He groaned, his head humming and pounding something fierce. He was an idiot, straight up. Give Roman fucking Torchwick your back, he's definetly not going to do anything nasty. Trust the thief, such a genius move.
He pushed his arms, getting off the ground and back to unsteady feet. This was a terrible surprise… like, actually tragic. The Ever After… the last place in all of Remnant he wanted to go back to.
Jaune gently moaned, holding his head like it weighed a ton. Absent-mindedly, he checked his equipment, to make sure that everything was in its place. Armor? Still there. Barely, but present. Crocea Mors? Check. Mors Celeri and Mors Renata? Check and check. He lost nothing material, good to know.
He just had to hope that he didn't lose literal years of his life, like the first time he wound up in this absolute hellhole…
Talking about it… the place was different than he remembered. The forest was still mostly the same, but he was stuck. There was no path ahead, or back or in any other direction. Just a big arena, that he was in the middle of.
Alone, on top of that.
Great. How exactly was he supposed to find Neo now?!
Worried about killing her instead of trying to find a way forward? Naughty naughty~
He was officially losing his mind. But that had been obvious for a while now… that didn't make it any less annoying.
He took a couple of steps forward, trying to see if he could find maybe a road he missed, or a switch or anything along those lines. The sound of shattering glass sounded from behind him. Instincts took over and he rolled forward, narrowly avoiding being decked by an umbrella.
Well… his search ended before it could even begin, huh?
His sword and shield flew into his hands, while he regarded the new threat. He wasn't sure what exactly happened to this girl, after the whole Ever After fiasco. Not that he particularly wanted to know, he'd rather forget the whole experience, but the question always stuck in the back of his head.
Now he knew, it seemed, if that skin and veins were anything to go by. A very unceremonious end for this absolute pain in the ass.
Said pain smirked, twirling her umbrella and letting it rest on her shoulder. Still cocky, even through the infection. Some flaws were just too big for even an otherworldly disease to cover up… what a bother.
He fell into his usual fighting position, hoping that he'll be able to wrap this up quickly… but somehow, having a feeling that it wouldn't be a smooth ride.
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NEOPOLITAN, THE DICHOTOMY
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It happened suddenly. One second she was in front of him, not a single care in the world…
The next, she was upon him, her weapon swinging with a force that her diminutive stature belittled. The first swing connected painfully with his cheek, the second he barely blocked, using the force to jump backwards and create some distance.
Bad start! Terrible even!
His break was extremely short lived, for she moved almost straight away, like she was expecting him to retreat, renewing her assault.
Jaune grunted, blocking two more hits and parrying the third… but she didn't stumble, instead using the momentum to unsheathe the blade of her weapon, which missed him by a hair, due to him leaning his head back.
Neo sheathed the sword in one fluid motion, once again trying to bludgeon him out. And his armor was not going to handle hits like those without breaking. A hell of a nice moment to meet a powerful opponent with a weapon that countered him. He couldn't bump into her earlier, before Weiss screwed him up?!
Of course not. Because being lucky is for chumps.
He growled animalistically, deciding to fight fire with fire. The blade of Crocea Mors raised up to meet its master's enemy. Five consecutive swings were countered like that, until Jaune roared and punched with his shield… which passed right through the woman, with the sound of shattering glass.
Her fucking Semblance. Of course.
The umbrella came back from his right, faster than he could react, hitting him in the shoulder with punishing force… but not as hard as the previous hits. He bit back a scream, his sword swinging in retaliation. Another teleport. Another hit coming from his left. Not on his armor. She was toying with him, the bitch…
Then his back. His already dwindling aura accused hit after hit, but in the meantime, Jaune was observing. Learning. She had a pattern, he quickly realized. Right, left, back, left, back…
Right!
In a split second, he merged his weapons in their greatswords form, preemptively swinging.
The feeling of resistance on his blade gave him all the answers that he needed on whatever he hit or not.
He smirked. Score.
Now it was his turn. Neo crumbled down on her knees, while he winded his weapon back and swung from bottom to top, effectively launching the girl up in air, who then proceeded to crumble to the floor in a painful looking fall.
Just like a little broken doll…
Jaune smiled wildly, popping a Booster…. which reminded him that he forgot to buy the supplies that he was missing. He was just the biggest bloody idiot in all of Remnant, wasn't he?
Whatever, he'll do it later. For now, he focused on the aura around his opponent, which crackled and sputtered, close to breaking.
