AN: Here we go! Another new chapter of Game on! I got to say I love the response this fic is getting and I put in extra work for this chapter! This is where the fic really begins to hit it's stride as the gamer comes back new rules are implemented and above all else! Patch notes! If you like the story thanks for reading and as always... Game on...
The thing roared a deafening bellow as the alpha Beowulf tossed it's head backward. Realising a deafening roar of challenge that stung Jaune's ear as the monster's beady red eyes locked onto him.
"This is your final test. Success of failure, you will find honor." His mother said from above in a dispassionate tone as the monster reared back on its massive hind legs. Dark black fur bending and flexing to cover its thick bulging muscles as it bent back and leaped forward as a mass of over seven hundred pounds of muscle, teeth, fangs, and claws leaped at him.
It's fast! Jaune thought as the monster moved at a lightning pace in sheer defiance of the rules of physics, as something that was early in the hundreds of pounds moved as if it was weightless. One second it was building its strength the next it was flying at in in a tidal wave of fur and fangs as he grimaced.
The monster leaped forward attempting to crush him under its paws as it roared in anger, hate-filled red eyes glaring at him as pure white fangs glistening with saliva and spittle shone in the dim arena light. Slick with saliva as it leaped to end the pathetic human's life in one fell swoop. He never gave it a chance.
Even if it was insanely fast, it was still bound by the laws of physics, and one of the most crucial laws of inertia was. An object in motion tends to stay in motion. Jaune thought as he spun to his right ignoring the flash of pain that coursed through him as he spun avoiding the monsters charge that would have crushed him like a gnat and slipped out of the attack lashing out with his sword to strike at the monster's flank.
Earning a pained filled growl the monster as his blade cut deep into its hide. Ancient melta sliced deep into its skin as metal spilled muscle like it was wet paper and long flowing line of red rush out of it.
The monster how in pain as what it thought would be an easy snack suddenly grew its fangs and wounded it. Causin the Griim to pause as it backed away form Jaune. Slowly. Surely.
Taking its time to back bed with a calm practiced and efficient manner growling in irritation as its beady red eyes locked onto its meal which it now knew had teeth.
As the monster backed up bright red leaking onto the sand, it snapped its jaws in irritation grinding its teeth again one another as it gave him a low growl.
"Come on Jaune. You can do this! It's not invincible. It's like dad would always say! If it bleeds, you could kill it!"
Jaune whispered quietly to himself as one of his father's many mottos to him. He found himself dearly wishing that the man was still alive as the thing threw back its head back and roared once more as it charged him again.
As the monster crashed forward again Jaune repeated the same strategy waiting until the last possible second to twist to his right avoiding the massive downward strike from the monster talons as he spun out to strike its opposite flank drawing another deep line red in its fur. As it gave into a screech of pain.
"I can do this!"
Jaune who spun back read to strike it's flank only for the monster to kick out with a hind leg that sent him scattering onto the floor. The boy gasped as his face crashed into the sand as the hot grainy crystals filled his mouth making him cough violently before his instincts kicked in.
Jaune rolled to the side not a second too soon as a blur of claws slammed into where he was as the monster attempted to skewer him through and through.
"You have to do better than that Jaune. This is only one alpha. What if there were two? Or five let alone a pack of them? What would you do then? Would you fight and triumph? Or lay down and perish?"
His mother asked as the Grimm regarded him slowly apparently not bothered in the least that its meal had escaped as it backpeddeled to the arena edge its enormous muscled legs carrying it back as it kept its eyes locked on him.
"Come on... Cone on...
He said as the monster growled jumping forward again as Jaune bent his legs to spin and slash as he turned he heard the thump!
As the Grimm arrested its fall midway stopping itself just before Jaune as the boy's mouth fell open as the monster smiled, it was an entirely inhuman smile, as it shot him a large toothy grin as its prey took the bait.
As Jaune slashed its right paw its left shot out taking him across the face making him cry out in pain. A flash of white spread over his vision as he felt his blood spurt out as the monster forced him back.
"AHH!"
The boy cried out as blood flew from his face spreading over the sand and Grimm cover them red as the monster grinned.
"Jaune do not let such a trivial would like that kill you."
His mother said in a disinterested tone as Jaune fell back, his face screaming in pain as his vision was blinded by blood an-
"AH!
Jaune cried out as a burning sensation filled his legs as the Grimm sank its fangs into his right leg. Striking deep and taking its teeth entirely into his calf making him cry in pain as white agony filled his mind.
The monster bore him down as it growled and glared as it ripped into the soft flesh of his right calf tearing threw sinew and what passed for muscle as it tore his leg apart.
"Get off!"
Jaune yelled as he drew his sword striking at the creatures exposed back. Striking downward hitting it right in its shoulder joints making it grunt before releasing his leg as it once pure white teeth were now dyed red in his blood as it snapped at him flashing a paw out knocking his sword to the side.
Jaune never had time to react as the monster let go of his now shredded leg as its mouth still dripping with rent flesh as it lurched forward bitting deeply into his chest.
As the fans sunk into him bones cracked and flesh tore as Jaune screamed. It was the only thing he could do as fangs over six inches long and canines twice that length stabbed into his chest penetrating it instantly and making his world of white.
"It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!"
Jaune cried out as white agony flashed into his brain, The monster snarled and roared, as Jaune fought not to throw up, as it foul breath filled his nose as it heavy snout breath on him as its teeth ripped apart his chest.
Jaune felt his bones break and his flesh split as a lance of pain filled him like an electric current as he cried out.
"Mother! I-
"Fight Jaune. Do not let something like this stop you."
She said as Jaune looked at the monster atop of him. It was a massive beast towering over the human it ate. Every aspect of the creature's physique was incredibly superior to him its muscles so far outclass him that there was simply nothing Jaune could do to force it off.
As it ripped and tore apart his flesh making his mind blank in agony Jaune saw it.
Blackness... His vision was growing dark as blood loss caught up with him. As the monster ripped and tore, it sensed his loss of blood and imminent death as it slowed down.
No longer worried about struggling prey as Jaune gasped, as the horrible, terrible agony in his chest that threatened to rip his reality apart and tear his sanity to shreds suddenly was less.
As it, no longer tore him apart and threatened to break his grasp on the conscious world as an odd warm sensation filled his body taking away his pain. Ther was no longer with agony in his legs, there was no more horrible ripping and tearing sensation, it was like he was floating on air and-
NO!
Jaune thought as his survival instinct kicked in with a vengeance as his eyes shot open as he took stock of the situation. The grim was slowing down now. Taking its time, not bother to kill him but to chew as Jaune looked for his out.
His sword was close! Less then a foot from his left, but he could reach it!
As the monster stopped tearing open hi share and began gnawing on hid another leg as Jaune's tire shaking hand reached out to his face.
Twin pale hands curled around its snout as Jaune felt the oddly soft and comfortable fur of the monster as it looked at him curious about what its prey was doing.
Was it trying to beg for mercy? Lookin for some type of salvation? Or had its blood loss drawn it-
Jaune took his fingers wrapping them around its face, felling the strange soft and furry fur of its face. As the monster stared at him, he pushed his thumbs right into its beady red eyes and plunged them into them.
The Beowulf screamed. Its mouth opens it cred its fight agonized scream as its jaws tore free from his leg.
As Jaune dug his fingers into its eyes making it rear up as he turned. He had less than ten seconds. Less than ten seconds to reach his word ignore the burning torment in his chest and legs and make a difference.
As the boy crawled to his sword gripping the metal in hand as a bunch chilling roar of hatred filled the arena as the sound of heavy footsteps came from behind him.
Now!
Jaune thought as the monster roared up and bounded down to him intent on crushing the insolent human in one swift strike.
Its prey had surprised it too much. Now it would die. As the wall of black and read leaped up to finish his life and send him to his ancestors.
"Not like this!"
Jaune yelled as he slashed out his sword, taking the monster straight through the throat and slicing its head in half, killing it in an instant as it ran itself through on his blade. As hot blood form, the beast spilled over him washing and mingling with his own as it slumped down without a whimper as it died.
Jaune let out a pained gag as the monster began to disintegrate as the beast fell and the boy killed the wolf.
'Very good Jaune. You show promise. Now climb up here for treatment."
Jaune's mother said as he grimaced as he crawled up to the shaky rope ladder Juniper tossed into the arena.
He had no idea how he made the agony, altered journey from the sand pit to the dingy rope ladder that was his lone shot at freedom.
As the boy crawled up to the ladder crying out as he pulled himself up wrung by wrung until he finally found himself on the boots of his mother panting heavily as his vision swam and turned black.
"You did well."
Juniper said with a true smile as the world went white.
"AHH!"
Jaune gasped as he came out of his memory. No longer was he in the arena as a child, but now he was back in Beacon, as a teenager sitting the memory char of Peach as he coughed roughly. As he fell out of the cair land on the ground gagging loudly as he felt himself as he dry heaved on the floor. "Mister Arc! Are... Are you ok?"
Peach, asked the raccoon faunus had a terrified look on her face. As her brown eyes shook in panic as what looked like the first incident of a traumatic memory resurfacing came forward as Jaune nodded as he fought the urge to vomit violently on the floor.
"Yeah! I'm fine!"
The boy said with a panicked smile as his eyes shook and he covers his mouth looking ready to vomit.
"You don't look fine."
She said with a worried frown as Jaune shook his head.
"No, I'm good!"
Jaune said before violently coughing as another wave of nausea overcame him as he felt like vomiting. Something was wrong very wrong with him. As he vision swam in flashes of yellow and blue his eyes turned up to the faces of his team and their families as he grimaced.
They did not look happy. In fact, his friends seemed downright furious, as all of them even Ruby seemed truly angry for the first time since he met her as her as every one form the study to the adult with the sole exception of his sister.
Who unlike the rest of the incredulous students had a relieved look on her face like she was finally proven right, smiling lightly as she smiled at him. Jaune caught the unreadable study look of Opal that while natural he sensed a hidden fury behind it.
As he felt another wave of nausea hit him as he cried out once before ruining out ignoring the cry form his partner as he ran out of the room. "I have to use the bathroom!"
Jaune yelled as he sprinted off as he caught a look form, Opal, as she gave him an unreadable look but filled with a barely covered fury as he ran.
"Jaune! Jaune! What's wrong!? Talk to me!"
His reflection yelled as Jaune vomited in the sink.
"I! I Don't know!"
He shouted back as he felt like his world was falling apart. His breaths came out in rapid short bursts, ragged and hard as he bent over the bathroom sink.
His vision swam in yellows and blues as his world seemed to implode and pop! As his reflection yelled.
"Jaune! The song! Sine it! Sing it now!"
It said as Jaune felt his mouth hitch. His tongue went dry as the desert as he felt it tie itself in knots. "I can't-
"Jaune!"
"I -
"~Said a scarecrow swinging on a plow~!"
"~To a blackbird singing on a fence~!"
His reflection yelled as Jaune gagged. His vision blurred and ran, as it flooded and swam with all number of color as he gagged.
"Jaune! Sing!"
It orderd as Jaune felt his mind squeeze and pop!
"~Oh... Oum gave me a soul...
Jaune said one before his word twirl and bent as his reflection shouted. "But forgot to give me common sense~!"
It yelled shouting at Jaune as he gripped the sink. He swallowed once, twice. Taking deep breaths as he fought down the tsunami of nausea inside of him as he calmed his breathing.
"~If I only had a brain...
"~I would whine away the hours! Conversing with flowers! Consulting with the rain~!"
"~I would dance and be merry...
'~Life would be a dingle berry~!"
"~If I only had a brain."
Jaune finished as he felt his vision rest. As the churn of his stomach died down, he let one last gasp leave him as he sighed.
"Remind me to thank Qrow for that song. It really keeps your nerves."
Jaune said as his reflection nodded.
"Sure thing. Just try to keep it together ok? And don't let your friends kill you. They looked worried back there."
