Heretic Notes: That's right, Arc Finale!

I waited for some announcement on RWBY to be made before publishing this (although I expected season 3 insead of japanese dub)

Either way, here it is! BTW 3 BGMs are needed this time!

1st - Sorrow's Distortion (this is pretty much Vlad's theme, so yeah)

2nd - Cannonball Hard Revenge

3rd - Closer to the truth from Cryoshell (this Bionicle song is pretty much linked to Tepes's story, Team VLNT and the desires that motivate him)

WARNING: This chapter will... contain a bit of feels.

They had finally encountered each other.

The boy determined in discovering the truth and stopping any more disasters from happening.

The boy that hid the truth and was responsible from all of the previous disasters.

White Knight - Jaune Arc

Impaler Vampire - Vladimir Tepes

When Ren arrived at the scene, they had already traded a few words with each other and had their eyes locked. Jaune with his spirit, Tepes with his mocking smile.

They were contrasts, but Ren couldn't help but feel they were also a bit similar.

'It's all in my mind' he shook his head. 'And we don't have time for that.

"I want to know why you fough with Pyrrha" said Jaune.

"Pyrrha?" Tepes tilted his head. "Oh! The girl with greco-roman gear, right? The answer is very simple: she got in my way" the Impaler Vampire smiled. "So, I just beat her up, poisoned her and sent the girl to the hospital. You had to see in her eyes when she noticed she would lose, they were so beautiful".

"You bastar-"

"Stop" Ren put his hand in Jaune's shoulder. "He is mocking you, do not fall for his taunts".

"Taunts? Ha!" Vladimir released a laugh. "I merely said the truth. First Nikos, then that Belladonna girl, two of Beacon's strongest warriors have already fallen by my hand. All because they interfered".

Ren opened his eyes wide.

"Blake too?!"

Jaune couldn't believe in it.

'That's impossible! Blake had the greatest advantage against Tepes. She could deal with his tricks better than anyone, then how...'

His eyes met his. Blue and red clashed and as Vladimir noticed something:

"Come to think of it" he walked around. "You are the leader, right? This means that those guys coming after us is your fault, right? Taken by the will of vengeance, you went on and called people that had nothing to do with this. Now, Belladonna and Xiao Long are in their ways to the hospital".

"Yang too?!" That was getting more and more inconceivable to Jaune. Yang's battle capabilities were... "How did you-"

"I didn't" he answered upon smiling. "Think about it yourself, mister envoy of losses".

Ren stepped forward.

"Jaune never asked for our help, we went on in this by our own will. When our friends are hurt, we step in for them".

Vladimir adjusted his glasses.

"Oh~ is that so?"

"Yes! And we deserve to know why you have been doing this".

"Deserve?" Vladimir mocked Ren with a sneer. "There exist no such rights. In the end, they entered in battles for their own wills just like you said. What do you have anything to do with this?"

"You..."

"Enough with this" Jaune finally spoke. "This isn't getting anywhere. Pyrrha was my teammate and Blake, just like her, is my friend. Why did you do that to them? What did you win with this?"

"I have no obligations to tell you".

"What you doing is a crime!"

Vladimir opened his eyes wide.

"Crime? What are you talking about?"

"I know that you people have been sent to assassinate a Beacon student. And now you have been attacking other students that had nothing to do with this?"

"Nothing to do? Ha! What a joke!" Tepes smiled. "Nikos interfered with a battle that had nothing to do with her. Belladonna fought for what reason? As far as I know, you don't have evidence and I can just talk things out as self-defense. For your law, I didn't commit crimes yet".

"You..."

Tepes put his index and middle fingers forward.

"Two more things: first: Jammer has the rights to send students in assassination missions by the law itself. If anyone receives a price for his head, they would have received a bounty for a good reason. And second..." Vladimir stopped smiling. "Jammer and Beacon are connected in more ways than ignorant people like you know. Beacon has no rights to interfere. On the contrary! Should anything happen, Jammer can rely on Beacon and vice-versa".

""What?!"" Both Ren and Jaune were surprised.

Vladimir finally smiled again.

"I guess your academy had more fools than I thought" he directed his gaze to Jaune. "If I remember, your codename is 'White Knight', right? What happened? Did you come after me to play a hero just like your codename? 'I am gonna punish evil!' Hahahahaha!"

"That's it".

"Oh~?"

Jaune stepped forward. Vladimir had crossed the line.

"Jaune..." Ren was about to draw his guns, but...

"No" Jaune stopped him. "This is something I have to do, Ren. This guy won't talk and he has toyed with us for long enough".

"Hahahahaha!" Vladimir released a laugh. "Oh, look! 'I have to do this myself' or should I say 'now it's personal'? What is it, hero of justice? Did I touch a nerve or something?"

Jaune glared at Vladimir.

"Oh~" Vladimir smiled. "My eyes do not deceive me... eyes like yours..."

Ren grabbed Jaune's arm.

"That's crazy, Jaune. You are falling for his taunts! He is wounded after so many battles, he won't win if both of us fight him, so he wants to eliminate us one by one, if we battle like this-"

"I have to do this myself, Ren!" Shouted Jaune. "You don't understand, it's not about stopping him anymore, it's for making him pay and take back his words".

