing and the air pushed from his lungs. Gunfire sounded as Ruby and Blake peppered the giant.

"Little pests!" Laertes grunted as he crushed a nearby stalagmite and tossed the remains, Ruby dodged the spray only for a second to catch her and send her back, her aura shattering instantly. Jaune growled and charged forward again, jumping back when Laertes swung at him once more before calling on Raihari's magic to pierce the genma's gut, a barrage of electric-charged stabs unleashed into it. Laertes stumbled back as Yang landed on his face and swung wildly. He pulled her off him and started crushing her in his hand. Jaune swapped back to Tentsubasa and unleashed an explosion of light into his gut, Laertes released Yang and grabbed his stomach as twin pillars of earth shot up into his back.

Jaune saw Ren leap up behind the giant with twin round hammers in his hands, before sending them crashing into Laertes' skull. The genma stumbled as his helmet shattered and Jaune changed to Raihari once more and unleashed another barrage of lightning stabs into his gut. Blood sprayed out and coated Jaune as Laertes groaned and staggered toward the crevice and fell in.

Jaune collapsed back and looked toward where Ruby had been sent flying to see her and Nora next to each other with Blake standing in front of them with her blades out. Ren dragged himself forward and helped Yang to her feet. With a groan Jaune forced himself up. "Are Ruby and Nora okay?"

"Just knocked out, What about Yang?" Blake replied.

"I'm in one piece. The hell was that thing made of, it hit like a beringel."

"It was one of the greater genma, they are smarter and stronger than the average fodder." Ren intoned as he stumbled toward the emblem. "It looks like this was used to seal a gate to the Dark Realm. Jaune come here."

Jaune complied and walked next to Ren. "What's the Dark Realm?"

"A place that exists to trap the genma away from this realm. Hold your gauntlet up." When Jaune did so Ren held his left hand up and started muttering. Souls shot out of the gauntlet and his hand and into the seal. Once Ren stopped his chant the souls ceased and the emblem glowed before repairing itself. "That should keep genma from coming through here again."

"Great! I vote we get out of here. I think I've had enough dank caves and monsters to last me a light time!" Yang exclaimed.

Jaune snorted and turned to her. "That was horrible Yang."

"You laughed though!"

Jaune shook his head and wandered over to Blake and their unconscious companions. He lifted Ruby up in his arms and secured Crescent Rose to his belt and turned to see that Ren had done the same with Nora. "Let's get out of here."

—-

Jaune woke the next day sore. He groaned and forced himself out of the bed and looked over to his team. Yang was sprawled out over her bed, blanket and sheet tossed to the side. Blake was cocooned in a nest of blankets and sheets on her bed and Ruby was out like a light. Thankfully Laertes' attack had only been strong enough to break her aura, and there hadn't been any damage outside of that. It was the weekend, and they could use the sleep, so Jaune crept out of the room before making his way to the cafeteria. He noticed Nora waving him down and grabbed his food before heading toward her.

"You okay?" He asked as he sat down.

"Yep! Nothing a good night's rest and a plate of pancakes couldn't fix." Jaune noticed she had at least two empty plates along with the half eaten plate of pancakes in front of her. "What about your team?"

"They're sleeping," Jaune replied between bites of an apple. "But yea, a bit bruised but fine otherwise."

"That's good…" Nora stared at her pancakes for a minute. "Thanks Jaune, for working with Ren. I know he wasn't… really great out there last night. I'm sorry about that."

Jaune rubbed the back of his neck before sighing. "It's okay Nora. Ren's got something bugging him, I can guess what given what that thing said last night."

"Yea… At least he'll be less moody now! You guys helped alot, he'll see that."

"I hope so…" Jaune sighed before finishing his breakfast.

—-

AN:

Sorry this was a bit late everyone. I started a bit late and had a few bouts of writer's block for some scenes. My future plan is to aim for one chapter a week. Hopefully I'll be uploading more consistently with it. You might have noticed but I am working to adhere mainly to Jaune's view, which means he may miss things or not know something.

What did you guys think about the OC genma? I decided on him last minute, but I feel I got a good balance on how powerful one of these baddies can be, while also not nerfing the team too much. Honestly with even a few less members that fight might have been MUCH harder, but with an Onimusha and a member of the Oni clan they had enough oompf to basically stun combo him at the end. I also kept with the naming convention a few of the genma use and named him after a Hamlet character.

I'm going to add a list of possible future stories to my profile, feel free to mention any you like.

Responses:

Wolfx88 - Yea, honestly other than some vague ideas I basically sit down and wing it. I'm hoping that after writing for a bit I develop a decent pace.