It said as Jaune nodded turning away as he walked out the bathroom and bumped into a pair of silver eyes.
"Good Oum! Fucking kill me! Please! Monty! If you are out there take your damned gun and blast me in the temple!"
Roman shouted as the first knives of metal torture stabbed into his head. As his emerald eyes opened bloodshot and puffy, he felt the cold cement of his house's floor on his face as he groaned.
"Dear god... How much did I have to drink?"
Roman asked groggily as he looked up. Daylight shone into his warehouse as he took stock of his surroundings.
He was halfway on his bright red Vacuoan leather couch that sat prominently in his living room, in front of his oak wood coffee table and flat screen tv. It was a well know fact that Roman loved the couch more than life itself, as it was not only a slice of heaven to lay on, that's mere touch!
Would wash away all of his life's numerous and ever-expanding series problems! It was also incredulously priced!
There where more zeroes behind the thing's price tag most people saw in their entire lifetimes! The price on it was so high that it was downright criminal!
A fitting thing too since Roman stole it. As he looked up, he took stock of his surroundings. He was currently on the floor and was suffering a mammoth of a hangover as he drowned his sorrows from the debacle of the Docs.
As the thief yawned once into the bitter pain in his head as the throbbing hangover rocked his mind that threatened to break his skull in two.
"I really need to stop drinking."
Roman said as he stood up on shaky legs. His well used limbs shaking like a toddler as he fought the tidal wave of bile that threatened to erupt from his gut as he doubled over. Harsh yellow light entered his emerald eyes as he grimaced as his hangover induced migraine threatened to override his brain with pain as he yawned once more before shaking off his arms.
As he stood up, he grimaced as he saw the many, many leftover liquor bottles on the floor. As he delicately stepped over the myriad of empty liquor bottles grimacing at the wast. There were even some top-shelf bottles there! As the thief lamented the loss of good liquor.
"How much did I drink?"
Roman asked as he walked shakily on barely stable limbs to his kitchen. Looking for a bottle of water, or vodka. Whatever came first.
As he walked onto the tiled floor of his small kitchenette, he noticed a stylish brown chair was currently knocked over as it laid on its side under a freshly tied noose that hung freely from a low pipe.
"That drunk huh? Tried to take the easy way? Ah well, not today old friend!"
Roman said theatrically to the noose that had tried to claim his life.
Not today! But soon."
Roman said to the noose as he yawned once cracking his back she began to get on with his day. Currently, he had the day off but in his line of work a day off meant only waiting around bored out of his mind until Cinder came a knocking threating to immolate or molest him as she saw fit.
Or Ne-
Neo!
Roman thought as he instantly rushed back to his liquor bottle strewn living room.
Oum dammit! I need to hide my liquor before she confiscates it! Again!
Roman thought as he began collecting his liquor bottles and tossing them into his recycling bin grimacing as he did.
Roman hated absolutely loathed the fact that Neo didn't let him drink. He loved how she took care of him and kept him safe from all things. He just wished that she didn' take his diet into her thoughts.
As the petite woman made sure that he always had fresh, healthy dietary options available to him, and made a point! To confiscate each and every amount of liquor she saw him keep at his warehouse, and the only way the thief could get a drink was to hide them carefully in his house.
And to Roman drinking was right next to smoking on things that kept him sane and not on a damned living room chair about to hang himself on a binger. Mainly Roman simply refused to die sober.
As he cleaned up the living room, his head throbbed dully as he felt himself moan.
"Why me? How the hell do I get myself into these things?"
Roman asked as he finished his cleaning and stared in the sole mirror of his warehouse that hung above a small brown dresser as his reflection sighed.
"Hey don't blame me. You made our choices."
Roman's reflection said as he nodded.
"Yeah, I guess I did. I just wish I wasn't a damned idiot!"
He hissed as he nodded.
"Hey, we were young! It happens! Remember when we still wanted to be the first real male hunter? When we wanted to rewrite the world! And make it a better place for men and woman? Those were the days."
Roman's reflection said as he nodded.
"You know, I really thought we could make a difference. I actually thought that we could change this place."
Roman thought as he reached into the dresser beneath the mirror as he took out a small picture.
On it showed a much younger Roman as he stood in front of Beacon with three-figures around him.
Behind him was a young blonde woman with green eyes with a firm but warm glare to her dressed in a white blouse and blue skirt as she smiled a rare smile for her to the camera.
To her right was a young faunus girl with red hair, dog ears chocolatey colored skin and closed eyes as she raised her hands above her head yawning loudly much to the blondes displeasure. In the center of them, all stood a strikingly handsome young man in a white suit and a cane, with a green haired glases wearing girl wrapped around his shoulder and waist smiling brightly.
She had long green hair a pair of light glasses and a calm smile. As for once in her life, she was not shooting off a thousand words per second as Roman sighed.
"We would have been great you know?"
He asked as members of a better time washed over him. As the thief remembered a time when he was not a master thief. A time when he was not a murderer, criminal, or a jaded anarchist. A time when he was not a monster.
There was a time when he was the opposite of that. When he buried with youthful passion. A time when his heartburn for justice and he truly wanted to change the world for the better.
When he wanted nothing more than to take the world by storm ripping down the stupid gender roles that governed this shitty world.
To tear down the stupid archaic laws that kept men down and make it an equal world. For everyone!
But that was a long, long time ago. A lifetime ago really, as he thought to back then.
But now? Now that fire was long dead, snuffed out, extinguished and replaced, by cold, unrelenting pragmaticism, insane degrees of selfishness, awe-inspiring levels of cynicism and near complete apathy.
As the thief sighed heavily putting wy the pictures and memories of the past as he put away the picture and went back to cleaning.
"Two scoops, please! Both Vanilla!"
Summer said taking the ice cream form the woman at the parlor and walking back to the seat where Jaune sat waiting for her like a good boy. As she approached him treats in hand, the boy blushed brightly as Summer walked over to him.
"Here you go! One vanilla just for you!"
Summer said handing the boy a scoop of ice cream as he blushed.
"Thank you... mam...
"Jaune! I said to call me Summer!"
"Thank you, Summer...
Jaune said taking a bite of his ice cream as Summer sighed. She had run into the boy crying outside of the Beacon bathrooms after that awful display by the memory chair.
Summer remember her own days on the chair, showing her less memory of her making cookies, or her first date with Qrow. But now?
Now she had to watch as some mad woman send an aura locked boy of all things to fight an alpha Grimm in some bloody barbaric ritual!
As the boy ate his ice cream Summer suppressed her sigh. She had intended to take the boy back to his friend and team, but he looked too sad! His eyes were red and tear-filled, and he looked ready to break!
Her mother instinct kicked in, and she decided then and there to make sure that this boy had a good day!
And after shooting a message to Raven took the boy out for a date. As she attempted to cheer him up as they ate their ice cream together.
"Summer...
"Yes, Jaune? What's wrong?"
She asked the boy taking a bite of her ice cream smiling brihgly as she loved the taste of vanilla in her throat.
"Why... Why did you take me out today?"
Jaune asked as Summer smiled.
"To show you a good time! To show you how a mother should be!"
"Are you asking to be my mom?"
"I could be your mommy. If you want."
Summer said in a husky voice placing and on Jaune making his face turn the shade of her daughter cape as she teased him.'
"I'm just teasing! You are so cute when you blush! You remind me of my husband you know?"
"Although when I make Tai shudder, he has a distinct lack of clothes."
Summer thought as Jaune nodding blushing brightly as the two ate their ice cream as Summer prepared to show him the best day ever!
Caitlin was confused. To the say the least. As she sat amongst the arguing and lucid parents and the children who made up her younger brothers team and friends. As they all paced back and forth yelling and shouting as she gained an amused look on he face.
She had no idea what these people were so upset by. In fact, Caitlin was relieved! She had thought that her mother had been abusing Jaune, but that theory was thankfully was proven false. As Caitlin saw that Jaune was not abused and was in no danger from their mother.
It was just the boy, and the wolf trial that all her siblings went through and all passed much to her pride.
When she explained this to the surrounding people, she got a variety of responses. Rangin form wee forme criticisms about her apparent apathy and child abusing ideal. To downright insults and slander that made her sigh in frustration.
Most called her callous or unfeeling. They seemed to think that she did not care for her brother or that her mother was beating him according to them as if that was somehow wrong and not in any way part of standard Arc training. I mean if they thought this was bad what would they do if they heard of Saph? She was forced to fight a Nevermore with her right arm freshly broken and armed with nothing but a dagger.
To this day Catilin still had no idea how her mother got a full grown nevermore into the arena. But she didn't question it, it made Sapphire Arc strong just as it did to her, just as it did to her sisters, Jaune was just the laters in the long line of proud warriors and that was good!
Jaune needed to be strong, and Juniper made him strong. How could Jaune be expected to get stronger if he could not grow? And what better way to grown than trial by combat? Once again this explanation met more critics and more insult. As especially his partner seems to be the most inflamed about his apparent abuse.
Once again Caitlin simply said that Jaune needed training and if you hold back during training you do no one any favors. Lest of all Jaune. And to why she was beating him in full armor while he had none the answer was shockingly simple, and she was surprised no one saw it.
If he wanted to grow that meant he had to have real experiences. He would get no better if his mother held back on him. Anything less then her full strength would be disadvantageous to them both. And if Jaune wanted to not get beaten by his mother he needed to learn how to block. Or dodge respectively. Once again this sentence got more angered responses as she sighed and tried to clam the crowd down.
As she explained to them that Juniper was not abusing Jaune, and if anything! She was coddling the boy! Much to Caitlin's displeasure. Her mother was going easy on him and letting her own feelings get in the way of his training!
As the memory, they saw so clearly demonstrated to them. As she had trained him before the boy and the wolf. She only did superficial damage to him! No broken legs, sprained ankles or even a twisted arm! Was done to him before she sent him inside!
Not only that Caitlin was irritated that her mother went easy on Jaune! Once again not training him like she did his sisters and only hurting him! Not only was he allowed in the pit fully armed and armored, but he was also only punched in while she was kicked. None of his limbs were tied, nor were any even sprained let alone broken! As they should be. And he was neither blindfolded or cuffed!
When Caitlin did her trial she fought an alpha, Ursa. And had been drop-kicked into the pit, with both her weapons and armor being locked in two separate boxes on the opposite side of the pit.
As each one was locked and a key had been hidden somewhere in the arena. And she was made to not only unlock, her own weapon and armor for herself and kill the game while she also had no Arua she did that when she was seven! Jaune had to do it while he was nine. Much later then he should have been sent in. As he was sent in fully armed and armored with no broken or tied limbs? She was going soft.
When Caitlin reported this once again, she was met with incredulous shouts and accusations of child abuse? Of all thins much to her confusion.
People have grown too soft. She reasoned as the as the gathered crowd of students even adults seemed to think that Jaune was in danger. Arc traditions had apparently gone from being considered the best of the best. To being labeled barbaric, and tribal! As she watched the people panicked, she sighed thinking that the one good thing to come from all of this was Jaune's partner...
"What do you mean to teach me?"
Pyrrha asked the older woman as she grinned.
"Simple. I will teach you to be the best wife or one of many wives for my younger brother."
"I intend to be his only wife."
The Spartan said defiantly as Caitlin chuckled.
"Good luck with that. If you wish to claim him as your own, you need to mark him soon."
She added with a smile before she grimaced.
"Pyrrha... I am led to believe you are an honest woman. Is this correct?"
"Honesty is everything. We stand nothing to gain from deceit."
"Good. Then I am going to ask you a question that I require your honest response."
"I will give nothing less."
"Fine... Why my brother? Why do you like Jaune? What attracted you to him?"
She asked as the spartan paused her emerald eyes shined as she let smile came to her face.
"He was kind...
"Be honest."
