A/N : Before you start reading those new chapters, I have some things to say first.
-First of all, thank you for those who recently favored and/or followed this story.
-Secondly, if you don't like this story then don't read it !
-Thirdly, you might recognize some texts or some actions here ^^
-Fourthly, I'm totally shocked by the messages I receivedfrom people asking for Harry to be paired with OC Faunus
However, I'm still wondering about what type of Faunus do you want to see Harry with ?
-Cat-type Faunus (Lion, Tiger, Lynx, Panther etc…)
- Canine-type Faunus (Fox, Wolf…)
-Ursine-like Faunus (Brown Bear, Polar Bear, Panda…)
-Something else
Tell me your choice either by reviews or private notes !
Now I should stop bothering you and let you enjoy this new story in peace ! GOOD READING EVERYONE !
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A few days had passed since Harry scared Cardin and his clowns and a LOT of things happened since then. There was the strange friendship between Jaune and the biggest bully at Beacon Academy, Cardin Winchester. Harry, Team RWBY, Ren and Nora were all taken aback by this… except for Pyrrha who had been pretty upset about Jaune for whatever reasons.
Of course, he asked her about it and was pretty shocked of what she told him : apparently Jaune was never accepted into Beacon or never entered a Combat School of any type ! Instead, he apparently found some fake transcript which allowed him to enter the Academy !
At least, it explained why the blond was so… unexperienced in combat.
Pyrrha had asked him to not tell anyone about this and he swore on his 'parents' that he will never reveal what he just discovered to anyone. Later, the day after that, Glynda Goddwitch had taken Team RWBY, JNPR and CRDL through the Emerald Forest… on another teacher's order.
What about him ?
Apart of doing his homeworks or reading in the Library… Let just say he used his powers as Death to sneak around Beacon… Especially to go to ONE particular place of the Academy : the Vault… where Amber's body was.
Each time he approached the machines keeping her 'alive', he putted a hand on the glass before saying a few words like "You will see come back..." or "Soon you will be full again..."
Apart of visiting Amber, Harry made sure to keep an eye on Ozpin in case the man accidentally revealed something interesting. So far, his own spy, Qrow was still missing and it was unnerving the old man to no end. Anyway, he would also visit Velvet Scarlatina who he became good friend with along with her own Team-Members.
The leader, Coco Adel, a young woman with fair skin, short dark-brown hair, and dark-brown eyes had thanked him for his help while also commenting that if she wasn't interested already in a certain 'Bunny Girl', she would take him as her lover.
It was fun to see Velvet's face turning as red as a tomato at Coco's words. Harry couldn't help but commenting that the Rabbit Faunus looked even cuter like this. Their teammates, both boys, had also thanked him with grateful nods : their names were Fox Alistair, a blind guy and Yatsuhashi Daichi, a tall and athletic-looking young man with shaved-short black hair and tanned skin.
When the night came, as he was about to enter his dorm, he encountered Team RWBY and JNPR who told him what happened during their little trip in the forest.
Apparently, Cardin wanted to take revenge in Pyrrha for 'humiliating him' during Professor Oobleck's class. The bully wanted to toss her some saps and once she was fully covered with it, they would free the wasps so they would attack her !
Worse, Cardin wanted JAUNE to carry out the entire plan or else he would reveal his secret to Professor Glynda ! Harry had almost lost it at the pure blackmail but had calmed down when Jaune told him how he instead threw the sap at Cardin, refusing to hurt Pyrrha.
However, the guy hadn't liked Jaune's answer as he and his teammates started to beat him. It was during this beating that the blond unconsciously activated his Semblance which had greatly helped in healing his bruises… while hurting Cardin's hand at the same time.
Then an Ursa Major came out and attacked, the Creature had been attracted by the sap. Terrified by the newcomer, the entire members of Team CRDL fled the area except Cardin who tried to defend himself but failed.
The bully was almost killed by the Creature of Grimm it it wasn't for Jaune who saved him by using his shield. Apparently he did really great for someone with no experience in combat… and in the end he defeated the Grimm.
After the fight, Jaune had ordered (yes ORDERED) Cardin to never mess with his teammates and friends again before walking away.
Harry had ,of course, congratulated the guy… not for saving Cardin's life mind you but for his victory over the Grimm which Jaune nodded in acceptance. However, our hero noticed the look Pyrrha, Ruby and Weiss were exchanging and knew that they were hiding something but he ignored it as it wasn't his problem.
