Journey to Another Stars

by SkyChaser17

Her heart would seek love filling the empty void, her resolution would tear uncertainty as bellowing thunder, his emotion is as calm as the night, where his hope would be as bright as the day. T to be safe and summary could be better.

1. Ascendance to the-

Greetings, Captain! May your journey aboard this ship be blessed.

It's an honor to have finally worked up the courage to share this one idea of mine with the community as the beginning of a new objective on the horizon, no matter how small it is. (I really owe you one Phoenix!)

Now, before we proceed any further, let me clarify something. I have a huge struggle to string decent sentences with readable syntax, to the point it is very painful to read. So, if grammar is important for your reading immersion, back out, I am saying this for your sake. I'm not a native English speaker, so this is the best I could offer in terms of fluency, okay?

Next, the plot was "so creative" for adding a certain idiot blonde with a twist to one of Mihoyo's best mobile games that dominated the Play Store, as well as action-packed RPG gaming in general. Again, you see the sign; go ahead. Save us the time and effort of writing a comment about how another author cannot be creative enough.

Another drop in the vast sea of cliche RWBY-fanfic that just could not get any better. Sigh... I know, but I cannot help trying to make something, man.

Honkai Impact 3rd is just one of those games with spectacular writing and gameplay, plus the graphics and action-oriented formula just keep us on the edge of our seats on every mission and battle.

Well, it is a bit hard for me to not get addicted, especially on the graduation cha- No, I did not get paid to do blatant advertising in the middle of a fan fiction site, let me clarify that. I just fell in love with the game and regret never starting on it years ago. Meh, better late than never.

But before we begin this journey, let me say one more thing.

Disclaimer: Honkai Impact 3rd and RWBY belonged to their respective owners. This is solely a fan-made fiction that does not compensate me as its writer.

With that out of the way. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

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"Speaking" 1st and 3rd pov

Thoughts 1st pov

'Thoughts' 3rd pov

Italics and Bold are also used to emphasize points or important situations

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Edit (2/12/2024 local time): Let's just say… the grammar errors of the past version are killing me worse than they did to you guys and leave it at that. Skip this if you didn't care of my rant.

Don't say that I've gone cold too long either. Irl has been kicking my ass more than what I'd like. T_T

There is no retcon, I assure you, just pure grammar, and sentence overhaul.

...Okay, maybe a massive grammar overhaul and retcons here and there. But! It is mostly to make the sentence easier to read or not too lengthy! I Promise! Believe me! T_T

Unfortunately, this has taken way longer than I anticipated due to procrastination and other real-life obligations. (Story of my life in general)

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Total words: 23K (Bruh, it's 100 pages in Word)

Shout out to my fellow writers:Jdog2k, Stuffy, 5had0wHand, Jaya2002, and SSJeanne35. Y'all really push me to do better and I want to live up to that encouragement. Seriously, this is too late… but hopefully, I will not take too much time to write again (I jinxed myself, but I will live with that, dang it…)

Y'all should check out their work; it is way better than mine. XD

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Nothing is instant. Life will never give its blessing unless you work hard for it. Hence, you should never tempt them by eating 2-minute instant noodles after a can of Dr Pepper.

-Skychaser17 being a dumbass.

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C.1 Ascendance to the [ṿ̸̎̅̈̿ö̶̮͖̪́̈́̃́į̶̮̗̫͛́̄d̸̘̣̥̽͋̾̓]

"Graagh?!" A loud, intense thump travels through the midnight air, sending a forceful shiver down the spines of startled passersby from investigating the disquieting noise from the dorm's rooftop.

"Bgwaahg?!" Then came another cry. Followed by the second, third, and fourth. Each accompanied by a distinct smacking sound.

Until an exhausted, gasping teenager crashed unceremoniously to the floor like a heavy sack of flour. Swarm of colorful static dancing around the edges of his dimming vision. Ragged gasps becoming the only audible hiss between his clenched teeth.

Angry scratches adorn his cheeks and lower jaw. His left eye was half-closed and twitching, with a big bruise mark sitting in the center. Red fluids continued to seep from the bleeding scar beneath the yellow bangs, turning his eyes sickly bloodshot from infection.

The attempt to sit upright on the flat, cold floor was met with strong opposition from the swirling vertigo. However, despite the hammering headache, the injured blonde was still able to raise his trembling right wrist to wipe off the pink spittle gathered on the recently slit lip.