"I am! When I first met him, I will be honest... I thought of him as a trophy. A convenient tag on to myself to make my life easier...
"And things changed?"
"Yes. He showed himself to be honest caring and determined to save those around him. Even at the cost of himself. I respect that."
"Fair... But besides that why him? Was it just attraction? If so be honest with me. I know that despite his facial feature he is quite appealing to a young woman. Was it that? did you find yourself enamored with a scared young pup that you needed to nurse back to health?"
"No! I... I did do! I do find him attractive. Especially in that uniform.
She added under her breath as Cailin sighed.
"I know what he looks like. I saw the Ren boy, and I admit to having a thought or two of what I would do to him if we were alone together. He's just glad that Coral was not here to witness him in such a state of... dress...
"Coral? His other sister?"
"Fourth oldest. She has always loved Jaune. She looked after him second after me when Star was too young too. And she always loved him as a sister should. And in some ways, as a sister should not."
"Should not? What does that...
The girl trailed off as Caitlin sighed.
"While I am sure that she spoke in jest. Corla might have admitted on numerous occasions to felling a bit more than purely sibling affection for Jaune. And if judging by her interest in literature if you call that rash literature that might not be far off. She always had a thing for him. Even when he a young she spent all day putting him in skirts. Making him wear dresses make up and-
"She made him crossdress!?"
Pyrrha asked face turn red as her hair as Catilin noded.
"When he was younger yes. She even took pictures-
"Can I see them!?"
The Spartan asked taking a step forward as Catilin frowned.
"If you want sure. But first would you like a tissue?"
"For what?"
Pyrrha asked as Caitlin frowned.
"You nose is bleeding. Badly."
Caitlin said as Pyrrah blushed as sure enough there was a long trail of blood from her nose as Caitlins swore she mumbled something about cute traps.
Or something as she sighed. At seeing the familiar signs in his partner. Why do you keep attracting perverts? Catilin thought as Pyrrha had that look that Coral had when she looked at her so-called Shota trap manga she bought special delivered from Mistral as Caitlin sighed.
Why is my sister a shota-con? And why is his partner a pervert? Why do you not attract any ordinary woman Jaune? She began as she turned back to Pyrrha.
"Pyrrha. I will be honest. As far as I am concerned, you are one of Jaune's brides to be."
"One? He has another?"
"Oh yes. And if you can mark him before she finds him and she is looking trust you me. You will be able to guarantee a spot in his life."
"Who is his fiance?"
"She is... She was a family acquaintance of ours from some time ago. We saved her life she was dying from a bad Grimm wound. On her way to the hospital, our mother promised her the hand of her firstborn son in marriage if she survived her dangers injury. She survived, and a word is our bond."
"Jaune would have married her but our house burned down on the day of his wedding, and he vanished. I will be honest she was not perfect, she was called cruel, manipulative and downright evil."
"And you were login to let Jaune marry her?!"
the parent asked she as Caitlin sighed.
"It was not that simple. Cruel as she was she was never cruel to Jaune. In fact he like her. She was fond of him too, and they made a nice couple. I don't know why he was nervous he loved that woman or I think he did. But that was then this is now."
"Pyrrha you can date my brother but if you break his heart of cause one scratch on his skin. You head is mine."
"Now that's a good boy. Are you a good boy? Yes, you are. You know I always wanted a son. But by the time Ruby came along, it just wasn't readable with my job as a huntress you know?"
Summer asked the fast asleep body of Jaune as he slept soundly in her lap. Summer had dragged the boy all over town buying him all kind of treats, taking him to a Spruce Willis movie, and finally a park as now the boy laid tucker out fas asleep in her lap as they rose the bullhead back to Beacon. The boy fell fast asleep in her lap as the craft rocked him in her lap.
"You know if you where my son I would never beat you. I would treat you right and spoil you rotten! I'd make you all the cookies you could eat and take you to all the parks in Patch. I'd wake you up every day with a freshly made breakfast and make you the happiest child on Remnant."
"Why are you so skinny? I can fell your ribs through your shirt. Not that you can call whatever the hell you are wearing a uniform. I'm a bit surprised Yang hasn't dragged off to a corner of maybe she did? Either way I hope you start eating better, being a hunter is never easy."
"Though if you where my son I would never let you be a hunter. That's not a job made for boys. I was shocked enough to find Tai and Qrow being hunters, but that was rare enough."
"I still remember trying to convince them to drop out of Beacon! Tai looked at me like I was insane and Qrow just got drunk and went to bed. He was never one to listen to authority or woman."
" You should have seen our first date. It as chaotic, hectic and cost more property damage than the great war and faunus revolt combined! But it was fun."
"Although If you never tried to be a hunter, then you would never have met Ruby. And I've seen the way she looks at you. She's head over heels for you, and I think you might be her one. If so, please. Take care of her for me."
"I know she's a huntress, but she's young and naive. Don't let anything bad happen to my little flower ok?"
She asked as she petted the boys har as he slept on her lap as the craft flew into the sky.
"Here you go. He knocked out on the bullhead."
Summer said opening the door to Jaune's room where his partner was waiting eagerly for him.
She had stayed up waiting for Summer to bring her partner back, as she quietly thanked the woman taking the boy in her arms and silently. As to not wake him up closed the door bidding the woman good night as she went to the parent's visitor dorms. As the woman left her sleeping partner in her arms Pyrrha was conflicted.
On one had to see Jaune's past made a rage burn in her that no amount of apology would quell. His mother had had a child! Fight an alpha, Grimm! If that was not abusing a child then she had no idea what was, and she had heard Opal muttering something about the police. On the other hand! Seeing her partner not only fight but kill an alpha Grimm when he was only nine!? Filled her warriors hear with pride. As a strong partner was a must for her. And Jaune was easily strong. She just wished he had a more traditional path to gain his strength. She thought as she petted his head gently.
Pyrrha waste no time putting the sleeping boy to bed or so she would if not for the delicate situation in her dorms. Mainly how Jaune's bed was a bubbling cesspool of algae and fungus...
The result of Nora turning her back on Ren for a second too long as one of his smoothies. As he called them, or as Pyrrha like to think of them as bioweapons. Spilled over after he was tinkering with one of Nora's grenades and being exposed to dust spilled out and consumed Jaune's been making it unusable.
Pyrrha would have scolded Ren, but his puppy dog eyes broke her heart, and she told him it was ok, though Nora nearly pulled his ear off yanking her now boyfriend up by it and lecturing him for over an hour.
But now? Now Jaune needed a place to sleep and with Nora and Ren in their own beds that left only one real option as the part laid her part in her bed, quietly gently as she laid down next to him. Changing into he nightgown as she went to sleep.
It was eleven fifty-nine at night, and it was Friday...
"And! We! Are! Back! Baby!"
A familiar shape voice sad as Jaune opened his eyes to a place that was not a place as he laid on the floor that was not a floor. "Mink?"
"That's my name! And let me be the first! To welcome you to the Gamer 1.3! With brand new patches! A streamlined inventory system! And a much easier to understand stat system! Thank you thank you. Please. Hold your applause."
The small brown skinned demon said pink eyes shining with delight as she floated up to him.
"Mink! What the hell happened with Neo!? Did you fix the game or what!?"
Jaune demanded as images of the glitch stat screen popped up in his head as the demons gave a light giggle. As her pink eyes avoided his blue ones as she ran a small brown hand through her long silver hair.
"Well... about that! You see there was a minor cataclysmic system glitch that may or might not have also ripped open a permanent hole in space-time with your scroll and-
"WHAT!?
"Don't worry about it! I fixed it! Mostly! Kind of! Not at all...
"Mink...
"Calm down flesh rag! You got an entirely brand new home screen so check it out! And enjoy the new and improved quality!"
Mink said as Jaune grimaced as he waved his hand as indeed a bright blue screen popped up. It looked much cleaner than before and had pure white outlines as he opened it up to his home profile.
Name Jaune Arc.
Level 27?
Xp till next level 2500/ 2700
Health 200/200
Passive Last gasp.
Str: 59
Wit: 26
Charisma: 47
Charm: 32
Intellect: 49 -1 due to Drunkard trait sober.
Vitality: 122
Will: 122+ 20 due to stubborn trait + 10 due to Martyr trait.
Dexterity: 123
Deception 29
Agility 105
Perception 51
Luck: 50
Skill points available 30
"My skills are not right...
"Sorry about that! Ther was some minor flux of state during the reboot, but it's all good now! More or less... So! What do you want to do with the skills points at hand?"
"I said I was fighting and-
"WHAT THE FUCK!?"
Jaune suddenly yelled and flying up to his face s mink blinked owlishly to him.
"Fuck the what?"
She asked as Jaune began to seethe.
"MINK! My chest! My neck what the hell was that all about!?"
The human demanded feeling his now branded neck and chest as mink nodded her head.
"That was you being marked!"
"The fuck does that mean!?"
Jaune demanded panicking as he saw what could only be described as a brand on his neck and a tattoo on his chest of a heart with thorns on it as he began to panic.
"What the hell?! Why did they do that to me?! It hurt like hell!"
Jaune yelled as Mink sighed lazily and calmed him down.
"Calm down meat rag. I just told you that you got marked. What's the big deal?"
"The big deal?! Mink! I got branded! Branded with a capital B! Like I am some kind of-
"Cattle? Becuase that's pretty damned close to what it means FYI."
She said flippantly as Jauengre wd eathly quiet she froze for one moment before his mouth moved.
"What. Dose. That. Mean."
The human asked as Mink grinned. She could see the angry hate filled crimson line radiating from his body as his anger boiled over and fell inot the realm. It was delicious. She thought licking her lips as she enjoyed the feast that was given to her so freely.
"Oh? Anger is it? I like it! It means they like you! When a girl finds a guy, they like they mark him! It's usually a tattoo or a brand or for you both! It's basically marking you as their property and-
"Property?"
Jaune asked his voice barley adobe a whisper as Mink tasted fury form him as she grinned.
"Of course! Once you have a brand on you, that's the girl saying back off world! Jaune Arc is my property and-
"I am not someones fucking property!"
The human yelled Mink garnered as one of the gamer screens suddenly flashed red as she grinned.
"Mink what the hell!? I'm not a slave! I don't get branded! I'm not an animal-
"Hold on meat sack! I dig the righteous anger thing I really do! But wait! You need to assign your skill points now. Do it, Or I do it randomly and-
"Put them all to dexterity."
Jaune growled as Mink grinned.
"As you say now how about you open the burning red file ok? I think you might quell your hate."
She said as Jaune still-fuming went over to the folder clicking on something called bounty log.
"Bounty log? The hell is that?"
"That! My dear sack of decaying matter! Is the gamer putting out a hit on someone! If you ever get too pissed at a person, or some crucial event takes place that threatens the gamers stability the gamer might! Just might! Give you a unique quest line. Check it out!"
Mink said as Jaune clicked it as a picture of Yang jumped out.
Gamer quest one. Defeat the dragon.
Task. Defeat Yang-Xiaolong in an arena fight in the next forty-eight hours.
Reward Unique Gamer skill. Skill type passive. Name Blaze of Glory.
Warning! Accepting this quest starts the Yang crisis quest.
"So-
"I'm in."
She's going to pay for that.
Jaune thought to himself feeling the scorched skin on his neck. Brand me?! Like I'm some damned animal!?
He thought as he clicked the quest regretting it instantly as a terrible screech filled the air as the sound of air raid sirens filled the place that was not a place.
"Mink?!"
Jaun asked as the screen went blood red and-
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
The sound of gunshots filled the air as several bullet holes appeared on Yang's picture as a new file popped up.
New Quest!
Defeat Yang-Xiaolong!
Reward Unique Passive Blaze of Glory.
Penalty gain the affliction sundered permanently minus 50% will.
Yang-Xiaolong crisis initiated!
"Crisis!? The hell is that!?'
"That! My ever wonderstruck sack of flesh is what we call a crisis!'
