Ruby Rose lay flat against the stone-paved circle where she had fallen after her disastrous first encounter with a Schnee heiress and the moody black-haired girl she had seen on the airship. The sun blazed overhead, its harsh white light nearly blinding her as she stared up into the cloudless sky. Beacon Academy's imposing towers loomed in her peripheral vision.

Suddenly, a shadow passed overhead. Ruby's finely tuned senses detected a presence even before her silver eyes fluttered open. The first thing she noticed was a black blindfold wrapped around the eyes of the very tall young man standing over her. Ash-blonde locks fell messily around the black cloth, cut wildly and shaggy as if he had styled his own hair with garden shears.

The stranger wore a black coat with a high collar, draped over a faded white shirt adorned with the logo of a small cartoon rabbit. The unexpected whimsy of the shirt made Ruby giggle, momentarily forgetting her embarrassment.

"First day?" he asked, his voice tinged with an awkwardness that matched Ruby's own feelings.

Ruby nodded, taking in the boy's appearance for a moment before reaching out to grab his hand. With a surprising gentleness that belied his imposing stature, he helped pull her to her feet. Ruby brushed off her combat skirt, trying to regain some semblance of dignity.

"Are you a new student too?" she asked, curiosity overtaking her nervousness.

He rubbed the back of his head, a gesture that seemed to mirror Ruby's own nervous habits. "Oh. Kind of, yeah," he replied, his tone suggesting there was more to the story.

Ruby's eyes narrowed as she focused on his blindfold. Unable to contain her curiosity, she waved a hand in the space between them. The boy tilted his head to the side, a bemused expression crossing his face.

"What are you doing?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Ruby let out a startled yelp, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I-uh-" She looked away, wishing she could disappear into her red cloak.

"Oh, this?" He said, pointing to his blindfold with a slender index finger. "I can see. It's, uh, kind of my thing. Like my semblance."

Ruby's silver eyes widened with excitement, her earlier embarrassment forgotten. "You can see even without your eyes? Does that mean you have x-ray vision?" she asked, her voice filled with awe and a touch of her weapon-enthusiast fervor.

The boy shifted uncomfortably, and Ruby quickly realized she might have overstepped. She pulled back, her social awkwardness resurfacing as she tried to find a way to salvage the conversation.

Ruby's face flushed with embarrassment as she realized they hadn't even introduced themselves properly. "Oh, sorry... introductions, right! My name's Ruby. Ruby Rose." She thrust her hand out eagerly, her enthusiasm momentarily overriding her social awkwardness.

The tall boy looked down at her offered hand, his gaze lingering on it for just a moment. Ruby watched as he nervously reached out, taking her hand in a gentle but firm handshake.

"Jaune," he introduced himself, his voice soft but clear.

Ruby raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Just Jaune?"

"Yeah," he replied quietly, a hint of something unspoken in his tone.

Eager to keep the conversation going, Ruby bounced on her toes. "So, you're a Huntsman in training?" she asked, excitement coloring her voice.

Jaune nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "And you're a Huntress in training?" he asked, matching her enthusiasm.

Ruby nodded vigorously, her earlier nervousness forgotten in her eagerness to talk about her passion. "Yup! I went to Signal Academy. I'm from Patch – it's a little island off the coast of Vale. My uncle was a teacher at Signal, and my mom went there too, so it was a no-brainer for me. What about you? What Huntsman school did you go to?"

Jaune paused, his blindfolded gaze turning slightly to the side. "I haven't been to one," he admitted. "But I took an entrance exam, and... here I am." His voice was quiet, almost contemplative.

Ruby's silver eyes widened with admiration. "Oh, my uncle told me about that! He took the entrance exam and got in too, and he's the coolest Huntsman ever!" Her excitement bubbled over as she continued, "I bet you have a really cool weapon or you're an amazing fighter. What's your weapon like? Is it also a gun? Mine's a high-caliber sniper rifle combined with a scythe and-"

She cut herself off, realizing she was rambling. "Sorry, I get a little weapon-crazy sometimes," Ruby admitted sheepishly, her cheeks tinged pink.