It took several seconds for the hazy vision to stabilize. Despite this, the blonde was still capable of registering the figure standing ahead of him beneath the pale moonlight. The lack of proper illumination did nothing to diminish the barely restrained cold intimidation.

"Ptfu-!... Satisfied?" Blue hissed defiantly, maintaining unbroken eye contact.

"Ha... barely-" Magenta scowled back with a sneer, resentment surging in anything but small doses.

"Haa... aargh... okay, who would've thought—Boaakh!?" Jaune doubled over when a sudden blow struck his gut, preventing him from standing upright as the blow forcefully expelled air from his lungs into the slackened maw.

"Graaaah-!?" Which was promptly followed by another left hook to the jaw.

"Tch!" Should one define who Lie Ren is, most students and teachers alike would undoubtedly label him as the epitome of a still water surface. Calm, logical, composed, and unwavering. JNPR's voice of reason and the only responsible person around who can act like a proper grown-up when nobody else could.

Owning the forbearance expected of a saint for enduring Nora Valkyrie's headache-inducing babbling on a daily basis. Often seen steering the energetic bomber away from the hapless school janitor and student populace caught in the blast radius of her antics. Not to mention ensuring that local hospitals would not get any bright ideas of using her image as the next ADHD poster child without her permission.

Coupled with an easygoing demeanor, a very long fuse, a lethargic disposition, and acute observational skills above the norm, Ren left a great impression on everyone he interacted with. Always willing to listen rather than add thoughtless comments whenever there was an ongoing conversation or discussion.

Further solidifying Ren's image as the polar opposite of Yang Xiao-Long. Who is the absolute definition of an impulsive, brash person on a good day-

"S-! GraaaAAAAaaah!"

"Blaargh?!" With a resounding crunch, another uppercut propelled the receiver's jaw and entire body to the air. Before once again ungracefully rolling on the crimson-stained ground with a resounding thud.

"Aaa-… Grrgh-!? Aaaakh-?!" The lack of air was indescribable. Jaune felt like his face was breaking apart from the phantom pain, while his gut churned as if it were repeatedly compressed and stretched beyond its limits. Rising temperatures and a small concussion dispersed throughout his body equally, with an unwanted aftertaste of iron that persisted in his mouth.

-was neither totally accurate nor inaccurate. For those who wholeheartedly believed Ren couldn't be mad and ashamed of it, well the cliff is right over there.

"Ha… Ha…!" Ren let out a series of sharp breaths, his usual calm facade cracking to reveal something… Untamed. While he lacked Yang's so-called "Top-boxer" quality, the livid martial artist's relentless ferocity was, frankly, barbaric enough to render Cardin's bullying benign in comparison.

"Khaa... If Nora… sees you like this, cough!" Jaune rasped, struggling to catch his breath from the onslaught. But the beaten teen couldn't help but to snark on Ren's lack of self-control.

"Aaaargh... Can I say that she… would do the same? Or... told you to- khk-!... cool… it?" With difficulty, Jaune finished his grunt with a tremble. Struggling to sit upright on the floor, showing visible exhaustion and aches all over his limbs.

"Maybe..." Ren's jaw tightened, his fists remained clenched, but he didn't strike again.

"Though essentially?... even she would not get you kneecaps when I'm done." Ren then bit back without even raising his tone. The thing is,

He was not joking.

"Graah… go… Good thin-! aaaaaw... I was, s... spared... from... it? Aargh… My everything…" Jaune winced aloud, attempting to push himself upright as his hands failed to soothe his injured body.

"...Don't push it, Jaune. I was this close from blowing your brains out," it was not an empty threat.

"Darn, -cough-! right you are, I… deserve it… Phu!" Jaune spat on the floor, it was the third tooth he lost today.

"An hour of beating you into a pulp wasn't enough to express my disgust at your stunt. I may acknowledge your desire for recognition, but remember this… There is always a line… that I'm willing to cross." Ren asserts with a cold declaration.

"I... I just—" His mouth stammered when Jaune's body failed to sit upright.

"Shove it," Ren snapped.

"I get that you want to prove yourself, Jaune. You've made that clear..." The ravennette continued, his expression marred by a deep scowl.

"Though…" Briefly softening the intense glare,

"-You are indeed capable of holding on to your doughty claim, much to others' disagreements." Ren begrudgingly added the last bit as a retrofit of sorts, as if swallowing a rotten lemon and fighting the urge to gag when the words left his mouth.

"Yah, feeling the love here, dear believer…"

"What? Want more?" Ren approached with a raised fist.

