"Ozpin! It's been too long!"

"General," the headmaster politely greeted, the gears of his office clinking above, just as a squadron of Atlesien battleships, each carrying hundreds of duel robots armed with simple Cyber Dragon decks, hovered outside his window.

The commander of those ships, General Ironwood, smiled back at Ozpin with warmth that many would not believe the man from cold Solitas was capable of. "Come on, Oz. How many times have I told you? We're friends. Call me James."

"All Slifer Red students, please report to the locker room," Glynda's voice sounded over the school speaker system. "All Ra Yellow students assisting with testing, please report to your assigned duel arenas."

"That explains the lack of Glynda," Ironwood remarked with a sigh. "Shame."

Ozpin managed his own warm smile at that, pouring his old ally a cup of coffee which was, perhaps not unsurprisingly, blatantly spiked with rum once it reached the military man's grasp. "To what do you we owe the visit? It's not common for headmasters to journey with their students to the Vytal Festival, especially with such a heavy escort."

"Well, Grimm activity in the area has been getting worse with the negativity from Vale's dust shortage–"

"James."

Ironwood took a long swig of spiked coffee and gingerly set the cup down on Ozpin's desk. "You know why I brought those ships."

"We're in a time of peace," Ozpin pointed out. "Displays like this make people nervous."

"They're already nervous. They've been waking up to reports of the White Fang terrorizing their kingdom for weeks on end," Ironwood argued. "And they don't know who's backing those terrorists."

Ozpin raised an eyebrow. He'd alerted his circle that the White Fang had Polymerization, but from what he'd observed, James had already started mobilizing his fleet before that communique. Which raised the questions: had the general known before Ozpin had told him and, if so, how?

"This will not help matters," the headmaster said, circling around to sit at his desk, staring Ironwood down with the same exhaustive patience he showed his students. "Or do you believe that duelists wielding fusion can be overcome by simple-minded robots designed to spam Cyber Dragons?"

"No. But I believe that they can be overwhelmed and subdued by simple robots designed to spam Cyber Dragons that outnumber them a hundred to one," Ironwood said. He reached his gloved hand into his coat and pulled out a card that he held out to the headmaster. "Especially if those robots have this to reinforce those Cyber Dragons."

Ozpin took the card, carefully examining the blue background of a slightly lighter shade than a Ritual Monster, red arrows pointing down and to the side of the monster's image. "Cyber Dragon Sieger? One of your new 'Link Monsters'?"

"One of the standards we've cooked up for the troops and knights that use them. I've got a few that you'll probably like for your deck too," Ironwood grinned, a bit of excitement bleeding into his face. "With these, we'll be able to bring out Extra Deck monsters faster than she can compensate. It won't matter if she can fuse monsters from the hand if we can dominate the field."

"I see," Ozpin muttered, taking care not to let any of his true emotions leak into his voice. Truthfully, he wasn't entirely sure what those were. On one hand, there was the everpresent concern that this new development would somehow be weaponized by the enemy to bring about the fulfillment of one of her plans, a concern only more fervent given his recent fears for Ms. Belladonna and Ms. Schnee's dragons.

But he could not deny the wonder of it all. When he'd harnessed the power of the God Card sealed in Atlas's vault to raise the city into the sky, this was precisely the kind of innovation he had hoped would come from it and lift up all of mankind. He'd witnessed the Brother Gods alter the Master Rule of Remnant to inhibit The Great Invader so many centuries ago and never once had he questioned that there would ever be more than one Extra Monster Zone again. Until now. Until the efforts and ingenuity of humanity pushed back against even the divine.

"I do wish you'd let me know you were embarking on such a project. I'd like to have helped."

"I'd have loved to have had it. But I would have loved having to explain to the council why I gave a foreign headmaster access to a top-secret military project significantly less," Ironwood joked. "And you have to admit, you can be a bit… passive about these things."

"You're the one always pleading caution," Ozpin teased. "I trust there will be versions available for independent hunting duelists by the Vytal Festival if you're so excited about them?"

"Are you kidding? They're already in the SDC stalls set up to take advantage of the festival's tourism boom," Ironwood revealed, only for a peeved smile to flicker over his face. "Trust Jacques to never wait to make a lien."

