Juno's POV
The Great Cataclysm.
Everyone has heard of it at least once. The world changing event, the magic revolution, the end of the world. It has many names in fiction and novels.
To us, it's reality.
Ten years ago, gods from all over cultures and fiction descended from the skies. Towers were created all over the world with an estimated total of a hundred scattered all throughout Earth.
Things like the supernatural, magic and lightsabers coexisted. The world was turned upside down ten years ago. However humans never lost hope, humanity challenged the gods through the towers. One by one every tower was conquered by the most powerful people on our planet.
I am not one of those people.
Today I planned to go inside a dungeon. An S rank dungeon to be specific. My friends from high places let me go even though I'm not yet qualified. I became a B rank just yesterday, and to say the dungeon raid turned for the worst is an understatement.
"Hell will welcome your betrayal Juno."
"Killing Jacob so cold-heartedly… Even your fellow fucking demon-worshippers have greater morals."
"For commiting murder against a fellow hunter, on the first degree. I will proceed with Juno's execution."
…That was the last thing I remember before I was sent to this mysterious forest. To my suprise, it was a forest was pretty ordinary at that, not some fucked up purgatory or absolute nothingness.
…
Information flooded my mind like a sucker punch. Remnant, Vale, Ozman and Salem.
"I can't catch a break, seriously…" I laid down on my back in a sweaty mess.
Not long after I fell asleep, the afternoon sunlight woke me up. I sat up and saw that my hair changed, once a pretty dark shade of blue, became a pretty dark shade of red. "I don't get why my hair changed. Lush green flowers were scarce but the trees were abundant.
"Where the heck am I?" I looked above me before a big black raven-like bird flew right above me. It didn't see me as much as I saw it, but I'm sure it was aware of my presence. "...Right, I'm a dumbass."
'Patch, Vale.'
/
"Death is the penalty we all pay for the privilege of life." Someone said that once, and when they did they were praised for their philosophy. But I didn't believe in such things, things similar to fate and destiny are crap. I didn't accept things that wouldn't make a flick of sense.
…That's what I originally thought.
Ding
/
[Destiny System!]
Obtained Skill: Insight
Obtained Skill: Wrath
/
[Quest Available]
Get inside Signal Academy without causing others to question your presence.
Time: N/A
Failure: None
Reward: 10 Achievement points
/
I stood in awe as a yellow screen appeared in front of me. "What the hell is this?" I've only seen this in games and webtoons, what the heck is a game screen doing here?
"Considering I did just die, I guess this isn't the most bizarre thing to happen today." I smiled at the two skills in front of me.
Insight and Wrath, two of the first skills I ever had in my past life. Insight gave me a few leverages in moving up the ranks of Korea's Esper Society. However, Wrath on the other hand was one of my more offensive skills.
"Let me test my good ol pal again." I said. Closing my eyes, I stretched my left hand forward. "Let my blood boil."
As words left my mouth, a small surge of an unfamiliar energy gathered on my hand. "This isn't mana, is it? I guess it just works." I said before cutting my left hand open with my pocket knife.
"Yep, it still works." I said. Blood rushed out of my wound before levitating in the air and bursting into flames.
My arm was covered in a mix of purple and crimson flames. "Although… it's not as powerful as before."
I think that's a problem.
…
Nah
Instead of worrying about skills and all of that, I should find some people and shelter first. "Alright…"
"...where the hell am I anyway? I've been lost for an hour and a half already. RT didn't show me shit, even if they did, I probably forgot about it-"
A spear-like feather pierced through my left arm. I look up to see the bird I saw earlier. "I don't have a bird related quip. So…"
[ Nevermore 1x ]
Nevermore, the raven-like grimm. A huge bird that appeared in the emerald forest. Apart from its head, most of its body is covered in black feathers. Apart from its sturdy body, it could also fly so fighting it head on is a bad idea.
Wait! I got it!
"Nevermore, huh? You know, for an avian type, you're quite bitchy-" The Nevermore interrupted by launching its feathers at me.
"Missed." I said. "And what? 10 points for a clever pun?"
The Nevermore flew high up in the air, its black wings covering the sun's light. "Look at you! Being all menacing and shit." I said while standing completely still.
The bird launched its feathers at me. Each one pierced my upper body, and the last one went through my skull. "What a shame."
[Insight Complete]
A line with a few dots scattered in between itself appeared. I took a deep breath and then followed the line. "It's the end of the line for you."