A glass cannon, he briefly realized. Lots of damage, but flimsy and fragile, not able to take too many hits, likely not aided by the upgrades that his weapons received in the meantime. He smirked once more, separating his sword and shield once more. He was going to enjoy this one… getting rid of this thorn in everyone's side was going to be a pleasure.
He raised his sword up, about to deal the final strike… when he was distracted by a wall of fire suddenly encircling both of em. No… not fire.
Aura.
What the fuck was happening now?!
Neo didn't waste her chance, swinging her own blade to get him to back down… but he couldn't help but notice her expression.
Pure and unadulterated terror. She knew what was going on? Likely.
Neo's head swung back and forth, trying to identify the apparent new threat… then he heard it. Heavy footsteps, reverberating all around them. If possible, Neo's panic became even more apparent. What could scare her so much that even the infection couldn't hold back those feelings?
Finally, he saw it. A massive figure stood behind the woman, easily double her size, if not even more, in full plate armor and with one, glowing red eye. His former enemy also noticed…
But it was much too late. A bloodthirsty grunt was the only warning that she got, before a sword broke through her aura in one clean stab from back to front, so powerful that she was lifted up, hanging from the blade protruding from her chest, like a spike. Neopolitan, the fierce and cunning sidekick that gave them much more trouble than more than half of their enemies… died right then and there from a sneak attack, dispatched as if she was nothing.
She disappeared in smoke, like all those of her kind do, leaving only the new threat, which slowly walked out the "fire" that it apparently spawned. But…
He recognized it. Or… him, he should say.
The same weapon. The same armor, but ruined by time. And that grunt he briefly heard sounded just like…
How?! How could it be?! What was wrong with cursed by the gods place?!
The knight before him opened his hand, where a swirling pink and brown flame appeared. Neo's aura, most likely. The fact that he managed to claim it was damning evidence.
He faced many enemies and monsters, during both of his lives. Challenges and obstacles, human and Grimm, bandits and huntsmen. But now, he was face to face with the greatest of them all. His most feared demon…
Himself.
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THE RUSTED KNIGHT
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The wall of armor in front of him chuckled, the sound distorted by the helmet, before approaching him. Slowly. Surely.
Jaune took several steps back. His mind was still reeling from what was happening in that moment. The Ever After was a place that made no sense, in a logical world. It did what it wanted, when it wanted and how, rules were more like feeble suggestions than actual ideals.
But coming face to face with yourself?! That defied more or less everything that should have been possible!
The Rusted Knight raised his greatsword and swung it down towards him as soon as he was in range. He quickly leaped back, but ended up getting caught in the shockwave of the attack, which blasted him away, just short of the wall of aura fire. Somehow, he knew that touching that wouldn't be healthy. Just a gut feeling.
Another laugh, and his opponent started walking leisurely again. If Neo had been toying with him, this guy was straight up treating him like a stuffed animal. Completely powerless and outmatched in every single aspect. That thought made him pause.
He was supposed to be inferior to… himself?! To the version of him that almost broke down out of loneliness, drowning in depression and despair?!
Fucking as if! But he couldn't keep up on his own, unfortunately. He really didn't want to come down to that…
But he had no other choice. Jaune summoned Doctor Oobleck's aura, sending a quick apology and prayer to his old professor, before squeezing it and consuming it. As usual, the effects were instantaneous. Along with the voices in his head.
Harder!
Faster!
Stronger!
Kill him!
SLAUGHTER THE FAKE!
He grunted, a similar sound as the Knight himself made earlier, and rushed head on to confront his opponent, his weapon once more in its greatsword form. The blades clashed violently, his enhanced strength allowing him to keep up with the armored menace, who stopped chuckling and finally started putting in some effort.
With a growl, Jaune shifted his weight, allowing the Knight's weapon to slid along his own, unbalancing him and giving him the chance to bludgeon the older version of himself on the helmet with the pommel of his weapon.
That surely discombobulated him. Which gave him an idea. This armor was the same one that he used when he himself had been the Rusted Knight, down to the smallest detail. A perfect replica, if you would. Or he assumed, at least, but assumptions were all that he had. Which meant that it had the same structural weaknesses. Like…
That one!
He twirled Mors Celeri and stabbed down on the left shoulder, where he knew the armor didn't connect well with the chest piece.
The Rusted Knight screamed in pain and anger, causing him to drop his weapon, and Jaune himself to grin like a madman. There's the sound he was waiting to hear!