Ozpin nodded in sage understanding. The downside of running massive institutions that you were secretly embezzling from to fund your conspiracy to protect the world from an ancient Grimm woman? Neither he, James, Leonardo, or Theodore had any option but to accept every cost-cutting measure they safely could to publically remain within their budgets, which were closely overseen by their kingdoms' councils. And given the SDC could offer better bids as a dust supplier and card distributor than any other company could ever hope to, it meant that Jacques Schnee was unfortunately their primary business partner on major research endeavors and public distribution matters. No matter how repugnant they all found the man.

"Hi, headmaster! You wanted to see me–" Ruby Rose cheerily said as she popped out the elevator doors and skipped into the office, only to freeze in her tracks when she spotted two people under the clock gears. "-and you are in a meeting. I'll come back later."

"No need. We're not discussing anything too crucial," Ozpin said. "Ruby Rose, meet General–"

"James Ironwood," Ruby nervously said, scratching the back of her head. "Weiss has mentioned you. It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise, Ms. Rose," the general replied with a genial, but guarded smile. "Penny has told me… excellent things about you."

"Penny's told you… about me?" Ruby carefully responded. "Cool. Actually, I've been trying to text her all break, but she hasn't replied back. Do you know if–"

"She's alright. Just occupied," Ironwood said. "She's been assisting her father with some important research work."

"Oh… good to know."

Ozpin cocked an eyebrow at the odd exchange. James wasn't exactly proficient at putting new people at ease, but there seemed to be something else under his and Ms. Rose's words, as if they were both feeling out a possible threat. He couldn't imagine what though. The two had never met and Ruby's mention of knowing of the general through Ms. Schnee implied that Qrow hadn't shared any disparaging stories of the man with his niece.

Perhaps something to do with Ms. Polendina? Again, Ozpin couldn't imagine what. The girl was undoubtedly skilled as Atlas's top first-year and a user of her father's new inventions. Barty certainly had nothing but praise for her work in her capacity as a student teacher. Perhaps her familial bond with Atlas' top scientist and clear dueling talent had inspired James to focus on her training as he had Winter Schnee's, as Ozpin had Team STRQ and currently was with Team RWBY. If Penny had confided in Ruby after some stress caused in part by that additional tutelage, the red-hooded girl may view the general with caution.

Regardless, it was none of the headmaster's business. And all three of them had other matters to attend to.

"Ms. Rose, I called you here to inform you that you and Ms. Belladonna will not be part of the normal rotation for today's exams," Ozpin said. "I wish your teammate to duel at her full potential, without any fears for her true identity. Her examiner has been sworn to secrecy on the matter and unlike the other duels, only those already aware of what's under her bow will be allowed to spectate."

He saw James frown at the mention of the Odd-Eyed Bandit. Like Glynda, the general had made no secret that he found Ozpin's approach to Ms. Belladonna to be a grave risk, allowing a known terrorist, of a group they knew that The Queen was backing, into their ranks without even interrogating her for intelligence on her claimed former associates. When it was put like that, the Beacon Headmaster could certainly understand the hesitation. But he'd gained a habit of letting people of dubious morality prove themselves better than they thought they were when they came to his school. It'd worked with the Branwen Twins. True, only temporarily for one, but still, he'd be without his most loyal agent if he hadn't welcomed Qrow and Raven into his halls with no strings attached. He'd give Blake that same chance and hope she took more after the younger twin.

"Really? Great! It might help her if she knows she can use her real deck," Ruby exclaimed, a mischievous smirk spreading over her face. "Though, if you're already putting Team RWBY in a separate spot, perchance you'd be open to another special condition for us."

Ozpin chuckled at the way the girl phrased it (it'd been a few decades since he'd heard anyone try to work "perchance" into a normal conversation), but he could admit curiosity. "What did you have in mind?"

Ruby's grin turned outright beaming. "As you know, the only reason I am a Slifer Red is because of a certain non-dueling test that will not be named. Thus, since I am sure to pass this version of that so-called assessment, perhaps I can duel for a place in Obelisk Blue to make Team RWBY an all-blue team."

"Ms. Rose, I admire your tenacity," Ironwood frowned. "But these regulations exist for a reason–"

"Ahem," Ozpin coughed.

James winced and bowed his head in apology. "Sorry. Instinct. Your school, your call."

"Thank you," Ozpin said, turning back to Ruby. "You understand that if I were to grant this request, you would have to duel an Obelisk Blue for your assessment test, correct?"

"Not just any Obelisk Blue."

"Oh?"

