Jaune's eyes locked onto the ancient Grimm, his grip tightening on Crocea Mors. The creature's bone-white armor glinted in the fading light, ancient symbols etched into its surface, exuding an aura of pure malevolence. The village of Sumire lay in ruins around them, but Jaune's focus was solely on the enemy before him.
The ancient Beowolf lunged first, its massive claw swiping through the air with a speed that belied its bone-armored size. Jaune barely managed to raise his shield in time, the force of the impact sending him skidding backward. He regained his footing quickly, pushing forward with a determined yell.
The clash was intense. Jaune's sword struck the Grimm's armor with a resounding clang, but the beast hardly seemed to notice. It countered with a swift backhand, and Jaune ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air above him. He retaliated with a shield bash, driving the edge into the Grimm's side, but the armor absorbed the blow.
The fight wore on, each exchange more brutal than the last. Jaune's movements became a blend of offense and defense, his sword and shield working in tandem to keep the relentless Grimm at bay. Yet, the creature's intelligence was evident in its calculated attacks, each strike aimed to exploit any weakness.
In a fleeting moment of distraction, Jaune spotted a child trapped under debris nearby. His heart skipped a beat, and his gaze flickered toward the child.
"You need to go now!" Jaune practically begged, the children found its courage and hurried while villagers pulled the child back.
That split second of inattention cost him dearly. The ancient Beowolf's massive paw struck him with terrifying force, sending him flying backward through a row of houses. He crashed through walls, splintering wood and shattering glass before finally coming to a painful halt on the street.
Glynda's eyes widened in horror as she saw Jaune's body disappear into the wreckage. Her aura flared with urgency, and she extended her Semblance, telekinetically lifting shards of ice and hurling them at the Grimm. The ice shattered against its armor, doing little more than slowing its advance. The creature turned its baleful gaze towards Glynda, its eyes glowing with malevolent intent.
Glynda sidestepped the Grimm's charge, her movements precise and fluid. She infused her Disciplinarian with aura and lashed it against the Grimm's side, but the creature shrugged off the attack as if it were a mere annoyance. It swiped at her with a massive claw, and she formed a telekinetic barrier just in time. The impact rattled her bones, the sheer force of the blow sending tremors through her body, but she spun and landed an aura blast using her palm infused with her Semblance to keep the Grimm away.
Struggling to her feet, Glynda prepared for another strike, but Jaune's sudden return caught her attention. He slammed his shoulder into the Grimm's side, his aura blazing with a blue hue that quickly shifted to red. His shield connected with the bone armor, creating a shockwave that reverberated through the air. Glynda paused, momentarily stunned by the cold, determined fury in Jaune's eyes.
With newfound intensity, Jaune launched a relentless assault. His sword slashed through the air with wild precision, each strike infused with aura. While his aura absorbed the Grimm's retaliatory blows, allowing him to continue his onslaught, tanking them with a shimmer.
Glynda joined in, her Semblance amplifying her attacks as she rained lightning dust down upon the creature.
The ancient Beowolf roared in defiance, its movements growing more frenzied. It lashed out at Jaune, but he ducked under the blow and countered with a powerful upward slash. The creature staggered backward, and Jaune seized the opportunity. He roundhouse kicked the Grimm, sending it reeling further.
Drawing his sword from its shield-sheath, Jaune took a deep breath, his aura flaring as he steadied himself. The brief respite allowed him to gather his strength, his aura flaring back to full power. With renewed determination, he charged at the Grimm once more.
It met Jaune's charge head-on, its claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. Jaune blocked with his shield, the impact jarring his arm, but he held firm. He swung his sword in a wide arc, the blade connecting with the Grimm's armor and creating a shower of sparks.
Glynda supported him with precise strikes of her own, her Semblance creating obstacles to hinder the Grimm's movements. Together, they formed a seamless duo, their attacks complementing each other in a relentless dance of steel, aura and Semblance.
Jaune avoided a claw, then landed a blow to the side.