The Brave Huntsman pressed down harder, deepening the wound, before ripping it out violently in a shower of blood. Who's laughing now, you one armed asshole?!
It turned out, neither of them. The Knight suddenly shot forward, moving the same arm that, supposedly, was unusable, gripping him the hair and bodily lifting the younger version of himself.
His eye was blazing red, hatred seeping from every hole of the bigger man's body. Then strikes with a hard punch. Once. Then twice. Then three times.
Finally, he gripped his damaged chest piece, breaking it completely and then throwing him, right in the middle of the fire.
It burned like a blazing inferno. The pain allowed him to react quickly and get out of harm's way, but the damage was done.
Doctor Oobleck's power allowed Jaune to keep a sliver of his aura still intact, but the rest of his armor was completely and utterly gone, falling away from his broken body.
The Brave Huntsman tried to pick himself up, coughing out blood. He turned his gaze towards his opponent, who was now holding his greatsword with only one hand.
He panted, warm red fluids coming out of his mouth, exhausted beyond belief for the first time since he got infected. When did that happen again…?
Not important right now. What mattered was that he was fresh out of options. He didn't even have the energy to take a Booster…
If only he had some way to disarm the Knight, then maybe he could have a chance!
Except… he had one shot. His recent upgrade could do the trick. A plan formed in his head… but it was risky. If it didn't work, or if his opponent saw through his bluff, that would be the end of him. But it's not like he had any other choice.
So… he acted. Sort of.
He faked his arms falling from under him, leaving him on his knees and forearms. The Knight approached him once more, slowly like before. Only that, this time, he wasn't laughing. He was breathing heavily in pure anger.
With another grunt, he kicked him while he was down, right on his ribs. His aura flickered and broke, leaving him vulnerable, and the Knight raised his broken sword up, ready to deliver the finishing blow on his younger counterpart.
Jaune closed his eyes, pretending to have given up… before opening them suddenly and opening up his shield, activating the gravity Dust in the emblem just as his opponent took the swing.
Parallel Crocea Mors bounced on the Dust, flying out of the Knight's grasp, leaving him stunned for a second. It was enough.
Adrenaline kicked in, giving the Brave Huntsman a much needed second wind of energy. With a roar, he smacked his shield against the helmet of his opponent, exposing the weak point that had been concealed up until now…
The neck.
Mors Celeri flew in his hand once again and he went in for the kill, burying the dagger in the soft flesh that was presented to him. Or… he tried.
The Knight's aura struggled against his blade, while the man's hands closed around his wrists tightly, cracking the bones. But he didn't desist.
Jaune shouted once more, throwing his entire weight against his unbalanced opponent, causing him to fall backwards… powerless.
Just he himself had been just minutes prior. How the turns table, huh?
He raised his eyes towards his opponent's. The right one was still glowing red…
Just like his own.
Finally, with one last push, the Knight's aura broke…
And the dagger found its home in his neck. The sound of steel piercing flesh reverberated in the battlefield, along with the older Jaune's last breath.
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INNER DEMON CONQUERED
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Obtained: Rusted Helmet
Obtained: Rusted Chest Piece
Obtained: Rusted Gauntlets
Obtained: Rusted Leggings
Obtained: Vicious Illusionist's Aura
Jaune remained still for a couple of seconds longer, while his brain struggled to catch up with what just happened. Then a smile broke through…
Then laughter. Maniacal, deranged laughter, something that would make even Tyrian Callows shudder in fright.
He looked down, seeing his hands turn white, along with the dark veins. It should have scared him…
But he welcomed it.
Welcomed the chaos.
Welcomed… the end.
Suddenly his head started hurting… badly. To the point he couldn't even laugh anymore, until it became too much…
And he was out like a light, for the second time.
Hello?! Is this thing on?! It is?! Noice.
Welcome back, dudes and gentleladies, to another episode of Auraborne, the show where, as it had been noted in one of the reviews in the previous chapters, Jaune's greatest enemy is himself.
This chapter came out much later than I intended it to be, and I know that it's more or less a tradition by now, to be late, but I do have an excuse this time around, which is university. It's exam period at the moment, so now I'm more focused on that, which doesn't leave much time to write, much to my chagrin. So, the schedule will be a bit fucked for a while, but hopefully it won't be for much longer.
