The maintenance passages of Amity Arena reverberated with the distant clanking of metal as Adam Taurus and Neo raced through the intricate corridors, their breaths ragged. Behind them, the relentless thud of heavy footsteps sounded, growing louder with each passing second.
Adam glanced over his shoulder, his eyes widening as he caught sight of their pursuer — the armored knight, its face hidden beneath a helmet. Its cold, unyielding gaze bore into them as it closed the distance with unwavering determination.
"Keep moving!" Adam shouted, his voice strained with urgency as he and Neo darted around a corner, their footsteps echoing off the metallic walls.
Neo nodded, her eyes darting from side to side as she scanned for any escape route. But the passages seemed endless, twisting and turning like a nightmarish maze designed to trap them.
As they rounded another corner, they stumbled upon a group of White Fang members, their faces etched with fear as they watched the armored knight approach. They had been hearing about the knight through the death throes of their comrades on their comms. Without hesitation, Adam signaled Neo, their pace quickening as they weaved through the startled onlookers.
But the knight was relentless, its heavy footsteps closing in with terrifying speed. With no other options left, Adam and Neo leaped over fallen debris, ducked under low-hanging pipes, and scaled walls with practiced agility, each obstacle.
In a desperate bid to slow down their pursuer, Adam unsheathed his blade, slashing at the support beams lining the passages, causing chunks of metal to rain down behind them. Yet the knight pressed on, undeterred by the makeshift barricades, a charging bulldozer crashing through.
Meanwhile, the White Fang members, realizing the futility of their efforts, charged at the armored knight with reckless abandon, their cries of defiance drowned out by the clanging of metal against metal. But their bravery was in vain as the knight effortlessly swatted them aside, its focus unwaveringly fixed on its primary targets — Adam and Neo.
As the maintenance passages trembled with the impending collapse of Amity Arena, Adam Taurus and Neo continued their desperate flight, their movements a masterclass of agility and precision as they navigated through the crumbling infrastructure.
Adam glanced at Neo, a grim determination etched into his features. "Good luck, human," he said, his voice low with resignation. "Our cooperation ends here."
Neo nodded silently, understanding the gravity of their situation. With a swift motion, she activated her semblance, her form shimmering and shifting until she resembled one of the White Fang members they had passed earlier. Without a word, she darted off in a different direction, her movements fluid and graceful as she raced to find her own means of escape.
Meanwhile, Adam pressed on alone, his eyes darting around the chaotic surroundings for any path to safety. With the passages collapsing around him, he leaped over yawning chasms that split open beneath his feet, his heart pounding with each narrow escape.
Metal beams groaned and twisted as the structure succumbed to the relentless force, tearing it apart from within. Adam swung from pipes, his momentum carrying him forward as he narrowly avoided cascading debris and collapsing walls.
The armored knight, undeterred by the chaos, continued its relentless pursuit, its heavy footsteps echoing through the corridors like a harbinger of doom. With every obstacle Adam overcame, the knight drew closer, its presence an ever-looming threat driving him onward.
Through sheer determination and instinct, Adam forged ahead, his movements fueled by the urgency of survival. As the passage ahead crumbled, he launched himself into the air, his body twisting and contorting as he somersaulted over the collapsing debris.
But even as he cleared the obstacle, the armored knight closed in, its form casting a menacing shadow over him.
As Adam raced through the crumbling passages of Amity Arena, a sense of déjà vu washed over him, memories of past encounters with relentless guards flooding his mind. The echoing footsteps of the armored knight behind him only served to intensify said memory.
Drawing upon every ounce of knowledge and experience, Adam's mind raced, searching for a solution to outsmart his pursuer. He recalled his time in the dust mines, where he had learned to use the shadows to evade capture from the foremen who only thought of him as a slave. With a plan forming in his mind, he veered off the main path, slipping into the darkness of a nearby alcove.
The shadows enveloped him like a protective cloak as he pressed himself against the cold metal walls, his breathing shallow as he waited for the knight to pass. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as he listened for any sign of his pursuer, his senses heightened to the slightest sound or movement.
Moments later, the armored knight thundered past, its heavy footsteps fading into the distance. With a silent exhale of relief, Adam emerged from the shadows, his heart pounding with adrenaline as he resumed his desperate flight.