"I get that! What the hell is a crisis? And why is the game losing its mind!?"
"A crisis is a unique timed quest! Unlike other quests, the crisis will force the Gamer to allow the necessary situations for you to complete the task and gain the reward! Or the penalty."
"There' a penalty!? Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Hey! It's not my fault you didn't let me finish talking! Anyway, now the Gamer will force you to fight Yang in the next forty-eight hours. Win you gain a perk. Lose? And you gain an affliction."
"What the heel is an affliction?"
"AH! Let me explain! You see the old Quirk Trait system was a cluster! It was fubar beyond belief! But it' been fixed and steam lined check yourself out!"
She said as Jaune scrolled back to his profile and went to his quirks.
Jaune Arc.
Quirks
Skillful. Plus three damage to all weapons.
Flexible. Plus 4 agility and dexterity.
Traits.
Stubborn. Plus 20 will.
Martyr. Will never refuse a challenge or run from a fight. Will seek death in a battle before considering retreat.
Ladykiller. Plus 25% damage to female opponents. Opens unique dialogue with those of another gender.
Alchaholic. If sober minus one intelligence. If drunk minus three Int. Plus ten. Charisma and charm.
Stalwart. Will never, ever do or act in a way that goes against his own morals or values.
Kind. You are kind. Others find this appealing, and your relationship grows faster. Those with the cruel trait gain double growth.
Ennui. Depression.
If I only had a brain. Rare Skill. Can negate all stress if done properly.
Skills
R. May not be a cunning linguist.
R. Beguiling.
G. Do or die.
G. Last gasp.
"The hell does R, and G mean?"
"That is what the skills are based off! R means they are something that you learned from the waking world and G! Means that they are Gamer based skills!"
Mink explained as he nodded as he kept scrolling down.
Stress 2/200
"Stress? That's new. The hell does that mean?"
"That! My ever decaying friend! Is the measure of your overall mental health! Low stress means you are a stable and rational individual! For a human. High stress means you are much less so! Don't let it get to a hundred."
"Why not?"
"Just... Don't ok?"
The demon said as Jaune glared at her as he looked at the rest of his stats.
"Some of these are new. What's the different below the new system anyway?"
"I'm glad you asked! Let me explain! A quirk! Is something that is direct influence skill! It will be something like plus ten damage using swords! Or better agility in heavy armor!"
"Makes sense and a trait?"
"A trait is you! It determines what your personality is and will directly affect how the other you will act! Usually. There are some exceptions but that is the base difference."
"Ok... But I still don't see a huge difference. One is mainly combat and the other social? Is that it?"
"Mostly yes! But there is one key difference between them that you need to know about!"
"And that is?"
"Well put it like this! If you have a positive quirk that gives you plus ten accuracies right and you also have a negative one that gives you minus ten what is your total accuracy bonus?"
"None. They cancel each other out."
"Exactly! Quirks can and will cancel each other out! Traits will not!"
"How so?"
"Imagine if you will that you have conflicting personality traits that are in direct opposition to themselves. Instead of canceling each other out like a quirk they will merge with one another and fight for dominance. Imagine two people trying to talk from a microphone at the same time, and you get the idea."
"That sounds bad."
"Oh, it's terrible! It makes you erratic and effects the casualty continuum which is at a nice seven point eight you lucky dog!"
"I forgot about that! Only seven? Will it go down on Sunday?"
"Sure will! If you keep it there, that is."
"Fine. Now let me see the other's stats."
Jaune said clicking the Pyrrha's name only for a bright red klaxon to appear on the screen instead of it opening a miniature alarm rang out.
"Waring! Your insight into this character is to low! You must have a minimum of fifty to view stats and skills! Current insight 29/50 Insight required 21."
"Mink?"
"New feature! Your insight of another must be a minimum of fifty to view their stats! Makes it fun you know?"
"No, I do not. Now, what about the rest? Any other surprise you want to show me?"
Jaune thought as he looked through his other contacts much to his displeasure he saw that no one of his contacts had been given a fifty plus insight score. As the only ones close where Ruby at 49 and Penny an 44. As he looked he did notice one new folder called Operations. That had a picture of a padlock on it and-
"Actually yes. I need to actually explain gambling as its changed."
"Really? How so?"
"Well! I need to explain to you why you would gamble in the first place! As you know, you can only have ten quirks active at any one point in time. But you can have infinite traits! If you don't like a quirk you can pay me ten skill points to have anyone removed. Or! you can pay me twenty to lock a good one to have you keep it! For traits, it's thirty and fifty! Respectively."
"And gambling?"
"Gambling will give you one random personality trait! That you must take and cannot remove for a week! With the benefit of gaining one repression taking away one quirk or repressing one trait! If you allow your self to take the extra two quirks with it, you will gain another repression!"
"But traits are infinite...
"Sure are."
"And I could just keep getting more and more negative or conflicting traits if I keep going?"
"Yup!"
"I see the gambling party. Either pay skill points to have one taken away with no risk but fewer level ups. Or gamble and risk your characters mental health."
"Ding! Ding! Ding! There we go! Also, I should mention that most traits will evolve over time so don't be surprised if some names change ok?"
"Fine."
"Any more questions?"
"Yes...
"Shoot mi amigo!"
"Mink... What's wrong with this world?"
"Eh? Be more specific. Kid I see so many universes in less than a fraction of a second that you need to get real specific if you want me to comment on it."
"Mink! Why is this place like this!? Why did this crap happen to me!? Why do they treat men like shit? They branded me! Branded and tattooed me without my consent! And no one gives a shit!? I mean no one! I walked into the arena with a brand! A literal burn mark on my skin! That was done by another student and everyone! Even I just sighed like a had a stain on my shirt! How is that legal!?"
"Ahh! There we go! I was waiting for you to ask me that question! Remeber how the Gamer has a sense of humor?"
The demon said jumping off the floor if you can all the swirling white base a floor and hovering in mid-air dropping her head back letting her pure silver hair fall back as she smiled wolfishly at him.
"Yeah?"
"Well! When you signed up with us! It scanned the multiverse to find the perfect planet for you! It wanted to find a world that was anathema to you! Jaune this entire world is here to test you!"
"Test me? How?"
"Jaune... We know your core values! And we are going to bring. Them. Down!"
The thing said her eyes exploding with purple hellfire as Jaune gulped.
"Honor! Trust! Respect! That's what you believe in! In your word you were an honorable steadfast hunter in training with a good head on his shoulder a firm respect for others!"
The thing said floating lazily over to him,eye-striking with fire as her voice spoke and slowed like sweet honey.
"We know that your environment was at you're home. You had you a loving home and a carrying family and a healthy respect for women! You had a peaceful and comforting life, and that was perfect! So! We found a world that was the polar opposite! You are placed in a world where you trust no one!"
" You have a conflicted borderline nonexisting sense of honor! You respect no one! Your home life was so abusive and traumatic that you deny it ever took place! You are so paranoid you talk to your own reflection and it talks back! And the woman here is meant to make you hate them all!"
The demon said as Jaune grimaced.
"So you want to turn me against me?"
"We want to see you fall. The gamer wants to break you. To take all your morals and lofty ideals and have them crashing down all around you! It's making it so that you will fail. The odds are against you the world is not your friend! And oh!"
"Quest Log! Open it now!"
The thing said as Jaune signed heavily flicking over to his log and opening the screen where it was flashing red.
As the quest for defeating Yang flashed up showing the words crisis. In bright, bold letters as he saw two more new ones alongside it.
New Quests! 1/2
All walls fall. 4% complete.
"All walls fall?"
"Remember that little trip down memory lane?"
"Don't remind me. What the hell kind of mom lets kid fight a Grimm?"
"Arc's are a bit different in this world! As you know, prince charming over there has quite a bit of a traumatic past. One that he has carefully, and painstaking repressed over the years! And now that one memory is open the walls of mental fortitude are falling!"
"Meaning?"
"He is about to relive some past trauma that is going to do wonders for the casualty continuum and will most likely make it skyrocket! Expect some bad dreams in the nights to come!"
"How do I stop it?"
"Normally? You don't but! You lucky son of a gun you! Have two key advantages to your arsenal in that category! Specifically Stalwart! And if I only had a brain! Serious Jaune, you have no idea how lucky you are to have stalwart as a trait. Seriously."
"What do they do?"
"If I only had a brain. Means that as long as you sing the song in perfect! Order it will stop all stress penalties from occurring, and if you sign it completely it will reduce all stress to zero!"
"That's amazing! Is that why it's gold?"
"Bet your ass! The next one Stalwart! Means that you will never! Ever! Do anything that goes against your mortal code period! That is saving your ass from the entertainer part of your contract."
The thing said as Jaune looked into his quest.
Quest 2/2
Collect the heads. Defeat all female acquaintances with a relationship rank of 20 plus for a massive XP boost. 25% complete.
Heads still needed, Blake Belladonna. Coco Adel. Velvet Scarletina. Yang-Xiao long. Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie.
"I have to defeat my friends? How did this become a quest?"
"Your inner rage at the injustice! Of the word is manifesting! And you wish to fight back against the powers that rule this land! Good luck!"
The demon said in a sarcastic voice as she snapped her fingers as Jaune felt himself vanishing as he yelled out.
"Mink! Wait!"
"Oh? Why?"
"Mink! If I win or hell if I lose! What happens to the other me!?"
"He goes on with life as if nothing changed. Why?"
"That means he has to live in this world...
"Sure does! Now-
"Mink! That's not fair! This world is bullshit to him! I can't let him live there!"
"Oh? Then what do you want to do about it?"
"I... I want to help him."
"Oh? You want to change the world now?"
"Yes. Yes, I do want change. I want to make this an equal place!"
"Really now? You know that will be hard right? And since you picked the path of combat, it will be beyond bloody."
"I know... but I need to try! Can you help me in any way?"
Jaune asked as Mink as she gave him Chesire grin flashing her insanely white block teeth at him as she lice her lips.
"Oh, I can help you! If you want that is...
"Please. I can't let this stand...
"Fine! Ok, here's what I will do! Since you never looked at it, there is a screen for something called skills! These are abilities that the other you are actively aware of and will use on his own accord!"
"They come in all shapes, and sized and are triggered by you leveling up your stats! They appear randomly and are all based on one of the main stats. Strength, perception agility, etc. But! If you want! I can optimize your skills for you."
"Optimize? What does that mean?"
"That means that, well I wasn't supposed to tell you this but what the hell! Every month as an incentive you would get a free spin on the gambling well for a guaranteed positive skill! These skills were based on your current level of stats. High agility, perception etc. But! If you were to have me optimize it. And since you are going for a combat build. I can make sure that you will only get combat oriented skills from it!"
"Only combat?"
"Yup! You let me optimize you for battle and I make sure that not only are all your Ganer skills combat based they will all be good skills too! So what do you say? Do you really want to go down the road of violence? if not this is your last chance to back out."
"An Arc never lies. I chose this path and I will see it through."
"Sign."
The demon said snapping her fingers as a piece of archaic parchment appeared in front of him as Jaune waved his hand over it.
Jaunce winced running his hand over the paper as he saw it filled out in his own blood.
"Here we go! Take a spin!"
The demon said apparating the gambling machine with a poof! Of air as Jaune grimaced as he spun it. It shook wild flashing blues and white before eventually settling down as two words stuck out.
New skills!
Knife fighter! When using a knife, if you land a direct hit you will almost always bypass an enemies armor!
Saboteur! After extensive training in the wilds, you are an expert in the art of sabotage! You can now sabotage enemy and allied equipment after understanding how it works.
"These are useful?"
Jaune asked as the demon grinned.
"Oh, you'll see! Now it's time t go. I know we didn't cover everything for now, but you are waking up! Its been fud kid now get pit pf here! You got a sight to win and a world to change! So get out of here and go paint the town red!"
Mink said as the room went white and Jaune woke up.