Review Responses:
Uvuvwe (still not writing all of that, sorry): Cinder and co are planned for, they'll be quite the obstacles, I promise you. Pyrrha… is different. She's not going to be part of the main story, mostly because she's dead with no body left behind, which means no infection. But there might still be hope for her after the Vacuo Arc, if I decide it might be worthwhile. Qrow will have his chance to shine pretty soon… and Glynda I have absolutely no idea, I'm gonna be honest. I'll have to think about it better, later on.
Essiter1987: She sure is amazing. Peak FromSoftware boss design, easily. Still get chills when I think about the phase two transaction, with Father Ariandelle screaming like a Bloodborne beast. I didn't really have too much trouble with the Twin Princes, mostly because Lorian's attacks after the teleport can mostly be dodged with the same timing. But I also somehow managed to die against the Crystal Sage once or twice, so what do I know lol.
I'm a little scythe simp, they're just the coolest weapons.
A Batman fan huh? Well, I'm not too far behind, my favorite DC character is Red Hood. Marvel, it's Ghost Rider, hands down. I might check the movies out one day, just because, but I have zero expectations. I just know that they made Bruce a bat faunus, which is a clever idea, I have to admit.
Good old volume 2… where a lot of shit happens, but absolutely nothing at the same time. That takes talent, CRWBY. A lot of talent.
Someone said fight? How about another two for one deal? Hope you enjoyed that break, ahahahah.
… Holy damn, you're right! I hadn't thought about that… we'll just pretend that was all on purpose, kay?
I had a pretty bad streak when it comes to years, I don't expect it to get better anytime soon. Two peas in a pod, huh?
See ya!
behaartzas: It's not that Jaune trusts Winter explicitly. He trusts her to do what she believes is right, which in this case, is to keep the Relic safe. Besides, she's a Maiden, there's no one better suited for the job.
The Blacksmith was out of convenience, for the most part, because there's not really anyone else that can do that job, except the Ever After Blacksmith herself, but I needed that upgrade to be ready for the Rusted Knight fight… so yeah, slight suspension of disbelief here.
That scene kind of reminded of Mass Effect, huh? Nice parallel there, hadn't really thought of that. Taiyang will have a bit more focus later. I'll just say that Jaune is not done with Vale just yet. I'm fairly sure that it's been stated that Saphron is older than Jaune. Whether she's the oldest sister or not, I have no idea.
Gunmetal is not exactly a… lawful blacksmith. I think it makes sense that he'd do these kind of underhanded tactics, maybe as an insurance to not get scammed or something along those lines. Hush is also the perfect weapon, because it's not mechashift. It's just an umbrella with a blade hidden inside. No gun function or secondary form. As for Roman knowing… suspension of disbelief again, I suppose. I don't really have an excuse for this one. Roman is not a ghost. He's just back. How? You'll have to see for yourself later on :).
And in fact, Jaune blamed Willow more than he did Jacques, if you notice. He only spares the children, because it genuinely was not their fault. But you don't deny a dying person their last wish, and so he went along with everything anyway.
In my head at least, Ruby being the exact opposite of Weiss (attitude wise at least) is what triggered their friendship. They're at odds, but willing to work past them for the benefit of the team, which allowed to spend more time together and understand each other better. Because, believe it or not, I think they're much more similar than they think. As in, they were both very lonely people, with no friends and having suffered losses in their families, Summer having died and Willow being pretty much as good as dead, when it comes to her presence. Proof… there's none. Because character interaction is one the show's most glaring weakness, imo.
Honestly, I'm working with crumbs here, as it is said. CRWBY told us absolutely nothing about how the summons work in detail. They take aura to summon, but then does Weiss have to keep pouring it in order for them to remain? Does the size affect how much she has to use? Is it always the same for every summon or does it depends on how powerful the being she wants to summon is? No bloody idea, so I have to make my own rules, unfortunately.
The Relic of Creation is incredibly hard to use, if you remember. Ambrosius, the spirit in it, requires blueprints down to the smallest detail in order to make anything. And Weiss had neither the time, nor the mental capacity to create anything elaborated. The tunnels were shut down in the show, but they're back. The reason will be explained later on.
The characters were particularly bad in 7 and 8, I don't even want to remember them, it would cause me to die of cringe.
For the Ursa… guess you have a point there. You could see it as Jaune having regained his old strength, the way that I wrote the scene could be interpreted that way as well. I want to say that I made it like that on purpose, but that would be a lie ahahaha.
Yeah, that guy's Semblance is just plain stupid. He could have made both the fight against team RWBY and the one with Penny end in less than a minute… but you know, he conveniently forgot. How lucky.
That's all folks! Ta-ta for now!