But he knew that mere evasion wouldn't be enough to ensure his survival. He can't hide with Amity Arena falling around him. Glancing around the dimly lit passage, his gaze fell upon a series of maintenance shafts lining the walls. With a calculated risk, he leaped onto a nearby platform, using his momentum to propel himself into one of the narrow openings.
As he descended into the darkness below, Adam's mind raced, mapping out his route through the maze-like network of tunnels. He twisted and turned, his movements fluid and precise as he navigated through the passages, always staying one step ahead of his relentless pursuer.
Finally, as he emerged into the relative safety of a deserted maintenance chamber, Adam allowed himself a moment of respite, his chest heaving with exertion. After catching his breath, Adam pushed himself to his feet, his eyes scanning the chamber for any sign of a potential escape route.
Determined to survive this trial, he steeled himself and stepped out of the shadows, his senses heightened by the cacophony of destruction echoing through Amity Arena. He caught a glint of steel in the dim light. Without hesitation, he raised Wilt and Blush, the blades flashing as he deflected the incoming strike of the armored knight's greatsword.
Feeling the impact reverberate through his arms, Adam seized the opportunity, channeling his Semblance with practiced precision. As he unleashed Moonslice, a powerful wave of energy surged forth, shattering the surrounding walls and collapsing the passage in a shower of debris.
Using the chaos to his advantage, Adam moved with swift agility, ducking and weaving through the falling rubble as he sought refuge in the darkness once more. With each calculated movement, he made use of the scattered debris and billowing dust to mask his presence, his form blending seamlessly with the shadows.
But even as he retreated into the safety of obscurity, Adam knew that his every move was being watched. Was he sensing aura? Sensing the knight's relentless pursuit, he made a conscious decision to withhold his aura, knowing that any trace of his presence could betray his location.
With the weight of Amity Arena's imminent collapse bearing down upon him, Adam forwarded. He remained a silent phantom, a fleeting shadow hiding from an armored pursuer.
Navigating passages of Amity Arena made his senses attuned to the chaos unfolding around him. He couldn't escape the anguished cries of his White Fang comrades. Their voices echoed through the corridors, a haunting chorus of pain and desperation that cut through the tumultuous din of destruction.
His men were fighting hard. These men followed him to the Arena and now they still die to give him time. How they were still here despite his order made him wonder. Those feels were wasting their for one man!
With each agonized scream, Adam felt a pang of guilt gnaw at his conscience. But amidst the chaos and turmoil, he knew any cries would only serve to draw unwanted attention, potentially jeopardizing any chance of escape. Helping them out means courting death together.
Suppressing his emotions, Adam pressed on in stoic silence, his movements persistent in order to evade the relentless pursuit of the armored knight. With each passing moment, the weight of Amity Arena's collapse bore down upon him, the ground trembling beneath his feet as the structure succumbed to the force of his bombs.
Drawing upon his years of training and experience, he made use of every inch of the tunnel passage to his advantage, darting through the shadows with agile grace as he sought out any potential exits.
Minutes stretched into eternity. Adam's hopes of escape dwindled. Setting off the bombs made Amity unsteady. The passages grew increasingly unstable; the walls crumbling around him as the once-imposing structure starts to descend, forcing Adam out of the tiny spaces.
Adam emerged from the shadows, his resolve hardened as he faced his pursuer head-on. Gripping Wilt and Blush tightly in his hands, he braced himself for the blur of motion coming at him like an energized meteor.
Adam sprang into action, his movements a blur of calculated precision. With a swift motion, he slashed at the walls lining the passage, sending chunks of metal crashing down in his wake.
Explosions erupted around them as Adam detonated the passages, each blast propelling him forward as he slashed through walls and obstacles with effortless grace. The knight pursued him relentlessly, its stoic form a menacing presence in his peripheral vision.
But Adam refused to be caught, his instincts honed by years of combat and survival. With every leap and twist, he evaded the knight's strikes with uncanny agility, his blades flashing as he deftly carved a path through the crumbling passages.
Like a deadly game of tag, the chase continued, the knight's relentless pursuit driving Adam to push himself to the limits of his abilities. With each passing moment, the walls closed in around them, the very structure of Amity Arena crumbling beneath the weight of their chase.
But Adam refused to relent, unwavering as he fought tooth and nail to outmaneuver his adversary. With a last burst of speed, he dashed through a narrow opening, narrowly avoiding the knight's sweeping strike as he disappeared into the darkness beyond.
