Hazel's presence radiated raw power and menace, his form adorned with Grimm and dust crystals was a nightmarish sight.
"Did Salem make a him hound?" a curious voice asked.
As Hazel moved, the ground beneath him seemed to shudder, emphasizing his dominance.
In the depths of Jaune's mind, the voices began to stir, each vying for his attention, each offering their perspective on the imminent confrontation.
"Look at him, Jaune," the Scheming Voice murmured with a calculating tone. "He's a fortress of destruction, a blend of man and Grimm. But every fortress has its weak point. Find it, exploit it. The dust crystals, perhaps? They could be a vulnerability."
"This isn't the time for subtlety," the Rusted Voice growled, raw and primal. "You're facing raw, unfiltered power. Remember our training, our instincts. Hit hard, hit fast, and don't let up. You're not just fighting for yourself. You're fighting for everyone who believes in you. Don't you dare let Ren down"
"A true knight faces his enemies with honor, with courage," the Knight's Voice declared with steadfast resolve. "Hazel represents everything you've sworn to protect against. You must be the shield that stands between him and the innocent. But be wise, Jaune. Valor without wisdom is folly."
"Ah, the drama of the moment," the Yellow Tie's Voice said roughly. "You're going to need everything that you got for this.."
Jaune took a deep breath, grounding himself amidst the cacophony of voices. Each one had its merit, its insight. He had to synthesize their advice, make it his own. He adjusted his grip on Crocea Mors, feeling the familiar weight of the blade, a comforting presence amidst the chaos.
Hazel was a behemoth, his muscles rippling with latent power. The Grimm that adorned him were not just for show; they were an extension of his being, augmenting his already formidable strength. The dust crystals embedded in his body were a testament to his brutality and willingness to embrace whatever means necessary to achieve his ends.
"The crystals... they channel energy. Disrupt them, and you disrupt him. Aim for those, Jaune. It could tip the scales in your favor," the Scheming Voice advised, dripping with strategic insight.
"Don't get distracted by the dust crystals alone," the Rusted Voice warned, urgent and intense. "He's a seasoned warrior, unpredictable and relentless. Keep your guard up and be ready to counter at a moment's notice. He's not going to give you a second chance."
"Focus, Jaune. His eyes, they reveal his intentions. Watch them closely. Anticipate his moves, and strike with precision. Your agility is your greatest asset here," the Knight's Voice encouraged, imbued with disciplined clarity. "Without armor, we'll have to rely on that."
Then, a brotherly voice was added to the many voices. "Ren will have your back. Even if Remnant burns and you're all standing in the sands of Vacuo. Ren will have your six and fight till his last breathe. Nora will be there as well. You can trust them, Jaune."
Jaune took a deep breath, grounding himself amidst the cacophony of voices. Each one had its merit, its insight. He had to synthesize their advice, make it his own. He adjusted his grip on Crocea Mors, feeling the familiar weight of the blade, a comforting presence amidst the chaos.
Hazel began to move, his steps deliberate and heavy.
The ground seemed to quake with each stride.
Jaune's muscles tensed, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
He needed to make the first move, to dictate the pace of the battle.
"Let's do this," Jaune muttered.
He lunged forward, his shield glowing with an amplified aura. The force of his shield bash sent Hazel skidding backward, his boots digging into the ground to regain his balance. Hazel retaliated with a powerful punch, aiming for Jaune's face. Jaune brought his shield up just in time, blocking the blow with a resounding clang.
Ren darted in, moving faster than usual, his strikes a blur. He landed four rapid, rotating hits on Hazel's side. Hazel growled and swung his grimmified arm at Ren, who flipped back with agile grace, firing a round from his pistols mid-air.
"Hey, where are you looking at?" Jaune shouted, channeling his aura into his next strike. His sword glowed as he swung it at Hazel, who raised his mutated arm to block. The sheer force of the impact sent Hazel flying back.
"Nora!" Jaune called out.
From behind Hazel, Nora emerged, her hammer poised.
"Get back there!"
With a powerful swing, she slammed it into Hazel's back; the force sending him hurtling back towards Jaune and Ren.
Jaune slashed at him, but Hazel transformed his arm into a blade using his Grimm parts, parrying the strike. Jaune held his ground, then drove his shoulder into Hazel's torso, following up with a swift roundhouse kick to his side.