The days after that incident, Cardin and his clowns stopped bullying Jaune ! Of course, they kept pestering Faunus but they tried to make sure Harry wasn't around because they were TERRIFIED of him. Which was proven when the day following the accident, when he came across them in a corridor, they fled at the mere sight of him !
Which had amused him to no end !
Another good thing that came out of this was the training sessions between Jaune and Pyrrha. The former had finally accepted the latter's offer and since then, the two trained together.
Now three days after those incidents, Harry was standing in the room, a pit with eleven stands, alongside the other first year students. Harry was currently his combat outfit : a sleeveless turtleneck dark gray top, white long sleeves underneath, long black fingerless gloves on, and black leather boots… all of this topped by a black hooded cloak fastened to his shoulders by cross-shaped pins. Dangling at his sides were his pair of sharp dual swords.
He was wondering who will fight today as he looked at the stern teacher looking at everyone present as they sat on their seats. As if the teacher heard his hidden question, she turned her head toward him before calling out loudly
"Harry Potter !"
"Yes Ma'am !" He called back while quickly going on his feet while standing straight as he made a military salute.
The action caused many to laugh or giggle in amusement while Glynda's right eye twitched in both amusement and annoyance. She shot him a glare but he only smiled innocently at her, causing her to sigh deeply.
"Would you please come down the arena ?" the stern teacher inquired him in a professional tone while giving him a disapproving look.
"But of course professor..." Harry responded with a small bow which caused many to snicker in amusement while Glynda rolled her eyes at his antics.
Our hero then slowly made his way down the stands before entering the arena where he went to stand at Glynda's left side, not once getting rid of his grin… even if the teacher was glaring at him dangerously.
"Now Mr. Potter, who do you wish to have as your opponent ?"
At those words, Harry looked back at the other students and not many of them looked eager to fight him in combat… except Yang who was pointing herself with a finger while using her other hand to wave at him.
Harry hummed as he looked at each student with narrowed eyes… before landing on one person in particular. A smirk grew on his face as he landed on one person in particular.
"I would love to face Pyrrha Nikos in battle !" he declared with a mad-like grin.
The redhead in question blinked in surprise as many were shocked by the guy's declaration. Some were whispering with excitement and we could hear people making bets on who would win the fight between the two.
"Very well… Ms. Nikos can you please enter the arena ?" Glynda called out after a nod of acceptance.
Pyrrha nodded and she entered the arena to stand at the older woman's other side. The two soon-to-be-opponents glanced at one another before going to a different side of the arena. Harry then faced back his opponent while pulling out his swords just as Pyrrha readed her own weapons , a javelin and a shield.
"Mr. Potter… Ms. Nikos… Are you both ready to fight ?" Glynda asked them as she stepped back to give them more space while eying the two.
"Ready Professor..." Pyrrha responded while looking at her opponent.
"Ready as I'll ever be~" Harry replied back with a smirk.
The black haired young man always acted like this in preparation of a fight as his emerald eyes were locked on his opponent who smirked back at him in anticipation. Glynda glanced one last time at the two before saying loudly as she pushed the button.
"Lady first~" Harry cooed while gesturing for his opponent to go.
"My you really are a gentleman~" Pyrrha replied back before charging forward, readying her javelin.
Harry smirked as he watched her coming closer and closer… to soon be a few feet away from him. It was at this moment that he acted as he lunged at his opponent, turning into a blur.
The world soon seemed to froze for our favorite redhead…
Pyrrha didn't know what happened but she felt that her shield was no more with her and instead, saw it flying in the air ! The redhead stared at it in disbelief but then grunted when a sharp pain came from her stomach just as she was sent back.
In the stands, many gasped in shock as Pyrrha, the Invincible Girl, was kneed in the guts by Harry James Potter, the scariest guy at the Academy.
Shaking her head, Pyrrha then slowly went back on her feet, using her javelin to do so while looking back at her opponent who had his swords in his hands.
"Now we are equal… No shields on both sides…" Harry began to say with a grin before it widened as he added
"I have been looking forward to fight you Pyrrha… It is a great honor to be your opponent..."
"The honor is mine… You are the first one who actually managed to touch me..." Pyrrha retorted politely while grinning a bit.
"Well then… Shall we continue ?" Harry proposed her while swinging his blades, clanking them together.
Pyrrha smirked as she turned her javelin into a double-edged short sword while going into a fighting stance. The message was as clear as a cloudless sky…
Harry chuckled loudly to himself before looking back at his opponent
"This is gonna be fun..." he said with pleasure while spinning his blades once more.
