Author's note
The reception of this fanfiction is both heartwarming and motivating. No story has been abandoned just…put on hold. For those who enjoy this story please comment and, even more helpful, drop by the Youtube Channel Gaming Glatorius and check out the content there. Jaune will be featured in a vs battle video in the near future, and if you want to know his intended opponent just check out the hint at the end of the chapter and message me your answer. Any who guess it correctly will be given a shoutout when the video is released.
Also, see if you can find all the easter eggs in this chapter. Paragraphs with easter eggs will be marked with () in front of them. Those who identify these will be given a shoutout in the next chapter.
Anywho, let the carnage begin.
Chapter 3. The Establishment of Skill
A broken world, a cathedral resting alone surrounded by lava, a vine choked train station, a desert, a city shrouded in massive webs, and a black tower stretching into the bleak sky.
The image changes, he is inside the tower now. Before him was a massive creature's upper body, encased in stone armor. Areas on its back were reminiscent of a castle, one of its eyes was missing, and its lipless mouth made it resemble a dragon somewhat.
"Straga is the mightiest of the Destroyer's Chosen!"
()The image shatters to reveal a figure that Jaune did recognize. His grandfather, Jack Arc, stood with clear purpose. He gazed down at two additional figures that Jaune also recognized. William Arc, his father, and Elizabeth Arc, his mother. Will and Elizabeth were sitting with worried looks, Elizabeth had her arms wrapped around her belly.
"He will be the next Horseman." Jack said, his eyes seeing what even the most advanced medical equipment couldn't. He could see the small life inside Elizabeth, who was not even a full month pregnant yet.
"You're sure?" Will asked, his arms around his wife.
"My mark is fading. It has been doing so for the last two weeks now. A new Horseman exists now, and this mantle will pass to him when he is born." Jack said. The couple knew that there was nothing to be done. If they kept the child, he was to be a Horseman. And if they…didn't, then the next pregnancy would be chosen. The only way to spare a child from the burden, was to not have a child at all.
Jaune awoke with a small start. He hadn't dreamt the memories of previous Horsemen in some time. It was dawn, the sun hadn't even left the horizon yet. But it was time for action, and action was going to be had. Jaune rose with slight stiffness, his back, shoulders, and neck cracking in protest. His armor was left alone for now, but his sword was grabbed. His bodysuit also worked as casual and sleepwear, so it would handle being used for the morning routine.
Once outside Jaune began. He started with a warmup set of fifty pushups, fifty sit ups, twenty five squats, and a minute of jumping jacks. With his body warm and limber Jaune started his exercises in earnest. He began with agility training, choosing a direction and sprinting. Every large rock was a platform to jump from, every tree was a grapple point, and every patch of grass was either a jump to clear or an area to finish a jump with a roll. And all of this was done with his sword on him, made possible by him shifting the blade when he rolled. A large lap around Beacon was his course, and as soon as he was done it was time for his blade work.
Jaune selected an open area, no trees or bystanders to be harmed, and drew Chaoseater. He could feel the blade's displeasure at being drawn without the promise of bloodshed, but his blade answered to him and not the other way around. Jaune cleared his mind and slipped from his body somewhat, the world around him faded and was replaced with the ruined world of his dreams. Blue skinned demons with crude armor and cruder weapons swarmed him, but that was their mistake. Chaoseater sang and danced through the demons, blood sprayed, limbs fell, and lives ended. And when the dance ended, Jaune was back. His body was now steaming in the morning air, his blade was once again in this time and place. As was he.
The sun was fully risen now, and its rays were starting to warm the grounds of Beacon. When he made it back to his room the rest of his team were just waking up. Opting to shower quickly and don his uniform Jaune went about the first iteration of what would be a routine for the next few weeks. The first class was Grimm studies with Professor Port, but Jaune tuned out most of the discussion. When Port decided that a live demonstration was warranted he scanned the room for a vict…volunteer. His eyes roved over Weiss's raised hand and settled on Jaune's disinterested face. Port smirked evilly under his moustache.
"Mr. Arc. Come down here please." Jaune glanced at the teacher, and then made his way down to the open area in front of the class. A cage was already there and rattled menacingly, a small Grimm ready for demonstration.