"Oh, is that so?" Vladimir stepped forward and said: "while I am confident in beating both of you, pink-eyes over there is right about the disadvantage... hmmm... Oh, I know! Let's make a deal!"

"A deal?"

"Don't accept it" said Ren.

"At least listen, plebeian" Vladimir raised his hand. "We battle, me against the White Knight. If Jaune wins, I will answer all of your questions. I will take back my words and personally apologize to everyone for everything that I did. Sounds good, right?"

"And the catch?" Asked Jaune.

"If I beat you..." Vladimir smiled. "You are stopping him" he pointed at Ren. "And all your friends from interfering with us. What's more: you will have to help us in the mission we need to complete".

Ren opened his eyes wide.

"Don't do it, Jaune. He is trained to fight Hunters. Even wounded, he must have tricks in his sleeves".

Jaune looked at Ren in the eyes. And what he showed was a smile:

"Sorry."

Ren glared at him.

"... why? Why, Jaune? There is no need for that. You are doing that for personal reasons. Everything points at the fact that Vladimir has been playing a hunting game. He didn't need to eliminate Blake and Yang. You fighting him is giving him exactly what he wants. What if there is a big purpose on that? Did you stop to think about it? What if this is more important than the assassination? Fighting him now will only cause more problems".

"Maybe..." Jaune looked at Vladimir. "But this is our only chance. This guy... he is taking advantage of everything, using pure sophism to avoid giving answers and being on the wrong. It's not like beating him up would do us anything. In the end, he is right; we don't have evidence or anything. Which means..." Jaune looked at Ren in the eyes. "I have to win".

Ren received that answer wide-eyes.

"I see..." he smiled. "You really seems more dependable from before, Jaune" he stepped back. "Good luck".

"Thank you" he looke at Vladimir in his red eyes. "I accept your conditions".

The Impaler Vampire adjusted his glasses and smiled.

"Well, well... seems like my opinion about you changed a bit, White Knight. Only two third of foolishness and..." he stopped smiling. "One of boldness. I am a man of my word, if you win your prize is guaranteed. Now, follow me" he turned around. "There is a park that will serve as battleground for us".

Jaune nodded, traded one last glance with Ren and followed his opponent.

Ren looked at both of them and...

'Jaune that is a bit inexperienced and Tepes that is strained from recent battles... this seems even. Still, what tricks more does he have on his sleeve?'

Meanwhile...

Vale Hospital...

Cardin was in a bit of a unconfortable situation...

"It's true, he helped me" said Blake.

Yang looked at him again, not in disbelief, but in surprise.

"You serious?"

"Ugh! Enough of that!" Shouted Cardin.

They were currently at the hospital room. Surprisingly, Yang had already been bougth there before they arrived, but only had minor injuries.

Blake on the other hand, even after having received the antidote, still had serious problems and was in the bed.

"Okay..." said Yang. "So, is team VLNT that much of a problem?"

"I already said!" Cardin facepalmed. "If the Impaler Vampire is a noble, we are risking a war!"

"Okay okay! Got it. Gee, I prefered when you didn't use yohr brain, you know?"

"You picking a fight?"

"Sorry, sorry!" Yang tried not to laugh. "So, about them, do you have any information on their skills so that we can send to our friends that haven't encountered them yet?"

Cardin sighed.

"Fine... but there isn't much. It seems that the information on Tepes' battle record is dubious."

"Why is that?"

"He was the champion of the tournament against Clockwork".

"Clockwork?"

Blake, who had already hear most things from Cardin, said:

"It's a Mechanic academy".

"Oh yeah!" Yand snapped her fingers. "Now I remember, Weiss did say something about that. Hunters, Mercenaries and Mechanics, right?"

Cardin nodded.

"Mechanics are more suited to deal with disasters, either natural or from grimm. They carry heavy weaponry and stuff. If a fully trained Hunter can become a glorious hero and a Mercenary an assassin that would never be encountered, a fully trained Mechanic has the potential to eradicate an entire city with his weaponry".

"WHAT?!" Yang had her mouth wide-opened.

"But they are to machinery reliant. Seems like Clockwork lost, but Tepes triunphed not by exploiting the weaknesses of the machines, but by taking them head on. It was a complete victory. Also, you saw the Silver-Clad Werewolf's battle record, right?"

Yang nodded.

"One loss".

Blake said:

"It was from Tepes".

Yang was wide-eyed.

"Then... he is..."

"Either their battle record is fake of there is more than what meets the eye. I told Cardin about my battle and he has a theory".

Cardin nodded.

"I think I understand a bit. Tepes is full of secrets. He compensates strength with technique and technique with tricks. He takes hits to deliver hits. I think he isn't really that strong, but..."

"Far more problematic" recognized Yang.

"Yes" Cardin nodded. "I think Tepes is the type of person that will always win the first fight. No matter how much you are warned, he will just surprise you with something beyond your reasoning. If you fight him once, however, you will be able to grasp his mind and manage to fight".

Yang and Cardin looked at Blake. She sighed.

"Indeed... if we were to fight again, I don't think I would lose. Actually, midway through the fight I understood his style, but..."

FIGHT ME! - his words flashed on her mind.