Warm... why is it so warm?
Jaune thoughts he opens his eyes. He was in his room in Beacon as his bed-
MY BED!?
Jaune though as his mattress was now a living petri dish that was his bed festered and pop! as long fungal growths sprouted out from it as he gaped. Ren.
He said mentally already getting ready to bemoan his best friend as he tried to get up only for a pair of strong arms to hold him down.
"Ney yet. Just a little bit longer...
His partner?! Jaune coughed as he turned to her beautiful sleeping pale face with strong arms holding him to her chest.
Soft. Jaune was pressed into his part more than ample chest suffocating him in a divine but deadly prison as he began to panic.
Jaune thoughts raced going from his date. With Summer where he must have fallen assume after going to the park...
Jaune hated to admit, but he felt something with Summer.
It was warm, and soft and made hi, guard drop as he shifted in his partner arms.
He notices that for the first time since Penny he heard nothing as when asleep his semblance failed to activate. Then why can't I hear Penny? Is she some kind of triangle monk who just acts without thinking or something?
Jaune thought as he began to slowly extricate himself from his parents soft and heavily grips. Reluctantly dragging himself up and to the bathroom.
When Pyrrha awoke, she was momentarily panicked to see Jaune no longer in her arms. As the sound of singing form, the shower filled her ears.
Showing that he was alive followed by a loud crashing sound as Nora threw Jaune's infested bed out of the window of their room shattering it and making the spartan sigh. Glynda is not going to be happy with-
"Good morning team! Pyrrha! Nora! Ren."
Jaune said stepping out of the shower smiling ear to ear as he shook his still wet hair as he smiled broadly. "How is the best team in Beacon doing today?"
"Why are you in such a good mood?"
Pyrrha asked happily as Jaune smiled.
"Because today is the day!"
Jaune said at the crowded Beacon table smiling so hard Pyrrha swore that his lips would break. As he cheerfully as he ate a bowl of cereal smiling and humming happier then she had ever seen him. As he ate the bowl like it was the best meal in the universe, as he was utterly oblivious to the looks of bewilderment the teens and adults gave him as he ate loudly.
"So Goldilocks! What put you in such a good mood? You have any good dreams about me?"
Yang asked flashing him a grin as her mom sighed.
"Yang...
Reave asked in a warning tone as Jaune smiled.
"Nope! I didn't dream about you at all!"
Jaune said smiling bright flash Yanga toothy look as Yang's jaw dropped as Blake, and Ruby smirked.
"So why are you so happy Jaune?"
Ruby asked before a soft whooshing sound filled the air as a small drone with the Schnee logo on it flew into the Beacon cafeteria carrying with it a small blue object as Jaune gasped as the drone dropped the package off as Jaune began to squeal.
"My bag! My bag! It's finally here!"
Jaune yelled excitedly holding up what looked like a blue duffel bag. Pyrrha said looked because that bag looked atrocious.
It was full of messy patchwork holds and rough stitch jobs. It was covered in grass stains, burn marks, and every other conceivable stain in existant pressed into it.
It's once pristine blue covering was now a path hodgepodge of rough patch jobs of an amalgamation of other fabrics as he cried!?
Pyrrha briefly panicked as Jaune actual cried real tears from his eyes as he hugged the bag like a long lost lover asRuby panicked.
"Jaune? What's wrong? Are you ok?"
The smaller girl asked putting a hand on his shoulder making Pyrrha glare at her.
"No, they are better than ok Ruby! My bag is here! My bag!"
Jaune declared holding the bag up for all to see as Pyrrha grimaced as the bags strange or filled her nose as Pyrrha grimaced and Blake blinked.
"What's so special about your bag?"
"This is my bag! It kept me alive in the wilds! It has all my possessions! And every I ever need!"
Jaune said unzipping the bag and gasped loudly as he stuck his hand inside.
"My knife!"
Jaune said as he pulled out a long serrated bale as she grimaced. The blade was around a foot let and three inches wide. It was a dark color. Almost vorpal black and looked like a fang. As the boy looked at the weapon reverently like it was a long-lost lover finally come home.
"My knife...
Jaune said before twirled the blade in his had. Working the kife up and down and handling it with an extreme amount of skill and dexterity as he manipulated the blade like it was another part of him. As the boy deftly flicked the blade between hands like it was just another piece of him his partner frowned.
I don't like it. Pyrrha thought as she grimaced at her fiance. There was something off about Jaune holding that weapon that just felt wrong!
It was like she felt thousands of thousands of spiders crawling on her skin as she had an ever-expanding sense of disquiet as Jaune stared at the weapon reverently.
"My knife... my hatchet!"
Jaune yelled reaching into the bag and takin out a medium sized silver hatchet that gleamed in the light in direct contrast to the blade. Unlike the other weapon that was so black light seemed to be absorbed in its vicinity, this one was shining silver. It radiated purity and purpose as Jaune flicked it up and down with an equal amount of dexterity as Ruby finally gave in.
"Can I see-
Ruby asked before Jauene recoiled away from the girl's fingers like he had been burned.
"Sorry, Ruby... I like to keep my bag private...
Jaune told the girl as she gained a crestfallen look as her world had just collapsed as his sister sighed and walked up behind him. Claymore swings slighly as she did.
"Even form your sister?"
Caitlin asked as Jaune nodded.
"Especially form you."
Jaune said for to quickly as Caitlin raised him alone eyebrow at him as he gulped.
"Sorry! I-
"Don't apologize for taking a stand Jaune. You look weak when you do."
She said as Pyrrha glared at the woman who while was her most significant chance to get to know jaune more. And approved marriage was also the one who justified his abuse and-
"So Jaune! When are you and Ruby going on your date? I know classes are closed for the first part of the day so how about after breakfast!"
Summer said as Ruby blushed.
"Mom! Jaune-
"Sure. That's fine. As long as I can put my bag in my room first.'
Jaune said before he looked at Pyrrha.
"Pyr can you take my bag to my room, please? And don't! Let anyone look inside it... It's very, very important to me that no one looks inside...
Jaune said as Pyrrha noded. "Sure-
"Promise me."
"Promise?"
"Give me your word as Pyrrha Nikkos of Mistral that you will neither let anyone open the bag nor open it yourself and you will keep its contents secret."
Jaune said in an oddly firm voice as Pyrrha glare at him.
"Fine. I will. But I do not like secrets."
She said taking the small bag from his hands. With as a mildew smell came from it as she felt dozens upon dozen of smaller objects or a variety of size and shape shuffle around inside of it as Jaune smiled.
"Thank you. Ruby, we can go after breakfast ok?'
He as the girl nodded her head.
"Now I know what you're thinking! Let me tell you-
"What I know! Is that my husband left me as soon as we came out to Beacon to go drinking! And Weiss is looking for her uncle so you will go and make this right!"
Winter glared at Qrow as he sighed. The small man sighed heavily letting his unbuttoned shirt get even more unkempt as he twirled his scythe.
"Fine. I'll go see our princess. I'm sure she missed me."
"She loves you. And it hurts her to go this long without seeing you especially when she knows you are here!"
"Jeez! Rub it in why don't you?"
Qrow asked as the two walked side by side into the crowded Beacon corridors as Qrow stifle a yawn as he eyed a group of three figure down the hallway.
A woman with silver eyes was walking with another woman filled with jet black hair blood red eyes and a strong, edgy look. Inbetween them was a lone blonde man with dull marks on him as the walked out of his vision.
"Hmmm. She's cute."
Qrow said as he stared at the stranges as they walked past the Beacon doors into the school proper.
This was actually productive. Jaune thought as he and Ruby left the weapons shop Dust till dawn. The two had spent over three and a half hours searching for the primary blueprints for his weapon and had settled on twin models.
One a pistol that would serve as his sidearm. A small compact thing that held roughly nine rounds and could be fitted to carry more. And one assault rifle that stored thirty and came dust mod ready. So Jaune could add elemental effects to it.
A good thing too! As now that his bag was here, Jaune had full access to his complete arsenal! As a grin spilled his lips, the time for cowering was over! Now he could really shine and fight the way a Branwen fights!
Jaune thought as he and Ruby left the store the girl smiling brightly as she waved her arms up and down telling him about all the fun and effort they would put into building the weapons once they got the materials and began to mod them themselves.
As they walked in Vale, Jaune felt good. His bag was back; his guns could be obtained whenever he had the money to do as one lien bought you literally nothing. But most importantly he had Ruby.
The small energetic girl was talking rapidly back an forth as the two walked together. Jaune felt a certain ease about her as he felt a small glow in his heart as the teens walked back into Beacon.
"Jaune! I need you! Please!'
Ren said bowing his head to his leader as Jaune cocked his head to him. He had still not forgiven him for the loss of his furniture as he looked at the boy.
"For what?"
Jaune asked in a neutral tone as Ren bowed more.
"I need to go to work, but things are tight at my job and we need an extra host! Please! Please! Come with me!"
The small boy begged as Jaune raised an eyebrow.
"You want me to work? As a host?"
"Yes! Please come with me! They pay well! I've been there less than two weeks, and I already made three thousand Lien!"
"What?! Really?"
Jaune asked in awe at the amount of lien. With that kind of pay... he could afford his guns in less than a month!
"Where is the job?"
"Downtown Vale! It's the club we went to before! Now, will you come? Please!"
The boy begged a Jaune sighed.
"Sure. Let's go-
Jaune finally gave in as the boy jumped in happiness.
"Yay! Jaune's my coworker! You won't regret this! The boss is super nice, and the girls we work with are really friendly! I think one of them likes you!"
Ren said eagerly pulling Jaune's arm with the force of an industrial crane. Ignoring Jaune's squawks of protest as the two boys left their dorm, leaving the girls to their families or whatever they did when they were not around as Ren and Jaune walked out and the boys went to work...
"YES!"
A sharp feminine voice shouted as stormcloud eyes shone in bliss as Melaine let out a rapturous moan as she reached her sixth orgasm of the hour as her sister gritted her teeth.
"Be quiet! Some of us are trying to relax!"
Militades said ignoring her sister who was bouncing up and down on the blonde boy Jaune milk in him for all he was worth and making him squeal and moan in pleasure as she sighed.
In some ways, this was her fault. She had told Ren to bring them help. They where short stagged and desperately needed another young cute host to woo the ladies. She just had not been expecting her boyfriend to bring the blonde object of Melanie's desires to their club in that outfit.
Hell, she didn't expect Ren to come in that. Even when he wasn't trying to tease her which was rare! That boy was a damned good tease and seemed to exist to turn her making her go through more pairs of underwear in a shift than she normally went through in a month.
But then he brought his friend? That had been unexpected...
As the boy lasted less than an hour on the floor before Melaine dragged him up to their back room during their break using the worst excuse of team training to get him alone in their private room and the proceeded to strip him of his uniform to bounce on him like a jackhammer.
As she fucked him on a crimson bean bag chair. A slight tick of irritation from in Miltiades left eye as she noticed that it was her bean bag chair being used for support mind you. It even had her color! And made him moan out loud crying for mercy as the boy whimpered.
"Can you at least try to be quiet?"
She asked wishing she had her headphones or At least Ren's fantastic tongue between her legs again to occupy her as she saw her boyfriend walking up and down the club bouncing to and for form clients bussing and serving with the energy of a hummingbird.
Speaking on tongues, Neo had been here earlier much to Melanie's chagrin, and she climbs the blonde had a tongue to untie Gideon's knot. A testament Melanie was going to throw put to the test after she got her fill with him as she shot her sister a hungry look.
"Oh hush! You fucked in front of me! Rember! Think of this as Karma!"
She yelled before tossing her head back and climaxed violently on the boy as the two collapses onto a sweaty pile on the bean bag.
"I need a new sister."
"You love me!"
"Right."
Militades said ignoring the orgasmic cries from the two as they focused on her bean bag chair! Really! Yours is right next to you! Why do you have to use mine?