Jaune let out a panicked voice with both hands raised in surrender. Ren had to slam his eyelids shut to stop the bubbling rage from taking control from the miserable display. Determined to let the flickering embers inside his chest flare for a bit longer before completely extinguishing them.

Even after the simmering tension had subsided, there was still a lack of interaction that persisted. Creating a rather heavy, invinsible barrier between them that smoked any prospect of civilized conversation after the one-sided aggression.

Jaune took advantage of the lack of communication to pop a few joints back into place with some gentle thumb presses. When wincing from another painful crack, his disheartened gaze was drawn upward, towards the unmistakable presence of Beacon Tower on the horizon.

Jaune's eyes followed the shadows of the enormous structure—tall, castle-like spires straight out of a fantasy novel, complete with cone-shaped roofs and a sleek, modern vibe that only skyscrapers could pull off. Standing out like a sore thumb in the heart of the school grounds.

"... Aargh... Seriously, what was I thinking for faking my way here?" Jaune muttered under his breath while ruffling his hair, frustration seeping into his words as he stared at the tower for what felt like an eternity after letting out a grunt if only to restore a sense of normalcy-

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it is your utter stupidity?" Ren's growl cut through the awkward tension with the surgical precision of a rusted knife.

"Maybe the inability to grasp the concept of premature death perhaps? Or how is your mind consumed by irrelevant hero fantasies that lack any real-world logic?" he rattled off in a disgruntled tone without pausing to inhale.

"How about dragging others into your mess because you mistake pathetic show of machismo for a journey to grow up? Or uselessly trying to outshine that pitiful mask you wear all the darn time that always failed to be recognized by everyone and seek more negative attention by wooing a snobbish princess who's even more insecure than yourself that can do nothing else but tear you down for the past weeks because you're that hungry for punishments?" Each of Ren's words stung with raw, unfiltered spite. Jaune couldn't help but force out a burst of pained laughter.

"Ha! Fine, I'll let those slide even though I'm itching to deck you back asshole." Jaune shot back with equal energy, eyes squinting utmost disrespect at Ren's taunting.

"Warranted, and you are still the dumbass here. Never assume I'll just forgive you that easy, fearless leader" Ren dryly returned, not missing a beat with resigned annoyance instead of outright anger.

"Just haaaaave to get a winning remark in, huh?" Ren merely offers a silent smirk at Jaune's deadpan drawl. The blond's brow twitch intensifies as Ren casually plops down next to him on the rooftop's edge.

For the life of him, Jaune couldn't figure out if Ren was secretly a robot ninja with a malfunctioning empathy chip, or just had too much vinegar beneath his pasty mug. Because the guy could sass anyone to the point of balding with a few well-placed words.

After glancing at the Lie's casual indifference to his presence, Jaune could not help but continue gently rubbing his body to ease its pains when looking away. While Ren focused on maintaining his semblance, suppressing the desire to maim the whining blonde.

Neither is willing to address nor dissolve the mounting suspense. Both preferred to ponder with their own thoughts after mutually recognizing each other's intention to keep their trap shut.

While both agreed on the mutual silence, their moods and consciences didn't seem to agree with such pact as the contemplative silence lapse into something more oppressive in nature.

Unwanted flashbacks of Jaune's hesitation to confront his bullies suddenly resurfaced like a surging tidal wave. It became increasingly harder to dismiss them as the lack of conversation prevented his brain from thinking about something else, with Jaune's foot restlessly drumming on the rooftop's ledge.

Oh, how Jaune had wanted to go back in time and give his past self a hard time with a nasty dropkick for how he'd acted when Pyrrha was trying to help him out as any decent human being would do.

However, if anyone asked Jaune to sum up today's field trip to Forever Fall was like, he wouldn't hesitate to snark that it was nothing short of a great trainwreck that would've gone even more off-track if he hadn't grown a pair in the middle of it.

Yet, to merely label it as "a very long day" that made everyone on the team require a ten-hour power nap after wolfing down unhealthy amounts of pancakes for that much-needed food coma, was still a gross understatement.

Unsurprisingly, pure shame is the first emotion that floods Jaune's chest.

On the other hand…

Finally dealing with Cardin's arrogance after being the bully's punching bag for weeks, that is by saving said bully's prideful arse after being battered to hell and back by yours truly before facing an angry Ursa Major all by himself with nearly no aura left, then delivering a half-hearted threat to leave his friends alone that a child could've done better after somehow winning that fight, then this after the inevitable mess in the dorm… had been a much-needed wake-up call.

