Jaune came to with a start under familiar moonlit skies.
Racing to sit up as his hand flew to his side. Where a sickle had disembowelled him. Shivering furiously at the phantom pain as he remembered.
"Oh, back so soon?" Gehrman whispered with a crocked laugh as Jaune bent over and dry heaved. Furious and bloodshot eyes glared at him before the tears welled up and Jaune stumbled back. Falling on his butt as he pulled out Crocea Mors.
It was pristine, without a single scratch. The same was true for the shield. A shield that was created to withstand blows from even the strongest of grim. A man, no matter how crazed would not dent the shield.
Yet all Jaune saw was how blood seemed to mar the once beautiful blade.
"You never said it was men!" Jaune shouted out towards Gehrman, as his fingers grabbed the hilt of Crocea Mors. Heart full of righteous injustice. "I thought I was going to hunt monsters. Not everyday men and women! What next? You want me to steal babes from their mothers? Maybe you want me to desecrate a holy altar while I'm at it?!"
"There are other monsters than beasts that are in need of slaying." Gehrman rasped hoarsely, before breaking down into coughing fits. "Those who have lost themselves to the beast scourge are no more than beasts themselves. Hunters who have gone mad, being no different from the beast they hunted. Many a monster stalk the street of Yharnam, and as a hunter, it's your duty to hunt these beasts and make sure they can't bring harm to anyone."
"Even if it means killing people?" Jaune rasped hoarsely as the ran his fingers over the blade of Crocea Mors.
"Even then. Hunters are doctors, Yharnam is the patient. And monsters? Monsters are the cancer." Gehrman chuckled darkly as he looked at down at Jaune from the workshop entrance. "And the best way to deal with cancer is to kill it. Kill, murder and slay every monster that stand in your way. Until there are no beasts left and the streets run red with blood. Only then will you be allowed to lay down your weapon."
"That sound like a cruel fate and a thankless task." Jaune whispered as he got up on shaking legs.
"But is not the eternal war against the creatures of grimm much the same?" Gehrman tauntingly asked. A wretched smile on his face as Jaune turned to him. Surprise and fear in his eyes as his hand flew towards the hilt of Crocea Mors.
"How much do you know?" Jaune whispered hoarsely. Gulping and feeling his throat dries up as he stared at Gehrman.
"More than I should, yet far less than I would like." Gehrman said with a shake of head. "But I don't care where you are from. As of right now, you are here. In the Hunters Dream and stalking the waking world of Yharnam. The only thing different is what we call our weapons, and that Yharnam's beast look more human."
Apathy rolled of Gehrman as Jaune stared intently at the old man. Trying to find any sort of falsehood, to see if he could peer into what he was thinking. Yet all he saw was a cold apathy and a suffering that seemed to never end. "Now. Go hunt. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. If you crumble under this little weight, you will never reach any of your goals."
"If you know of my world. Then you should know what I am." Jaune chuckled self-mockingly. Not wincing in the slightest as Gehrman's heavy gaze fell on him. "A liar and a cheat. I can't wield a sword for shit."
"Ludwig. A… good friend. And a man I respect. He was a lot like you. Full of bravery and courage. He… he came to me for guidance, wanting to become brave hunter so his mother would be safe. Not even strong enough to lift a sword." Gehrman whispered softly as he looked up at the sky above them. Voice almost drowning Jaune by the sheer melancholy in it. "Yet, in the end. Ludwig found himself a true mentor. And rose to become one of the best hunters out there. Founding the healing church workshop while he was at it."
"Why are you telling me this?" Jaune asked Gehrman. Crocea Mors hanging loosely in his grip.
"Maybe to tease you, maybe to give you hope." Gehrman shook his head as he looked at how Jaune's grip tightened around Crocea Mors. "Maybe to help you find some clarity in an otherwise dim situation. Maybe I was just in a reminiscing mood. Yet that matters not. You have been given the most wonderful gift for someone in our line of work. The ability to come back after death."
"I know that! I have experienced that. I know what you mean!" Jaune shoot back as his hand went to his side. Where the sickle had first bit in, before tearing out half of his organs on the way out. 'At least it was fast.' Jaune mussed grimly to himself. The same couldn't be said to about the first mad man he met.