Jaune's eyes narrowed as he saw the ancient Grimm stagger back. Seizing the moment, he lunged forward, thrusting Crocea Mors towards the beast's chest. The Grimm sidestepped with a surprising agility, avoiding the blow and striking at Jaune's back with a powerful swipe. Instinctively, Jaune turned, his shield coming up just in time to block the attack. The force reverberated through his arm, but he didn't falter. He stepped into the Grimm's space, driving his elbow into its side with all his might.
Glynda saw the opening Jaune created. Gathering nearby debris with her Semblance, she whipped the fragments around like tendrils, striking at the Grimm to distract it. The ancient creature growled, its attention divided between Jaune and the flying debris.
"Where are you looking?" Jaune taunted, slamming Crocea Mors into the Grimm's bony armor. The impact produced a loud crack, but he didn't stop. He shifted his grip, half-swording Crocea Mors and using it like a hammer to batter the weakened armor. Each strike reverberated through the village, the cracks spreading across the Grimm's protective shell. "Don't turn your head away from me you monster!"
Jaune amped up his aura and made his soul appetizing to the Ancient Grimm.
"Glynda, DRILL!" Jaune shouted, pointing his palm at her. His aura flared, boosting her with a surge of energy. Glynda retreated a few steps, gathering more debris and combining them with her telekinetic power to form a massive, spinning drill.
The ancient Beowolf roared in anger, sensing the threat. It swiped at Jaune, who parried the attack and rolled to the side. He sprang to his feet and slammed his shoulder into the Grimm, trying to knock it off balance. The creature's massive paw struck him down, making him drop Crocea Mors. Jaune blocked the next attack with his plated forearms, feeling the strain on his aura, but he didn't back down. Instead, he lashed out with a series of punches, jabbing and striking the Grimm's face with fierceness amplified by his aura.
Seeing his opening, Jaune retrieved his sword, switching to a two-handed grip. He used his weight to drive the blade into the Grimm's chest. The ancient creature howled in pain, its movements growing more erratic as it struggled against the blade.
"Now, Glynda!" Jaune yelled, ducking down as Glynda fired the debris-made drill. The spinning mass tore through the Grimm, breaking through its armor with a deafening crash. But the creature was not easily defeated. It grabbed pieces of its broken armor from the ground, using them to break the drill apart. With a final, desperate move, it caught Jaune by the wrist, lifting him off the ground and slamming him down with a bone-crushing force. Its claws shimmered against Jaune's aura, threatening to break through.
Jaune gritted his teeth, his aura flaring with renewed intensity. He kicked the Grimm's arm, breaking its grip and rolling to his feet. He could feel his aura waning, but his resolve remained unbroken. Crocea Mors glinted in his hand, and he knew he had to make every move count.
Glynda, seeing Jaune in peril, redoubled her efforts. She sent another wave of debris flying at the Grimm, aiming for its exposed joints. The creature staggered under the assault, its movements slowing as it struggled to defend itself from all sides.
Jaune charged once more, his aura burning brightly. He swung Crocea Mors with all his strength, aiming for the cracks in the Grimm's armor. Each strike was met with resistance, but he could see the ancient creature weakening. Its growls turned to pained whimpers as it struggled to maintain its footing.
With a powerful aura-infused thrust, Jaune drove his sword into the Grimm's chest, piercing through to its core. The creature let out a deafening roar as Jaune send it skidding on the village road.
Just as Jaune and Glynda began to catch their breath, the ancient Grimm convulsed violently. Its eyes flared with a sinister red light, and it let out an unearthly roar. It was going berserk. Before Jaune could react, the creature lashed out, catching him by the leg and dragging him across the ground. His body skidded over the rough terrain, but his aura held firm, though he was taking a beating. The Grimm then lifted him and kneed him savagely in the stomach. The impact would have shattered bones if not for his aura's protection.
With a grunt of pain, Jaune's aura blazed red in response to the danger. Summoning his strength, he swung Crocea Mors, slamming the flat of the blade against the Grimm's legs. The creature's knee buckled, bringing it down to Jaune's level. Seizing the moment, he performed an aura-infused slash across its chest, cutting deep into its armored hide.