Ruby smacked her fist into her palm. "A special duel means I should duel a special opponent to prove I got what it takes, right? I should always be trying to be at my best and improving what that best is. So I should take on the best."

"Ms. Nikos, I take it," Ozpin deduced, only a small smirk to flicker across his face as his pupil quoted his advice from their last conversation back at him to support her proposal. "However, Ms. Nikos has declined to participate as an examination duelist."

Ruby blinked in surprise. "She what–"

"So, we will just have to find you an equally suitable opponent."

"We'll… really?! Awesome!" Ruby beamed, while James raised a surprised eyebrow. "Thank you, professor!"

"Do not thank me for this," Ozpin warned. "I am glad to see you working to improve yourself as a leader for your team, but there is always risk in seeking challenges beyond what you know yourself to be capable of. If you choose to take on that risk, you must be prepared for the realities of your choice."

Ruby immediately paled. "I'm… not gonna get expelled if I lose, right?"

Ozpin had to suppress an amused cackle at her reaction. "No, you will not be expelled if you lose. This is not Grimm Reaper Academia GX."

"Grimm Reaper what?" Ruby queried before shrugging and looking at her headmaster with a serious expression. "I won't let you down, sir."

The first year Slifer Red marched back to the elevator and exited the office, leaving the two hunting duelist teachers alone once again.

"Grimm Reaper Academia GX?" Ironwood asked.

"An old TV Show. Entirely fictitious, The Grimm Reaper never attended one of the academies," Ozpin answered. "Though I must say, I do feel old if even you've never heard of it. Qrow loved it when I showed him the recordings when he was a student here."

"So sorry to disappoint," the general said, though he could not hide how his gaze drifted to the office door. "More the point though, are you sure about this? I know it's your academy, your call, but still."

"If she wins, she wins," Ozpin shrugged. "But if she loses, well… better she tests her limits within these walls than without them."

And better if he saw exactly how her Signer Mark and Silver Eyes interacted. Just because Summer's did not make her a suitable piece for The Queen's plans during her life did not mean her daughter's powers would formulate the same.

"Fair enough. Though, I've seen her duel record," James remarked. "If you want her to be actually tested, you may need a duelist in the class of Pyrrha Nikos."

"I have one in mind," Ozpin revealed. "If you're willing to do me a small favor."

RWBYRWBYRWBYRWBYYUGIOHYUGIOH

"Jaune Arc, please report to Arena Seven for examination. I repeat, Jaune Arc, please report to Arena Seven for your examination duel."

"Pyrrha, can you do me a small favor?" Jaune asked, fidgeting at the door to the locker room as he nervously gazed out at his assigned duel arena. "If I puke when I get out there, please don't let anyone take pictures."

His partner gave him a reassuring pat on the back, backing it up with a warm smile. "Don't worry, Jaune. You've been training hard for months. You're ready for this."

"Also, your opponent is discouraged from using their Extra Deck during this duel," Astral encouraged in his own way. "It is entirely plausible that you can defeat an opponent that honors such a handicap."

"But what if they don't? I still can't Xyz Summon!" Jaune panicked. "What if they decide I'm not worth their time? What if they just come at me with the biggest Synchro or Xyz or Pendulum or whatever crazy summoning method I've never heard of because I'm a failure–"

Pyrrha clapped her hands over his shoulders and forced her leader to look at her stern face. "You are not a failure."

"Technically, he will be a failure at this test if he loses–"

"Not the time, Astral," Pyrrha scolded, forcing Jaune to look her in her confident emerald eyes. "Most students here, students who've been training at duel combat schools for years, don't become proficient enough to consistently bring out Extra Deck monsters until the second year. The fact that you've even gotten close to manifesting your Gagaga Cowboy when you've had… less training, is a sign of talent."

"More that you two are really good teachers," Jaune brushed off.

"You believe in your deck," Pyrrha smiled. "Believe in yourself. Remember, Ren, Yang, and Weiss may be preparing for their proctoring and Nora and Blake are readying for their duels, but Ruby and I will be cheering you on."

"And I will be with you the entire time," Astral declared. "Even if you do not wish me to plan your strategy or duel for you, I will do my best to provide adequate moral support."

"I'll try to restrain my enthusiasm," Jaune snarked at the spirit, before taking one look at Pyrrha's earnest expression and managing a smile showing his true gratitude. "Thanks guys. I mean it. I just… I don't want to let you down."