Hazel tried to grab Jaune's leg, but Ren intervened, drop-kicking Hazel and using the momentum to spin and strike and create some distance with a burst from StormFlower.
Jaune swung his sword in an overhead arc. Hazel blocked with his blade-arm, then tried to headbutt Jaune. Jaune retaliated by slamming his shield into Hazel's forehead, then quickly turned his sword around and struck Hazel's jaw with the pommel.
Hazel's aura shimmered. Sensing the danger, Jaune blocked Hazel's arm-blade and used the flat of his sword to deflect another blow. Hazel raised his leg to kick, but Jaune kicked him in the stomach as well, launching himself backward. Hazel roared and charged, but Ren intercepted with a flurry of slashes, weaving through Hazel's attacks like a dancer in a storm.
Jaune flipped back, landing on his feet. He extended his aura to Ren, boosting his speed and strength. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nora pulverizing a Grimm's head, nodding at him as she charged her hammer with lightning dust and took on the Grimm who were able to sense them despite Ren's Semblance.
"Jaune!" Ren called, rushing at Hazel like a speeding bullet.
Hazel anticipated the move, lifting his arms to stun Jaune. Jaune braced himself, taking the hit as he was slammed face-first into the ground, his aura shimmering from the impact. Hazel tried to follow up with a stomp, but Jaune blocked it, then slashed at Hazel with an aura-infused strike, twirling around to kick Hazel's neck and retreat.
"He's strong... his aura seems endless," Ren said, catching his breath.
"How's your ammo, Ren?" Jaune asked.
"Not much left."
"Melee?"
"I don't have a sturdy aura defense like you, so I need you to shield me."
"You hit fast and hard. I'll cover you."
Ren nodded, launching himself with StormFlower's grapplers like an arrow. Hazel aimed a punch at Ren, but Jaune intervened, slamming his shield into Hazel's arm and thrusting his sword. Hazel blocked with the bone plates on him.
"Now I recognize you," Jaune said with an icy edge.
Ren picked up on Jaune's tactic by reading his emotions and stayed silent.
"You're Hazel Rainart, aren't you? The guy whose sister died here?"
Hazel's eyes widened with rage. "You!"
Hazel slashed at Jaune, but Jaune blocked with his shield, sneering. "Look at you. Your sister died to Grimm and now you became one! What kind of brother does this? Joining some cult instead of seeking justice? Your sister, God rest her soul, must be looking at you with scorn. Look at you! Becoming the same monster that fucking killed your sister!"
Hazel's face twisted in fury, but Jaune cut him off with a punch to the mouth before he could speak, sending Hazel's head back.
"No. Shut up and fight. You deserve to perish like the monsters that killed your sister."
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Hazel roared, slashing wildly. Jaune sidestepped and slashed the back of Hazel's legs. Ren launched a spinning strike at Hazel's back before landing beside Jaune.
"Was that necessary?" Ren asked.
"I don't want him to think," Jaune replied. "Right now, we need to put him down."
"Do you want to kill him?"
"I'm not a killer, Ren... neither are you… but we'll try to hit him hard. But right now, he's just a Grimm to me."
"Okay."
Jaune then suddenly thrust Crocea Mors forward. Hazel blocked and tried to grab Jaune, but he rolled away. Ren then slammed an elbow into Hazel's face.
Jaune stood up from his roll and bashed his shield into the dust crystals embedded in Hazel's back.
"Ren, we need to disable the dust crystals on his back."
"Got it!" Ren focused his aura, using the momentum of Hazel's blow to redirect it and kneeing Hazel on the chin. He vaulted over Hazel's shoulder, drawing StormFlower and firing a barrage of bullets at the crystals stabbed on his back.
Jaune tackled Hazel with his shield, aiming to crush his throat, but Hazel blocked.
"Jaune! I need a boost!"
Jaune leaped back, skidding to a stop as he reached Nora. "Boosting you."
"Thanks!"
"Can you keep up, Nor?"
"Of course! You and Renny take the bad guy. I'll handle the Grimm off your six. Ready?"
"Ready." Jaune nodded, focusing on his aura to amp Nora up.
"NORA SMASH!" Nora yelled, swinging her hammer and sending an Ursa flying.
Jaune dashed his shield into Hazel as Ren parried Hazel's arm, then palming him in the throat. Ren kicked off Hazel's massive form, landing on his feet and blocking Hazel's blade-arm hastily with StormFlower before it hit his face.