Glynda zipped in with remarkable speed, her aura flaring as she landed an axe kick on the Grimm's shoulder. The impact forced the creature to stumble, and she spun gracefully, her riding crop lashing out like a whip. The tip cracked against the Grimm's head, stunning it momentarily.
Jaune capitalized on the opening, slamming his shoulder into the Grimm with all his might. The creature reeled, and Jaune followed up with another powerful slash, this time hitting a critical point. The ancient Grimm roared in agony, but instead of falling, it seemed to grow even more desperate. A dark, malevolent energy pulsed from its body, and it let out a summoning call that echoed through the night.
From the surrounding darkness, more Grimm emerged. Beowolves, Creeps, and even a few Ursai converged on their location, their red eyes glowing with a shared malevolence.
The situation had become dire.
"Back to back!" Jaune shouted to Glynda, positioning himself so they could cover each other. Glynda nodded, her expression grim but determined as she moved to guard his back.
The air was thick with the growls and snarls of the advancing Grimm. Jaune's grip tightened on Crocea Mors, and Glynda's aura shimmered as she prepared her next move. They were surrounded, but they were not defeated.
Jaune parried a Beowolf's claw with his shield, then countered with a swift, precise stab. The creature dissolved into ash, but another took its place almost immediately. Glynda used her Semblance to lift a section of broken wall, telekinetically hurling it at an approaching Creep, crushing it under the debris. She spun and lashed out with her riding crop, the weapon crackling with energy as it struck down another Grimm.
The ancient Grimm, still on its knees, swung wildly at Jaune, who ducked and rolled to avoid the massive claws. He sprang up, delivering a powerful kick to its side, then thrust Crocea Mors into its exposed flank. The creature howled in pain, but its summoning call had brought too many reinforcements.
"Jaune, we need to thin them out!" Glynda shouted, her voice barely audible over the din of battle. She raised her hand, gathering energy for a powerful telekinetic attack. "They'll surround us at this rate! We need a more secure place and funnel them in!"
"Then we kill them all! I'll boost you now," Jaune nodded, understanding her plan. He fought his way to a more defensible position, slashing and blocking with relentless efficiency. Glynda's aura flared as she unleashed a wave of telekinetic force, pushing back the horde of Grimm and buying them a moment's respite.
But the ancient Grimm was relentless. It forced itself back to its feet, its eyes blazing with unholy light. It lunged at Jaune, who met the attack head-on, their blades clashing in a shower of sparks. Jaune could feel the strain on his aura, but he couldn't afford to back down.
"Glynda, now!" he shouted, locking blades with the Grimm to keep it in place.
Glynda concentrated, her aura glowing brightly as she gathered debris and energy into a swirling mass above her head. With a shout, she launched the makeshift projectile at the ancient Grimm. The debris drill tore through the air, aimed straight for the creature's chest.
At the last moment, Jaune ducked and rolled away, the drill striking the Grimm with devastating force. The impact sent it staggering backward, but it still wasn't enough to bring it down.
"These things just don't know when to quit," Jaune muttered, picking himself up and readying his sword.
The surrounding Grimm seemed to take advantage of the ancient one's plight, attacking Jaune and Glynda with renewed ferocity. Jaune's shield deflected a swipe from an Ursa, and he countered with a powerful downward slash that cleaved the beast in two. Glynda used her Semblance to form a barrier, blocking an onslaught of Creeps while she delivered precise, punishing strikes with her riding crop.
Despite their best efforts, the number of Grimm was overwhelming. Jaune's movements became more desperate, his strikes more forceful but less controlled. He felt the ancient Grimm's claws scrape against his aura, the protective shield flickering dangerously low.
"We can't keep this up forever," Glynda panted, her aura dimming from exertion. "We need to finish this."
Jaune glanced at her, determination burning in his eyes. "One last push."
Glynda nodded, summoning every ounce of her remaining strength. She gathered debris, energy, and willpower into a single, massive construct—a telekinetic spear. Jaune understood her plan and positioned himself between her and the ancient Grimm, ready to deliver the final blow.