"I actually don't have a weapon," Jaune said, cracking a small, enigmatic smile.

"You don't use one?" Ruby asked, her voice a mix of shock and curiosity. The concept of a Huntsman without a weapon seemed almost impossible to her.

"Never needed one," Jaune replied softly, his tone carrying a hint of something Ruby couldn't quite place – confidence, perhaps, or maybe a touch of sadness.

Before Ruby could process this revelation, Jaune turned his head, seeming to look at something in the distance despite his blindfold. "The Headmaster is going to start his speech soon," he said, his voice taking on a more urgent tone. "You should go see it. Get settled in before initiation tomorrow."

Ruby felt a sudden pang of anxiety at the thought of being alone again in this new environment. "Wait," she said, a tinge of desperation coloring her voice. "If you're a new student too, maybe we could walk together?"

Jaune shook his head, a gentle but firm refusal. "Put your hand out," he said quietly, his voice carrying an unusual weight.

Confused but intrigued, Ruby nervously extended her hand. Jaune reached out, his movements precise despite his blindfold, and grasped her hand firmly.

In that instant, the world around Ruby blurred and shifted. She felt a sudden rush, as if she were moving at incredible speed, and then, just as quickly, everything stilled. Ruby blinked, trying to orient herself, and realized with a start that they were now standing in the middle of a crowded auditorium, surrounded by other students.

"Wha- How did you-" Ruby stammered, her eyes wide with amazement as she looked around, then back at Jaune.

Jaune gave a small, mysterious smile. "Good luck with initiation, Ruby Rose," he said softly, before turning and disappearing into the crowd, leaving Ruby standing alone, her mind reeling from what had just happened.

/-/ SCENE FLASHBACK /-/

Ozpin sipped from his ever-present mug, which remained steadfastly full at all times. His off-hand was wrapped around the head of his cane, fingers fidgeting with the end of the weapon. To anyone on his staff, such a vulnerable motion, however microscopic, was akin to a death knell—a warning to steer clear of the Headmaster for the time being.

Across from him, Glynda Goodwitch sat in a chair opposite his dark-colored desk. Her usually stern eyes were focused on a bundle of cloth held carefully in her hands, her expression uncharacteristically soft.

"So, Ansel?" Ozpin asked, his voice low and measured.

Glynda's lip curled into something bordering on grief, an emotion rarely seen on the composed professor's face. She took a moment before responding, her voice barely above a whisper.

Glynda's voice was steady as she delivered her report, but a hint of tension underlined her words. "When I arrived, the Grimm spotted to the north had already descended upon the village. It was... easy enough to dispatch them, but the only Huntsman on the scene had already perished. Unfortunately, the Bullheads dispatched for evacuation were unable to make it in time."

Ozpin's brow furrowed, his fingers tightening almost imperceptibly around his cane. "It's unusual, to say the least. The occasional pack of Beowolves is nothing new, and the sighting of an Ursa is rare but not unheard of. But if your estimates are correct, there hasn't been a Grimm horde this large since the Mount Glenn incident."

He paused, the weight of his next words hanging in the air. "Several hundred Beowolves is historic. Non-solitary Ursa are an almost impossibility."

Ozpin's gaze drifted down to the bundle of cloth in Glynda's arms. Small sounds emanated from it, and he felt something in his ancient soul stir as Glynda adjusted her hold. The Headmaster stood up from his desk, placing his ever-present coffee mug down with a soft clink. He moved around to Glynda's side, his shoes clicking against the floor until he lowered himself into a chair beside his long-time partner.

His eyes roamed over the swaddling cloth, and Glynda, understanding his unspoken question, gently lifted a small piece of the fabric. The light pink skin of a very average-looking infant was revealed, peaceful despite the gravity of the conversation surrounding him.

"I found him in the house of the fallen Huntsman," Glynda explained, her voice softer than Ozpin had heard it in years. "I asked Nurse Tsune to do a physical. He can't be more than a few days old."