Cardin misunderstood her expression and pierced it with her injuries.

"I see, he already poisoned you. By the time you could turn the tables, the poison took effect, right?"

"Wow..." Yang was surprised.

Cardin sat back in the chair.

"But now he is too wasted according to Blake, so there js no telling of what will happen".

Ren couldn't believe at what was happening.

"I... WILL... WIIIINNNNN!"

"TEEPEEEEESSSSS!"

A tempest - that would describe the battle in front of him.

The piercing spear, the swinging sword and the dancing shield.

The Impaler Vampire and The White Knight were in a battle beyond his comprehension.

Everytime Vladimir closed in, Jaune either managed to dodge or block his attacks. Tepes on the other hand, never received Jaune's hits.

But for every rule there is an exception.

When that spear twisted, when the Impaler Vampire showed his fangs, when the sword was evaded, the shield was neglected, the White Knigt was hit.

And when the White Knight was hit, his sword cut the air and slashed Tepes.

And once again, that clash happened, sending both Jaune and Vladimir in opposite directions.

"Amazing..." murmured Ren. It wasn't a battle of strength or technique, but of determination.

To someone as inexperienced as Jaune Arc, to come up with a dangerou strategy that actually worked was something to be praised. Or rather...

"Monkey sees, monkey does..." muttered Tepes.

... to copy another one's gambles.

The Impaler Vampire shifted his spear, which became a bladed triple bar.

"I expected Nikos to spread of my courage. I never expected to see a peasant actually reproduce my feat, even if incomplete..."

Jaune smiled.

"You don't expect me to drop my aura, do you?"

Yes, it was dangerous. That spear was dangerous.

Each hit Jaune took he felt as if the spear could ignore his aura. As if a hit that actually made him bleed wouldn't heal right away. Should his spirit falter, so would his body.

On the other hand, that was a need. Tepes' aura reserves were being depleted at each hit, no matter how weak it was, he received.

Who would last longer? Who would lose?

Would Tepes' aura finally end and Jaune's sword earn him the victory?

Or would the vampire's spear pierce the knight's soul?

'I don't have time to think about that' Jaune steppet forward and ran.

"Raaaahh!"

"Heyaaaaahh!"

The sword and the bar clashed and were blocked against one another.

With their faces so close and eyes clashing, Jaune spoke:

"What is that coat even made of?"

"You want to know?" Vladimir smirked. "First tell me: what is that body of yours made off?"

Their clash ended with Jaune bashing the enemy with his shield and Vladimir kicking Jaune away.

After the distance was made, Jaune raised his shield again.

"You are not winning this battle, Tepes. I will make sure Blake's efforts to stop you won't be in vain"

"Now now" Tepes readied his battle stance. "That won't happen, plebeian. But I have to say you are quite resilient. I guess that's a trait you share with crockroaches!"

Ren saw that moment.

The time when their blades clashed again.

But more importantly: when their auras clashed.

The blood-red aura of Vladimir and white-hot aura of Jaune.

Beacon...

"He will be fine" said doctor Oobleck.

The defeated Newton Stein was lying in a bed. Sitting on a chair was Luna Lycaon. Standing on guard in front of the door was Weiss schnee.

"I see I see!" Luna stretched herself. "Well, Tracy gave me permission, so I guess I can talk a bit? Dunno".

Weiss glared at the girl.

Luna responded with mockery:

"They say people that make such scary faces get ugly. I think if you keep doing that, you would get a better appearance".

"You...!"

"I mean, can't get worse than what it already is~"

"Stop" Oobleck interfered. "Now, miss Lycaon..."

Luna sighed.

"Got it. I have to tell our 'evil plan' to take over the world or something like that yada~ yada~".

Sorrow's Distortion Plays!

The battle had already changed. Both standing on the top of stairs in the park, but Jaune was cornering Vladimir.

"You are not getting with what you want, Tepes!"

Vladimir glared at him while laughing.

"I am the Impaler Vampire... I am Jammer's best first year student! I am a warrior and I defeated Pyrrha Nikos! I stand on the pinnacle you will never reach and I shall reach even above it! Fall down..." Tepes evaded Jaune's next attack and pulled his arm. "At the bottom..." The enemy imobilized him and threw Jaune off the stairs. "WHERE YOU BELONG!"

But Jaune didn't lose his composure:

"TEPES!" And hit him in the stomach.

"Ugh!" Tepes received damage.

"Argh!" While Jaune that hit the stairway, didn't fall without taking damage as well.

SHIIIIIIIIIINNEEEEEEEEE!

'What's that?!'

Ren saw it.

When their auras clashed again.

Jaune that rolled all the way down to the bottom of the stairs.

Tepes that was barely standing at the top of them.

But he didn't see more: what Jaune and Tepes saw eqch other when that happened.

Jaune was raising from the ground and couldn't believe the image that flashed in his mind.

It was Tepes, a a few years younger, smiling while saying words of determination.

Jaune couldn't help but repeat his words:

"I will... save us...?" Jaune shook his head. "What was that?"

"I refuse to believe in it..." Vladimir also got up. "You too... that explains why my power isn't working".

Jaune looked at the enemy standing on the top.

"It isn't telekinesis, right?"

Vladimir glared at him. Jaune smiled.