Militades thought as she sighed heavily as she went back to reading her book The butcher and the thief forcing herself to tune out the two lovers fucking loudly in the corner...
"Is... Is this real?"
Jaune asked not believing his eyes, as he looked at the envelope in front of him. More specifically the vast amount of colored bills in front of him as he gulped.
His first check for only four hours of work was over two thousand lien! It was more money in his hands then he had, well ever! And at this rate, one more check would buy both of his weapons and enough ammo for a whole month to boot!
Jaune thought already doing the math in his head as Melanie nodded.
"Sure is! You keep working for us, and we will make sure you are well taken care of and compensated for your services!"
Melanie said with a wink and a blush as she waved him off.
"That's all for today boys! Go home! Or better yet! Stay here! We have warm beds and-
"Ignore her. Beacon is already giving us shit for you two. We cant have any more media slip-ups so either go home or go to Roman-
"Is Roman here!?"
Ren asked eyes shining with anticipation as Melanie nodded.
"He's in the back if you want to go see him he should be counting bills."
She said as Ren pulled Jaune's arm.
"Jaune! With me! I have someone you need to meet!"
Ren said pulling Jaune forward much to his protest as Jaune was pulled to aback room of the club to meet Roman?
Why do I know that name? It sounds so familiar...
Jaune thought as Ren brought him to a back room where he knocked twice slamming the door with StormFlower.
"Roman! It's me!"
Ren said as Jaune felt his pulse freeze.
Roman? No way...
"Is that my favorite green sociopath? Come on in!"
A far to familiar voice said as the door opened to reveal a familiar man in white smoking a cigar...
"Come on in!"
Roma said smirking as he counted the freshly laundered money. Ren's here? That's nice I like the kid. Reminds me of a young me! Or a young Neo...
"Coming!"
Ren said as he opened the door to the small room as Roman's green eyes widened in surprise as he saw another face next to him.
"Hey, there blondie! How the hell are you?"
Roman asked smirking at Jaune who's mouth dropped.
"Jaune! Roman! No fighting!"
Ren yelled stepping in between the two as Jaune tried to stab Roman with his sword swinging and cursing out loud as Roman laughed raucously.
"Easy there blondie! You might just hit me with that sword you know?"
"I'll kill you! You almost killed my friends!"
Jaune yelled as Ren held his friend back as Roman sighed.
"Really? I think you were the ones to attack me you know! I mean your little kitty did come and put a knife to my throat for no good reason. I wasn't even a menace! That night."
Roman added smugly has Jaune glared at the man incredulously as to why Ren was holding him back.
"Ren! Why are you holding me back!?"
Jaune snarled at his fired as Ren shouted.
"Jaune stop! Roman is a good guy !"
"He's a criminal!"
"He saved my life! I owe him!"
Ren yelled as Jaune paused. As his eyes lowered for a second as his sword dropped.
"He... saved your life?"
"Sure did! Blondie I told you at the docs! We are men and men look out for one another! So how about you put down that the sword there and we get to know one another! As brothers! Better yet! How about me and you have a talk! Man to man."
Roman said as Jaune felt his guard lower as Roman smiled...
"Well, we still have to go to combat class!"
Ren said as he and his best friend came back to Beacon. The bullhead leaving them at the docs as the two boys went to their dorms. They would have called their team to meet them but they had left their dorm in such a hurry that they forgot to bring their scrolls with them.
Today was a rare day with an evening combat class instead of noon. As the students where give the day to go with their parents.
As the two walked through the Beacon hallways, Jaune was still uneasy after his man to man talk with Roman.
Jaune did not trust the man. Not at all. He was a smooth talker, duplicitous as he was calm, and he was so two-faced that it made Jaune's mind spin. But! For some reason, Jaune liked him.
He didn't know why but Roman just seemed cool! If that was the word. As the had talked to Jaune about many things, from world government, to combat and along with Ren even gave him advice on women!
Some rather important advice. And had even given him a contact with a gun! Saying that the only thing better than a legal weapon was an illegal one!
As he promised Jaune a real gun if he ever decided to come on a run with him.
Not that Jaune would ever commit a crime. Never! Jaune was there, and he would never be a criminal!
Jaune thought to himself as he and Ren went to the door of their room in threw it open.
"Were' back!"
Ren yelled throwing open the door to the JNPR dorm as he and Jaune the combe family of their teams all pacing back and for in the room with worried, tired looks on their faces as all eyes snapped to them.
As the room was filled with worried, friends and teammates looked up Jaune felt his stomach drop as a familiar scene played out in front of him. Pyrrha was on her scroll holing up Jaune and Rens with an irritated look on her face.
Her mother was in her own scroll yelling someone, while her father calmed her down.
Nora was pacing up and down and had put a wrung on the floor, as Weiss was whispering into her scroll.
Ruby and her family except for Tai? Was it? Where all in a corner as Ruby balked at seeing Jaune and Ren walk-in in as out of all the members only Caitlin looked like she was not panicking and was merely standing in the corner of the room with a bored expression as she nodded to them.
"J-
"Jaune!"
Ruby yelled sprinting up to him tackling him to the floor and wrapping him in a hug.
"Jaune! Where were you!?'
Ruby demand as Jaune tried to pry the girl off of him as the gagging, voice of Ren filled the air as Nora wrapped him in a devasting bear hug as his spine cracked as the team broke into a world of worry.
As it turned out leaving the school with no scroll for several hours was not a good idea. As Pyrrha had been lecturing him for over thirty minutes with no sign of stopping.
And to make matters worse it looked like Weiss, Yang, their parents and even Pyrrha's mom, looked ready to rip his ear off as Pyrrha finally stopped her rant and stared at him.
"SO!? What do you have to say for your self! Leaving the school not telling us where you were! After all that' happened to you! You better have a good reason for that or so help me-
"I was at work."
Jaune said as the fire left Pyrrha's eyes in an instant as she stopped mid-rant as her mouth fell open.
"W- Work? What do you-you work!?"
Pyrrha asked flabbergasted a Jaune nodded.
"Yeah. I just got a new job with Ren at his place." Jaune said as his partner's eyes seemed to dim as her face grimaced as Nora stopped breaking Ren's back or lips, as she been roughly kissing him for an hour. Not that he cared, as she broke their kiss as her teal eyes stared at him.
"Ren. You work? Where?"
"I work at a club!"
Ren said happily as everyone in the room's jaw dropped as Nora sat as Weiss spoke up.
"A club!? What business do two young boys have at a club?"
Weiss said fixing Jaune with a glare as he gulped.
"What do you even do?"
Weiss asked as Jaune began to sweat.
"I'm a host with Ren! We serve drinks and bring food to others."
Jaune said as Pyrrha's and Nora's eye flashed with a dangerous color, as they glared at their partners.
"What?! Jaune what does that mean? Do you bring alcohol to women?"
"Yes?"
"Jaune! You are under age-
"You can be around alcohol I just can't drink any."
Jaune said shutting down his partner as she froze once before recovering her momentum.
"Why do you even need a job?"
Pyrrha asked with a confused look as Jaune grimaced.
"Ruby."
"Me!?"
"Yeah. I need money to buy my guns. And I don't have any. This job pays well, and I like the people there so I took it."
Jaune explained calmly as Pyrrah and Weiss grimaced.
"Jaune... If you needed money, you could have just asked. I would have paid for you! You don't need to work."
Pyrrha said flashing Jaune a smile as he glared at her. He didn't like that smile. It was patronizing and-
"Ren. Has anyone.. touched-
"Nope! Me and Jaune have good security! Ther are really nice girls strong too! Mil likes me but Melanie has a crush on Jaune!"
Ren said making Jaune glare at him as Pyrrha gained an irritated look.
"Crush? What do you-
"They booped!"
Ren said as Jaune sighed as Pyrrha flushed and-
"Who my brother has sex with is none of anyone else's concern but his own. If he wants to work, he can work. Unless anyone here disagrees with that?"
Caitlin asked the room speaking up and in turn hearing only silence in response as she sighed.
"Jaune. Feel free to date anyone you want. You romance life is none of anyone in the rooms except! Miss Nikos' and Xiao-longs concern. And if they do not defeat you soon, then it will be out of their hands. Now! Come, it's time for combat class."
She said as she walked out the door as the room stirred once before following.
As the group settled down into the arena, Goodwitch walked tall into the middle stage smiling with her scroll.
"Today we will start with something a bit different! For our first fight, we will be calling on the parents of the students to do battle!"
"If they want! If your name is called fell free to walk down to the arena! If not stay in your seat! Now!"
The dean said as her scroll flashed a the aura screen show a roulette wheel as the first name popped up.
"Caitlin Arc!"
"I will fight any who stands."
She said rising up as the other name stopped.
"Versus!"
"Taiyang-Xiaolong!"
"That's me! Wish me luck ladies!"
The man with the twin brands said jumping up to his feet. Shaking off his legs as he cracked his knuckles.
"It's been a while since my last good fight!"
Tai said as he nodded to Caitlin as the two made their way down.
"GO, DAD! Kick her but!"
"Yout got this Dad! You can cream her!"
Ruby and Yang yelled cheering on their father as their moms looked on with looks of mild interest and panic.
"You are strong Tai. You will be fine."
Raven said disapssianetly as Summer panicked.
"Oh please be ok! Don't get hurt! Stay safe!"
She said fretting back and forth as she watched her lover go to battle.
"Go Cait! I believe in you!"
Jaune said as he cheered for his sister as Ren wave a foam finger.
"Go leader's sister! Stab him in his kneecaps!"
"Hey! That's my dad!"
Yang yelled eyes glowing Red as Ren eeped! Once ducking behind Nora who flashed Yang a look to freeze the sun as she saw someone bully Ren.
"Break his legs."
Nora said icily as she dared Yang to move.
"Combatants! Are you ready?"
Glynda asked as Caitlin unsheathed her claymore Judgment taking a few easy practices seeing with it as she flung her long blonde hair in the process.
"As I ever will be."
"TaiYang?"
"Born!"
The man said bouncing on the balls of his feet cracking his neck as he pumped his gauntlets.
"Very well! Then begin!"
The woman yelled as the fighter grinned at one another.
"Even for a man, you are strong. That is good."
Caitlin said as she stalked around TaiYang who keep his light boxing stance his youthful blue eyes shimmering with vigor as he popped his neck. Bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet as he kept Catilin in his sight.
"Thanks! I know I'm a looker! Just ask my wives! They'll back me up!"
Tai said as he kept his eyes on Caitlin not leaving her for a moment.
"You only have two wives? Why? A man like yourself could have at least triple that amount. Why stop at two?"
"Eh, you know! It's about quality, not quantity! That's what counts in the end!"
Tai said as two pairs of eyes, one red one slive paused and grew a bit teary.
"Dear...
"Tai...
"That is most noble of you."
"Speaking of quality! You are quite a looker too! You want to get married after this? Could always use a new had back on Patch!"
Tai said with a wink as a burst of red and silver erupted from the stand as Tai sighed.
"Kidding! I'm Kidding dears! Raven! You know I love you! Summer! Put your swords away! You are frightening the children!"
Tia shouted up to the bleachers, to the women on the stands who were indeed scarring the children as Caitlin grinned.
"Are you proposing to me Tiayang Xiao-long? If so you are more than worthy of the Arc name."
Caitlin said giving him a wolfish grin she twirled her long claymore as Tai grinned.
"Well, now that's an offer I'd be a fool to say no to!"
Tai said as Catilin twirled her sword one more time as it covered his body as it spun out and he vanished.
"What the?"
Caitlin gaked as she saw nothing... Tai was gone, only a wisp of smoke in his place as she blinked owlishly.
"Where did-
"Sorry, but the only blonde hair I like on my face in the morning is my own."
Tai said appearing from below Caitlin getting deep inside her guard raising up his fist and uppercutting her square to her chin and sent her flying off of her feet.