Once he finished speaking, he leaped forward with a battle cry. Pyrrha charged as well while secretly using her Semblance. What was it ? Her Semblance allowed her to control magnetism… She don't use it a lot but when she did, she can deviate her opponent's weapon and change the course of the fight.
It was mostly thanks to this that she was called the Invincible Girl…
So imagine her surprise when it seemed to have no effect at all on this guy ! Their weapons clashed and the sound of metal echoed in the air as the two tried to push the other away. Harry then smirked as he attempted to kneed her again but she managed to dodge it before attacking him with her sword.
He easily blocked her before pushing her away with a grin on his face. Then he lunged forward with his twin words but Pyrrha dodged them all while hitting them with her own sword. Of course, she tried countless of time to use her Semblance but for some reason, it didn't work so she had to rely on pure skill.
Beside he wasn't using his Semblance so why should she use hers ?
On the stands, everyone was looking at the battle with gaping mouthes, still in shock that someone was holding his ground against the Invincible Girl. Yang, her, was thinking of the day she will be in Pyrrha's place and fight the guy. Ruby and Nora were looking at him with stars in their eyes.
Suddenly, Harry managed to pin his opponent down while using one of his blades and Pyrrha was using her own sword to hold back his blade. Then without warning, Pyrrha pushed his blade away and Harry had to dodge a blow aimed at his head. When the redhead tried to slash at him with her sword, he jumped a few feet back.
"Not bad at all… Not many can face me so long…You do deserve your title..." Harry sincerely complimented the girl who smiled back at him
"My… Thank you Mr. Potter ! I can say the same about you~" the redhead retorted with a grin of anticipation as she readied her sword again.
Pyrrha was internally happy : it was the first time she faced someone as strong as her ! She had fought many opponents in the past and many of them had been defeated without her having to use her Semblance ! Well at least not too much… The redhead was tired of being the Strongest Girl and had been longing to find someone strong enough to oppose her…
Look like she finally got her wish !
"Well then… Maybe it IS time to stop holding back~" Harry said with a toothy grin that sent shivers down the spine of those who saw it… even Glynda's !
With that said, he connected both blades (or rather their handles) together, creating a Twin-Blade before spinning it rapidly and holding it behind him with a grin. He knew how to use any type of weapons but Swords were his favorites.
The reaction on the stands were pretty comical to his opinion. Ruby's eyes practically grew at the sight of his Twin-Blade as a soft squeal escaped her mouth. Ren looked at him with nothing but respect and Jaune was openly gaping at him in shock. Weiss and Blake were equally stunned as their eyes were glued on his weapon.
"Is that a Twin-Blade ?!" someone cried out in the assistance in shock
"It seems to be !"
"How can he master such a difficult weapon ?!"
"Between that and the Scythe I don't know which one is worse..."
Glynda was also stunned by the weapon and a hint of respect shined in her eyes as she looked at Harry Potter.
In the arena, Pyrrha's eyes also widened in surprise at the blades as she hadn't expected this but then shook her head when her opponent lunged forward with a battle cry.
She barely had the time to react when she found herself pushed back by the handle of her opponent's weapon. She tried to block it with her sword as best as she could but he easily pushed her back.
Then he jumped back before swinging one of his blades as if trying to behead his opponent but Pyrrha dodged it before going for a kick… only to be backhanded away, knocking her across the arena ! Groaning, the redhead slowly rose from the ground before looking at her opponent… only to see say opponent rushing toward her !
Quickly, she jumped away from her previous spot just as his blade connected with the ground. Pyrrha landed a few feet away from her opponent, panting a bit. When she took a look at her aura, she was shocked to see that she was almost in the red !
Now THAT was shocking ! Never before it happened !
Seeing the shocked look on her face, Harry slowly turned toward her while spinning his Twin-Blade again. Glancing at his aura, he was not really surprised to see it still full. He knew he was somewhat cheating but hey, at least he was having fun. He was only using his skill not his powers as Death.
Heck, he wasn't even using his so-called Semblance !
"Do you want to stop ?" he asked her with curiosity while internally praying she won't.
Pyrrha took one last glance at her aura before going back into a fighting position. His smirk grew on his face at the sight as he literally purred in ravishment
"As you wish milady~" he cooed before lunging forward.
The redhead was now avoiding all his attacks as he kept swinging his blades at her : a swing to the left, a swing to the right, a swing aimed at the legs, another aimed at the head… All of them were avoided. In return, he was avoiding hers.
Why was he doing this ?
He was not trying to touch her but to be sure her attention was only on her weapon (so far it was working), waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike her. It came when she jumped to avoid a swing aimed at her feet and as swift as wind, he pushed her in the gut with his handle.