Jaune was given no warning as Port smashed the lock and released the Boarbatusk within. It fixed its gaze on Jaune and charged. Jaune gave no sign of panic and instead opted to end the creature quickly. He took a stance, relaxed to the untrained eye, and prepared, his left side facing the charging pig. When the beast was close enough Jaune gave it a downwards backhand, which smashed the tusked face down with such force that it bounced back up. When its belly was exposed Jaune made his finishing move. A side kick with his left leg, rupturing all internal organs, snapping its spine, and almost cutting it in half.
()"Know your place." Jaune whispered, quoting one of his favorite fictional characters. Blake smirked as she immediately recognized the origin.
The rest of the class was stunned. Jaune killed the Grimm barehanded and hadn't even bothered to change into his combat uniform. Weiss was silent, fuming at being deprived the chance to show off, Ruby and Nora were cheering, Blake was still smirking, Yang was giving Jaune a flirty grin, and Pyrrha was silent. As for Jaune, he was disinterested. He observed Port examining the Boarbatusk and realizing the sheer extent of its wounds. Ozpin was monitoring the class from his office and could only chuckle, Jaune was very powerful physically. But it would be in combat class that his full potential would be seen.
History was next, and once again Jaune zoned out. He knew everything in regards to what his professor, Dr. Oobleck, was teaching. As he was the Horseman War Jaune was able to see all conflicts, be they past, present, and future with clarity. He could see through the eyes of every one of his preceding Horsemen and view their entire lives in the blink of an eye. It was what he did this very morning, when he looked back and saw through the eyes of the first War. His body had moved with the same movements and with all the power, grace, and precision of the War from that memory.
It was only when combat class was beginning that Jaune was truly excited. It was finally time to fight for real, and against another skilled opponent at that. He could only smirk when he was chosen for the first fight, which was mirrored by Weiss as she was chosen for his opponent. Both donned their gear and stepped on stage, Weiss in her elegant combat skirt and rapier against Jaune in his plate armor and all of his weapons.
Jaune was confident but wary, as he knew that any opponent could be the one that defeats even a master. Weiss was also confident as well, but without the caution. She held no doubt in her victory, her opponent was strong but she had concluded that his strength and weapons were to compensate for lack of mobility and finesse. She was about to be painfully corrected.
The match started with Weiss summoning a glyph to propel Jaune skyward while she dashed in to exploit the opened defense. But her sword point was deflected by Jaune's gauntlet clad left hand. She was barely able to raise her rapier back up into a defense against the descending blade of Jaune's sword, and was utterly incapable of stopping Jaune's massive left boot from slamming into her chest. Weiss flew back with such force that she impacted the wall near where she started, her aura was into the orange now and she had heard some of her ribs break. Taking a gamble Weiss used a special kind of dust, one that recharged her aura completely but would leave her utterly exhausted for the next few hours, and decided for a truly devious attack.
A series of immobilization glyphs caught Jaune by his ankles, wrists, and by his throat. He was caught, spread eagle, in midair. Weiss charged in, speed glyphs accelerating her to impact with maximum damage. But when she was making her thrust something happened that she was almost unable to comprehend. Chaoseater, still clutched in Jaune's right hand, had been spun to intercept myrtenaster's point just in time to deflect it away harmlessly. At the same time Jaune had shattered the glyph binding his left ankle and raised his knee just high enough for Weiss to slam into it face first.
A quick flash of Jaune's aura shattered the rest of the glyphs, and a high speed introduction to the flat side of Chaoseater had Weiss flying yet again. This time however, she didn't get back up. The combination of the double edge sword dust and the bone crushing blows had rendered her unable to fight. Her team was in awe, Jaune's were impressed. But everyone, Goodwitch included, was deeply disturbed by the cool headedness Jaune displayed. He never emoted surprise or distress, it seemed like anything Weiss could do Jaune could disable or counter. Ren was realizing the very thing that Weiss would when she could coherently think again. Jaune could overpower those he cannot out-equip, out-finesse those he cannot overpower, and out-equip those he cannot out-finesse. Jaune brought brute force, skill, and gear all in great quantity and quality. The very thing most warriors strive for but never achieve. Not the jack of all trades and master of none, but the master of all trades period.
"This year just got very interesting." Ren thought as Jaune walked past.
Ok, now here's the hint I mentioned.
"The great destroyer will be known as the stupidest being in the Universe."