"Knew it. Telekinesis doesn't cause this type of stuff".

Vladimir sighed, then revealed an arrogant smile upon looking at the Jaune down in the stairs.

"Yes, you are right. My semblance never was telekinesis. If I were to say, my power can be linkened to a 'spear'. And your... a 'shield'... it seems our auras will interfere with one another. Your precious little protection won't save you anymore! Hahahaha!"

"Neither will your power strengthen your attacks".

The Impaler Vampire opened his eyes wide. Jaune stepped on the stairs.

"You think I wouldn't notice it? You have been using your semblance to power up your attacks. I may have lost my shield against your, but you have also lost your spear".

"That makes no difference, fool. We are still apart like heaven and hell! I have gone too far to lose to someone that barely knows how to wield a sword!"

"Keep talking" Jaune readied Crocea Mors. "Because I am about to show you what this 'fool' can do!"

"You are lying" Weiss couldn't believe in the words of that girl.

"Please" the girl sighed. "We don't lie in serious stuff. We trick, we make it ambiguous. But I gave you a straight and exact answer".

"Oh, and who would be this 'we' you speak of?"

Oobleck looked at Luna:

"Chimaera's citizens. Am I right?"

Weiss opened her eyes wide.

"Wait... the village you talked about in class?"

"Yes. They are all trained for combat, but she" Oobleck looked at Luna. "Is on a different level".

"What do you mean?"

Luna smiled.

"Due to the hazardrous territory, a few things were done to deal with it. Adulthood is determined when you reach 14 years of age and by that time those actually focused in battle have their trainings completed".

"What is your point?"

"I am sixteen, you see?"

Weiss opened her eyes wide.

"Then... you..."

Oobleck nodded.

"The rest of her team are civils in terms of strength. She, on the other hand..."

"I am a Knight" she answered. "In terms you people can understand, I am Chimaera's equivalent of a Hunter. And due to our code of honor, I can't lie in this situation. So, 'miss' Schnee believe in it when I say that I'm telling truth".

Each time they traded attacks

Each time their weapons hit one another

Each time their auras clashed

They learned more of one another.

Tepes already understood; their auras were resonating. When one inflicted damage in the other, the receiver would have his own self exposed.

And since Jaune managed to hit him, he learned that directly from the prince.

Climbing the stairs, falling down, climbing again, challenging the top. The White Knight repeated that many times and each time...

I am the Impaler Vampire...

- I have made a name for myself

I am Jammer's best first year student!

- I have reached so far with my own power

I am a warrior and I defeated Pyrrha Nikos!

- It's a dream come true to actually achieve such a feat

I stand on the pinnacle you will never reach...

- Closer... closer! If I actually managed to beat somone like her...

... and I shall reach even above it!

- I will definitely become a true warrior!

"ARGH!"

Jaune's attack finally pushed Tepes away. On equal ground they looked at each other.

"I finally understand..." muttered Jaune.

Vladimir's hair caused a shadow that hid his eyes.

"Silence..."

"You never intended to cause such problems..."

"Shut it!"

"All this time, you have only been-"

"SHUUUUTTT UUUUUPPP!"

The enemy advance and his spear pierced the air, but Jaune blocked the attack with his shield.

"You took advantage of the situation. I finally understand. You didn't look down on them, but up to them. With warriors like Pyrrha and Blake, you couldn't just let the chance to challenge them go".

"I WILL defeat YOU! Jaune Arc!"

Cannonball Hard Revenge NOW!

The spear became a triple bar, but Jaune blocked the attacks with his shield, sword and kicked Tepes away in his stomach.

"Argh!"

On that attack, Jaune saw it again: how Tepes was surprised when he encountered Pyrrha. A warrior of her stature in front of him, someone seemingly of a different world that stood on the top.

"You feared to never be able to fight them in the tournament, so you purposefully acted like a villain" the truth was finally exposed. "You never lied, but did worse when you tricked them, because you wanted them to give their all".

"... they were so beautiful..." muttered Vladimir. "Their grace when they moved, just like scattered petals and their strength just like poisonous thorns" Vladimir finally looked at Jaune in the eyes, his red ones burning with determination. "Only a fool would let that chance go! Fighting them while giving their all, even losing to them would award me glory!"

"You manipulated them!"

"You don't understand anything!" Shouted Vladimir. "I also saw your memories and desires! Being a hero is easy, becoming a warrior, fighting for your own people, trusting and relying on each other, what more could I want in my life?! But..." Vladimir averted his gaze. "They would never allow me... I already triumphed in Jammer and triumphed against Clockwork, if I triumph against Beacon too, I would become the true champion of three great academies. I will return and be recognized!"

Jauen felt on those words. He felt determination that could move mountains.

"However..." but Tepes did something he should not. "For the despair you sent my friends on, I can't let you go. You will be punished for that Tepes".

"Hahahaha!" His enemy released a laugh. "Fool, the only way I can't achieve what I want is if you drop your weapons and forfeit the match" Vladimir showed an arrogant smile. "Are you ready to ruin my joy by helping me catch my target?"

Jaune raised his sword. Vladimir smiled.

"That's the spirit! Come, Jaune Arc!"

And they advanced against each other again.