WHAP!
Caitlin saw stars as the man appeared out of nowhere uppercutting her so hard she felt her vision spin. As the vicious blow landed, sending her off her feet.
Lifting her entire self, armor and all clear off the floor and into the air. Making her eyes shoot open in shock at the brutality of the strike, before she could even hit the ground two more brutal punches landed in her gut buckling her armor and sending her flying backward as she stabbed her sword to the ground creating a shower of sparks as she looked up to the aura screen and balked.
Seventy-five?! She thought as hs look not she the man had taken her don a full quarter of her aura in three!? Punches as the man kept up his light boxing stance as his daughters cheered.
"Go daddy! Beat her but!"
"Yeah, dad! Kick some ass!"
"Language!"
"Sorry, mom...
"You pack quite the punch!"
Caitlin said standing back up to her full seven foot two stature, as she glared at him.
This man, this Taiyang was not to be trifled with. He was a trained and practiced combatant who could easily beat her if she underestimated him.
"Thanks! I'm told that my wives always like it when I give them a good pounding!"
He said flashing Catilin a wink as he gave a wolfish grin to her, causing twin gawking noises from the stands hear from his wives, as Caitlin felt the heat rush to her cheeks as-
Again!?
She thought as the man just vanished in a puff of smoke as before she could even move her arms a shadow fell over her side.
"But honestly? I like taking far more than I like giving."
Tai said appearing to her side getting under her sword and delivering a flurry of rapid jabs into her side.
Striking directly at the weak joints in her armor. Slamming his fists into her joints and brakes making her cry out.
Before she swung Judgement backward in a devastating reverse strike that he dodged with contemptuous ease before dancing in front of her and connect a right hook on her face throwing her off her feet and slamming her to the floor.
WHAM!
The woman hit the floor with enough force to send her back into the air before she slammed back down gasping for air as Tai jumped to his feet.
"Whoa! Now that was an attack! I'm surprised you can still breathe!"
Tai said and danced on his feet slamming his gauntlets together with a playful smirk.
Catilin growled at the man seeing her aura in the fifty percent mark as his was still perfect.
"You know if you like getting pounded so much you could-
Tai froze as a blur of blue struck across the room as Caitlin appeared on his in a wave of cerulean energy. As she blurred forward and brought her Claymore down on his head.
"Missed me!"
Tai said as the woman's aura charged attack missed him by mere inches taking off some of his hair from his face giving him a close shave as he grinned.
"You know if you like being so close to me you can always just ask."
He said as she struck out again, sword flashing out in a wave of shimmering teal missing him for the second time.
"Missed again!"
"Again!"
"Again! Are you even trying?"
Tai asked playfull leaping back and dodging out of her sword strikes as Catilin grimaced. No more was she on the defensive. She struck at the man like a wrecking ball. As she swung Jdugemt in short quick arc hoping to catch him off guard and trip him up.
It was to no avail. Trying to hit Tai was like trying to gripe water. She swung and swung but no matter what he dodged danced, and sometimes spun out of her reach.
Moving with a serpentine grace and poise as he deftly avoided her assault. Only to flash back inside guard and deliver a punishing punch to her face or gut. As her Aura was now in the deep, deep orange and his was still perfect.
"You know it's like I always tell my daughter! In a fight the trick to winning is-
Tia stopped as a sword flashed up to him easily stepping into Catilins executioners chop, relishing the shock and surprised cerulean eyes of the blonde woman as he pulled his fist back.
"Float like a butterfly!"
He said reaching back his fist to delve into haymaker to the woman's face. Maki ti crunch in pain as he lifted her off her feet.
"Sting like a bee!"
He said grinning ear to ear as the woman hit the floor and went still as he walked away.
"Now that was a win! How about-
He asked the stands before he saw a wave of blue crash into him as a sword crashed down to him making him block with his gauntlets as Judgement crashed into him.
"OW! Hey, you hit hard! Almost as hard as my wife! You know she packs a mean punch right?"
Tai asked as Caitlin's mouth dropped.
"Your wife beats you?"
She asked in a disbelieving tone as Tai grinned.
"She sure does! But I'm into that kind of thing you know? I've always like taking far more than giving. It's who I am! I mean you should have seen Summer on our wedding night! I was tied to our bed and then she brought out her whip and-
"TAI!?"
"I love you Sum sum! You and your-
Tai never finished that thought as an armored fist struck his face and sent him to the ground.
WHAP!
He hit the ground as Catilin jabbed her sword down to him as he shot out lightning, fast jab. Both attacks connected as both combatants hit each other knocking them back as the buzzer rang.
"Winner Arc!"
GoodWitch said. Declaring Caitlin the winner as the woman grimaced. She felt like she had bee run over by a train nad-
"My face! My beautiful beautiful face! What will the woman of Patch look longingly at now!? What I tell you!"
Tai said grimacing in pain. As Caitlin held up a hand to the man. In his defense, he did have a nasty purple, black bruise on the right side of his face. Covering most of his face in an ugly welt as he took her hand.
"Good fight Cait!"
He said as he held a hand as Caitlin felt the killing intent form the stand as she saw his first wife Raven? Looked like she was about to commit murder.
"You too."
"Damn right! I'd love to do this again!"
Tai said as Caitlin looked up at the stands and sighed.
"I don't that I can. I think your wife wants to murder me."
"Oh don't worry about her! That's just Raven being Raven! She's fine! Probably...
"If you say so...
She said still unsure as the woman glowed red, as she and her daughter looked like miniature suns as she helped him to his chair.
"Tai!"
Summer said appearing in a blur of white to the two and practically yanking Tai away form Catilins grip.
"He fought-
DEATH!
Caitlin thought as she felt a wave fear flow through as Summer? Was it eyes flashed silver and Caitlin felt like she was going to run through body and soul. As a tremor of terror ran through her body making her gag.
"The next match will be!'
"Yang Xiao-Long!"
"Oh yeah!"
"Versus!"
"Jaune Arc!"
"I'm in."
Jaune said as he and Yang walked into the arena.
"Remember kid! The first rule of combat! When fight a superior opponent is that your most important weapon is your mind!"
Romans' voice entered his head as he took a deep breath. As he walked into the Arena where Yang waited for him, with a Cheshire grin.
"If you aren't stronger then them then be smarter than them! Remember she's a woman she will always! Without fail! Look down on you! Don't let her! Underestimate you! Make her pay for that!"
The voice of Roman Torchwick filled his mind as he walked into the area where a bouncing Yang was waiting for him with a surprised look on her face.
"Hey there Goldilocks! Got some fancy new toys huh?"
Yang asked bouncing on the balls of her feet as she eyed Jaune. The boy had forsaken his usual sword shield combo and now used that vorpal black knife.
Held ina natural reverse grip in his left hand, along with the pure silver hatchet in the other. As he walked into the arena, Yang saw something off about him.
For one Jaune looked happy. Like downright joyful. As the boy was smiling in a way that borders on Ren levels of happiness as he walked calmly into the arena. Well, walk was an understatement. The boy did not just walk he swaggered into the area. Shaking his hips and twirling his blades in a way that oozed confidence and sensuality that made Yang's breath hitch as she felt her lips burn.
"My are you look hot today."
She said grinning ear to ear as Jaune's confident swagger came to a halt as he grinned there.
"I can be as hot as the sun but I'm still cool compared to you."
Jaune said as Yang raised an eyebrow.
"Are we getting bold today? What new weapon new confidence?"
She asked already planning on taking the boys clothes off with her teeth. Pinning him to a bed or closet whatever came first and-
"Take your positions! Xiao-Long! Ready?"
"You bet!"
"Arc! Ready?"
"Always."
Jaune said twirling his hatchet in mid-air catching it deftly before pointing it at Yang.
"You're first."
Jaune said as Yang's eyes glowed red in the challenge as GoodWitch smirked.
"Begin!" The dean yelled as Jaune bent his legs and-
"Jaune of Arc! I challenge your hand in marriage!"
Yang shouted as Jaune froze blinking once before nodding.
"I accept."
He said as he pointed his weapons at Yang as she licked her lips.
Oh, boy blonde you are going down! I can't wait to pummel you! You are going to be mine! Yang thought cracking her fists before flashing Jaune a toothy smile.
"Ready or not! Here I come!"
Yang yelled firing Ember Celica on the ground as she shot herself forward in a ball of fire.
She flew at Jaune like the fist of an angry god. A glowing red cataclysm of anger and hate ready to break the boy to smite him where he stood only for him to-
Dodge?
She thought as Jaune predictably as he had no shield rolled out of her hammer strike avoiding her lazy gauntlet blast as she signed oh well I-
Yang never finished that thought as something sharp and metallic bit into her left ankle making her cry out in agony. As her knees buckled.
"AHH!"
Yang cried out as she felt like gnashing teeth bite into her leg as she was suddenly in mid-air. As her leg was pulled out from underneath her as she ended up flat face first on the floor as something dragged her down.
Before she could even think she felt the pain. Sharp and agonizing pain as something slammed into her back with the force of a hammer. Striking her in her spine making her shout out in pain.
Yang cried out as the blow struck her back making her eyes flash red as she looked backward eyes glowing red and-
"AH!"
Yang cried out like a knife slit her across the throat. Slashed her on her jugular making hr gasp. She felt her world dim, and aura drop as the kife stuck her jugular only for a flash of silver to fall on her head.
FISHT!
A hatchet came down like the spear of an angry elder god. As it flashed down squarely on Yang's forehead taking her aura to deep orange before, it roared back and struck, again and again, sending it to red and her to the ground.
"Winner... Jaune Arc! Perfect victory!"
The dean yelled as Jaune stood above a panting pain fill Yang, who laid face first panting heavily and thoroughly defeated as he grinned at the girl twirling his hatchet in mid-air.
YES! We did it! Jaune thought as his reflection nodded to him.
"Sure did. Showed her a thing or two."
It said as Jaune grinned. You see what all of his friends did not know about Jaune was that until this very point in Beacon Jaune was fight with less than half of all his weapons.
Jaune had only been able to carry his sword and shield to Beacon and left the remainder of his weapon to be delivered upon his safe arrival.
Seeing as the delivery was later on Jaune was forced to fight in beacon without his proper weapons! Mainly he was forced to fight human opponents with weapons he used against Grimm.
Jaune, unlike most huntsmen, had two very distinct pairs of weaponry. He had weapons meant to fight and kill Grimm. And! He had another couple of weapons intended to kill humans.
As he twirled his hatched and kife, combo Jane was back. Hee as fully armed fully ready and-
"Mister Arc! A truly stunning display! You not only devastated a stronger opponent. A woman at that! You beat her flawlessly! And with such skill and poise that would not be out of place in a woman huntress twice your age! There has not been a perfect victory this year! Congratulations!"
The dean said gushing as Jaune suppressed a smirk.
"It was nothing."
He said easily playing off though he was speaking the truth. It truly was nothing. Yang for being as strong as she was. And dear Oum!
She was strong was still a human, and lacked real-world combat experience. She never fought to kill and as such did not know how to react to it.
So when Jaune hooked her ankle pulling her legs out from under her. Taking her to her knees before stabbing her in the back and slitting her throat. And proceeded to do a move combo that would kill anyone without aura, a move Vernal had taught him well.
As he executed Verna's favorite assassination attempt the girl panicked and let Jaune rain death on her until her or finally gave up and he won.
As Jaune help stunned Yang at her feet the girl still unsure of what the hell had just happened other then her world being full of pain as the dean glared at her.
"Miss Xiao-long. You let an opponent get the better of you. A far weaker opponent at that."
The dean said with an unimpressed glare that made Yang flinch and Jaune stare.
She means a man. Jaune thought as he internally grimaced.
"You were overconfident, cocky, bullheaded and when you showed the slightest opening, you were done for. Mister Arc took you apart piece by piece like you were made of paper. Staring at your ankles and working his way to your neck. Should that have been anyone else or a real fight you would be dead! Go back to heal and think about train your opponents seriously."