As Adam fell through the darkness, his mind raced with a flurry of thoughts and questions, each one vying for his attention amidst the chaos of the moment. With Wilt clenched tightly in his grasp, he used the blade to slow his descent, the metal slicing through the air with a sharp hiss as he fought against the pull of gravity.
In the midst of the adrenaline-fueled rush, Adam couldn't shake the feeling of being hunted, of being prey. The armored knight, relentless in its pursuit, seemed to embody that sense of danger, its every movement calculated and precise, like a predator stalking its prey. It was used to the enduring hunt.
But as Adam's thoughts raced, a seed of doubt began to take root in his mind. Was this truly an agent of Ozpin, acting on behalf of the so-called "good" side of the conflict? Or was this another actor to whatever games that Cinder was playing?
Caught between the uncertainty of his surroundings and the urgency of his predicament, Adam grappled with the implications of his situation. If this knight was indeed an ally of Ozpin, then why was it fighting with such ruthless determination, showing no mercy as it pursued him through the crumbling passages? But none of that mattered now.
He continued to plummet through the darkness, eventually landing on another layer of passage. His resolve grew stronger, fueled by the primal instinct to survive at any cost.
Reaching for his scroll, Adam hastily attempted to contact Yuma, his heart pounding as he waited for a response. After what felt like an eternity, a faint crackle of static filled the air, followed by Yuma's voice cutting through the silence.
"Adam? Is that you?" Yuma's voice came through, tinged with urgency and concern. Adam could hear the engine of the bullhead.
"Yeah, it's me," Adam replied, his tone tense with determination. "I need to find a way out of here before Amity falls completely. Do you have a location?"
Yuma's response was immediate, his voice filled with a sense of urgency. "I've located a potential exit point. Meet me there as soon as possible."
With a nod of determination, Adam set off towards the designated rendezvous point, his mind still reeling. As he hurried through the tunnels, his thoughts then turned to the staggering loss suffered by the White Fang cut down in their prime today.
How many had fallen? How many promising veterans, capable of achieving so much more, had been snuffed out before their time? The weight of their sacrifices bore heavily upon Adam's shoulders. He thought of him as far gone, but it seems not.
But amidst the grief and loss, Adam refused to falter. With each passing memory flashing in his mind as he escapes, his determination only grew stronger, fueled by the memory of his fallen comrades and the promise of a future free from oppression and tyranny. That's what they fought for. This was what they died for. It why they started this fight.
As Adam moved stealthily through the passages, he couldn't ignore the unmistakable sound of the armored knight's relentless pursuit echoing through the crumbling corridors.
"Damn it, why won't you just give up?" Adam gritted his teeth in annoyance.
For a fleeting moment, Adam entertained the idea of surrender, a nagging voice in the back of his mind whispering that perhaps it was the only way to survive. But as quickly as the thought entered his mind, he dismissed it, his resolve hardening as he remembered the butchery that had befallen his comrades.
None of them had been given a chance, their lives snuffed out without mercy or hesitation by their ruthless adversary. To surrender now would be to betray their memory, to dishonor the sacrifices they had made in the name of their cause.
Adam pressed on, moving through the shadows. Adam's mind raced with thoughts of strategy and survival, snuffing out the emotions.
For Adam at the moment, surrender was never an option. Not when so much has been done to keep himself alive. So many lives of his brothers and sisters lost. He couldn't spit on their sacrifice.
As Adam's instincts kicked in, time seemed to slow to a crawl as he witnessed the armored knight bursting from the wall, a crimson aura surrounding its formidable form as it charged towards him with relentless ferocity. How and when did this bastard found him? He didn't know. With a quick calculation, Adam localized his aura defense, the familiar sensation of power enveloping him as he prepared to absorb the impending blow.
As the knight's attack connected, Adam felt the force of the impact reverberate through his body, a shockwave of energy that threatened to overwhelm him. Despite the pain, he gritted his teeth and held his ground, using Wilt and Blush to deflect the brunt of the assault and avoid any serious injuries.
But even as he absorbed the hit, Adam knew that he couldn't afford to let his guard down. With a surge of Semblance-fueled determination, he conjured afterimages with physical properties, creating illusions that mimicked his movements with startling accuracy.