Jaune transformed Crocea Mors into its two-handed form, cleaving at Hazel's back and shattering the dust crystals.
Hazel screamed in agony, then suddenly grew calm, his face resolute.
"This is for you, Gretchen," he muttered delusionally, stabbing himself with a green and purple crystal.
Hazel transformed, growing larger, his veins glowing eerily, his muscles bulging, his eyes shining ominously. He discharged Dust energy from his body in an explosion, forcing Ren to hide behind Jaune's shield's extending hard-light.
Hazel's face was now covered with a Grimm's white bone plate, spikes sprouting from his back. He pointed his arm at them, but Nora slammed her hammer into the back of his head, then vaulted over Jaune's shield.
"What happened?" she asked.
"He got bigger and stronger," Jaune replied.
"Should we fight together?"
Hazel roared, calling Grimm to their location.
"Nora, keep the Grimm off our backs," Jaune said. "Ren and I can take him."
"Are you sure?"
"Trust us," Ren assured her.
Nora grabbed Ren's collar and kissed him quickly. "Be careful, Renny. I don't want to see you like that again."
"I will."
"Take care of him, Jaune!"
Jaune grinned at Nora before charging at Hazel, who met Jaune with a swing of his arm.
"Grrr," Jaune gritted. "Watch out for his attacks, Ren!"
Blocking Hazel's enhanced strength made every bone in Jaune's body vibrate. Jaune gritted his teeth and pounced on Hazel's chest, forcing him back.
Ren, seizing the moment, struck Hazel from the side, his move precise and lethal. Together, they faced Hazel's monstrous form, their teamwork the only hope against his mutation.
Hazel looked down at the battered Ren and Jaune with a mixture of disdain and grudging respect.
"Ozpin's dogs are good," he growled, his voice distorted by the Grimm influence. "Not bad at all."
Jaune exhaled his breath, then scornfully laughed. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Scroll, showing Hazel his Huntsman License.
"Are you out of your mind?" he sneered. "We're just Huntsmen. Followers of Ozpin? His dogs even?"
Jaune spat on the ground, his face contorted with disgust.
"You've really lost your goddamn mind if you think I'd worked with the guy who expelled me from Beacon," Jaune said.
Hazel rested his massive arms at his sides, his eyes narrowing. "Then step aside."
"No."
"Why?" Hazel's voice echoed unnaturally.
"Because you're Grimm and it's our job to stop monsters like you."
Hazel went silent, his gaze piercing through Jaune. After a tense moment, he simply declared, "Then die as brave Huntsmen."
Hazel vanished from sight. Jaune barely had time to react before a massive force struck him, driving him to the ground with a bone-crushing impact.
"Jaune!" Ren shouted, rushing to his side.
Jaune gritted his teeth, pushing against the pressure with every ounce of his strength. His aura flared, and with a tremendous effort, he shoved Hazel back. Fueled by adrenaline and determination, Jaune launched himself at Hazel, dashing forward and stabbing him repeatedly. His strikes were relentless, each one infused with aura, driving Hazel onto the defensive.
"Ren, switch!" Jaune called out as then he leaped back and regenerated his aura back to full and then used it to amplify Ren.
Ren sprang into action, launching a shoulder strike. His body flowed with the movement, his aura concentrated into the blow, sending Hazel staggering. Ren holstered his StormFlower on his side, stance shifting into a more aggressive form. He began a series of aura-infused chain punches, each one a blur of rapid strikes aimed at a single part of Hazel's torso. The speed and precision of his martial technique left Hazel reeling, unable to mount a counterattack. Ren finished with two powerful aura-infused fist and elbow strikes, sending Hazel stumbling back.
"Jaune, his inner defenses aren't good!" Ren shouted, breathing heavily. "If we strike his internals directly, we can break him."
Jaune shrugged, adjusting his grip on Crocea Mors. He tugged on his yellow tie and steadied himself.
"Ren, keep doing that, then."
"Can you take it?" Ren maintained a hang stance with his StormFlower.
"I can," Jaune said, bracing himself. He focused, amping up his aura until the veins in his arms threatened to pop. The surge of aura was palpable, and Ren could feel the intensity radiating from Jaune.
Nodding silently, Jaune and Ren moved in unison. They became a coordinated whirlwind of attacks, their movements synchronized with deadly efficiency.