The dean scolded as Yang balked once before walking slowly, limping back to her seat.
Where a stunned Tai and Summer looked at her with jaw's open. As Raven looked dead at Jaune with was a look of naked suspicion and disbelief.
As Caitlin nodded to him in respect, as Pyrrha' are especially her mother seemed more than impressed as Pyrrha Ren, and Nora cheered old for their leader. Thier faces filled with pride, joy, and repute. In equal measure. As she left the dean coughed.
"Mister Arc. Since you do have full aura would you like to fight again Mister Arc?"
"Sure I'd love too!"
Jaune said already feeling like another area win to add to his tally. As the dean flicked open her scroll and another name appeared.
"Velvet Scarletina!"
She said as Jaune heard a familiar eep!
Followed up by a go get em, girl! Lasso you a man!
As Coco cheered on her best fired as the bunny faunus walked down timidly to the arena floor.
"Arc ready!"
"Yes!"
"Scarletina ready!"
"Yes!"
"Fight!"
The dean yelled as Jaune ben his knees going to combat footing and-
"Jaune!"
"Yes?"
"Jaune Arc! I! Velvet Scarlatina! Challange you to a duel for your hands in marriage! Do you accept?"
The girl asked as Jaune blinked before nodding.
"I do."
He said as Velvet let out a long sigh. As he heard a whoop! Of joy followed by a wolf whistle from Coco. As she cheered her friend next to her sister and what had to be Velvet's parents.
Velvets mom? Was a rabbit faunus. Suprise surprise, with brown bunny, ears sharp green eyes and dressed in a tight-fitting black suit. That gave her an imposing look and a fierce demeanor.
Her father was a small human male with brown hair and eyes. Lookin at them it was clear who Velvet took after most. As they watched their daughter Velvet sighed once as she took out a camera? Of all things.
Why does she-
"Jaune! I'm sorry about this"
The bunny girl said bowing her head to Jaune once as he blinked owlishly at her.
"Sorry about-
Jaune asked but stopped as Velvet crunched back her massively muscled legs before they glowed a heavy brown color as she shot forward with the speed of a flying bullet legs outstretched in a devasting double kick as she crashed them feet first into his face.
"HAH!"
Jaune gasped as two feet each larger than his face slammed into his nose, with the force of a brick wall. As the feet hit him he was hurled halfway across the floor as Velvet jumped at him landing a flying dragon kick to his face knocking him clear across the room and send his already prodigious amounts of aura to half.
"GAH!"
Jaune gasped in pain mind reeling as his vision swam with yellows and blues as he reached for his scattered weapons as Velvet winced at his pain.
"Sorry! But I have to do this!"
She said as Jaune froze as he swore! He saw his own hatchet appear in angry blue color on her hand that she realized back hitting him in the neck.
In an execution strike making him cry in pain before another dragon kick came to his head and knocked him clean out, as his vision dimmed a voice chimed in his head.
"And the most important rule for fighting a woman is this! Never! Ever! EVER! Get cocky!"
Roman's voice said as Jaune dropped his weapons as his world went to black...
: An There you have it! The next chapter in game on! I got to say the last chapter was the most polarizing one yet! And I go, to be honest, I love the responses! keep in mind that this fic will get a bit less fluff and that the world is actively trying to make him fail. That being said! This is it! with the addition of Jaune's bag, the story can really take off! I alwys intened this to be a combat focused story but I just needed Jaune to get his weapons!
Now that he has his weapons!? It's time for this fic to get ugly! Really the new skill he just got is going to be crucial to the plot of the story and will change it dramatically! Until next time?
Patch notes!
Gamer stat 1.3! Patch notes on Jaune Arc!
Stat update!
Name Jaune Arc.
Level 27?
Xp till next level 2500/ 2700
Health 200/200
Passive Last gasp.
Str: 59
Wit: 26
Charisma: 47
Charm: 32
Intellect: 49 -1 due to Drunkard trait sober.
Vitality: 122
Will: 122+ 20 due to stubborn trait + 10 due to Martyr trait.
Dexterity: 163
Deception 29
Agility 105
Perception 51
Luck: 50
quirks
Skillful. Plus three damage to all weapons.
Flexible. Plus 4 agility and dexterity.
Traits.
Stubborn. Plus 20 will.
Martyr. Will never refuse a challenge or run from a fight. Will seek death in a battle before considering retreat.
Ladykiller. Plus 25% damage to female opponents. Opens unique dialogue with those of another gender.
Alchaholic. If sober minus one intelligence. If drunk minus three Int. Plus ten. Charisma and charm.
Stalwart. Will never, ever do or act in a way that goes against his own morals or values.
Kind. You are kind. Others find this appealing, and your relationship grows faster. Those with the cruel trait gain double growth.
Ennui. Depression.
If I only had a brain. Rare Skill. Can negate all stress if done properly.
Skills
R. May not be a cunning linguist...
R. Beguiling.
G. Do or die.
G. Last gasp.
G. Blaze of glory.
R. Knife fighter.
R Saboteur.
R Disable.
Quest complete!
Defeat Yang-Xiao-long completed!
Rewards!
Gained unique Gamer skill!
Blaze of glory! Minus one percent health give plus one percent damage and point five percent attack and movement speed with all weapons! Stacks with any and all other
WARNING!
MULTIPS OUTSIDE CRISIS EVENTS TRIGGERED!
CRISIS PYRRHA NIKKOS TRIGGERED!
CODE NAME SPARTAN'S PRIDE!
STATUS. DEFEAT PYRHHA NIKKOS IN YOUR NEXT ARENA FIGHT!
REWARD. UNIQUE SKILL HARBINGER.
PENALTY GAIN UNIQUE AFFLICTION TRANSPARENT.
CRISIS WEISS SCHNEE TRIGGERED!
CODE NAME BROKEN PALACE!
STATUS DEFEAT WEISS SCHNEE IN YOUR NEXT ARENA FIGHT!
REWARD! UNIQUE SKILL UNTOUCHABLE.
PENALTY UNIQUE AFFLICTION PIERCED.
VELVET SCARLETINA CRISIS TRIGGERED!
CODE NAME UNLUCKY RABBIT'S PAW
STATUS DEFEAT VELVET IN YOUR UPCOMING NUPTIALS!
REWARD FREEDOM!
PENALTY GAIN GAMER ENDING AFFLICTION HOUSE HUSBAND!
CRISIS TRIGGERED COCO ADEL
CODE NAME SLAVE TO FASHION.
STATUS DEFEAT COCO IN AN AREN BATTLE
REWARD UNIQUE SKILL DEAD EYE.
PENALTY AFFLICTION SHATTERED
YANG-XIAOLONG CRISIS TRIGGERED!
CODE NAME DRAGON'S RAGE.
REWARD UNIQUE SKIL INDOMITABLE!
PENALTY GAIN UNIQUE AFFLICTION SUNDERED.
Inventory.
New items!
Diente de dragon! A. D. S. Unique knife!
Dam 49. Atk, speed 3. critical hit modifier 200% Unique skill penetrate. Weapon ignores enemy armor.
Der wolfszhan! A. S. D. Unique hatchet!
Dam 57. Atk speed 6 critical hit modifier100% Unique skill disabler. When using the Der Wolfszhan you gain the ability to disable an opponent sabotaging their combat stan to perform a takedown move on them.
Note! If both the Diente de dragon! And the Der wolfszhan and equipped at the same time you will gain acces to the shadow of death special skill!
Personal logs. Insight gained! Ruby Rose profile unlocked!
Name Ruby Rose.
Title Dolt.
Health 180/180
Social Rank 70/200
Quirks.
Shy. ?
Kind. You are kind. Relationship growth increases.
Awkard. Relationship level growth significantly decreased.
Deadeye. Can always hit one of every magazine of rounds.
Fast. Slow down. Seriously.
Traits.
Socially inept.
Loving.
Aficionado
Grease monkey
Stat breaks down.
Str 65
Int 67
Charm 35
Wil 140
Chr 57
Vitality 73
Agility 90
dexterity 157
Wit 59
Deception 30
Perception 39
luck 49
Stress 9/200
Passive Red like Roses.
Alignment Progressive
Social Rank Best friends.
Name Ruby Rose.
Relationship Rank. 80/200
Insight 60/50
Status white knight.
Special skills Gun Nut.
Bond Established!
Bond type trust.
Bond rank 4/10
Fetishes, Teasing. Handholding. Biting.
Personality dominant
Inventory Locked! Need's more insight 70 minimal.
Active operations NA.
Casualty continuum status. 17.9% Status active.
The darkest Remnant. Part six. The first evil.
Oscar was not scared. Oh no, he was terrified. As he followed closely behind Velvet as the five-man one gohst group walked forward. The time had come. Thier hour was at hand. They had decimated the undead in the outer part's of the castle and now it was time to move onto the first evil. The necromancers apprentice.
Ozpin the ethereal gohst had been less than forthcoming about the detail on their target. Only stating that it was the first and weakest of three necromancers that kept the undead returning in greater numbers. And as of now only the mad or the desperate would go to find him.
And right now? Oscar was a bit of both. He was an NPC walking with heroes into a dungeon unarmed only to see with his own eyes the evil that would strike down. So far the journey down into the inner dank and mildew riddled catacombs of his ancestral line had been shockingly quiet. The undead seemed content to leave them alone as the five loving interlopers walked in utter silence as they moved down the path.
"You do know that this is dangerous correct? I once knew this man in life. He was quite the charmer I tell you. But now? I dare say he has lost a bit of his touch."
Ozpin said sipping his mug as Oscar glared at the specter. Oscar had not yet exorcised the demon as he walked forward into the hallways the five of them left the cold dank air of the last chasm as the entered a large stone library of sorts as they walked inside to find an empty room.
"It's empty?"
The plague doctor Ciel. Asked as she cocked her head around. Her large avian mask looking for trouble.
"I doubt it. Stay on guard!"
Jaune snapped as the cruse raised his now less battered sword and-
"Watch out!"
Ren yelled as a blur of red slammed into the center of the room as a towering figure in red appeared.
"Towering! And insufferable! He dares show his face?! Bring this abomination down!"
Ozpin yelled as the thing gave a beastly roar as Ren and Jaune took positions.
"Ren!"
"On it!"
The highwayman yelled leaping forward as Jaune deliver a decisive blow to the monster tearing through red robes and flesh alike making it howl in agony as Ren gave it a thin deep cut bleeding it.
"Velvet!"
"I know!"
The woman yelled as Ciel tossed a caustic bomb to the monster making it howl in ager as acidic dust ate its flesh s Velvet struck it with lighting.
The heroes attacked as one. Smiting and lashing the great evil as Oscar stared in awe. The monster roared in defiance summoning wave after wave of undead minions to do its bidding. But that did little to stop the righteous! Jaune struck stone the undead where they stood. His might sword smiting them as they came. While Ren and Ciel kept bleeding and slowly killing it as Velvet stuck with righteous fury. Calling down the wrath of Oum himself onto the beast.
But the battle was not entirely in their favor. The monster called down black coffins that fell from the sky it balls of black energy. Striking the heroes and hitting their sanity. It called upon its undead minors to reach out from the very ground. Breakin it asunder as long bony arms reached up for the heroes to drag them to their doom.
It even reached out with his terrifying claws reaving Velvet and Ciel. Giving them both wide and bloody wounds. That bleed freely painting the ground crimson. Jaune and Ren finally had enough of the monstrosity and stuck it as one. Send the best low where Jaune took its heart. As the monster fell it gave one last shriek before expiring as the heroes collapsed.
" Ans so the first evil falls. It will only get harder from here."
The gohst said as Oscar saw the bleeding heroes and the disintegrating monster. Somewhere deep down inside he knew Ozpin was right and that thought terrified him.