The Impaler Vampire that was only standing by willpower and the White Knight determined in teaching him a lesson for manipulating people.

The sword and shield clashed against the spear. Vladimir's aura irradiated and reacted against Jaune's.

The explosion sent both backwards and exposed memories from deep within.

- "I'm tired of being the lovable idiot, stuck in the tree while his friends fight for their lives!"

- "I'm done of being the ever-loved prince, sitting in a throne while his people fight in his name!"

Their eyes crossed against one another. Blue and red incapable of believing in what they heard and saw standing in front of them.

Their weapons...

- "If I can't do this on my own..."

... clashed again.

- "If I can't fight beside them..."

And they saw not contrasts.

- "Then what good am I?"

- "Then what is my worth?"

But parallels...

"Ah... Ah... Ah..." the Impaler Vampire dropped to his knee.

"Tepes!" Jaune was worried for the boy.

"DON'T COME!" The boy stood up again. How long could he last? "I want to... I will win! I have to!"

And he ended his sentence by coughing blood.

That battle was over, decided before it begun.

The Impaler Vampire gave more than his own in all of his three battles. That which awarded him with victory was taking his toll.

He knew it would lead to this. He knew a third battle was beyond him. He knew he couldn't win.

"Turn your eyes of sympathy away from me!" but... "I... will... win!" He couldn't accept it.

Their eyes could see finally see in each other respect. They could finally see mutual understanding.

And that was why Jaune Arc couldn't back down.

'If it was me there standing in his place... if my next victory could actually prove to me that I would become a hero no matter what..."

And he advanced.

His sword drew an arc of light, but Tepes didn't bother to block that slash.

Jaune finally remembered his opponent's dangerous tactics...

"Gah!"

... taking hits...

The demonic spear pierced the air.

... To land the decisive blow of victory.

Jaune's sword hit Vladimir on the side of his head, sending his opponent flying.

Tepes' spear, however, pierced Jaune's armor and aura and he felt the metal penetrating his chest.

The world went dark then blank on that moment.

.

..

...

A young Vladimir stood there on the swamp.

Tears were flowing from his face and two people, a human and a faunus were bowing to him.

"YOU LIARS!" Shouted the kid Vladimir.

"For your life, our promise..."

- Why couldn't you understand...

"I put myself in danger to test you!" Shouted the boy again.

- How much this meant to me?

"Why?! Why couldn't you let me deal with it myself?!"

"My prince..."

"Away from me!"

- Please... why can't any of you let me fight my own battles?

Heretic: Closer to the Truth naaaaoooooooo!

"Congratulations on slaying a beowolf, prince Vladimir!"

Many people cheered on him when the boy returned to the city covered in wounds.

But...

- They were there all along...

"How did you know?"

Their eyes diverged from his at that moment.

A man said:

"Y-your wounds..."

- These wounds aren't from the grimm... They are from when I fell...

"There was someone there, wasn't it?!"

"My prince, please understand-"

"No!" The tears started to flow again. "There was someone there to save me should I fail, wasn't it?!"

- Why... why can't any of you just... believe in me for once?

The kid Vladimir was on the ground, heavily breathing in the mud as a young woman with bat years stood in front of him:

"See, Vlad?"

"No! I can still stand, Bathory!"

The woman that looked a bit like him patted him on the head.

"Little brother, it's just like that... you aren't fit for combat. But you see, your strategic skill is amazing! You predicted everything!"

- I don't want to sit back and give orders. I want to fight alongside all of you!

"Let me try again... if I keep going... if I train hard, I can reach the level of anyone in here!"

But the eyes of his sister didn't show belief in that.

There he was again...

In his own big room that could observe the metropolis outside.

In a mirror, he saw himself. But he only saw a blurred image.

- Eyes that can't see well...

His pale skin...

- An unhealthy appearance of a corpse...

His long bat wings

- An useless decoration that can't fly...

"Curse it!" He shouted upon crying. "Why can't I... become like them?"

And then there was a knock on the door.

"Your sister's ceremony is about to start, my prince"

"I'm almost ready..."

He walked through the streets surrounded by the trees of the swamp.

- Why is this world so unfair?

Faunus, humans, citizens

- If someone can achieve so much with hardwork, isn't that just because he had the talent to be able to achieve so much with hardwork?

All of them looking at him with undying love and sympathy. How could they not? He was never distant, always close. Always giving his all to help them.

- Your conditions are determined when you are born. Rich or poor, faunus or human, but here that doesn't exist, we are nearly equal.

He entered the smithery.

- Then why am I so weak? Why can't I do anything? All of the other kids can kill monsters with ease, but I...

And then that happened...

The grimm attacked the city one of the many times, but that time was different.

The young tepes climbed the tower and rung the bell to warn the population.

The monsters attacked, but he couldn't fight back, so he relied on running and hiding.

"The smithery!" He shouted upon running, his wings feeling heavier and heavier. "The ceremonial sword was to be ready today! Then..."

When he arrived, he saw blood everywhere. It was clear that the blacksmith died and a boy aroung the same age as Vlad was covered in wounds.

The prince closed in:

"Hey, are you alright? You are Newton, right? Francis Stein's son, right?"

But no answer came. The boy was breathing and a corpse was further away from it.

