-xXx-
"Ahh~…"
Lint really likes Jaune, in fact she can say that she is in love with him.
There are so many things that attracted the young lady's attention to the Vatican's resident goof, and funny enough it is a combination of contradicting things.
Like his skills with a blade, even though they are the most basic movements, he rivals that of all exorcists of his age, and probably the elders too.
His leadership feels like a balance of a general, but also a father.
His love and care, an odd, but very fitting combination of a Grandfather's wisdom, a Father's sternness, and the warm embrace of a older brother.
And of course, his rocking bod!
Many boys back then will deny how pretty Jaune was when he was still in the single digits, in fact! Lint thought of dressing him up and styling his hair once he grows up! Like how though movies always show in the makeover montage!
But when he grew up in the double digits, everything changed, well sort of.
He still got those damn legs and legendary ass, but once puberty hit, his growth spurt made him tall and wide in the shoulders. Many of the boys who secretly had a crush on kid Jaune would assume and claim that it is because Jaune has super weird genes: Turning him from a femboy into Mr. Olympia within his teenage years.
But Lint is proud to say that they are wrong. These are products of Jaune's hard work! How does she know? Because she can feel it, like right now.
Lint's nails lightly scratch the back muscles of her boyfriend. Feeling every inch of pure meat as they flex under tension. Sweet covered both as Jaune pushed himself up, before going back down in controlled motions.
"Hah!"
"Eep!"
Lint can only squirm on her boyfriends movements as the morning sun barely peaked at the horizon, providing twilight into their hotel room.
A puddle of fluids lay on the floor, as Jaune lifts himself up again in a controlled movement, bring Lint up with him, slightly frightening her as she anticipated for their fall.
And they did, but in controlled movements Jaune brought them down.
"And…. Done!" Jaune released himself from his push-up position as he hit the ground in a tired huff. Lint sat on his back yelp once more as he fell, making her fall on his back too!
"Are you crazy!?" Lint complained as she literally felt her weight slammed against Jaune spine.
"You are not heavy Lint."
"Still!"
Lint got off from his back and stood with a pout, she observed him as he only wore boxers and was covered with sweat. Lint herself was covered with sweat as she wore yoga pants and a sports bra.
But even though there was proof of their morning exercise, both still looked barely winded on their workout session as Jaune stood up without any sign of tiredness.
"Anyway! We gotta prepare now."
"Hmmm…"
"Why not take the shower first?"
"Why not do it together, to save water?"
"What was that?
"Nothing!" Lint flushed as she ran to the comfort room in a flash. Jaune merely shook his head in disappointment and looked down on his stiffy.
Jaune knew that she wanted to do something intimate, especially how sweating they are and how alone they were… but honestly Jaune…
Jaune shook his head before he got his contradicting and confusing thoughts in the way.
"A 90-year-old man and a 20 year old lady. But the supernatural of this world has such age gap all the time. But she is a nun, then it is no secret now that we are both seeing each other…"
Jaune can only sigh at the dilemma, especially since Lint was not subtle with her desire, but choose to back out at the last moment. Should Jaune take the lead or wait at her pace, he honestly doesn't know especially this is the first time him dating a woman wayyyyy younger than Adrian.
-xXx-
The group with Lavinia travelled to the rural parts of Thailand for their meet-up with some VIPs.
"To make things short, the leaders of the ASEAN in the supernatural side wants to speak with you all." Lavinia said while driving a van, "they only contacted heaven and the Grigori directly because all sides needs less people to know what is happening."
"Any idea what the problem is~" Lint asked as she sat beside Jaune. The entire group was in their Monster Hunter gear and outfits, with Lint's being an interesting mesh of the MH outfit and the exorcist's outfit.
She wore those skin-tight spandexes, but with shorts and a Monster Hunter coat over her shoulders. She also wore the exorcists' gloves and stockings, then paired it with Monster Hunter boots. It honestly reminds Jaune of Neo's outfit, only sexier with how the spandex cup her curves.