Insight, a skill that lets me see emotions, it also provides me with information about anything I look at… However, it has a somewhat hidden ability.
Ding
"Absolute sword style." I mumbled before reappearing behind the Nevermore. "Birds having light bones makes it easier for me to cut through."
I smirked before putting my pocket knife away.
Achievement Complete!
[Hunter-hunter]
+2 Achievement points
Unlike monsters from my world, Grimms don't have mana cores or… anything actually. "Right, they do that."
[Wrath Activating]
Wrath also has a sub ability called Mad God. Although, I didn't know black dust from Grimms really counts as blood. "But hey! It works like a charm every time."
My wounds started to heal seamlessly. All of the feathers stuck inside me were also absorbed, leaving no trace of scars or wounds behind.
The Nevermore turned into a hazy black mist. Its head was cut in half before it touched the ground and exploded into dust itself.
"There were a few Grimms in dungeon ruptures back home. I guess I stayed in Korea too long." I squat down to absorb more of the dust. "All the fun towers were back in god forsaken California."
Grimms back on Earth operated like normal monsters, with normal monster drops. Even then they primarily appeared in America, Japan, Greenland and Sweden for Atlas. "Wait, I just remembered something… weren't Grimm also ranked by class?"
"This will be interesting. As long as I get her here… maybe I'll keep living in Remnant. Otherwise…" I mumbled.
A little later, I arrived at a clearing from the forest. From what I could tell, it's a combat school, Signal Academy to be exact. "It took all day, but I'm here."
[Quest Area near]
As I kept on walking, I spared a few moments to look at my surroundings. After arriving at the clearing I somehow ended up inside the Signal. "This school is built like a small town, and it's not even funny." I mumbled to myself. "You'd think I would be kicked out instantly, but…"
I saw a few groups of students giving me the stink eye. Not how I would imagine being greeted to school for the first time. "People somehow know me. From the looks they give, I probably killed their dogs twice over."
I arrived at a park-like area. A few statues of people I don't know are scattered around. "Four, I recognize Ozpma- Ozpin and Ironwood, and Leonardo. Last one is probably Theodore."
"Why yes! You are right, I never thought a delinquent like yourself would have interest in the headmasters!" An energetic voice said behind me.
I look behind and see a woman I didn't recognize. She seemed to be in her late 40's. "And you are?" I said. She looked upset at my words before sighing.
"Kids these days… Herta Wood, call me Professor Herta. Never caught my name once huh?"
"Must've slipped through the other ear." I said, leaving the park. "And don't linger your feelings on someone for too long."
"...Not the place where you should stick your nose in, is it?" A few students gossiped behind my back as I left.
"I know, I was just messing with you." I smiled before walking off. Some of the male students looked at me with contempt. Although I didn't pay attention to what they said.
Out of the park, I spot a cartoonishly large green arrow pointing inside Signal Academy's main building. "System."
[Distance 41 meters]
"It's close, got it."
I glanced around a few statues, I somehow caught a small glance at a sign. "Welcome to Signal Academy! Patch's one and only combat school. Everyone is welcomed and undiscriminated in this establishment."
It took a few moments to process my brain before I internally said 'Doubt' and continued forward to what seems to be the entrance inside.
Signal Academy, Remnant, Dust. I had my doubts, but I guess I got to witness this fictional world firsthand.
I slipped inside the door, giving a few stares at the food booths both inside and outside.
When my foot touched the tile floor of the building a small ding was heard behind my head and the yellow screen appeared again.
/
[Quest Complete!]
Get inside Signal Academy without causing others to question your presence.
Time: N/A
Failure: None
Reward: 10 Achievement points
Extra: 100 Lien
/
"Woah, I'm impressed at this design choice. This place is really pushing for an outdoor look, even if it does sort of suck for a functional school." I said. I turned the system on before approaching a food booth. "I wonder what's up ahead that's so important." I took out a few Lien before standing in line.
[Danny's Dogs]
…
Wimper
…
'A… dog?'
…
Bark
"Holy shit." The line was a bit too long to see into the actual booth itself. The long line of people made me more confused on what the hell they are selling. "Excuse me, is this a hot dog booth? Or are they actually selling dogs?"
"Dogs, aren't you here to adopt one?" A Faunus guy answered me.
"Sigh… no, I'm hungry." I said before walking away.
I kept walking inside Signal's hallways, I'm still unsure where I'm going but the yellow screen's arrow is pointing this way. "And all of the booths here aren't food related."