Vlad barely put Newton over his shoulder when the creatures of the night invaded the building.

If he were to leave that boy that was nearly dead anyway...

- As if. The life of anyone here is worth more than mine. If someone has to die, it's the useless Vladimir Tepes.

He ran and ran.

After crossing the bridge, they were still coming and both of them were wounded.

He couldn't fight, but if he could take down the bridge

"Curse it..." Vladimir started to cry as he couldn't rip off the ropes. "Why why why?!"

"My... prince..."

"Rest up a bit, Stein!" He shouted as his hands started to bleed.

But the boy on the ground started to cry.

"You came for me..."

"Of course I would... Ugh! How could I leave any of you behind? Argh!"

- Curse this world! Curse this fate!

"Here..." The boy handed him something that was tied to his belt.

Vladimir couldn't believe in it when he opened the pouch.

"This..."

It was a sword. A terrible design that couldn't even cut right and seemed far from complete.

The young Newton muttered:

"I saw... how you and your sister..."

- And on that day, I think I met my best friend...

The tears continued to flow, not from despair, but happiness

- He understood me... he didn't need to, but went on and in a single day saw how I was and made a gift for me.

"Thank you, Newton!"

- He knew how much I wanted to be a warrior, how I envied everyone else, but he didn't try to stop me.

The boy wielded that sword and cut the ropes, destroying the bridge and stopping most grimm.

- On that day, I was recognized as a hero... and reprimanded for doing something so dangerous. But that never meant that much to me.

"Thank you" were the fateful words he heard from a single soul.

Vlad and Newton stood there together in front of the swamp.

"Luna isn't coming?" Asked Newton.

Vlad shook his head.

"She is busy".

"I see... isn't this kind of dangerous, Vlad?"

"You are the guy that unlocked aura on his own".

"I can't control it..." Newton averted his gaze. "Everytime I try to use it... I remember that day when you saved me..."

"You will get over it" said Vlad. "Once you can deal with it, you will be able to do so. Your poetantial is one of the best in Chimaera".

"Yes, but I can't do anything. Without proper use of aura, we can't fight right. Face it, I'm the weakest here. In the whole city, I'm probably the only one that can't fight right".

"Nope" Vlad looked at Newton in the eyes. "The worst is me".

- I will become stronger

- I will become a warrior

- I will fight alongside them

- I will... I will... I will...

What was his age now? 14?

"That plan won't work" said Vlad when he barged in the room.

"Prince Tepes?"

"Brother?!"

Vlad didn't care for their gazes of surprise. If anything bad were to happen, then it was better if it happened. If he became a brat to their eyes, maybe he could have a bit more of freedom.

- But I can't let them wage a battle they would lose.

So, he explained his point of view and his plans.

That battle was the first of many won.

Vladimir was recognized as a strategical genius.

Not a single death, but many wounded.

However...

The young prince punched the mirror, breaking it

"Even Bathory... even mom and dad went to battle, but I couldn't..."

Each strategy more dangerous than the last one.

Each battle becoming a pile in his victories.

When they questiones him, he showed how much he believed in his people. He earned their trust alone and used it to win.

They were ready to die for him...

"It's clear now..." He realized.

He noticed that he would never achieve his dreams there.

The boy became a hero and the first in line for the throne, but none of that mattered to him as much as it mattered to fight.

So, there was only one option: if he were to prove his abilities in the outside world...

*GRASP*

Jaune was on his knees on the ground with a dangerous wound on his chest as the blood continued to spill.

Tepes was, once again, trying to stand up.

What Jaune saw there was his own image; it was himself, Jaune Arc giving his all for his dreams.

Vladimir Tepes earned the trust, loyalty and love of his people alone. He became a hero that never needed to fight and brougth countless victories to them and to his name.

And right now, his eyes were full of envy towards Jaune Arc.

"I can guess..." muttered Jaine upon standing up. "It was my initiation, right? When me and my future team fought the Deathstalker".

Vladimir averted his gaze. Jaune knew he was right.

And he felt pity for the prince.

In his small life, he never received what he truly wanted. And the very sight of of that which he desires the most led him to fall from the great person he once was.

"Not only that..." muttered Tepes.

He saw it too.

On the Forever Fall, when Jaune defended Cardin and fought the Ursa Major alone.

A battle that to Tepes eyes he didn't stood a chance. A battle that no one interfered. A battle he won.

"It's funny..." he muttered again. "Standing in front of me..."

- A warrior

"Is someone that achieved most of what I want" Jaune completed his phrase.

- A hero

And their words ended.

One envying another.

One respecting another.

"Why Jammer, Tepes? Why not Beacon?"

"Jammer taugth me the techniques I needed" he readied his fists. "I already became someone that prioritizes the lives of another before his own a long time ago. I need to become someone that can make the hardest choices when the time comes".

"The hardest choice?"

Vladimir adjusted his glasses.

"When a battle beyond my thinking happens... when strategy and trust won't be enough... there will be a time I will have choose between one or another. One to save, one to die".

"You WHAT?!"

"Life isn't a fairy tale, you peasant!" Shouted Tepes. "My whole life has been unfair! From all people that deserved it, it was I that achieved many things without lifting a finger. The way this world treats my dreams, one day will come when even my confidence in strategy betrays me".