"Then you should know that it allows you to make mistakes, in a profession where mistakes are deadly. Hunt, Kill, Die, Learn, Repeat. Follow that mantra religiously, until you stop making mistakes. But don't make thinking that it makes you invincible. The strain of dying again and again can and have brough men greater than you to madness." Gehrman cautioned.
"And at what cost? What is you not telling me about? There is no way something as grand and miraculous as coming back to life after death, again and again is free." Jaune shot back. Mind working on overdrive as he though of what the cost would be. Shivering slightly as fear and trepidation clung to him.
"You know lad, I liked you more before you started asking questions, dangerous questions. Are you sure you want to know? Knowledge can be dangerous, and ignorance is bliss." Gehrman sighed. But seeing the steel in Jaune's eyes he only shook his head sadly. "Memories. Memories is what you pay each time you die. Small memories, like the name of your cat, the name of the girl you were sweet on, the names of old classmates that you barley remember. You will still remember about them, but not name and other details."
"That's not so bad." Jaune chuckled weakly, flinching as Gehrman's eyes bore down on him like thunder.
"In the start, it might seem like that. But when things get tough, its these small memories that keeps the flame burning. Not to mention how many times you can die. Five small memories might not seem like much, but what about fifty? A hundred? Pray tell, would you be the same after losing a thousand?" Voice dripped in venom. Gehrman took one last look at Jaune before grabbing the wheels of his wheelchair and wheeling himself away.
Knowing deep down that it would come to blows should they continue. Frustration, loss, suffering, and despair churned inside as he shoots one long look back at Jaune. Shooting an analytical look at his newest hunter. If there was one flaw with his hunter, it was that he was kind.
Jaune wanted what was best for everybody. He wanted to be a hero without any training, he wanted to hunt beasts but only if they were clearly monsters. He wanted to save his opponents. 'Heh, Yharnam will wring that kindness out of him, sooner or later.'
Angry and upset, Jaune checked his items. Checking if any of the vials on him had cracked. With all checked and done, he grabbed Crocea Mors, fanned out its shield before touching the headstone.
Waking up in the clinic for the third time, Jaune hurriedly made his way outside. Stepping out onto the streets. Passing the horse carcass and abandoned carriage, swinging wide to not get ambushed. A smart choice as a heavy axe came crashing down.
"Outsider! Be gone! Carried of plague and filth!" The deranged mad man screamed as Jaune bore the brunt of the axe with his shield. Once again making Crocea Mors sing. But instead of a large swing, Jaune delivered a heavy thrust right into his chest.
Stepping forward with a grunt and forcing Crocea Mors all the way through. As the mad man collapses backwards, Jaune brought his shield down like thunder. Crushing the mad mans windpipe and severing half of his throat. Pulling Crocea Mors out from the still warm corpse, Jaune stepped back in horror. "What have I done?"
"No, it was needed. He was a monster." Jaune furiously shook his head as he justified his actions to himself. Even if he felt dirty. He just felt so dirty. Griping his sword and shield tightly, Jaune turned towards the glowing orb further down the street.
Also where he had last died. Having carefully made his way over, trying not to wake the sleeping men. Only to get a sickle to his stomach as reward, not even managing to get his aura up fast enough before his guts spilled out. At least the other mad had shown him mercy by cracking his skull with a mace.
A shiver ran down his spine by that memory. "At least I got another blood vial from that corpse by the lever. Bringing my total up to five vials of that size."
Carefully Jaune stepped towards the end of the road. Where a ball of light hovered behind a sand barricade and seemed to be guarded by two sleeping and seemingly hung over men. But Jaune knew better, they were completely of their rockers.
As Jaune walked towards them, the two bodies rose like zombies and turned towards him with wicked grins and blood crazed eyes. Not letting them get the jump on him, Jaune charge at them. 'At least they are downright terrible in combat.' And Jaune didn't know if that was good or bad.
Should he be proud at being better than half starved mad men? Jaune quickly dashed towards the one on the left. Bashing him back into the many boxes. Making the man stumble and loose his footing. Mad eyes widening as he fell headfirst backwards on the picket lined steel fence.