Ozpin leaned in slightly, his eyes never leaving the child. When he spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper, laden with a mix of wonder and trepidation. "A child, born amidst such destruction... What twist of fate has brought you to us, little one?"

Ozpin looked over the child, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses as the boy struggled against the swaddling cloth, freeing his arms.

"Do you wish for me to contact a nursery in Vale?" Ozpin asked, his voice soft but authoritative. "An administrator owes me a favor. The child could be placed with a new family."

"Ozpin, I—" Glynda paused, rocking the baby slightly as the headmaster drew closer. Her usual composure wavered, revealing a hint of uncertainty. "When I arrived at the house, the roof had collapsed completely. And yet, somehow... he was unscathed. It was as if every single plank of wood, every splinter and piece of plaster had missed him, falling to the side. I couldn't grasp why, but after yesterday's physical examination, I understood."

Glynda shifted her hold on the boy, carefully presenting him to Ozpin. The man eyed the child warily, his suspicious stare intensifying as the infant opened his eyes.

Blue irises, colored like the daylight sky itself, stared up at Ozpin. The headmaster tried to hide his surprise, but his eyebrows rose slightly. Twin diamond-like points focused on him, and he felt... something off. A distortion in the air, barely perceptible but unmistakably present.

Intrigued, Ozpin reached a hand towards the boy. As his fingers neared, he felt his movements become sluggish, as if pressing through thick sap or fighting against oncoming ocean currents. His eyebrow raised higher, the boy's unwavering gaze fixed upon him. No cry or whine escaped the infant's lips.

Ozpin sighed, pulling his hand back. He flexed his fingers experimentally, finding them perfectly fine. His mind, however, raced with possibilities and potential consequences.

"What is this?" he asked, his voice a mixture of awe and concern.

Glynda shook her head, uncertainty clear in her eyes. "I'm not sure, sir." She pulled the baby back against her chest, and the boy's eyes fluttered closed. Ozpin watched as the child's breathing slowed, tiny eyelids drooping with fatigue.

"It's extremely rare for a child to develop a Semblance," Glynda explained, her tone professional despite the extraordinary circumstances. "And I've never heard of an infant manifesting one so early on."

Ozpin lifted his glasses from his face, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes. "It's... unprecedented," he murmured, choosing his words carefully.

Glynda looked down at the baby, gently rocking him in her arms. Ozpin's expression softened as he rounded the desk once again, his curiosity piqued.

"I'd like you to run some tests, if you could," he said, his voice low and thoughtful. "Have his Aura examined thoroughly- I will have the necessary documentation prepared,"

Ozpin's spectacled gaze locked onto hers, and she asked, "Why, sir? What are you thinking?"

The headmaster turned to the window behind him, his reflection superimposed over the sprawling grounds of Beacon. "I'm not certain why or how this child has developed a Semblance. But the Grimm attack and the fact that this infant is the sole survivor... that can't be a coincidence."

He paused, his fingers lightly tapping against the windowsill. "A new piece on the board" Ozpin mused aloud, though his tone suggested he was already thinking of the implications of the child's abilities.

Glynda stepped closer, the sleeping child still nestled in her arms. "And what of the boy, Ozpin? What becomes of him?"

Ozpin turned back to face Glynda, his expression unreadable, yet there was a glimmer of something—determination, perhaps—in his eyes. "For now, Glynda, he stays with us," he declared, his tone brooking no argument. "His abilities... they could prove useful. We must ensure he's protected, guided."

A ghost of a smile played at the corners of his mouth as he looked at Glynda Goodwitch. Her hair seemed to gleam in the moonlight filtering through the tower's windows, and Ozpin's eyes remained fixed on it, as if drawing inspiration from its golden hue.

"We will name him Jaune," he said proudly, his gaze still on her yellow locks.

Glynda frowned, looking unamused by the impromptu naming ceremony and its apparent inspiration. "Ozpin," she began, her tone a mixture of exasperation and concern, "are you certain about this? Raising a child, especially one with... unique abilities, it's not a simple task. And our roles here at Beacon—"

Ozpin raised a hand, gently cutting off her protests. "I understand your concerns, Glynda. But this child... Jaune... he may be key to something far greater than we can imagine. We have been given a responsibility, and we must rise to meet it."