- Why... why me?

- Why couldn't any of you just leave me?

- Any single citizen is more useful than me. Then why me?

- Why can't I... why can't I...

Before Jaune could argue, Tepes was already advanced.

It was simple: if he defeated Jaune, that was proof that he could achieve everything he wanted. Defeating a warrior like Jaune Arc...

And that was one more reason why Jaune couldn't back down.

Both unarmed.

Jaune's punch connected first.

But the moment Tepes was pushed on his face, he twisted his body and landed a kick on Jaune's face, the same location he received the punch.

Once again he compensated strength with technique and skill with a gambit: to stay awake after that punch to land the decisive blow.

And they saw the same scene. A recollection of themselves and the past of another.

"No..." Jaune couldn't believe in that.

Pyrrha was standing there, offering to help him become a hero under the moon.

At the same time, as if it was a mirror, Tracy Khufu, the tanned girl in a purple and golden dress stood in front of Vladimir, offering to help him become a warrior.

"No..." the tears started to fall, because Jaune knew how this would play out.

He grabbed Tepes's leg and threw him in the opposite direction, but at that moment...

Wide-eyed, Tepes couldn't believe:

"You... you refused her..."

Yes, Jaune refused Pyrrha's help.

But Vladimir...

- But still... Tracy...

- No... I have to accept her.

- I already know... I already realized a long time ago that I can't reach the top alone.

- I have to work twice as hard as anyone else. No matter what I do, it seems I never would become strong.

- Even if I cough blood or break my bones, the result never happens.

- And she...

He saw it there.

Under the shattered moon, Vladimir was moved by her words.

She offered to help him. She offered to help her weak prince take that path.

"Vlad..." the girl couldn't believe. In her purple eyes, the image of Tepes crying was in it.

- I remember... I believed... if it was her...

"Please..." Vladimir bowed down. "Please... help me! I want to fight alongside you all! Please!"

And she hugged him, also moved by the boy.

"I will help you... if you call for me, I will respond to you. If you want to face your challenge alone, I won't interfere. If anyone else tells you that you can't, I will tell you that you can. You will become a warrior, Vlad!"

"Tracy... thank you..."

- I remember... how much I cried on that night. I finally believed in myself once again.

Tepes, in anger managed to, for the last time hit Jaune before falling to the stairs.

- "I used fake transcriptions..." - were Arc's words

"NOOOOO!" Shouted Tepes.

Jaune saw in his eyes. The image of Jaune Arc he grew so much to respect broken in that instant.

Vladimir fell down those stairs. When he rolled, each time he hit a step, it appeared.

The many memories of the many times he trained and trained ever sice he was a kid until the point of today.

If any other person did that training, they would become a Hunter with ease, but the results never seemes to appear for that boy.

"HOW! Ugh! COULD! Argh! YOOOOUUUUUU!"

It was over.

Jaune Arc stood on the top of the stairs.

Vladimir Tepes was lying in the bottom.

And Jaune couldn't believe... the victory of the battle was his, but he lost to Tepes.

He lost as a person.

He lost as human being.

He lost as a hero.

Jaune Arc was unable to help, or rather, to correct a soul like Vladimir Tepes, and instead...

A hero was supposed to save people, not become some sort of avenger.

Jaune realized that he got what he wanted: to make Tepes pay for what he did to his friends.

But at what price?

Jaune Arc faked his way to Beacon. Jaune Arc was blessed with talent, friends and chances.

Vladimir Tepes earned his place in Jammer. Vladimir Tepes earned the love, loyalty and respect of his people.

When he refused Pyrrha, she gave him another chance.

But Tepes accepted Tracy right away. Not only that, he begged her to help him.

Jaune Arc worked hard a few months under Pyrrha and achieved so much.

Vladimir Tepes worked hard during his whole life and achieved so little in comparison.

Yes, the existence of such Jaune Arc defeating Vladimir Tepes truly punished the prince in a way no one else ever could: by destroying everything the prince tried to believe in.

He tried to believe that he was fighting an honorable warrior.

He tried to believe his hardwork would achieve him victory.

He tried to believe he could win. Or that even losing would award him glory.

But he was beaten by Jaune Arc.

He was defeated by a lier blessed by the heavens.

Such a thing to happen was the worst possible punishment for him; to have his dreams, ideals and beliefs destroyed by a single person.

"I... HATE YOU!" Shouted Vladimir.

Disappointment, anger, sorrow, sadness, despair. His face explained all.

And Jaune saw the fallen hero. He saw that expression and couldn't believe at what he did.

"I... I am sorry! I'm sorry, Tepes!"

Vladimir opened his eyes wide. One more thing he couldn't accept: that good atittude. That boy apologizing. Those eyes...

"Sorry? Ha!" The prince spat blood. "What is it? A victor's pity?"

"N-no! It's just-"

"HOW DOES IT FEEL?!" Vladimir interrupted him angrily. "How... does it feel... Arc? To be blessed by heavens?"

Jaune couldn't muster words.

"How does it feel... to train for only a few weeks and achieve so much?"

Vladimir stood on the ground, barely able to keep himself still.

"How does it feel... to look down upon me from high above?"