He didn't get back up. And he never would as the fence picket stuck out from between his brows.
"You killed him Outsider! Death be at ye! Spilling red blood!" The other mad man screamed as he brough down his mace with thunderous force. And while powerful, Jaune had his aura up this time. Wincing as the strike rattled him. For while Aura was good, fantastic even.
In the end, it was a shield, just a different and more spiritual one. So things such as pain, the force of strikes could be felt.
Gritting his teeth, Jaune stepped towards the mad man and smashed his shield into him. Wincing as the mans wristed snapped. Mace falling to the ground as the deranged man dropped it in favour of charging and biting at Jaune like a rabid dog.
Charging straight to his demise as he impaled himself on Crocea Mors. But not before trying its best to claw out Jaune's eyeballs. Scratching relentlessly on Jaune's aura before the Jaune pushed him back, making blood spill out. Ruthlessly smashing his shield into the mad mans face before bringing another slash down.
As both men laid dead. The righteous indignation that had pushed Jaune forward, spluttered out as he took in the two corpses at his feet. Stepping back horrified, never having thought himself to be capable of such horrible violence. Only managing to muster a soft, "Did it have to come to this?"
"I hate this, it didn't have to come to this. Why couldn't they leave me in peace?" Jaune whispered to himself. The men had been completely mad. Attacking for no reason while shouting profanity at him. They were truly gone and mad. However, that didn't stop Jaune from feeling bad as he looked at them.
Stepping over the corpses, Jaune reluctantly searched the corpse with a floating ghost ball over him. Fishing up a pack of matches and a Molotov cocktail. Something Jaune never though he would hold in his hand. He had read about them and seen them in action on some more discrete scroll sites.
Pocketing the matches, Jaune didn't know what he should do with the molly. If only he had somewhere to store items and things he didn't want. Patting himself down for any room, Jaune turned towards the clinic. 'I could always just hop over to the 'Dream''. But that felt like such a wase of time. Especially when he didn't know how much time he had in Yharnam.
"Wait a minute." Jaune whispered as he felt something in his coats pocket. Fishing out his notebook, an old calligraphy pen, together with bell and his old flare gun. "How did you follow me here?"
Jaune looked absolutely flabbergasted on his items. Quickly breaking his notebook open to see if it was really his. And lo and behold, it was. From math to diary, everything was there. Grabbing the calligraphy pen, Jaune quickly scribbled a little note 'Find out the connection between my things and the dream'. Before putting his notebook back in his pocket.
A place to store his thoughts and ideas was always welcome. As he shuffled his things around, a soft chiming sound tickled his ears. Stopping confused, Jaune turned to the bell that had always been silent. Gently shaking it again as melodious sound rang out.
"Master is summoning Isolde?" A soft haunting whisper called out as a small, hunched, humanoid creature appeared before him and bowed. It was lithe with pale, almost translucent skin. Wrapped in a tattered, hooded cloak that concealed most of its body. Glowing glyphs of all shapes and sizes were etched onto the cloak.
Wings shimmering swiftly sprouted out trough the clock as they gently floated above the cobbled stone street. Strands of silverly white hair hang out from the hood as rainbow-coloured eyes pierced trough the veil that draped over its hood. Its body was half shrouded in mist with glittering dust floating around her.
Jaune took in this weird being, eyebrow furiously twitching as he did his very best to not have a full-blown freak out. Again. On the same day, in the span of at least one hour. Not to mention how close his heart was to giving out.
Pushing trough his inner turmoil, Jaune turned to the beings, Isolde and asked. "What are you?"
"Master can see Isolde?!" Isolde shrieked out in joy as she began to dance and bop around the air. Like dancing ghost light. "A joyous day this is! Yes, a most joyous day!"
"Excuse me?" Jaune couldn't help but ask. Suffering complete mental whiplash. One moment he was killing some unfortunate lost soul. Then his bell, a bell that he never could remember making a sound, actually summoned forth, something.
"Master! Forgive Isolde! She was just so exited!" The being said before bowing to Jaune. "Is there anything Isolde can to for maser?"
"Ughh. Mmmmmm." Noises left Jaune's mouth as he tried to phantom what this being before meant before eventually settling on. "How… how long have you been around?"