With a fierce battle cry, Glynda launched the spear. Jaune charged forward, Crocea Mors glowing with his aura. The ancient Grimm, sensing its impending doom, roared and swung its claws at Jaune. He blocked the attack with his shield, the force nearly knocking him off balance, but he held firm.
The telekinetic spear struck the ancient Grimm, piercing through its bony armor and embedding itself deep within its chest. The creature let out a final, agonized roar, its body convulsing as dark energy erupted from the wound. Jaune didn't hesitate. He drove Crocea Mors into the opening created by the spear, twisting the blade with all his might.
The ancient Grimm shuddered, its form breaking apart as the combined assault of Jaune and Glynda's attacks overwhelmed it. With one last, thunderous roar, it exploded into a cloud of ash and dark energy, the force of the blast knocking Jaune and Glynda to the ground.
Jaune and Glynda tried to catch their breath and process the chaos they had just endured, they thought the danger had finally passed. The ancient Grimm had been defeated, its body reduced to flakes slowly dispersing into the air.
For a brief moment, there was a sense of calm and relief.
But the calm was shattered in an instant. From the dissipating flake, a final, desperate surge of malevolent energy coalesced, forming a spectral remnant of the ancient Grimm. It moved with terrifying speed and ferocity, its eyes burning with hatred. Before Jaune could react, it struck him with a bone-crushing blow, shattering his aura completely and slamming him into the ground with tremendous force.
"Jaune!" Glynda screamed, her voice filled with horror as she watched him brutally attacked. She tried to move her feet, but the spectral Grimm was upon her in an instant, pinning her down. Her aura flickered and then shattered under the pressure, leaving her vulnerable. The creature's intent was clear: it wanted to kill her before it vanished completely.
Jaune, though battered and barely conscious, saw Glynda in peril. Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, scraping his aura, he forced himself up, ignoring the pain that wracked his body. Without the protection of his aura, each movement was agony, but he pushed through it. He couldn't let Glynda die. Not like this.
"Get away from her!" Jaune roared, his voice raw with determination. He charged at the spectral Grimm, Crocea Mors raised high. The creature turned to face him, its eyes narrowing with predatory focus. As Jaune closed the distance, he swung his sword in a wide, powerful arc, the blade cutting through the air with a whistle. In one fluid motion, he beheaded the Grimm, the spectral form dissipating with a final, furious scream.
But the victory came at a terrible cost. As the Grimm faded, its claws lashed out in a last, desperate act, stabbing Jaune in the chest. The force of the blow drove him to his knees, a searing pain erupting from the wound as blood began to pour from the gaping hole in his stomach. Glynda's eyes widened in horror as she saw the grievous injury.
"Jaune!" she cried out, her voice trembling with desperation and heartbreak. She scrambled to his side, her hands bloodied as she tried to stem the bleeding. "Hold on, Jaune, please. Help is coming. You can't leave me."
Jaune looked up at her, a faint, pained smile on his lips. "I'm glad... you're safe, Miss Goodwitch," he whispered, his voice weak but filled with genuine relief. He coughed, blood staining his lips as he tried to breathe.
Glynda's heart broke at the sight of him so gravely wounded. Tears welled up in her eyes as she frantically tried to use her aura to heal him, but the wound was severe. "No, Jaune, stay with me. You can't go. I need you."
Jaune's eyes began to flutter closed as his strength waned. "Not really… you can do everything on your own," he murmured, his hand weakly reaching up to touch her face. "You're... stronger than you know."
"No! Jaune, please!" Glynda's voice was filled with anguish. She couldn't lose him. Not after everything they had been through. She placed her hand over his, holding it tightly as if she could will him to stay with her through sheer force of will.
"Somebody help! We need a doctor!" Glynda shouted, her voice echoing through the devastated village.
The villagers, hearing her desperate call, rushed to find help.
Then as if just in time, an airship with a team of Huntsmen landed on the village, finishing the rest of the Grimm that gathered.