The arrow was imprinted on the wall, like some kind of navigation system in a knockoff GTA game. The arrow itself turned yellow and the outline of it is separated from the yellow screen.
[Distance: 27 meters]
'What kind of sick game do the gods intend me to play? What do they gain from depriving me of sweets?' I thought to myself.
'How will I live from now on? Do I want to follow the story?' I thought before entering a decently sized Arena. "It's been ages since I watched RWBY, do I even remember the plot?"
[Arrived at the correct location in time.]
2 Achievement points
It looked like Beacon's Arena, just a tad smaller… and it's still somewhat outdoors? What the hell? "This feels so primitive compared to Beacon." The whole arena is a disappointing sight. Wooden and stone benches scattered around an elevated area of dirt with walls. "How does Ruby even get to fight comfortably here? I'd kill myself instead if I was a student here."
Inside the Arena, a few students started to clean up the decor. A few students still had their stalls up and running, but some of them wrapped up their booths already.
I walked around the room, I kept noticing that most of the students had a mortarboard on. With some wearing a pretty stylish tux or gown.
A Nevermore flew up above before a huntsman dealt it pretty fast. "I guess this is reality now."
"Woohoo! Graduation day suckers!"
"Fuck this school!"
'Right… reality.' I guess this is why Rooster Teeth didn't show us much Signal Academy in the show. "Why am I such a downer all of a sudden?" I said to myself.
It's been five minutes since I got in, people are really screaming their lungs out. "Tradition seems really fun, I wonder if I could see Yang being all screamy too."
Now that I notice, I guess this school is lively, with a lot of stalls and people. It's almost a little too lively for someone like me, but a little company like this isn't all that bad.
"Juice! 1 Lien Juice!"
"You there! Free sample?"
A human guy with red hair and amber eyes said. He looks at me with beaming eyes before showing a brownie down my throat. He then pulls out a menu in front of me and says. "Care for more? Also, are you new here? Weird timing, or are you here for the food?" He holds out his right hand.
[Bruno Wood]
"Oh, my parents and siblings are around here somewhere. I'm Juno by the way." I shook his hand. "Have you seen professor Xiaolong anywhere by any chance?"
"Uh… nope!" The red hair guy says as he goes back to his stall. "See you later, Juno! Please buy from us sometime!"
"That sometime will be now, I'm hungry." I said before opening the menu that he gave me.
After eating I went ahead and walked out of the Arena. I heard that Ruby was somewhere outside the school grounds fighting some Grimm.
[Lien: 96]
After a bit more pacing around outside, I kind of lose my focus for a few seconds, and unfortunately bump into someone.
She doesn't look like someone from the main cast, and yes, she drops a bunch of paperwork and books. "Ah! Sorry for bumping into you Harold! W-wait, wasn't it Henry? Henry is your name, right? I'm a tad bit bad at names…"
[May Akira]
"Juno, It's Juno. I don't know how you could even mix it up." I said. I started to look away, being brutally honest was a force of habit. 'Sigh… why am I this rude today.'This is what I get for only having seven consistent friends in my past life.
"Hey I-"
As I look back, she was already tearing up. 'Oh god, this is awkward.'
"Hey, is that guy bullying that girl?"
"Let's report this to a teacher, he can't get away with bullying May this time."
"God, is he always consistently racist towards faunus? He's so deplorable."
A few people talked around the pavement. The walkway I was on was pretty populated, to cause a scene here would…
"misunderstanding…" The girl said in a low voice. She wipes her tears using her sleeves as she speaks again. "Everyone, it's just a misunderstanding!"
"Fuck it." I said before slicing my arm open. "I can't fucking talk like normal today, so just let me throw hands!"
Achievement Complete!
[Make a friend(?)]
+5 Achievement Points
Note: Bro…
"Huh…?" I looked around me. "Where is everybody?" I said, I tilted my head before looking at the girl.
"They left, I guess being a delinquent has its perks." A voice behind us said. "I heard from Herta that a certain brat came back from the forest, made your mind up already kid?"
[Qrow Branwen] [+10 Achievement points]
"Who, me?" I said, pointing at myself.
"Yes, you. Talked yourself out of suicide?" Qrow said, his face was pretty dark as he leaned on the wall. "Weren't you all depressed and a real mess yesterday?"
…excuse me?
/
[Quest Available]
Defeat the White Fang and prevent them from invading Signal Academy.
Time: 5 hours
Failure: Death
Reward: 20 Achievement points
/
A/N: Next chapter might be posted tomorrow or the day after that.