He stood, walking to the window and gazing out at the sprawling campus of Beacon Academy. "We will provide him with the knowledge, the skills, and the guidance he needs. And when the time comes, he will make his own choices."

Glynda looked down at the baby—at Jaune—cradled in her arms. Despite her misgivings, she felt a surge of protectiveness wash over her. "Very well," she conceded softly. "But Ozpin, promise me this: we will give him as normal a life as possible. He deserves that much."

Ozpin turned back, his eyes meeting Glynda's. In that moment, an understanding passed between them,

"Of course," Ozpin agreed, his voice warm. "After all, every great journey begins with a single step. And for young Jaune Arc, that journey begins here, with us."

/-/

Jaune Arc scanned the entire building, his senses extending far beyond what his blindfold should allow. To his right, Professor Peter Port sat in a chair, watching the initiates with a trained eye as Jaune remained quiet. A few other people had sent him odd looks for wearing a blindfold, but Jaune pretended not to notice.

His Six Eyes, hidden behind the cloth, scanned each individual. Bright pools of energy floated and moved freely through their bodies. The information from his unique vision practically revealed the semblances of every person present.

His attention was drawn to a black-haired girl with cat ears resting atop her head. "Blake Belladonna," he recalled, remembering his father's briefing on her circumstances. A former White Fang member and the daughter of the Chieftain of Menagerie. Jaune felt a faint blush creep across his cheeks as he realized she was even prettier than her file had shown.

Suddenly, he sensed a familiar presence nearby. Closing his eyes behind the blindfold, he felt around the room, turning to his right. He spotted black and red hair done up in a bob and looked over her outfit. His hand rose to his face as he blushed, seeing the adorable pajamas.

Seeming to sense his attention, silver eyes turned towards him quizzically. Jaune's hand dropped to his side, falling into his jacket pocket.

"Jaune!" Ruby waved, enthusiasm pouring out of her.

Jaune cracked a smile. "Ruby," he responded curtly, standing up straight as his father had taught him. He turned to his right, where Professor Port gave a subtle wave of his hand. Jaune nodded, stepping towards Ruby as she closed the distance.

"I kinda lost you after the speech. Where did you go?" she asked, bouncing slightly on her toes.

Jaune's smile widened a fraction. "My mom called me, and I had to go take care of something. But I came back and caught the tail end of it." He tried not to mention that he had watched his father practice the speech in his office twice every single day for the last month, with his mother by his side as the two watched Ozpin rehearse his so-called "impromptu" speech nearly religiously.

"Oh, okay," Ruby nodded, then hesitated before continuing. "Hey, um, I was wondering... since we're friends, maybe we could be on a te—"

Jaune's shoulders suddenly stiffened as he sensed an aura growing closer. His ability activated instinctively, and he turned slowly, hearing a yelp. He found himself staring down at a golden-haired woman who stood behind him, her arm suspended in the air, seemingly frozen halfway towards his back.

"Can I help you?" he asked, turning to face the blonde woman, his eyes narrowing behind his blindfold. As if released from an invisible hold, her hand fell to her side.

The girl's lilac eyes locked onto him, widening with surprise and interest. "Whoa. Killer semblance you got there! It's like a shield, right?"

Jaune tilted his head to the side. "Kind of. It's very complicated, but—"

"Yang!" Ruby intervened, stepping between the two. "It's rude to sneak up on people!"

"I was just gonna surprise him a bit," Yang defended, grinning. "Especially after you kept talking him up during the speech."

Ruby flushed, and Jaune cracked a small smile, finding her embarrassment endearing.

Yang turned back to Jaune, eyeing his outfit. "So what's up, big guy? You're not gonna change for bed?"

Jaune shook his head. "Nope. I don't need to sleep much, so I'm probably going to read a bit and then make myself busy."