She grunted in pain but then gasped when she felt a leg hitting hers and she found herself on her back ! Pyrrha groaned as she tried to get up… only to froze when the tip of a blade appeared an inch away from her face !
Looking up, she saw Harry standing there with a serious look on his face. He didn't looked tired at all and instead looked as fresh as he was at the beginning of this short battle. However, he was now holding a sword in each hand… he must have separate them when she fell.
"Do you yield ?" he asked her with a small grin and shining eyes.
Pyrrha stared at him for a moment before raising her hands in surrender. It caused him to pull his blade (the right one) away before sheathing it. Then he extended a hand toward her, silently offering his help. Smiling, Pyrrha accepted it as Harry pulled her back on her feet.
Instead of being sad for losing, the redhead felt greater than ever ! It was the first time she lose a battle and to her, it prove that she wasn't Invincible but a normal girl ! Harry, him, had to admit that this little moment was good. He had been itching for a fight for a while now and Pyrrha was without a doubt a good opponent.
"It was fun ! Care to do this again someday Pyrrha ?" He asked her in a friendly tone as he sheathed his second sword.
Pyrrha, who was picked her weapons, turned her head toward him before smiling at him
"It would be a pleasure to fight you again Harry !" the redhead responded as the two of them shook hands with one another.
"MS. NIKOS'S AURA IS IN THE RED ! THE WINNER IS MR. POTTER !" Glynda's voice caught their attention.
Cheers erupted from the students along with groans as bags of liens were exchanged along with smug grins for those who won their bets. Much to Harry's shock, Ruby received a big bag of Lien from Weiss who scowled at the younger girl. Yang, her, was handing money to Blake who had allowed a tiny smirk to grew on her face as she accepted the money.
Harry and Pyrrha watched the scene with blank expressions on their faces before looking at one another
"Did you they really place bets on us ?" the former asked the latter blankly.
"I think they did..." Pyrrha responded dryly before looking back at Jaune as the blond was handing a small bag of Liens to a neutral faced Ren.
"Come on not the guys too !" she internally thought to herself with a hint of disappointment.
"Look like Jaune's training is going to be harder..." She grumbled to herself with narrowed eyes and Harry chuckled in amusement before patting her on the shoulder
"Have fun…" he said to her before leaving the arena just as Glynda called for another group to enter it.
00/(Elsewhere)/00
At the same time, in the Land of Darkness, Salem was sitting on her throne as around her, stood her followers. As expected, Cinder and her little group consisted of Mercury and Emerald returned from Vale just as planned. Arthur returned from Atlas with some news about the Relic while Hazel had just handed her an important package.
Something she will have to tell her Lord later…
"Welcome all of you !" the Queen of Grimm began to say to her followers before adding in a calm but stern tone
"I hope the journey here wasn't unpleasant..."
"No mistress..." Tyrian and Hazel both said at the same calmly from their seats.
" I'm happy to be here… General Ironwood had been poking around too much for my taste..." Arthur grumbled from his seat in a still respectful tone.
"Mistress… Can I ask why have we been called here ?" Cinder asked her from her seat with some curiosity.
Emerald and Mercury nodded their heads in agreement, saying nothing.
Salem internally grinned as she opened her mouth to answer calmly "Yes you can… If I called you all here, it is because I decided to change our plan..."
Many of her followers were now staring at her with curiosity, wondering what she meant.
"We will still infiltrate Beacon to implant the Virus and we will still destroy Vale's defense… But we will no longer need a few things..." Salem began to say before pausing as she looked at everyone present.
"What things mistress ?" Hazel asked her from his seat with a curious raisebrow.
"Well, we won't need the Fall Maiden's power anymore… same for the other Maidens..."
"WHAT ?!" Cinder cried out in outrage and anger before flinching when Salem's narrowed eyes landed on her
"Sit down..." she ordered her and the power-hungry girl did what she was told but still fuming in anger.
"Mistress, I am sorry for any disrespect but why ?" Arthur asked her from his seat with some confusion.
After all, gaining the powers of the Four Maidens was one of their primary goals ! So why their Mistress would abandon it ?
"Because I have found a greater power to help us in our quest !" Salem declared with a dark grin.
Cinder perked up at the mention of 'Greater Power' which was noticed by the Queen of Grimm. Emerald and Mercury, along with the rest of her followers, looked a bit curious at those words.
"Pardon me mistress but what power could be greater than the Maidens' ?" Hazel asked her with interest.
"Simple… The power of a God~" the Queen of Grimm responded with a toothy smirk.