As the knight turned its attention to the afterimages, Adam seized the opportunity to slip away, darting back into the comforting embrace of the shadows.
An explosion rang out in the distance, the shockwave rippling through the passages and forcing Adam to brace himself against the shifting floor. With gritted teeth, he pressed on as Amity Arena teetered on the brink of destruction and he knew he can't become part of the ruins.
He couldn't help but marvel at the strength and durability of the structure surrounding him. Despite the chaos and destruction raging all around, the passages held firm, a testament to the engineering prowess of his kind.
Dodging falling debris and scaling walls with practiced agility, Adam felt his muscles burning with exertion as he fought against the unstable flooring. But even as he climbed and scrambled for his life, he couldn't shake the feeling of being still relentlessly pursued by the armored knight, its aura seemingly limitless in its intensity.
Adam couldn't help but marvel at the sheer power and ferocity of his adversary's semblance. It was unlike anything he had ever encountered before — a monstrous force of nature that seemed to defy all logic and reason.
As he glanced over his shoulder, he caught sight of the knight closing in already.
He reached for the next handhold and pulled himself up onto a precarious ledge, his perilous ascent fueling him. With a sharp kick, Adam sent a latch flying open, his heart pounding as he prepared to make his escape. But before he could move, a deafening crash filled the air as a piece of debris struck him, his aura flaring to life as he absorbed the impact.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Adam staggered to the side, his eyes widening as he saw the armored knight's aura slash tearing through the passage towards him. With lightning-fast reflexes, he raised Wilt and Blush, parrying the first two attacks with practiced skill.
But the knight was relentless, its strikes coming with unyielding ferocity as it closed in on Adam with deadly precision. With no other choice left, Adam channeled his Semblance, unleashing Moonslice with a swift motion that sent a powerful wave of energy surging towards the knight's footing.
As the ground crumbled beneath the knight's feet, Adam seized the opportunity to retreat once more, his blades flashing as he used every ounce of his skill and agility to stall for precious time. With each step, he could feel the weight of Amity Arena's imminent collapse.
As Adam reached the entrance to a larger passage, relief washed over him as he caught glimpses of bullheads evacuating the arena, their engines roaring as they lifted into the sky. But his heart sank as he took in the surrounding scene — the lifeless bodies of fallen comrades sprawled on the ground, their sacrifices a grim reminder of the price of this fight.
The air was thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning metal as Amity Arena hurtled towards its inevitable demise, flames licking at the wreckage and casting an eerie glow across the devastation.
As Adam hurried towards the rendezvous point Yuma had instructed, a sense of relief washed over him momentarily. The familiarity of the path gave him a small glimmer of hope in the midst of chaos. But that hope quickly turned to panic as he realized that the relentless force pursuing him had not relented.
The armored knight, like an unyielding shadow, remained hot on his heels, his greatsword perched on his shoulder. The madman was ready to strike.
The passage ahead seemed to stretch on endlessly, its walls closing in around him like the jaws of a predator ready to strike. The sound of his own footsteps echoed loudly. He could feel the weight of the knight's gaze boring into his back, its fanatical pursuit driving him forward with a sense of urgency that bordered on desperation.
As he neared the rendezvous point, Adam's senses were heightened to their fullest, his every instinct screaming at him to keep moving, to never look back. With a last burst of speed, he rounded a corner and caught sight of Yuma waiting ahead, his shape a beacon of hope in the darkness.
With a surge of relief flooding through him, Adam pushed himself forward, his lungs burning with emptied as he raced towards safety.
Then he saw the armored knight speed up. Adam braced himself for the as the blur of blue motion caught his eye, the wide area of the rendezvous point providing ample space for the knight to maneuver, Adam's advantage of agility was quickly nullified. This wasn't a narrow passage anymore. And because it wasn't, it could speed up without worry.
The knight's heavy swing came hurtling towards him. Adam raised Wilt and Blush in a desperate attempt to block the attack. But the force behind the blow was overwhelming, sending him crashing into the wall with bone-jarring force.
Pain flared through his body as he struggled to regain his footing, his vision swimming. But before he could gather his bearings, a barrage of gunfire erupted from the White Fang members who had been guarding the rendezvous point.