The tears started to fall. Both sides unable to hold them back anymore. Jaune saw there, a misguided boy that aspired to the top but was thrown down from it by a lier that faked his way to get there. He saw a fallen hero, not by corruption, but by his dreams.

"SAY SOMETHING!" Shouted Vladimir upon falling to his knees. "Why aren't you smiling? It was just how things are supposed to be, right?"

Vladimir smiled even while crying in anger. Jaune couldn't do anything to change what happened.

"Tepes, no... you... you are..."

"I harmed your friends, didn't I? I tricked them and made fools out of them, didn't I? I made them fight until they didn't want anymore, right? THIS IS WHAT I DESERVE, RiGht?"

"... I..."

"The enchanted hero took down the impure villain, because no matter what happens, he would win, right? No matter what the villain did, no matter what he wanted, no matter who he is or his efforts, he will always be defeated by the talented hero blessed by heavens, right?"

Vladimir coughed blood again.

"Because that's what you wanted, right? To humiliate me in your little fantasies! How does it feel... to look down upon me... a sore loser... humiliating himself further and further as I can't simply accept being beaten by someone like you... How does it feel... to have your hardwork always payed off? To have chances and more oportunities layed out in front of you? To... always have a second chance... should you fail?"

"Vladimir..."

"Hahahaha..." Vladimir released a forced laugh and stopped smiling. Not even anger he showed anymore, only sadness. "You... win..."

"What... NO!"

That was the last thing Jaune wanted. To see him say those words. To see him...

"You have won... I have just been fooling myself... Ha! As if... my efforts solved everything... my whole life and they never awarded me what I wanted... we were different like heaven and hell and... just now I can see it. This gap for those like you that are destined to stand on the top... Following my dreams, believing in... accomplishment... in results... in being worthy as an opponent and to face such opponents... that was just a illusion. All this time... life wasn't a fairy tale..."

"No! No! No! No! No! No!"

Vladimir finally collapsed on the ground.

"Congratulations, Jaune Arc! Once more... you have... won... and I finally got what I deserved, to have... my dreams burned and scattered... by the true White Knight from fairy tales... that no matter what he does, will always stand on the top... bathed in love and gold... congratulations and CuRsE! yOu! It's clear that you will end up as a bright hero! DaMn YoU! It's clear that you will achieve many victories! gO To HeLL! It's clear you will become one of the best warriors that exist! If only you... if only I..."

And Jaune saw there. He saw not Vladimir Tepes, but himself in that spot.

He saw his ideal self: a full-fledged hero that achieved everything with hardwork being defeated and killed.

He saw a misguided boy having everything he believed in being destroyed by the good and loved Jaune Arc.

"No..."

He saw...

"Not like that..."

... a person...

"It was not supposed to be..."

... losing all of his dreams and having all of his aspirations destroyed.

Beacon Academy was prestigious school that trained students to become heroes.

Such a school was famous for it's efficiency and the Hunters that graduated from it. The tests have a significant level of difficult, where young ones may die. As such, the school only accepts the best of the best.

"Like this..." Jaune couldn't even clean his own tears. "You weren't supposed to... admit it..."

And in the end, the victor of the confront was decided.

Jaune Arc stood on the top and Vladimir Tepes was finally defeated.

Those who will become hunters, heroes and protectors of peace. Where they will either live a life of fame, or die as the heroes they became.

This is a tale about the students that live and study in Beacon. A tale about characters that seem to have come straight away from fairy tales, myths and history.

With his face on the ground and tears flowing continuously from his eyes, Vladimir finally said his last phrase, full of envy while looking at Jaune on the top of the stairs:

"If only I could become someone like you... and stand together with my friends in there..."

A tale about heroes and villains and the dim line that separates them.

But he knew he could never achieve such dream. Or rather, he didn't believe it was possible anymore

And, with his last phrase, the Impaler Vampire finally fainted and the long night of battles finally ended.

For now, that is...

Arc 1 - Disillusioned Vampire - END

Heretic Noted: Oof, this chapter has been big.

Many people here thought Vlad was a generic villain or just faking everything like in Competition Moon, but I said from the beginning that it would diverge.

I also said that this story would be about the difference of a hero and a villain

And I also said Vladimir Tepes was anti-Jaune.

What I meant wasn't that he was evil, but that he was his contrast. Everything Jaune is, Vlad desires. On the other hand, Vlad himself not only became a hero, but did so while plagued with natural weakness, having to compensate everthing with efforts since he was little.

I think the main focus on this chapter was not when Vlad was portrayed as a Hero, but when Jaune realized he somehow became a villain. When he realized not only he failed to save Vlad from a dark future, but also destroyed Tepes ideals. Making him, finally see the cruel reality: that as much as he gave his all for his goal, this could just be crushed by a normal person that didn't even have to go as far as him.

His illusion of surpassing anyone with effort being broken, making him the Disillusioned Vampire.

:O

Pretty awesome title drop, right?

And so, I finish Arc 1, next chapter will be called Fall From Grace.

What did you people think? Rate, review, do whatever you like. I'm already pretty much sure many here didn't like the end of the chapter, but as Blake once said: Life isn't a Fairy Tale.

Seeya

Heretic, out