Jaune led with a powerful overhead slash, which Hazel blocked with his mutated arm. Ren immediately followed up, striking Hazel's exposed side with a swift elbow, then transitioning into a series of hasty chain punches. Each blow chipped away at Hazel's defenses, his aura flickering under the relentless assault.
Hazel roared in frustration, swinging wildly, but Jaune ducked under the blow and slammed his shield into Hazel's chest. The impact created a shockwave, momentarily stunning Hazel. Ren took advantage, executing a two hit bicycle kick that connected with Hazel's jaw, sending him stumbling.
"Keep the pressure on!" Jaune shouted, his voice hoarse.
Ren nodded, his strikes becoming even more ferocious. He combined the fluidity of his attacks with the raw power of his amplified aura, creating a devastating combo of punches and palm strikes. Hazel's defenses crumbled under the onslaught, his aura cracking piece by piece.
Jaune saw an opening and charged, Crocea Mors gleaming with a concentrated aura. He aimed for the dust crystals embedded in Hazel's body, driving his blade deep into Hazel's back. Sparks flew as the crystals shattered, releasing bursts of energy that crackled around them, breaking the spikes on his back.
Hazel screamed in fury, his body convulsing as the dust energy surged through him uncontrollably. He swung his arm wildly, but Jaune blocked with his shield, pushing Hazel back with sheer force.
Ren, seizing the moment, launched himself into a fully body shoulder strike once more, which was then followed by a chain of punches. Hazel's monstrous form was beginning to falter, his movements became sluggish and desperate.
Jaune focused all his remaining aura into a strike, his sword glowing with an intense light. With a mighty roar, he slashed at Hazel; the blade cutting through the Grimm's flesh and bone, severing his Grimm arm, and then grabbing Hazel's face, tearing him away from the Hound's body, and slamming him on the ground.
Jaune then retreated as Hazel suddenly kicked, forcing Jaune to raise his shield and blocked it, allowing himself to breathe and regenerate the aura he spent with his Semblance. Maintaining the boosting, while also keeping Ren's aura up was taking a lot of aura.
Hazel then stood on his knees, gasping for breath, his aura flickering weakly, but still up. He looked up at Jaune and Ren, his eyes filled with a mix of hatred and despair, and then rushed at them once more, but this time without the Grimm parts hanging on him.
Then he took two dust crystals from his pocket and then stabbed it on himself, roaring.
Ren tried to fire his StormFlower, but Hazel swatted it away from Ren's hands and slammed his fist on Ren, causing Ren to hastily blocked with his forearms.
Jaune punched the edge of his shield on Hazel's legs, but Hazel gritted his teeth, then with eyes glowing with a menacing fury, he grabbed Jaune's sword and shield and pried them away. The blade clattered to the ground, leaving Jaune and Ren weaponless.
Hazel smirked at them, his massive fists clenched and ready.
But Jaune and Ren met his gaze unflinchingly.
"You think you can take me bare-handed, Huntsmen?" Hazel growled, his voice dripping with contempt.
Jaune and Ren didn't reply with words and simply raised their fists. Jaune suddenly lunged forward, throwing a right hook at Hazel's jaw. Hazel blocked effortlessly, countering with a powerful jab that connected with Jaune's ribs. The impact sent a jolt of pain through Jaune's body, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on.
Hazel swung his fist in a wide arc. Jaune ducked under the blow, his senses heightened by adrenaline and his amped-up aura. He drove an uppercut into Hazel's abdomen; the force making Hazel stagger back. Hazel retaliated with a crushing blow to Jaune's shoulder, causing him to stumble.
Jaune recovered quickly, using his agility to dodge Hazel's relentless attacks. He weaved and bobbed, landing in quick jabs and hooks wherever he found an opening. Each strike chipped away at Hazel's defenses, but Hazel's brute strength and endurance kept him in the fight.
A right cross from Hazel grazed Jaune's cheek, followed by a left uppercut that sent Jaune reeling.
Jaune's vision blurred momentarily, but he shook it off and launched himself at Hazel, his fists a flurry of motion. He landed a series of rapid punches to Hazel's midsection, causing the larger man to grunt from the impact.
Hazel's response was swift and brutal. He grabbed Jaune by the collar and lifted him off the ground, slamming him into the pavement with a thunderous crash. Jaune gasped for air, saw Hazel pulling his fist back, and rolled away just as Hazel's fist came down like a sledgehammer.