Yang raised an eyebrow. "You aren't going to rest before initiation?"

"I don't need it," Jaune replied matter-of-factly. "I'll probably do well anyway."

"Cocky, aren't ya?" Yang asked, a challenging glint in her eye.

Jaune shook his head again. "It's true."

Jaune turned to the blonde. "Older sister, I'm guessing?" he said, his gaze aimed towards Yang.

"How'd you know?" Ruby asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

Jaune turned back to her, making the motion of having to look further down towards Ruby obvious. "You're short," he stated nonchalantly.

Yang chuckled. "Maybe you're just freakishly tall."

"I did drink a lot of milk when I was younger," Jaune replied, his tone deadpan but with a hint of amusement.

Ruby seemed to beam, grabbing Yang's arm. "I told you!" she exclaimed, and Yang's expression became exasperated. Jaune felt like he had stumbled into an inside joke, a small part of him warming at the feeling of being included, even if by accident.

Jaune shifted awkwardly for a moment, his Six Eyes focusing on a figure in the background. Glynda Goodwitch could be seen, her spectacled face a sea of stoic professionalism as it always was around others. Yet, for a moment as her gaze landed on him, a brief smile appeared—invisible to anyone but perhaps Ozpin and himself. He smiled in return before turning back to Yang and Ruby.

"My name is Jaune. It's nice to meet you, Yang," he said in a professional tone, extending his hand. Yang eyed it for a moment before taking it, a smile growing on her face as she realized his ability wasn't active.

"So, you have to control the whole shield thing?" she asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

Jaune nodded. "I can turn it on and off. I can also lower the effect." To demonstrate, he allowed a static shock to run across Yang's hand, their fingers remaining separated by a mere centimeter—an uncrossable distance despite its smallness.

"Cool," Yang marveled. "And Ruby also said you can like, teleport and stuff. Don't think I've ever seen that before. Is it part of your other thing?"

"You ask a lot of questions, don't you?" Jaune said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Yang nodded, her expression turning slightly protective. "Only with weird masked boys who get friendly with my baby sister."

Jaune felt as if he'd been smacked in the face, while Ruby let out a groan and swatted at her sister's shoulder. "There was nothing unprofessional. I just helped her a bit," he said, becoming more uncomfortable as more eyes focused on their trio.

"Jaune isn't like that, okay?" Ruby insisted, her hands placed against Yang's back. "Can you give us a bit of privacy? I wanted to ask him something!"

Jaune watched as Yang barely budged. Sensing the growing tension, he decided to redirect the conversation. "I'm afraid we don't get to choose the teams or teammates during initiation. You kind of have to find yours," he said, giving the two a hint as he noticed Glynda Goodwitch approaching.

Jaune stepped back and raised a hand. "Hello, Ma'am," he said curtly.

The girls whipped around as Glynda cleared her throat. "Miss Rose, Miss Xiao Long, it is nearly lights out. I suggest both of you go to your sleeping bags and rest. I assure you, if you do not approach tomorrow with your all, you might not live to see the day after."

Jaune snorted behind the girls, freezing as both turned to face him with sideways glances. He quickly tried to put on a professional look.

"I am going to get some rest. Best of luck to you two," Jaune said, giving a brief goodbye before stepping away from them and slipping into the hall, leaving the ballroom behind.

As he walked down the quiet corridor, Jaune's mind raced. The interaction with Ruby and Yang had been... interesting. Challenging, even, in ways his immense power couldn't account for. He found himself both drawn to and wary of the potential friendships forming.

A soft voice behind him broke through his thoughts. "Jaune."

He turned to see Glynda, her stern expression softening slightly. "How are you holding up?"

Jaune sighed, allowing a moment of vulnerability. "It's... different. Interacting with people my own age. Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing the right thing, being here."

Glynda placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You're here for a reason, Jaune. But remember, it's okay to form connections. Just be careful."

/-/

Ruby swung her scythe in a wide arc, cleaving a Grimm in two. The bisected body of the monster fell to the earth, but several more took its place, leaping into action. She spun, covering both her flanks as Crescent Rose fired several times, the recoil building her speed.