"Isolde had cared for Master since when he was a wee babe!" Isolde answered quickly as she landed and bowed towards Jaune. "Master was such a naughty babe. Always bustling around or up to mischief."
"Do you think it's possible to store this in the dream?" Jaune asked as he handed Isolde, having no idea abut what she was, the Molotov cocktail he picked up.
"Yes, yes. Isolde make sure that your Molotov will be safe and secure in your cache!" Isolde said happily as it gently took it from his hand before disappearing in a puff of glittering dust.
"What the fuck?" Jaune whispered to himself as he gently tied the bell to his belt. After all, having a quick access to something akin to an inventory was amazing. Even if it came with a weird spectral being who had apparently watched over him since he was a baby.
Why couldn't his life just be normal?
Shaking depressing thoughts out of his mind. Jaune pulled the lever as a ladder came crashing down.
"Hopefully everything is just up now." Jaune chuckled weakly as he started to climb up. Knowing full well that only blood and misery awaited him. He had only seen three streets, and already knew that Yharnam was a dark and fucked up place.
"Yeehehehgu~~~~~!" A piercing and guttural scream echoed over the rooftops. Making Jaune almost loose his grip as the sudden screaming echoed through the streets and tall houses.
Jumping of the top of the ladder, Jaune took a look around. Spotting a familiar lantern. Cautiously making his way to the lantern and quickly lighting it. The rune on his hand lighting up as he just knew that he could 'wake' up at this stop should he so chose.
Walking over to the closed gate, tasted to see if it was open or not. Sighing as he found it locked tight. "That's what's happen when you get your hopes up Jaune."
"Ha! Ain't that the truth, eh lad?" A gruff and old voice chuckled out. Making Jaune jump five feet in the air and wildly look around. Eyes eventually landing on a window where a lantern were lit. "You an outsider as well?"
"Yes. I'm new to Yharnam." Jaune answered cautiously.
"Oh, you must be a hunter then, and an outsider to boot! Name's Gilbert, a fellow outsider. You must have had a fine time of it. Yharnam has a special way of treating outsiders. I don't think I'm able to stand on my own any longer, but I'm more than willing to help a fellow outsider, if there is anything to be done." Gilbert said before breaking out into long and sharp coughing. "This town is cursed. Whatever your reasons for being here are, you should plan a swift exit. Whatever can be gained from this accursed place is bound to do more harm than good."
'Like I was given a chance.' Jaune thought darkly as he frowned. "Thank you, Gilbert. I found a note earlier that said to use Paleblood, whatever that is, to transcend the hunt. Ring any bells?"
"Afraid not, Yharnamites aren't prove to sharing, more so when it's about their precious blood." Gilbert rasped with a laugh. "But if its blood you seek, you should try the healing church. The church controls all knowledge on blood ministration and all varieties of blood. You will find it across the bridge, to the east of Yharnam Central. It's a place called Cathedral Ward, and deep withing the ward is the old cathedral. The birthplace of the healing church's special blood. At least that's what they say. Normally they wouldn't let you near the place at risk of violence, maybe even death. But… the hunt is on tonight. Maybe, just maybe this will be your chance."
"Thank you, Gilbert. I will keep that in mind. Anything else you think I should know?" Jaune asked as he turned away, not wanting to stay in one place to long else his nerves would get the best of him.
"Find something to believe in, a set of personal rules, faith, a person. Just… just have something that can push you forward when everything seems dark and hopeless. I have seen and heard hunters go mad from the hunt. Something is truly wrong here. Best keep yer wits about and head down when you are here." Gilbert said hoarsely before breaking out into another string of coughs. "But don't let an ailing man keep you from you hunt."
"Then I'm off. Hopefully we can have a chat another time." Jaune smiled as he stepped away. Following the way around Gilberts house and down a set of stairs. Quickly picking of eight pebbles from another corpse. 'When did steeling from the dead become my life?'
However, eight pebbles might come in handy, even if he currently hadn't a single clue about what for. Instead opting to walk over the bridge. Only for a mad man to come charging out from behind a couple of crates. Bloody cleaver in hand as the man looked at Jaune like he was a prime cut of beef.