Pushing himself to his feet, Jaune wiped the blood from his lip. He charged at Hazel again, this time aiming for his weak points. He focused his attacks on Hazel's joints, delivering precise strikes to his elbows and knees. Hazel roared in frustration, swinging wildly, but Jaune's smaller form kept him just out of reach as he ducked and rolled out of the way.
In a violent move, Hazel caught Jaune's wrist and twisted it, forcing him to his knees. Jaune winced in pain, but used the position to his advantage, delivering a brutal knee strike to Hazel's side, then followed it with an elbow on the back of his head. Hazel's grip loosened, and Jaune broke free, delivering a back fist to Hazel's face.
Hazel staggered, blood dripping from his nose. Jaune took the opportunity to land a powerful uppercut, lifting Hazel off his feet and sending him crashing to the ground. For a moment, it seemed like Jaune had the upper hand, but Hazel's resilience was unmatched. He got up easily, wiping the blood from his face, eyes still burning with determination, and tried to attack Jaune immediately.
But Ren saw an opening, and he moved in with the fluid grace. His feet glided across the ground as he closed the distance between himself and Hazel, his body a blur of motion.
Ren's went with a full body elbow and shoulder strike, his aura focused on the blow. The impact sent Hazel staggering back, but Ren didn't let up. He flowed seamlessly into a series of chain punches again, each strike landing with pinpoint accuracy on Hazel's chest and abdomen. The rapid succession of punches was relentless, a blur of fists that left Hazel reeling.
Hazel tried to retaliate, swinging his massive fists, but Ren's agility and precision kept him out of reach. He deflected Hazel's blows with swift parries, his movements a dance of efficiency and skill. Ren's hands moved like lightning, each strike aimed at vital points on Hazel's body.
Ren shifted his stance, launching a spinning back kick that connected with Hazel's ribcage, forcing the larger man to growl. He followed up with a series of palm strikes, his aura-infused blows creating shockwaves with each impact in Hazel's internals. Hazel's defenses began to crumble under the onslaught, his aura flickering weakly.
Hazel roared, using the last of his dust to fuel his strength. He swung wildly at Ren, but Ren anticipated the move, ducking under the blow and driving his elbow into Hazel's sternum. The force of the strike made Hazel gasp for air, his breath coming in ragged bursts.
Ren didn't let up. His fists were a whirlwind of motion as he landed a rapid succession of punches on Hazel's face and chest. Each punch was a precision strike, designed to maximize damage while minimizing effort as the Grimm mask on Hazen's face cracked.
Hazel's face contorted in anger, his body struggling to keep up with Ren's relentless assault.
With reckless fury, he swung his arm around, forcing Ren to retreat.
Hazel's eyes blazed with unrestrained fury as he faced both Jaune and Ren.
"Ren! Keep at it!"
"Gotcha!"
Exchanging a quick nod, with their movements synchronized. Jaune led the charge, his fists raised in a classic boxing stance. He threw a series of jabs at Hazel, testing his defenses. Hazel blocked the initial strikes with his forearms, then countered with a powerful haymaker aimed at Jaune's head.
Jaune ducked just in time, the force of Hazel's punch whistling past his ear. He retaliated with a quick uppercut, his fist connecting with Hazel's jaw again, deciding to focus on exposed parts. The impact barely phased Hazel, who responded with a brutal knee to Jaune's midsection. Jaune grunted in pain, but stayed on his feet, pivoting to deliver a solid right hook to Hazel's ribs.
Ren moved in like a shadow, his movements fluid and precise. He targeted Hazel's blind spots, landing quick, sharp blows to his kidneys and lower back. Hazel roared in frustration, swinging his fists in wide arcs to keep both opponents at bay.
Hazel's fist shot out towards Ren, but Jaune was there, blocking the strike with his forearm. The force of the blow reverberated through Jaune's body, but he held firm. He followed up with a series of rapid jabs, each punch aimed at Hazel's face and torso. Hazel absorbed the hits, his massive frame barely moving.
Ren capitalized on Jaune's offensive, slipping in and out of Hazel's reach. He landed a series of quick strikes to Hazel's ribs and stomach, each punch precise and efficient. Hazel swung at Ren, but Jaune intercepted, blocking the lethal strike with his own arm again.
The two worked in perfect harmony, their attacks and defenses complementing each other.
Jaune threw a powerful right cross, his fist colliding with Hazel's cheek, completely shattering the bone plate on his face. Hazel staggered back, momentarily dazed. Ren seized the opportunity, launching a drop kick that connected with Hazel's chest, driving him further back.