"Again, lesser people knowing what is going on, the better. That is why I am tasked to bring you to the leaders: All I know is that the Hexennacht is somehow involved."
So at least they got a clue what is happening. The Stray Vampire Queen and Vampire Lord he fought last time could be involved. But that brings the question: Will Adam be part of the mess too?
Suddenly the van halted abruptly.
"What the fuck?" Sig cursed
"Sorry! Not used to driving!" Lavinia apologized.
Looking through the windshield, they saw an enormous tree. And it also looked ancient. Stepping out of the van and into the humid forest, the gang watch tentatively as Lavinia casually walked up to the tree, and knocked it twice.
" ##%$^&%" Lavinia said a language no one understands, then the tree splits into two right in the middle as energy gathered and formed a portal.
Two shadows appeared from the portal as two being came and greeted them.
"It is nice to meet you again Lady Demise." A man and a woman with an upper body of a human, but legs and a tail of a chicken greeted.
It reminded Jaune of a Centure, only that the lower form is that of a chicken, but, the feathers looked majestic and embedded with power. Although Chicken can be used to insult somebody, Jaune thinks calling someone a chicken in these parts can be considered a compliment.
"And these four, I believe they are from the Catholic church." The female being said.
"Yes," Lavinia answered, "guys, these beings are Kinnari: The angel counterparts for the Southeast Asia Nations."
"Originally only to serve and protect Thailand, but later tasked to guards all of Southeast Asia by some treaties." The female Kinnari said, "come… our leaders await."
Later the female Kinnari led them into the portal as the male Kinnari stood and guard their tail. At first all of them walked through a bright tunnel, before greeted by something like never before.
Well, not for Jaune at least. They saw a city sprawling with plants but saw floating buildings and islands among them. They stepped into a glass bridge which suddenly released a mechanism to scan them. Jaune felt like going though Atlas security as hologram screen showed their identities with unknown characters and writing. Profile images of Lavinia and the Kinnaris glowed green, while the four monster hunters beeped in red.
"Override. VIP guest for our honorable leaders: Code 304560-Green." The female Kinnari spoke, as a loading screen appeared, then their profiles beeped green.
"Ladies and Gentlemen." The male Kinnari spoke, "Welcome to Saranjana."
Flying cars flew back and forth as the gang continued to walk through the glass bridge, below, she saw a population of many different creatures walking around and doing their own business. They stopped by a vehicle which looks like a train and stepped into it. Within a second, to sped up in highspeed.
"Saranjana?" Jeanne said, "that mythical city and technologies beyond man?"
"Correct." Lavinia said, "although the myth is that of Indonesia, this city was built by the power and knowledge by the pegan gods of the Southeast Asian countries during the colonial era."
"Aye," the male Kannari spoke, "when Buddist, Christian, and Muslim beliefs and military threatened our culture, our quote and quote pegan gods made a haven for us who are deemed "demonic" by you people."
"Proposed by Bathala, the Filipino pegan chief god: it was a secretly guarded place really, protected for centuries."
"But… the myth literally told the name of the city." Jeanne reasoned.
"That is when humans gain the technology of the cellular phone: apparently some locals picked up the signals of the city and by that some information was leaked."
"And you all revealed yourselves later to the rest of the supernatural world?" Jaune asked.
"No, Heaven came knocking later." The female Kinnari shook her head, "it was a good thing that the royalty of Thailand was able to make diplomatic calls with your pope to make a formal appointment with our leaders and yours instead of releasing some scouting party before some bloodshed is spilled."
"Well… it is a good thing now that we are cooperating!" Jeanne said to lighten the mood.
"Yes." Both Kinnari said, "the irony though is that you are here because of a threat which basically comes from your side."
The four could only look confused. Some thought of stray exorcists but Jaune felt that those guys are too small for call for a people of leaders. Something is up.
The train smoothly stopped, as futuristic tech opened the doors and welcomed them. Stepping out of the train, the group was greeted by a battalion of Kinnaris, all lined up and guarding their every move. And beyond that, is a giant palace, rivaling any castle they have every seen, made out of gold and marble.