The sound of bullets whizzing through the air filled the space, a chaotic symphony of metal and mayhem as Adam's comrades unleashed a hail of firepower upon the knight. All shot rang out with deadly precision, finding their mark amidst the chaos of battle. This was veterans, not the kind who were in Mt. Glenn.
Adam seized the opportunity to regain his footing, his muscles screaming as he pushed himself away from the wall. With a fierce cry, he charged back into the fray, his blade flashing, hoping that he could warn his comrades about the knight's strength.
He had seen what the Knight could do. He knew they don't stand a chance..
Another massacre unfolded before his eyes. Adam's heart sank with despair at the sight of his comrades being mercilessly slaughtered by the armored knight. The metallic clang of blades and the anguished cries of his fellow White Fang members echoed through the air, a chilling reminder of the brutality of their adversary.
Yuma's desperate shout snapped Adam out of his shock, his instincts kicking in as he saw the bullhead hovering above.
As the knight's aura slash surged towards the bullhead, threatening to tear it apart, Adam threw himself into the path of the attack, his body acting as a shield against the onslaught. With Wilt and Blush raised high, he blocked the strike with all his might. His hair and the marks on his outfit glowing red as he absorbed the overwhelming force of the blow.
In that moment, Adam felt a surge of power coursing through him, his senses heightened to their fullest as he tapped into the raw energy coursing through his veins. Despite the onslaught of pain and destruction surrounding him, he felt no fear, no hesitation — only a sense of purpose burning bright within him.
With a fierce cry, Adam lashed out, his every strike infused with the overwhelming strength of the energy absorbed. Adam matched the knight blow for blow, his semblance absorbing the onslaught of damage with each strike. Fighting a determination born of desperation. Every iota of experience he possessed was brought to bear as he blocked, absorbed, and released the relentless attacks raining down upon him.
But despite his best efforts, it was like repeatedly hitting a solid steel wall. The knight's assault seemed never-ending, its overwhelming strength and resilience pushing Adam to the brink of exhaustion.
With each passing moment, Adam's resolve wavered under the relentless onslaught, his muscles battered with exertion as he struggled to keep pace with the knight. But no matter how hard he fought, it seemed as though victory remained just out of reach, the knight's seemingly limitless reserves of aura proving to be an insurmountable obstacle.
Adam's mind raced with thoughts of his fallen comrades, their sacrifices weighing heavily upon him as he fought to honor their memory. With every strike exchanged, he channeled their strength and courage, drawing upon their spirits to fuel his own determination.
But as the minutes stretched into eternity, it became increasingly clear that victory was slipping from his grasp. The knight's relentless assault showed no sign of abating, its overwhelming power threatening to overwhelm Adam's defenses and crush him beneath its relentless fury.
What was the use of spirit and determination against something like this?
With one last surge of effort, Adam unleashed Moonslice, the devastating power of his semblance-powered strike tore through the concrete with unparalleled force, slicing through the wall like a hot knife through butter. The marks on his clothes ceased their glowing red, a testament to the immense energy he had expended in that desperate attack.
For a fleeting moment, Adam allowed himself to feel a glimmer of hope as he witnessed the decay of the knight's aura, a pale sheen enveloping its form as the strike connected.
But his hopes were quickly dashed as he watched in disbelief as the monster simply breathed, its aura renewing to full strength with a golden hue that seemed even firmer than before.
The knight swung its massive blade. Adam reacted instinctively, raising Wilt and Blush to block the attack. His semblance flared to life once more, absorbing the brunt of the damage, but the force of the blow was too much after his last strike.
Despite his best efforts, Adam was sent flying backward, his body slamming into the unforgiving wall with bone-crushing force. His aura shattered like glass, unable to withstand the sheer magnitude of the impact.
Pain lanced through every fiber of his being as blood spurted from every orifice in his face. His vision swam with darkness as he struggled to regain his bearings, his body wracked with agony.
With a defiant glare, Adam met the knight's gaze head-on. He drew upon the last reserves of his strength, his Semblance pulse with life, his red glows matching the knight's crimson. He lunged forward, Wilt and Blush raised high as he prepared to deliver a decisive blow.
But before he could land the strike, the knight reacted with lightning speed, parrying Adam's hilt with a deft movement. In the blink of an eye, the knight's greatsword came swinging down, its blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.