Hazel's eyes glowed with rage as he roared, charging at Jaune with reckless abandon. Jaune braced himself, raising his fists to block the incoming attack. Hazel's punches were like sledgehammers, each one carrying the weight of his monstrous strength. Jaune blocked and parried, his arms aching from the effort.
Ren moved with the grace of a martial artist, slipping past Hazel's defenses. He delivered a rapid succession of strikes to Hazel's abdomen, each one a swift and fluid movement. Hazel swung at Ren, but Jaune was there to intercept, blocking the blow and retaliating with a powerful counter on Hazel's nose. Aura shimmered from the impact, but Hazel barely flinched.
Jaune and Ren worked in tandem, their movements synchronized as they ducked and weaved in front of Hazel's reckless strikes.
Jaune's punches were powerful and relentless, while Ren's strikes were quick and precise.
They kept Hazel on the defensive, their combined assault overwhelming his formidable strength.
"Ren!" Jaune shouted. "I'll keep him occupied and you finish him!"
Ren's eyes narrowed as he shifted his stance, transitioning into a narrower and more relaxed stance than a horse's stance. His feet were shoulder-width apart, with the knees slightly bent and the weight distributed evenly between his legs.
He moved swiftly towards Hazel, unleashing a powerful one-inch punch followed by a series of chain strikes. Each strike hit Hazel's torso with remarkable precision, causing his body to become almost motionless. Each hit landing on the same spot he had been hitting him.
The rapid succession of punches forced Hazel to retreat, his defenses struggling to keep up.
Hazel roared, swinging wildly, but Ren's movements were too swift. He deflected Hazel's strikes with effortless parries, his hands moving like a striking viper. Ren's chain punches continued, each one a sharp, stinging blow that chipped away at Hazel's defenses.
Ren followed up with a back kick, his foot connecting with Hazel's ribcage with a resounding thud, which was then followed by an axe-kick that he buried on Hazel's shoulders.
Hazel grunted in frustation, his massive frame shaking from the impact. Ren didn't let up, launching into a series of palm strikes. Each strike was infused with aura, creating shockwaves that reverberated through Hazel's internals.
Hazel roared in defiance. His fists crackled with lightning dust as he swung at Ren with renewed ferocity. Ren ducked under the blow, driving his elbow into Hazel's diaphragm, his palm forcing his elbow forward. The force of the strike made Hazel gasp for air, his breath coming in ragged bursts.
Ren then transitioned seamlessly, his movements a dance of efficiency and power as he pushed Hazel slightly, went into a horse stance, and executed a single palm strike infused with his aura that left Hazel reeling.
Hazel swung again, but Jaune was there, blocking the punch with his arms. The impact sent a shockwave through Jaune's body, but he held firm. He then retaliated with a quick jab to Hazel's jaw, followed by a series of speedy punches to his ribs before he swung around Hazel, locking his legs around Hazel's torso and grabbing his burly arms, and placing his palms on the back of Hazel's neck, immobilizing him.
Hazel roared in frustration, but Jaune held on with all his strength and leaned his weight back to expose Hazel's front for Ren.
"Ren! Now!"
Ren moved in for the finish, his fists a blur of motion as he executed a series of thunderous aura-infused chain punches. Each strike was precise and devastating, aimed at the same vital points on Hazel's body that he had been hitting again and again since the fight started. Hazel's face contorted in anger, his body convulsing with each blow. Jaune then let go of Hazel's arms as Ren, with a final, powerful strike, delivered a double palm strike to Hazel's chest, sending him flying with his aura finally shattered.
Hazel, battered and bruised, could feel his strength waning. He had underestimated these Huntsmen. As the realization dawned on him that his defeat was imminent, a desperate thought crossed his mind and that was to escape.
Hazel's eyes darted around, searching for a way out. Seeing an opening, he bolted, his massive frame surprisingly agile for its size. He pushed through the debris, shoving aside anything that got in his way. The distant roar of Grimm and the shouts of Huntsmen echoed around him, but he focused solely on his escape.
In his haste, Hazel made a critical mistake, he forgot about Nora.
She had been dealing with Grimm on the periphery, her hammer smashing through their ranks with brutal efficiency to keep them away from Ren and Jaune. As Hazel barreled past, she saw her opportunity.