"As long as you duel your best, you never will," Pyrrha said.

"This is a school after all," Astral pointed out. "Regardless of what social stigma is attached to those who are promoted and those who are not, the purpose of the exam is merely to identify if you are ready for a more accelerated learning track. Your victory is irrelevant."

With that boon of 'support', Jaune sighed, took a deep breath, and marched out to the arena with Pyrrha by his side (easier to use the stairwell up to the stands from inside the stadium).

When they got out there, Jaune glimpsed a lot of Haven and Atlas uniforms in the stands, along with the menagerie of random clothing that counted (?) as a uniform for Vacuo students. He even spotted Team CRDL squatting in front row seats, Cardin's eyes narrowing and locking onto Team JNPR's leader as soon as he entered the arena.

He couldn't say he was surprised when the newly arrived exchange students' chatter drifted down with a very similar tone to what he'd overheard back at the start of the year.

"Woah! It's really her! The Invincible Girl!"

"How'd she end up with a Slifer Red as her leader? Shouldn't the strongest be leading the charge?"

"Maybe he's some sort of dueling savant who'd just really bad at normal classes?"

"Nah, I've heard about him my friend that goes here. He's textbook Slifer Slacker. Couldn't duel his way out of a paper bag. Rode his partner's coattails all last semester."

Jaune winced as he strode in, each verbal jab feeling like a knife to his gut. Mostly because he worried they were true. He accepted that he needed Pyrrha and Astral's help to get up to the level he needed to be on, but that didn't mean he still didn't feel guilty about it. Astral still needed to focus on getting his memories back, while Pyrrha was a student in her own right. He should have at least be able to provide results if they were going to take the time to help him out of the goodness of their hearts.

"You're kidding me," Pyrrha muttered, her eyes widening at the arena itself rather than the stands. "You pulled him?"

Jaune followed her gaze to the raised dais of the field, Professor Port standing dutifully outside of it to referee. Awaiting the leader of Team JNPR in the ring however was a silver-haired boy in a Haven Ra Yellow uniform and hi-tech metal greaves, a duel disk without a deck slot resting on his arm. The procter student had no care for his approaching opponent, The Invincible Girl, or the sizable crowd that rattled on from above, his gray eyes intently focused on the X-Ray and Vav comic he was lazily flipping through.

"What's the big deal about him? It's just Professor Port's teacher assistant–oh," Jaune flinched. "He's the guy who you and Yang… in the infirmary… and he nearly–"

"Beat Yang without trying at all," Pyrrha confirmed, before she flashed a reassuring smile back onto her face for him. "Or maybe he didn't. We never did see his last card."

Given that Jaune couldn't come close to beating Yang even on his best day, he didn't find that very reassuring.

Still, there was no turning back now. Doing his best to keep from trembling and hold his head high, Jaune stepped up onto the raised dias of the duel ring. Pyrrha hurried into the stands as a protective barrier of hardlight dust flared around her leader and his opponent.

"Alright, quiet down everyone! Testing is now in progress! Quiet down!" Professor Port called, all business for once as the crowd halted their whispering. "Mercury, my boy, I understand how riveting a good story can be, but…"

Mercury curled up his comicbook without a moment's delay, stuffing it in his pocket and casually cracking his neck. He tilted his head when he spotted Jaune, as if he saw something he didn't expect, but his confusion was wiped from his face in an instant. "Ready when he is, professor."

"Duelist Jaune Arc, are you ready?"

No.

"Yes," Jaune lied, deploying Crocea Mors into its ready state.

"Then let the Promotion Exam match begin!" Professor Port declared. "Duel!"

Jaune Arc: 4000 Life Points

Mercury Black: 4000 Life Points

In the blink of an eye, Mercury stamped his foot against the ground five times. For each stomp, in quick succession, a card shot into the air from the hi-tech greaves on his boots, where Jaune was just noticing his deck was inserted. A special launcher was installed into the footwear to blast them into the silver-haired duelist's hand upon command.

"An interesting variation on a duel disk," Astral observed. "It does seem impractically complicated though."

"Stupidly complicated," Jaune agreed. "But also stupidly cool for some reason."

"I feel we must agree to disagree on that count."

"I activate Painful Choice," Mercury announced, sliding a spell into the portion of his duel disk that was on his arm, which included his field and graveyard slot. "I pick five cards from my deck, show them to you, and then you pick one to add to my hand. The rest go to the graveyard."