Earlier, Weiss Schnee had found Ruby in the forest but decided she was better off alone. So Ruby, left to fend for herself in the commotion, had encountered a pack of Beowolves.

"No biggie," she said, breathing quickly as she loaded another Dust magazine into her sniper-scythe. Her hand tightened its grip on the handle as she stabbed downward into a Beowolf. Her aura crackled as a stray swipe from a claw impacted it, causing a painful pins-and-needles sensation to roam over her body.

Ruby yelped, bringing the blunt end of Crescent Rose into another Beowolf's skull. She cringed as she heard a crack, the monster's bones giving way. Another charged, its claw wrapping around her arm. She was pulled off balance, shoved to the forest floor. Ruby made her aura flare, and the paw of the Beowolf began to burn as her soul fought against its grip.

Ruby shut her eyes tightly as the Grimm's grip hardened. In an instant, her arm lost all tension. Her eyes shot wide open in surprise as her body heaved, nausea hitting her. A familiar feeling tugged at her emotions.

"Jaune?" she asked, finding herself thrown over someone's shoulder. She looked down, seeing the forest appearing beneath her. They were floating on air, and she could see for miles.

"I got you," Jaune said, a scroll in his off hand. He closed it, placing it in his pocket.

"How did you find me?" Ruby asked, letting out an "Eep!" as Jaune lowered her to the 'ground'—if she could call the hardened air beneath her feet that.

"Good eyes," he stated simply. Ruby noticed his blindfold was missing, revealing his startling blue eyes.

Bright sky-blue eyes, shimmering like twin diamonds, stared towards her. Ruby blushed, feeling as if those impossibly beautiful eyes were scanning her very soul.

"So, you aren't wounded, but your aura is really low," Jaune stated matter-of-factly. "Want me to help you with those Beowolves?"

Ruby looked him over, her tactical mind already working. "We can work together. You're going to need a weapon!"

Jaune shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Told you, I don't need one. Why don't you sit back for this one?"

He stepped forward, hand extended. Ruby took it instinctually, anticipating the warping sickness from before. Instead, they slowly descended to the ground. The Beowolves stared up at them, howling, their maws snapping hungrily.

"Shouldn't we try to get away from them?" Ruby asked, anxiety creeping into her voice.

Jaune shook his head, his calm demeanor unwavering. "It's not going to matter." He turned to Ruby, his smile brightening. "I've been wanting to show this off. Don't let go of my hand, okay?"

He interlocked his fingers with Ruby's, causing a blush to spread across her face. "Okay," she managed to squeak out.

As they hovered just a few feet above the swarm of Beowolves, the Grimm staring up at them in anticipation of their feast, Jaune raised his free hand. Ruby watched curiously as he made an odd hand motion. The air around them seemed to ripple for a moment, and Jaune spoke quietly:

"Domain Expansion."

Ruby's silver eyes widened as the sky darkened around them. A massive black void seemed to appear, enveloping them and the Beowolves. The Grimm snarled in confusion as stars and galaxies materialized overhead.

"Infinite Void," Jaune announced, his voice resonating with power.

Suddenly, the stars warped, pulling and distorting into lines. Ruby felt as if they were traveling at impossible speeds yet remaining perfectly still. Galaxies and stars exploded to life and disappeared into nothing in mere moments. What looked like splotches of paint seemed to dot the cosmos around them.

A massive void appeared before them, and within it, a single blue eye, impossibly large and mesmerizing, seemed to stare down at the group. The Beowolves froze instantly, their red eyes wide with a fear Ruby had never seen in Grimm before.

Ruby's breath caught in her throat, her mind struggling to comprehend the sheer scale and beauty of what she was witnessing. She tightened her grip on Jaune's hand, both out of awe and a need for reassurance that this was real.

The eye, which looked as if it were made from the galaxy itself, stared down at the Beowolves. Their red eyes darkened, turning black as life faded from them slowly, as if they were aging and dying in an instant. Ruby's hand tightened around Jaune's, and he seemed to freeze. The large smile on his face faltered, shaking slightly before he returned to a neutral expression.