With a sickening crunch, Adam felt searing pain shoot through his body as the knight's strike connected, severing his left arm from his body. Agony washed over him in a wave, threatening to consume him as he stumbled backward, his vision swimming with darkness.
But even as he grappled with the excruciating pain, Adam refused to yield. With sheer force of will, he gritted his teeth and pushed through the agony. Using every fiber of his being, Adam endured the searing pain radiating from his severed arm, his mind consumed by a singular focus: defeating the armored knight before him. Ignoring the agony coursing through his body, he summoned all his remaining strength and determination, channeling every ounce of his soul into a single devastating Moonslice.
With a primal scream tearing out of his throat, Adam unleashed Moonslice with unmatched ferocity, his blade slicing through the air like a bolt of lightning trying to cleave through the nightmare in front of him. The strike connected with pinpoint accuracy, the sheer force of his will behind it shattering the knight's aura like glass.
In that moment of triumph, time seemed to stand still as Adam's strike cleaved through the armor of his adversary, leaving behind a trail of destruction in its wake. The knight staggered back, its once-impregnable defenses crumbling under the best Moonslice he could muster.
Adam panted heavily, his gaze fixed on the knight before.
It stood still.
Breathing.
Recharging his aura, amping up his recovery rate.
The horrifying realization dawned on Adam as he witnessed the knight's aura flared to life again. Despite the devastating blow he had dealt, the knight's aura had somehow been restored in a matter of seconds, as if it had never been shattered at all.
A surge of frustration and desperation welled up inside Adam. It seemed no matter how hard he fought, no matter how many blows he landed, the knight's seemingly endless reservoir of aura would always prevail.
With a defiant glare, he squared his shoulders, ignored the searing pain, and tried to move by sheer willpower. But the knight was no amateur. It was tired of the chase and seeing an opportune moment to strike a killing blow. It seized the opportunity presented by Adam's weakened state. With lightning speed, it reached out and caught Adam's remaining arm, halting his advance with a vice-like grip.
Pain shot through Adam's body as the knight's grip tightened around his arm, his vision swimming with hazy shadows as blood continued to flow from his wounds. Despite his best efforts to resist, he found himself unable to break free from the knight's iron grasp.
With a swift and decisive motion, the knight literally disarmed Adam, wrenching Wilt from his grip with a brutal efficiency that left him defenseless and armless. A sense of helplessness washed over Adam as he watched his weapon clatter to the ground, his every instinct screaming at him to fight back.
Adam knelt on the ground, his gaze locked with the imposing figure of the armored knight. A heavy silence descended upon the battlefield.
No words were exchanged between them.
The time for words was gone the moment he raised his sword and planted bombs instead of talking and pleading.
His broken mask fell off his face.
The faunus wearing a Grimm's face was gone.
Only Adam Taurus, the man who tried to fight for his cause, kneeled there.
With a swift and merciless motion, the knight raised its sword high above its head; the blade glinting menacingly in the dim light. Without a moment's hesitation, the knight brought the weapon crashing down upon Adam's head with brutal force.
Pain exploded behind Adam's eyes as the world spun into darkness, his consciousness slipping away as he succumbed to the overwhelming force of the blow. In that moment, he felt a sense of resignation wash over him, the bitter realization that his fight had come to an end.
Adam's thoughts turned to those he had fought alongside, the comrades he had lost, and the sacrifices that had been made in the name of freedom. Then to Blake, the one who had once been by his side, the one he had fought for, and the one he had ultimately lost when his methods changed. In that fleeting moment of reflection, he allowed himself to imagine a world where they could have enjoyed the skies of Remnant together, free from the chains of oppression and the burdens of their past.
But reality came crashing back with brutal clarity, reminding him of the harsh truth of his existence. Despite his longing for freedom, he had fought tooth and nail, sacrificing everything in the name of his cause. Today, Amity would still fall, but his message to Remnant would be sent loud and clear — that they would not be trampled easily, that their voices would be heard, even in death.
As Jaune stood amidst the aftermath of the battle, he couldn't help but feel a weight settle upon his shoulders. The sight of Adam Taurus's lifeless body served as a reminder of the cost of conviction.
With a heavy heart, Jaune recognized the significance of Adam's sacrifice. He had become a symbol of defiance against oppression, a rallying cry for those who dared to stand up and fight for what they believed in. His death would not be in vain; it would serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring others to join the cause and continue the fight in his name.