A dial on his duel disk glowed as the spell took effect. He twisted and fiddled with the dial, his deck rearranging itself in his greave to his specification. He stomped his foot five times, launching and catching five more cards before setting them on his disk to show to Jaune.

Battlin' Boxer Glassjaw.

Battlin' Boxer Counterpunch.

Battlin' Boxer Big Bandage.

Battlin' Boxer Switchhitter.

Gearfried The Iron Knight.

"I get to pick one of them?" Jaune asked.

"Sure," Mercury shrugged. "Just try not to take all day about it, will ya."

"Take care," Astral cautioned. "A strategy like this is likely designed to profit him no matter which card you choose. He likely has ways to call the discarded warriors from his graveyard."

Jaune ground his teeth. If he chose wrong, he could end up giving Mercury a key card. But he might also end up setting up the guy's graveyard no matter what he did. Darn it!

But he couldn't panic. He had to stay out of his own head. Pyrrha and Yang had told them all about this guy's strategy during the infirmary duel. Assuming he wasn't taking the current match seriously either, that meant he planned to have his fire monsters destroyed so that Jaune would take effect damage from his trap card Backfire. Which meant the safest bet to add to his hand was…

"Gearfriend The Iron Knight," Jaune decided, pointing to the projected card. "That's the one you can add to your hand."

Mercury nonchalantly retrieved the selected monster and tossed the others into his graveyard. Barely a second later, the silver-haired boy slipped another spell into his duel disk. "I activate Monster Reborn. You know how it works. I bring back Battlin' Boxer Glassjaw. Then I'll normal summon Blue Flame Swordsman from my hand, lay two facedowns, and end my turn."

Jaune ground his teeth against each other as two figures flared onto his opponent's field, a towering bulky green boxer (ATK 2000/ 0 DEF) and a warrior who, predictably, held a sword lit with vibrant blue flames (ATK 1800/ DEF 1600). "Looks like you were right. He was ready no matter what I chose. He's not leaving this to luck."

"Which more than likely means he has Backfire already set," Astral noted. "A monster that can deal damage without attacking could be useful–"

"No," Jaune groused.

"You did not let me finish."

"I know where you're going with this," Jaune muttered under his breath. "I can't do it."

"You haven't been able to do it until now," Astral countered. "The field's protective barrier is up. The others will be in no danger if you fail."

"I will be," Jaune murmured, his gaze flickering down to his hand. Spotting no obvious solution to his problem. Except the one his ghostly advisor suggested.

Could he do it now? Could he finally Xyz Summon on his own? He'd been getting closer with Gagaga Cowboy throughout his training with Pyrrha and Astral. But with everyone watching, could he risk it?

"Why isn't he doing anything?"

"Doesn't he know it's his turn?"

"Slacker's probably trying to figure out if he should surrender or not."

Jaune's eyes flickered all around him to the stands, the mutterings too low for Professor Port to call them out, but loud enough to invade the leader of Team JNPR's psyche. Beacon students who'd watched him flounder all last semester, Haven, Atlas, and Shade students that had only just seen him, they all disparaged his hesitation without mercy. Though, strangely, he found that Team CRDL were not among their number. Cardin was even leaned forward and intently watching for Jaune's next move.

"Come on, Jaune! You've got this!"

"Stay focused! You've trained for this!"

The two shouts of his friends cut through the miasma of whispers. Jaune's head whipped to the front row of the stands. Ruby and Pyrrha stood at the railing of the stands, encouragement beaming off their faces. And next to them was… Weiss?

Jaune nearly did a doubletake, wiping his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things. But lo and behold, the elegant and intelligent Obelisk Blue girl was standing next to her partner, as dignified and confident as ever. Her icy eyes glared down at the duel field, squinting as if she was trying to see something.

"So, are you gonna keep talking to yourself or are you gonna go?" Mercury inquired, reaching for his X-Ray and Vav comic. "Not trying to rush you, but if you're gonna be a bit–"

"My move! Draw!" Jaune powerfully proclaimed, pulling a card for his turn. "I activate Onomatopaira and discard Gagaga Magician to add Gogogo Golem and Dododo Buster from my deck to my hand. Then I activate Dodododraw! I discard Dododo Swordsman to draw two cards."

"Did he just say Gagaga, Gogogo, and Dododo?"

"Is he seriously playing an Onomatopoeia Gang deck?"