"Not so fast!" Nora shouted, her voice carrying over the din of battle. "You think can you just leave after hurting my boys!? I don't think so Mister!"
With a powerful leap, Nora closed the distance between them. Her fist, charged with aura and lightning, slammed into Hazel's jaw with the force of a small car. The impact snapped Hazel's head to the side, his momentum halting abruptly. He staggered, his vision blurring from the blow.
When Hazel turned around, he noticed Ren and Jaune swiftly approaching him. Ren's fists were a whirlwind of strikes, each punch still landing with precise, devastating force. While Jaune's were punches, powerful and relentless, forming an unstoppable assault on Hazel's aura deprived body.
Hazel swung at Ren, but his movements were sluggish, his strength sapped by the relentless assault.
Jaune followed up, his fists delivering powerful, bone-jarring blows. He focused on Hazel's torso, each punch driving the air from Hazel's lungs. Hazel tried to retaliate, but Jaune blocked his strikes with ease now, countering with a devastating uppercut that snapped Hazel's head back.
Hazel roared in frustration, but his voice was weak, lacking the power it once had. He swung wildly, his punches lacking precision. Ren and Jaune moved in perfect harmony, their attacks coordinated and relentless. Ren landed a quick succession of punches to Hazel's ribs. Each hit a sharp, stinging blow that chipped away at Hazel's remaining strength.
Jaune followed up with a powerful right hook, his fist connecting with Hazel's jaw. The force of the blow sent Hazel staggering, his vision swimming. Ren capitalized on the opening, delivering a series of palm strikes to Hazel's chest and abdomen. Hazel's defenses crumbled under the onslaught, his body struggling to keep up.
With a final, desperate effort, Hazel tried to lash out, but his movements were slow and uncoordinated. Jaune and Ren closed in for the finish. Jaune threw a powerful punch to Hazel's midsection, doubling him over. Ren followed up with another set of thunderous chain punch, each strike landing with devastating force.
Hazel's body convulsed with each blow, but seeing that he won't just go down because of his Semblance.
Jaune pulled his fist back and slammed it into Hazel's ribs, then followed after by Ren's rapid punches to his chest and abdomen.
Hazel's vision blurred, his body barely responding to his commands.
He was on the brink of collapse.
Nora, not one to be left out, leaped into the fray. With a mighty swing of her hammer, she struck Hazel in the back, shattering the bone plate and spikes that was on his back that held the dust crystals that were giving him some strength despite having a shattered aura, the force driving him to his knees. Hazel gasped for air, his body wracked with injuries. He tried to rise, but Jaune and Ren were relentless as they delivered a powerful uppercut, their fist simultaneously connecting with Hazel's jaw and snapping his head back.
Ren followed up yet with rapid punches to Hazel's torso. While Jaune landed slower yet powerful blows. Jaune dropped a step, using the momentum to power his punch. He leaned all his weight onto his front leg, then quickly lifted it up, channeling his entire body weight into each punch. It was as if he were falling forward, catching himself with his fist on Hazel's face, while stepping into his punches to significantly increased the power. He bobbed and rolled his upper body, landing massive hooks on Hazel's body and head.
But Hazel remained standing, causing Jaune to grit his teeth in irritation.
"JUST GO DOWN WILL YOU!?" Jaune roared as he dashed in and slam his elbow into Hazel's neck, stunning him. "REN NOW!"
"I got him!"
Then, gathering his aura on his palms, Ren delivered another double palm strike to Hazel's chest. The force of the blow sent Hazel crashing flat to the ground as his internals imploded, his body finally succumbing flat to their relentless assault.
Hazel lay still, his aura completely drained, his body battered and broken.
Jaune and Ren stood over him, their chests heaving with exertion.
Hands still raised and ready if Hazel gets back up.
While Nora posed with Magnhild, ready to pummel him on the ground again.
But there was no movement.
Hazel's eyes was rolled back.
"It's over," Jaune said, his voice steady but strained as he suddenly leaned on Ren, holding on his stomach, vomiting blood as he finally felt Hazel's punches. "Fuck, even after all that, he's still alive?"
Ren nodded, wheezing as he then spat blood on the ground, some of it landing on Hazel's face.
"Yeah, I think he's fucking done," Ren said, wiping his mouth. "But we still have bigger problems, Jaune."
"Tell me about it," Nora shouldered Magnhild across her shoulder.
Jaune then looked around them.
There was still Grimm burning Vale to the ground.