In an instant, the sky erupted with sunlight again. The void dissipated, and the forest surrounded them once more. Ruby felt a twinge of nervousness as she and Jaune slowly dropped to the ground. The Beowolves stood frozen like statues, staring perpetually upwards towards where the two had seemed to stand on air.

"What... what happened to them?" Ruby asked, turning back to Jaune. She looked down at their still-joined hands, a blush peppering her face.

Jaune answered quickly, his voice measured and calm. "My ability. It transmits information to anyone other than me or whoever's touching me. Those Beowolves, for the last minute, had information forced into their minds. And now they're... vegetables."

Ruby's eyes widened, a mix of awe and unease washing over her. "That's... intense," she managed, trying to process the implications of such power.

Jaune nodded, then pointed towards one of the Beowolves, forming a finger gun. Ruby moved behind him, anticipating some other sort of flashy attack. In an instant, an orb of light, crimson in color, appeared at the end of his fingertip.

"Red," he said loudly, and the marble-sized orb fired outward. It flew through the swarm of Beowolves in a straight shot, piercing their hides like tissue paper. The energy didn't lose any speed as the swarm was slowly destroyed, each Grimm disintegrating as the crimson light passed through them.

"Blue," waving his hand in a graceful arc. Jaune pulled Ruby closer as a massive orb of cerulean energy materialized around them. The ground trembled and lifted, Beowolves helplessly drawn into the swirling vortex of destruction. With a casual flick of his wrist, Jaune wielded the wild energy like a cosmic wrecking ball, obliterating the Grimm in seconds.

As the chaos subsided, a thick blanket of black ash settled over the area. Ruby marveled at how it seemed unable to penetrate the invisible barrier surrounding them. Her silver eyes wide with a mix of awe and trepidation, she turned to her companion.

"Jaune... what—what are you?" Ruby's voice quivered, her gaze darting between her friend and the devastating aftermath of his seemingly effortless attack.

The image of a massive eye, crafted from the very fabric of the cosmic void, materialized above them. Its gaze, both terrifying and captivating, settled upon Ruby's mind.

Jaune's features softened into a gentle smile. "I'm your friend, Ruby," he stated plainly, his tone warm and reassuring despite the otherworldly display of power.

As he released her hand, Ruby felt a spike of fear at the sudden absence of his comforting presence. The juxtaposition of Jaune's familiar, friendly demeanor and his incomprehensible abilities left her reeling.

"I'm The Strongest" Jaune continued matter-of-factly, as if discussing the weather. His azure eyes held a depth that hinted at untold secrets. "And... I'm not supposed to be here."

Before Ruby could process his cryptic words, Jaune's smile flickered once more. In an instant, he vanished, the world around them seeming to warp and distort.

Ruby fell to her knees, her fingers instinctively gripping cold, carved stone. Disoriented, she looked up to find herself at the forest temple ruins. Her sister Yang and the enigmatic Blake stood nearby, seemingly unaware of the reality-bending events that had just transpired.

Heart racing, Ruby's eyes darted around the clearing.

"Jaune?"


++AUTHORS NOTE++

Hey everyone its me again. i fixed some problems present in the chapter mostly stuff that survived the revision process i had to rewrite the Jaune meets Yang scene and one of the lines survived the editing and made Jaune and Ruby look like idiots. Also a repeated sentence that survived the editing process in Ozpin and Glynda's conversation after finding Jaune.

Also Semblances and cursed energy are not connected in this universe the powers aren't overlaid on one another but rather exist as two separate "Paths" that exist. someone in this fic can have cursed energy but not aura and vice versa but if you have aura then develop a cursed technique due to your knowledge of manipulating power you are more likely to develop a powerful technique. imagine like the skills of playing Bass might transfer over into guitar. Domain expansion can exist. if you understand what i'm getting at an individual might be able to have a semblance, Aura, Cursed energy, Domain and even Maiden powers as they function in different worlds while occupying the same space.