"Seriously, how is this guy Pyrrha Nikos' leader?"

Jaune shoved a confident smile onto his face. If there were any kinds of insults he'd built himself effective armor against, it was those that he'd had lobbed against him since he was a kid, mocked off the Ansel duel fields for his 'kiddie deck'. The kinds that he'd come to levy against his deck and himself until Pyrrha and Astral had set him straight.

And if Weiss was willing to take time away from preparing for the duel she was going to proctor to see if this better him could succeed, he couldn't let her down. He had to try.

"When you're the only one with monsters out, I can special summon Dododo Buster from my hand as a Level Four monster," Jaune proclaimed, slapping the card onto Crocea Mors and manifesting an armored warrior with a spiked mace before him (ATK 1900/DEF 800). "Get ready to take on the heavy armor striker of The Onomatopoeia Gang!"

"Oh my gosh, he is actually playing an Onomatopoeia Gang deck."

"How did this guy even make it into this place?"

"Neat," Mercury remarked, completely dispassionate in contrast to the crowd's scornful murmurs. "What's that?"

"What's–What?!" Jaune exclaimed. "You've never heard of the–"

"Stay on task." Astral reminded him.

"Right, right," Jaune tutted, grabbing another card from his hand, a familiar rock titan rising onto his field (ATK 1800/DEF 1500). "I normal summon Gogogo Golem!... You know who he is, right?"

"Jaune," Astral lightly scolded. "Perhaps such a conversation would be better suited for after the match–"

"Nope," Mercury shrugged.

"How?!" Jaune demanded, his complete befuddlement blocking out the continued derision from the audience.

RWBYRWBYRWBYRWBYYUGIOHYUGIOH

"How?!" Ruby exclaimed, her silver eyes wide at the arena below, for once not because of the duel taking place. "How can anybody who's not on the frontier not know about The Onomatopoeia Gang?"

Pyrrha sighed. "Ruby, not everyone shares such interests–"

"No, she's right," Weiss surprisingly chimed in. "The Heartland Corporation makes the show in Mistral. As much of a hit as it is in the other kingdoms, it's an outright phenomenon there. He couldn't possibly go to Haven without absorbing at least the basic characters like Gogogo Golem from pop culture osmosis. Heck, I knew that much about the show and I never watched a single episode before I came here."

"Wait," Mercury spoke up from below. The silver-haired boy unfurled his comicbook and rifled through it until he reached an advertisement page, Gagaga Magician, Gagaga Girl, and Gogogo Golem front and center. "He's this guy, right?"

"Yes!" Jaune shouted. "That's him! So you do know the show."

Ruby preened. All was right in the world again.

"Nah," Mercury replied. "Never heard of it."

"How?!" Ruby and Weiss both shrieked, in time with Jaune making a similar exclamation from the field below.

"Yeah, partner's a bit of a goof. My apologies in advance."

Ruby, Weiss, and Pyrrha turn to a green-haired girl with dark skin leaning against the railing next to them. All three hunting duelists blinked in surprise at Haven Obelisk Blue's sudden presence. They weren't exactly easy people to sneak up on.

Still, the new girl's smile was disarming and friendly as she held out a hand to shake. "Emerald Sustrai."

Ruby grinned and shook her hand. "Ruby Rose! And these are–"

"Weiss Schnee and Pyrrha Nikos," Emerald finished. "Sorry. Be pretty impossible not to recognize you two."

"Heh," Pyrrha wilted. "I suppose it would be."

"Naturally," Weiss proudly preened. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Emerald. Though, I admit your partner has had some… unpleasant interactions with Pyrrha and our teammate Yang in the past."

"The infirmary duel, right? He mentioned that," Emerald winced. "Sorry about it. He's… extremely socially awkward."

"That we could surmise," Weiss said. "He did bring a comicbook to a duel."

"I am an avid comicbook lover and even I've never done that," Ruby added, squirting down to the field for a moment. "Though that X-Ray and Vav issue is a really good one."

"He likes the pictures," Emerald said. "Honestly, he'd probably like The Onomatopeia Gang if he got the chance to see it when he was younger."

Pyrrha cocked an eyebrow. "Got the chance?"

"He… didn't grow up in the best place," Emerald diplomatically said. "That's all I can say on it. His call if he wants to let you know more."

Weiss' face flashed sympathy, glancing back down at the silver-haired boy stashing his comic away. "Fair enough."