"Welcome to the Kraton Kesatuan" Lavinia said with a cheer, "or Unity Palace in English."
The palace was big, almost that of the Pyramids but was glowing with blue electronic light as holograms display images and Kinnaris armed with weapons glowing the same blue.
"Our leaders await you here."
"Damn"
-xXx-
Jaune have met many powerful leaders in both lives. Although Ozpin and Ironwood had a less intimidating presence due their practice in education, he would dare say both were the scariest people he met. Why? Because they are not intimidating in the first place even though we all know the power and authority they hold: that they choose patience over us hormonal teenagers than manhandle them to submission.
Pope Benedict almost was like both Ozpin and Ironwood in that regard, the only problem is that all below him sans Jaune, bow to him like he is an emperor… well except for that one fellow called Jorge Mario.
That is why when he met the supernatural leaders of the South East Asian Nations, something was wrong.
Dozens of humanoid figures sat at their lofty thrones, elevated to look down upon us. Power and magic swirl around them as they blatantly showed their might and struck fear upon us. Well, everyone except Jaune.
Although he didn't look them in the eye to avoid confrontation, this blatant power show means something is urgent.
"Finally, you have arrived. Christians."
The entire group even the Kinnaris squirm at the declaration. But Jaune stepped forward, slowly, and briefly looked at them to let himself be acknowledged.
"We have, honorable leaders of the ASEAN." Jaune bowed low again, "what is your request for us, foreign peo-"
"No need for your wordplay Christian," A female humanoid said softly, but there was literal power in her voice, "and please do not see yourselves as aliens. Our people had centuries of flourishing with the foreigners."
"Not before the destruction they brought." Another humanoid avatar commented with content.
Ahhh… Jaune thought, The Ozpin and Glynda tactic.
"Okay," Jaune looked at them in the eyes with a soft gaze, and that is enough to irk them, "may I ask why you all requested us, Monster Hunters to be here?" he finished it without a sweat.
Even though it is subtly, the leaders subtly looked at one another, and back to the sole blonde who is too casual towards them.
"You seem to calm for a person meeting overfull deities; I take it you met the God of the Bible?"
"No, and I am too scared to meet him" Jaune scratch the back of his head, "but let us say I have met dangerous and wise people before."
"Hmmmm… I like this guy." A big humanoid male commented, "very well. I guess we have enough powerplay here. Let us get straight to the point."
"Have you have no tact?"
"Isn't the matter urgent?"
"IT IS!" the humanoid avatar who commented the destruction of Christians said, "So to cut to the chase. The organization Hexennacht had some activity in our lands recently and they are experimenting with our people."
"So, some were kidnapped?"
"Yes, although we are more than enough to deal with them… there is someone in the way would can possible threaten our peace here."
"I see, so you want us to take care of this person."
"I have doubts about that." Jaune sense a worry in them, "Christian, I believe you are aware that we all here could slightly be poisoned by Holy Aura of Heaven?"
Jaune nodded at that. Although not at the same level as Devils and Vampires, some deities or creatures are weak to Holy Light, if said light was too strong… that is probably why Christianity spread throughout the world.
"The reason why we seek your help, is because of one Longinus wielder is spotted; our soldiers at first confronted her, but she suddenly summons The Crucifix and burned them with Holy Fire. It was enough to disturb some of the magical ecology here."
"Wait" Jeanne suddenly shot up, "Incarnation Anthem!"
"Indeed…" clear worry was present, and it is understandable considering that the Cross was the other thing that killed Jesus, and the Holy Fire is obviously no joke.
"When do we start…" Jeanne took over the conversation as clear worry was also seen in her face.
Jaune could only wonder on if Holy Fire has an affect on his aura, and that basically they were sent to hunt a God-killer user.
-xXx-
Well, for certain today was a troubling day. The leaders at least gave them time to rest before they start their job and offered them a chance to visit any place of the ASEAN, considering that their city is connected to all the land.
While the entire group decided to Bangkok once again, Jaune decided to go to a old and ruined city. Angkor Wat.