Within moments, a local doctor and his staff among the cowering villagers arrived, their face grim as they assessed the situation. "We need to move him, now!" the doctor ordered, gathering a few villagers to assist. They carefully lifted Jaune onto a makeshift stretcher, Glynda never leaving his side.
The doctor worked quickly, applying pressure to the wound and using their kit and stabilize Jaune. Glynda watched with bated breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "Is he going to be okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The doctor glanced at her, their expression serious. "He's lost a lot of blood, and the wound is severe. We'll do everything we can, but we need to get him to a proper medical facility immediately. Or at least hope he'd be conscious enough to heal with his aura."
Glynda nodded, determination hardening her features. "Then let's not waste any more time." She helped guide the stretcher, her focus unwavering. Jaune had saved her life, and she would do everything in her power to save his.
The journey to the nearest medical facility was arduous, every bump and jolt causing Jaune to wince in pain. Glynda stayed by his side, holding his hand and speaking to him softly, trying to keep him conscious. "Stay with me, Jaune. Just a little longer. We're almost there."
Jaune's responses were weak, but he tried to stay focused on her voice. "I'm... trying," he whispered, his eyes barely open. "Glynda... why are you so young? Where am I anyway? Did I get out of that place? I…"
"Don't thank me yet," Glynda replied, her voice breaking. "Just hold on. We're almost there. You'll have to be okay. I demand you to be okay!"
Finally, they arrived at a medical facility that was usually the center where the settlements go. The medics rushed Jaune into the emergency room, leaving Glynda to pace anxiously outside. Each minute felt like an eternity as she waited for news, her mind racing with fear and worry.
After what felt like hours, a doctor emerged, their expression unreadable. Glynda rushed to them, her eyes pleading for good news. "How is he?"
The doctor took a deep breath. "He's stable for now. The wound was severe, but we managed to stop the bleeding and repair the damage as best we could. He's very weak, and it will be a long recovery, but he's a huntsman with an aura. He'll be fine."
Glynda let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, relief washing over her. "Thank you," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "Can I see him?"
The doctor nodded. "Yes, but only for a few minutes. He needs rest."
Glynda entered the room quietly, her heart aching as she saw Jaune lying in the bed, his face pale and his breathing shallow. She sat beside him, taking his hand in hers. "Hey," she said softly. "Are you alright?"
Jaune's eyes fluttered open, and he managed a weak smile. "Couldn't... let anything happen to you, Miss Goodwitch," he murmured weakly. "You're... too important."
"Calling me Miss again, you'll make me at this point."
"Oh, you're young," Jaune looked at her oddly.
Glynda's eyes filled with tears, but she smiled through them. Activate your Semblance and heal up okay? I'll be here when you wake up. I can't lose my partner… we still have three kingdoms to travel. Don't back out now."
Jaune nodded slightly, his eyes closing as he drifted into a much-needed sleep. Glynda stayed by his side, holding his hand and watching over him.
Glynda Goodwitch sat silently by Jaune's bedside, her fingers intertwined with his as he lay there, breathing softly. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, mingling with the faint beeping of the medical equipment that monitored Jaune's fragile state. As she watched over him, the enormity of the situation began to sink in.
She couldn't stop it.
She had always prided herself on her strength and professionalism. Glynda had always tried to maintain a facade of unyielding authority and discipline. Emotions were carefully controlled, and personal attachments were kept at arm's length. But now, staring at Jaune's pale face, she felt those barriers crumbling.
It hadn't happened all at once. Her feelings for Jaune had grown gradually, slipping past her defenses little by little. She remembered the first time she noticed his determination, the way he refused to back down despite the odds. She had admired that spirit, and somewhere along the line, admiration had blossomed into something deeper. Glynda realized with a start that she had fallen in love with him.
Like some damn schoolgirl with a crush.
The realization was both terrifying and exhilarating. She had always been careful about her 'professionalism'. Being a prim and proper huntress. But His earnestness, his bravery, and his kindness wormed his way into her heart. And now, seeing him so vulnerable, she felt a fierce protectiveness she hadn't known she was capable of.