Amity Arena would fall.
Even if Adam had survived here. His spirit would linger on, radicalizing the White Fang, shouting his name until they were victorious or defeated.
But even as he acknowledged Adam's achievement, Jaune couldn't shake the feelings of remorse and regret that gnawed at him from within. He berated himself for his own shortcomings, his indecisiveness, arrogance, apathy, and rustiness in battle. He had allowed himself to be swayed by the warmth of his team, to be tempted by the comfort of companionship, and now, he bore witness to the devastating consequences of his actions.
He could have done something. He could have done more. If he had tried so hard in the first place. If he just didn't let Ozpin get his way of forcing him back to Beacon. None of this would have happened. He could have eliminated the threats. He could have done so much more.
Despite his age and experience.
He was still the same Jaune Arc, falling and failing forever. Narrowminded to see the bigger picture, too selfish and too arrogant.
Jaune couldn't help but feel a profound sense of shame.
He had failed, and the price of his failure will be paid in blood beneath Amity.
Amidst the despair and self-recrimination, Jaune found a glimmer of despair. He knew that Amity Arena would fall, but in its destruction would come echoes that would reverberate throughout Remnant, sparking change and igniting change.
Jaune's mind raced with desperate thoughts. No one could know what had transpired here and what happened here.
It took this symbol of unity falling to make him understand what his role was.
With a heavy heart, Jaune located a corpse bearing a resemblance to him, his hands trembling as he dragged it closer to where Adam lay dead. With careful precision, he removed his armor and wrapped it around the body, obscuring any distinguishing features that might betray its true identity.
Jaune then smashed the man's head, ensuring that there would be no chance of identifying the body. He then infused the corpse with his own aura, leaving behind a lingering trace of his presence as a last farewell.
Then he took Adam's Wilt and Blush and drove the blade into the corpse's heart. As he then laid Crocea Mors beside Adam's body, a wave of emptiness washed over him, the weight of his choice bearing down upon him with crushing force.
Looks like this time… it's not you who would 'die' this time, Pyr.
Jaune knew he could not stay by her side any longer. Not after this. Not when he now knew that his path lay elsewhere, separate from them. Their warmth was too tempting, too distracting, and too good for him. They deserved better than an irritable old man in a younger body. He had to end the endless cycle of conflict and despair perpetuated by Ozma and Salem.
Secure the relics.
End Ozma and Salem's war.
And so Jaune Arc made the decision to die here.
To leave behind his old self and focus back on what he had been for the last decades before coming back in this time.
The Rusted Knight.
To become a rusty huntsman chasing after the 'Jabberwalkers' of Remnant who perpetuated its sufferings on its people. That's what he did best in the Everafter, protecting afterans from monsters, and it seems he would have to play that role here too.
It was the only way he could move forward after this, to chart his own course free from the watchful gaze of Ozpin and act without burden.
As the chaos of Amity Arena's collapse reached its peak, Jaune took out the Jade Marionette, a reminder of the power wielded by Penny when she became the winter maiden before her tragic demise. With a sense of respect, he strapped the now transformed glass sword to his waist, knowing that it would serve as both a weapon and a symbol of the strength and courage he would need in the days to come.
"Looks like it's you and me," he remarked to the sword, a faint smile touching his lips as he prepared to face the challenges that lay ahead. "Be my sword for now, okay?"
With a grim determination in his heart, Jaune made his escape from the plummeting arena, his every step a testament to the new goal he had made.
For when the sun set on the day that Amity Arena fell, when the ruins were cleared, and the bodies recovered from the rubble.
People would know that Jaune Arc died in battle against Adam Taurus.
NOTES:
And that's a wrap for this act. I'm going to take a break from this fic after this one. This fic was for fun and practice, but trying to write an irritable petty old man that got betrayed was hard. Anyway, the idea for this fic was through some tidbits I read about Miles commenting that if Neo was redeemed on V8, Jaune would have been the villain in V9 or something like that. Don't know if it was a cameo or a commentary, but I rolled with the idea and had fun writing. Then I thought no way RWBY would betray Jaune so I played with how Jaune thought of what Alyx did to Lewis to escape the everafter and made use of it, made his mind worse since he didn't have Juniper, to get it really rolling and so thus fic was born.
Anyway, thanks for reading.
See ya next time!