Reluctantly Jaune fell into a simple stance, shield up and sword on the ready as the mad man came charging at him. Taking the mad mans next attack with his shield, bashing him back before striking out with Crocea Mors.
In three simple steps the man lied dead on the ground. Large bloody gash from shoulder to hip. Cleaning of the guts and organs pieces of Crocea Mors. Familiar tears welled up in his eyes as Jaune looked pityingly at the corpse at his feet. Even if he hated himself for what he was doing. He did find some twisted solace in knowing that he was long since mad.
"Hunters are doctors, Yharnam is the patients, and beasts are the cancer." Jaune whispered like a mantra. Doing his best rationalise his actions as guilt gnawed at him.
Walking to where the mad man hid, Jaune arrived at a crossroad of sort. To jump down and land by the well, where he saw a ghost ball. But doing so would also lead him close to a group of men who stood over a burning bonfire further down the street.
And Jaune would like to not murder everyone he came across. Just thinking about it left a bitter taste of ash in his mouth. No, Jaune liked to think of himself as a kind and merciful person. If he could, he would love to simply help people. Unfortunately, he was had been forced into a role that required him to kill by powers that be.
Sighing, Jaune instead headed down the stair, and turned the corner. Stopping as he came face to face with two other men. Both turning to him and getting up. Looking at him with crazed bloodlust. Letting Jaune know a fight would be unavoidable.
But that didn't mean he could try diplomacy. Even if he knew it to be a lost cause. "Any reason why we can't act like we never saw each other?"
"You smell of blood outsider. Our blood! Give it back!" The man with a torch and hastily strapped together wooden shield bellowed out. Jaune quickly rose his shield as the other man charged at him with a pitchfork.
Not knowing how to properly deal with the range the pitchfork offered, and also not wanting to get his insides turned to outsides. Jaune took the blow to his shield. Compared to the Boarbatusk it was barely a trickle. But Jaune let himself be pushed backwards.
And as the pitchfork wielder came in for a second stab, Jaune quickly stepped to the side and smashed his shield into the wooden shaft. Splinters flying everywhere as the rotten wooden handle was turned to splinters.
The mad man looked dumbly at his what remined of his weapon as Crocea Mors ruthlessly kissed his throat. Making unwashed hands fly up to his neck where blood ran freely.
Stepping past the falling man, Jaune raced towards the man with a shield and brought his sword down. Cleaving deep into the wood and making the man grunt as he dropped his shield.
Wildly flailing his torch towards Jaune as he looked at him like he was a monster. While also trying to run away. As the mad man made his way towards the staircase, his foot slipped. And Jaune watched horrified as the man tumbled down. Blood spattering, bones breaking as the man crashed down. Tender flesh crashing towards unyielding stone.
Mercifully he was dead long before he landed in a heap of broken bones at the foot of the stairs. Crumbling at the feet of a five-man patrol. Ten eyes turned to stare at him with mad bloodlust and righteous fury. Jaune let out a soft whimper as he tore Crocea Mors out of the wooden shield.
"Please, there is no reason for violence." Jaune pleaded, not wanting to spill any more blood. But the men paid him no mind. Instead charging up the tight staircase. Pushing past each other to be the first to reach him.
As the men reached the top. Jaune did something truly cruel. Bashing his shield into the lead man whose face quickly turned to into one of horror as he fell backwards. Stumbling back and crashing into his fellow members.
Like dominos they all fell back down the stairs in a pandemonium of screams, curses and blood. Jaune saw legs and arms being impaled by the steel fence pickets. Arms and femurs being broken as they were lodged in between the fence posts. Not to even mention the mad flaying of their weapons.
Five angry mad men turned to a single crying and sobbing man, shouting madly for his mother as he laid in a pile of broken bones and large lacerations.
Looking down at his masterwork in horror, grim resolve settled over Jaune as he cautiously made his way down the stairs. Gently putting the remaining mad man out of his misery. "It didn't have to come to this." He whispered as he pulled Crocea Mors out of the last corpse.
Tears of guilt welling in his eyes as he took in all the glassy eyed corpses. Before hastily shaking himself out of the melancholy and looking around, fearful that someone else might have heard the commotion.