"But the Gods left ! You say so !" Cinder retorted from her seat with disbelief while around her, many looked just as confused as her.
Salem looked at her followers with hidden amusement but then all went silent as she spoke again
"Yes the TWIN Gods have disappeared but another one lives in the shadow of our world… A Deity no one thought existed..."
"Who ?" Emerald asked her with nothing but curiosity.
Salem smiled at the girl before closing her eyes as she whispered softly.
"My Lord… It is time..."
Before anyone could ask her about this, a portal made of shadows appeared at the other side of the room which caused all heads to look toward it with anticipation.
"Indeed it is..." a deep masculine tone echoed from it which caused many to shiver in slight fear at the power radiating from the words only.
Soon enough, someone stepped out of the portal and many gaped at what they saw. Stepping out of the portal was a really tall man who looked to be in his twenties with long messy black hair that reached down his back and slit-less shining neon green eyes which looked like living fires. Physically, he looked pretty strong… But what had really caught their attention was the strange armor he was wearing.
It was both beautiful and intimidating in appearance. That and his size… He towered over everyone in the room ! In fact, he looked to be 12 feet tall in height !
"My Lord..." Salem greeted the newcomer while going on a knee.
"Salem..." the young man greeted back with a nod of his head.
Her followers, once again, shivered at the words. Tyrian looked ready to piss himself on the spot. Thanks to his Faunus sense, he could scent the power radiating from the guy and it was clearly a lot more stronger than his mistress's.
"W-Who are you ?" Cinder asked him with a pale face as her amber eyes were locked on him. At her side, Mercury and Emerald were shivering in fear, not once looking away from the newcomer.
The man turned his head to look at her before smirking "Answer my riddle and you will have your answer, Cinder Fall…"
"How does he know me ?!" The ashen-haired young woman screamed loudly to herself as she looked at the newcomer.
"W-What is your R-Riddle sir ?" Tyrian asked him with fear which caused some of his colleagues to stare at him in shock.
Tyrian Callows, a serial killer, was afraid of this guy ? Who was he to get such a reaction from the probably most dangerous killer in Remnant ?!
The man's smirk already putted many on edges as he opened his mouth to say
"'I am always around, but never seen
I am often avoided, but you can't out run me
For I will come when your old and grey,
Or maybe even the very next day
I will come with cold embrace,
And give you rest with a chilled kiss on your face
I come in may forms of emotional state,
Weather it's irony, love, laughter, or hate
I am everyone's finale fate'
Who am I ?"
Once he finished speaking, many were trying to resolve his little riddle. Salem, for her part, had to admit that it was a really good one and watched her followers with contained glee as she thought about how their faces will look like when the answer will be given.
After a moment, Arthur's face became really pale as realization passed through his mind. Turning his head toward the newcomer, who was still smirking, he started to shake uncontrollably.
"No… you cannot be..." the scientist tried to deny but the man's grin widened.
"I see you found the answer Watts… Now… say the answer~"
"You… You are..." Arthur shakily tried to say but he was far too shocked to say more.
"Say it~" The mysterious man cooed at him with a toothy smirk.
"You are Death..." Arthur blurted out as rivers of sweat started to fall down his face.
At those words, everyone froze on the spot as they all looked at the tall young man with shock, fright and horror.
"Good answer~" Death said as his smirk widened a bit more.
Emerald was shaking uncontrollably while Mercury was showing nothing but fear as his face was deadly pale. Hazel and Tyrian couldn't look away from the newcomer as their bodies seemed to be frozen in ice.
What of Cinder ?
She was as pale as a ghost, her eyes locked on the young man before her. However, she was still a bit skeptical about this guy…
"How ?! How can you be Death ?!" She asked him loudly in shock and slight fear.
The man smirked one last time… before his body started to change again. Much to everyone's horror and Salem's slight surprise, where stood a man in his early twenties stood a Skeletal Creature covered with black bones and Green fires instead of eyes. There was no skin on this body.
"And now ?" the Creature asked her and Cinder paled even more.
Satisfied, the Creature turned back into the young man from earlier (with armor and skin), looking at everyone.
"As you know now… I am Death… and I don't mean it metaphorically, or rhetorically, or poetically, or theoretically, or any other fancy way… I am Death… in the simplest sense!" The young man explained in a serious tone that sent shivers of fear down the spines of the listeners.
Salem smirked as she went to stand at his side before looking back at her pale-looking followers.
"Allow me to introduce you to our new ally : the embodiment of Death itself, THANATOS !"
(To be continue…)