Why?
Jaune walked through the isolated part of the tourist destination, from the distance he could here human activity with a sprawling number. But in front of Jaune is an abandoned stone building in ruined, looked very ordinary and was probably a storage room or possibly something for daily commodities.
"I am surprised you knew how to pulse your Aura like that; Ren was the one who invested it." Jaune said to the shadow looking down on him.
"This world had centuries of techniques in the arts of Ki." The shadow revealed one Adam Taurus, "my… homeland… is quite knowledgeable on it."
"I take that is Japan?"
"Oh? What took it away? My hair? My attire? Or the fact I am literally wearing the uniform of the 'exorcist' of Japan?" Adam said with slight sarcasm and amusement.
"Hmmm… that does bring up the question. You are clearly from the Demon Slayer Corps of Japan. What is a soldier like you involved with Vampire and Magicians of all things?"
"Oh… to put it simply, I am now a stray, and why with the diverse group… well lets say I am a terrorist once more."
Jaune knew Adam's leadership of the White Fang and knew the conflict he orchestrated too.
"Equality again? Humans is not your liking even in this world? I dare say we humans are victims and prey of this world."
"That I agree." Adam jumped from his high ground to meet Jaune at the same level, and interesting enough he had a tone of pity when he agreed. "Listen Jaune, I have no issues with Humans anymore. My death and new life got me much needed time to reflect."
"So…" Jaune was now confused, "what is the goal of this terrorist group."
"Plenty, that is why I am not worried to tell you about it." Adam coughed, "we are called the Khaos Brigade: comprised of different groups with individual goals but under the leadership of one. I am telling you this because many of these goals are quite disgusting. One faction is basically the White Fang but reversed."
"So, Humans attacking anything non-human?"
Adam nodded, "other horrendous goals in research and experiment, and another wanted to reestablish an outdated government to a prosperous one, and not the communism and capitalism kinds of government."
Jaune nodded and comtemplated this. If anything, this organization is true to its name in "Khaos", both for the world and the organization itself.
"What a mess…"
"It is" Adam nodded, "but the leader has little to no experience in this shit… that is why she is depended on me sometimes."
"And why would ambitious factions want to be led by said inexperienced leader."
"She is Ophis, the Infinity Dragon."
Jaune was not very concerned. First, we was slighting concerned because this Khaos Brigade looked like a bunch of amateurs considering how many superpower pantheons existed, but to think it was led by a deity that often times be arguably stronger than the Creator of this Universe.
These are not amateurs; these are snakes taking the opportunity. Risk outweigh everything.
That begs the question.
"Mind telling me what her or his goal is?"
"Sure, it is part of the sales pitch."
"What?"
"She once lived in the Dimensional Gap, the void and possibly the gateway to other worlds and universes; apparently she was kicked out by Great Red, and now wants that space back."
"And she thinks these factions can help her defeating a god which she and the Creator can only possibly defeat?"
"Oh… Jaune Arc, please never underestimate these people. Especially if you get to see the hunger in their eyes."
"And I see that hunger in yours too. What do you want, Adam?"
"To go home."
….
"Sorry?"
"Ophis knows that we are here Jaune. She told me outright that I am not the only one from Remnant: ever since I was searching for the rest, and I finally found you." Adam gently walked towards Jaune and looked at him without the racist eyes he is known for, but one of a lost brother, "she offer us a way back home."
Jaune's world began to dull as the revelation shocked him.
Ophis, the deity rivalling The Embodiment of Reality and the Creator of Reality… can make a gateway to his old world.
Remnant is now under a Threat!
"…and what. Continue what you started in Remnant?!"
"Nah… I just want to chill by the beach. Be home" then Adam looked tired, "I don't want to be the person who I once was Jaune. But we can go home…"
Then Adam stood straight. "That is why, come join me."
Author's notes
The beginning of a new arc and the threats. This arc might be longer than the last one.
BTW, Lint attire is a inspired by a combination of Neo's, Lucy's (Edgerunners), and Shinobu's (Genshin Impact) outfits.