Only breathing heavily out when he saw no one coming to check. Instead it seemed he was the only one alive on the street instead. What other mad men there was had continued to just walk up the road instead. Completely lost in their minds to notice what had happened. In a way, they were no better than zombies hunting for food. Completely blind to the outside world unless something walked before them.
Looking around, Jaune saw the clinic in the distance, also spotting the closed gate. 'No, not opening that. Maybe I would if I found someone wounded, but I'm not letting any threats have a clear way down to the clinic.' Jaune swore to himself. Maybe it would be a good shortcut, but no. He was not subjecting the clinic for more danger than absolutely necessary.
Sighing, Jaune turned to look at the road that led deeper into Yharnam. Letting his boots echo as he walked up. Searching another corpse with a golden ghost fire above it that rested against the well. He even got shouted at by a rude old man just because he was an 'Outsider.' Like he wanted to be here in the first place.
Spotting a sleeping man with a rifle, Jaune carefully snuck past him. Inwardly glad that he didn't have to kill another man. He had already killed seven mad men and caused the death of five more. If he could spare someone, Jaune would leap to do just that.
Carefully sneaking past the sleeping rifleman, Jaune spotted another golden ghost fire over another corpse. Making his way over to it Jaune saw a sickle hell bent on ripping his throat out. Quickly brining up his aura, Jaune took the blow and retaliated with one of his own.
One again Crocea Mors struck true and ended another life. Easily tearing through bone and tearing open the poor man's entire ribcage. He died before he hit the ground.
*BANG!*
A gunshot rang out in the quiet alley. At the same time Jaune felt like he was hit by a truck. Sucking in a deep breath as Jaune's golden aura flickered for a brief second as his aura was disrupted.
Hastily throwing himself to the side, tumbling over the corpse Jaune felt something swoosh right past his shoulder. Taking cover behind the wall as he felt his aura quickly came back to full strength. 'What was that? It completely disrupted my aura!' Jaune inwardly screamed at himself. Heart pounding in his ears at the terrifying revelation that something almost made his aura void and null.
"There is no hiding from a good hunter of Yharnam! Come out and face your death like a man, beast!" The mad man cackled wildly as he loaded another bullet. "Now then, come out little beasty. I have a quicksilver present that would look oh so wonderful when its introduced to your forehead, or maybe I should introduce it to your heart? Good gooey brain matter or beautiful blood? Say beasty, how do you want to die?"
"How about not doing that?" Jaune asked as he quickly formulated a plan. Fingers grabbing his pistol before quickly dismissing that idea. Not knowing of he could properly land a hit at this range. Instead a cunning plan entered his mind as he palmed one of the pebbles, he had picked up earlier.
"There can be no deals between hunters and beast, beast." The mad man spat out, dashing Jaune's already waning hope for a peaceful resolution. Only whispering a soft, if resolute "Then so be it."
Chucking the pebble to the side, the mad man instantly turned and shot. Missing completely and making him wide open as Jaune came charging at him like a truck. Shield raised and crashing into his face as Crocea Mors pierced straight through his chest.
Pulling Crocea Mors out the mad rifle man fell to the ground, dead. "It didn't have to come to this." Jaune sighed remorsefully as he looked at another kill added to his tally.
Victory had never tasted so bitter before.
Leaving the corpse where it was, Jaune hastily made his way back to the golden orb that drew him here first. Searching the corpse he pulled out a Blood Stone Shard. It looked like a D.N.A helix made of blood and crystals. Jaune quickly rang his bell and summoned Isadora. Giving her the Blood Stone Shard to store in his cache. Something which she graciously did, but not before singing his praises before disappearing in a soft *Foff*.
Shaking his head at her antics, Jaune continued on his path. Keeping to the higher path, something that would leave him with an advantage should the mad men by the burning cross try to gang up on him. 'I can never look at a staircase the same. Who would have thought they would be so deadly?'
With his mind wandering, Jaune didn't notice a mad man that laid in ambush before it was almost too late. The cleaver crashed into his neck, choking him as his grip on his aura wavered before fading. Dodging low and throwing himself forward, Jaune turned towards his foe. Another man who was just as mad as the earlier one.