"Yeah," Ruby solemnly nodded. "Maybe Jaune can help him here where Yang couldn't."

Pyrrha shook her head. "Doubtful. Jaune is capable of great things, but… well…"

"... and that's how the gang came together at the end of the first arc," Jaune rambled below. "That of course led into the second arc of the show–"

Cardin shot to his feet and howled over the stands' railing. "Stop nerding out and get back to the duel, Arc!"

"Remain quiet Mr. Winchester," Professor Port scolded, before turning back to Jaune. "That said, Mr. Arc, he is correct. While I know better than anyone how riveting a good story is, you must focus on the examination."

"Right, right, sorry," Jaune stammered. The blond straightened his stance and took a deep breath. He reached out his hands, and gazed on his monsters with a focused gleam in his ocean-colored eyes. "With Dododo Buster and Gogogo Golem, I build the Overlay Network!"

The hushed muttering of the crowd suddenly took on a new timbre.

"Overlay Network?"

"He can't be serious."

"That loser? No way he can Xyz Summon."

Pyrrha scowled at the mutterings, but Ruby comforted her with a gleeful pat on the shoulder.

"Don't listen to them," the red-hooded girl advised. "Like you said, he's capable of great things."

Pyrrha flashed a grateful smile her way before grinning down at the field, a purple spiral galaxy opening beneath Jaune's monsters as they morphed into golden nodes of light, the stars shaking with a rumble of instability. "And soon, they'll all see it."

"If he can do it," Weiss cut in, the heiress' eyes narrowed at Jaune with sharp suspicion. "If he can do it."

Pyrrha and Emerald tilted their heads in confusion at the SDC aristocrat's strange inflection. Meanwhile, Ruby could only roll her eyes at her partner's words, the only one present who understood them.

While the silver-eyed Signer's excitement for the next day had led her to wake up early to forge some cards for herself even after the chaos of the other night, the rest of her team and Jaune had woken up late, resulting in a mad scramble to make the airship back to Beacon (the Atlas Military Squadron coming in to dock hadn't helped traffic). As a result, Ruby and Weiss hadn't had the chance to let Jaune and Pyrrha know that they knew about the whole Astral situation. And based on how focused the Team JNPR members were on the Promotion Exam, it seemed the spirit hadn't brought it up either.

But, Weiss saw in that opportunity to confirm that Astral wasn't manipulating them. The heiress may have bonded with the spirit during their duel, but she was accustomed to her parents using her emotions to control her. She wanted to be sure the spirit of Jaune's key wasn't doing the same, making a point to cut off the preparation for her own duel so that she could observe the Team JNPR leader's. By Jaune's murmurings down below, seemingly to himself, she could get more evidence that he and the spirit were separate beings and later corner Pyrrha without her partner to find out if The Invincible Girl really did know about the spirit.

Good news on that count! Sweat was pouring down Jaune's face as the nodes of his monster trembled above the Overlay Network, his arms shaking with strain. Ruby remembered how smoothly Astral had performed his Xyz Summons back at her mom's grave, the energy forms of his monsters fluctuating like silken honey. It was clear they were not the same duelist.

"Round'em… up…" Jaune bit out, the nodes of his monsters descending into the crackling galaxy he'd spawned. "I… Xyz Summon–Ah!"

The twinkling galaxy tore itself in two, a massive shockwave erupting out from the ruined nebula. The hardlight dust barrier crackled with strain as it prevented the blast from escaping the field, Mercury's eyes widening a moment before he deftly dodged the chaotic ripple. Something the cataclysm's creator was far too close to the epicenter to do.

"Jaune!" Ruby and Pyrrha yelled in terror, even Weiss's eyes widening in horror.

The leader of Team JNPR flew back and crashed into the arena's energy barrier. Jaune's aura shimmered and smoked, his body slumping down the hardlight dust wall. The blond hunting duelist collapsed onto the floor of the ring.

He did not get up.

Well... it seems that the Promotion Exams Arc will now be four duels in six chapters. Drat. Long story short, the Ozpin, Ironwood, and Ruby scene ended up going longer than planned, and then ending with Jaune failing to Xyz Summon despite his best efforts ended up being too good a thematic synchronization with Ozpin's warning to Ruby (based off the one he gave her in canon before the Mt. Glenn mission) to waste. Jaune took a risk... and it did not pay off.

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Go Forth and Conquer!