"Is no one in Yharnam sane?" Jaune whispered hoarsely as he massaged his throat. Allowing the mad man to come charging at him once again as Jaune fell into a familiar rhythm and dance.
Block, bash, cut. And another poor soul laid dead on the cobbled roads of Yharnam. Jaune sighed remorseful as he stepped past the corpse, turning to look back. "I will come back to bury you." It was the least he could do.
Jaune cautiously took in the mob of mad men that stood around the bonfire. Bracing himself for a hellish fight as they all turned to take him in at the same time. Quickly taking in the area, Jaune found a little area in the middle. Nestled between two staircases, even if some of the fence was broken.
It was his best for standing his ground, not wanting to run back and up the blood-soaked staircase further back. Just a single moment of inattention could bring him crashing down.
No, as the mob rushed at him like an army of angry ants. Jaune found himself backed into a corner A quick look to the burning pyre was all it took before hysterical energy came over Jaune together with a blazing righteous fury. 'I'm not going to end up there!' He swore to himself as adrenaline coursed trough his veins. And as his heart thundered in his ears.
Jaune moved.
Taking the initiative before he was completely swarmed. Laying his entire back into the swing, Crocea Mors tore the head of the first of many unlucky bastards. Shield crashing into another body as blood splattered around. A quick look behind him saw another swarm of mad men, and Jaune knew he couldn't allow himself to be flanked.
Letting out a battle cry, Jaune threw himself at the wave before him. Hacking and slashing wildly. Allowing his aura to take most attacks as he carved a bloody path through them. Taking a mace to the face and a cleaver to the back didn't stop him. Aura buckled and was rapidly lessening as hit after hit reached him.
But as Jaune threw himself forward, fuelled by pure adrenaline and a flaming will to not end up on a burning pyre, his aura regeneration seemed to shoot up. Each hit brough it down and each of his attacks brought it back. Carving his path trough what felt like a sea of people Jaune doubled back.
Crashing into the one's who chased him with reckless abandoned. Using his shield as a weapon. Basing, slamming, using the edges, Jaune was running completely on what little instinct he had and was no different than a beast. Just made of steel and sword instead of tooth and claw.
A sickle slammed down on the top of his shield bringing it down as a torch slammed into his face. Ignoring the burning pain and blinking the stars away as Crocea Mors flew out and cut deep into another mad man. Dropping his shield, Jaune pulled up his pistol and rested it on the forehead to the last mad man.
Who looked dumbly at the gun before looking into his eyes. "That's not fair."
A bang thundered out as blood and brain matter scattered over the street. Leaving Jaune the lone survivor of the absolute bloodbath. As the adrenaline left him, Crocea Mors clattered down on the red stones as he looked around in horror. Blood coated the stones, even splattering high upon doors and looking like a hastily new layer of paint.
Blood coated him, even sticking to his hair. His coat was wet and heavy, his gloves were coated deep red. He looked like a serial killer straight out of a blood bath. Jaune took in the absolute carnage he had created. Heads separated from bodies; intestines spilled out from deep cuts. Even broken bones that poked out from flesh from where he had missed.
Horrified Jaune felt bile quickly rising as tears stung in his eyes.
"What have I done?"
####
Note: As the keeper of the dream, Gehrman is privy to knowledge others don't know about. But he only knows about Remenant in broad strokes. The grimm, the academies, and Jaune's upbringings. That's all. No aura, no magic, no relics, no maidens. Just about as much as Jaune knew when he fakes his way into Beacon.
Note: Yharnam and all assorted areas Are larger. Yharnam is a metropolis, so instead of the short minutes it takes run from area to area. It will take maybe hours, at least longer. So Jaune won't meet his first boss until the weekend.
Note: We also see the limitations of Aura. I have created some rules and limitations for it. So Jaune won't be steam rolling every opponent he meets just due to having aura instead.
One of the rules is that Aura is only a +2 stat enhancer for Jaune. The others might have different enhancers, but this is to make things somewhat balanced. Don't worry, Jaune will find other ways to make himself more than a little OP. But it wont happen all at once, and he will first need to experience trauma. Shit ton of it.