'What kind of pathetic hero are you?' Jaune, bristling with self-blame, wished he wasn't this miserable. Whether it was leftover adrenaline or not, it didn't change the fact that Jaune wasn't even prepared to be the huntsman he'd proclaimed himself to be.

Also, it is unlikely for Cardin to turn over a new leaf right away. Growth takes time, and Jaune knows that better than anyone else right now. The only reason Jaune is certain about why Cardin has not addressed the entire cause of today's trip incident with the Headmaster is from the benefit of the doubt.

Furthermore, although a jerk, Cardin can back up his assertion with a mace to the face. Unlike him, who unintentionally puts his teammates in danger by not contributing enough in an active role and could only bark orders from safe places. Incapable of solving his own problems before it reaches a boiling point where his team will gladly risk their necks for his sake, not the other way around.

'Way to go, jackass' Jaune inwardly berated himself with a sharper, harsher edge that he rarely showed to others.

At the very least… The gnawing remorse after the trip did not discourage Jaune from finally disclosing the overdue truth when he called his team to their dormitory for a… heart-to-heart conversation a few hours ago.

Jaune started off with a sorry, just like his partner frequently blurted out for the smallest thing. However, unlike Pyrrha's apology, which was a polite habit from instilled courtesy, Jaune's sorry was genuine and filled with regret as he bowed his head down.

Apologizing for being difficult, for not reaching out for help when Cardin is clearly bullying him, and for not explaining why he was so far behind compared to others. Jaune couldn't thank them enough for putting up with his nonsense.

He did not offer them the chance to brush it off as something trivial, nor did Jaune downplay the team's forthcoming willingness to forgive him or the lighthearted banter to lighten the mood by sharing the truth. About why he is so weak against others in a defeated tone.

The exact reveal he told Pyrrha. That Jaune lied to get in because he wanted more than anything to be a warrior like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather before him.

It was by no means easy for Jaune to share everything, but he persevered, openly admitting his suppressed issues, including his goals, aspirations, and strong desire for validation from those around him.

Whether it was deemed naive or foolish, becoming a hero is not a mere childhood fantasy that everyone lets go as they grow older and wiser. Jaune always wanted to be recognized as one, a person who can always lend a hand to those in need and protect those he holds dear. Not the clown who always brightened everyone's day with his antics and goody-two-shoes speech.

Another painful sigh escaped Jaune's lips. The longer Jaune remained stubborn, the more it showed that he was not prepared and had never been good enough to walk down this path.

When a downcast Pyrrha couldn't help but ask why, Jaune couldn't help but dryly recount the reasons.

Why he was never good enough to convince his old man, Nicholas Arc, that he could become a great huntsman like him.

Why did Jaune's body gave out and squandered his one and only chance to prove them wrong.

Why Jaune couldn't train like others from not being able to land a mere hit with a wooden sword once all those years ago.

Why bothering his old man and the other guards in Ansel, because he doesn't want to give up, has gotten Jaune nowhere.

Why does everyone know that the stubborn Jaune Arc is not huntsman material because he's not good enough to be one.

Why all Jaune could do after all of it is concede that they're right and... not humoring him anymore.

His family loved him, but never "believed" in him.

Despite the bitterness and mentioning he's over it, Jaune cannot let go of his dream.

How could he?

The Arc's history is overflowing with illustrious tales of long-lived sagas passed down through generations to the present day. They rise up to brave the danger, defending the weak, becoming warriors who achieve great things and leave their marks across the lands.

Even if not everyone recognized Jaune's brilliance, he refused to let the stories he had cherished for years fade away. Jaune refuses to let his grandparents' and predecessors' stories end, refusing to let all those tales end with his father, a humble village guard carrying on the last chapter. All because Jaune is not good enough to continue that legacy.

For this reason alone, Jaune extended another sincere apology to Pyrrha. For doing nothing wrong but being a supportive friend that he had taken for granted and ungratefully pushed away, which was overheard by Cardin. Harming their bonds just because his pride couldn't accept being weak in front of those he respected. One action Jaune had wished he hadn't done to prevent all of the distance and landmines over the last week if he'd been less stubborn and foolish.

That it was because of her that gave him a second chance to prove himself worthy as the hero he'd dreamed of. To be strong, dependable, trustworthy, and a good leader worthy of their friendship. For being an Arc who always kept their promise no matter what. Pyrrha had given him the chance that only now Jaune realized he'd never properly thanked her for.

Throughout the entire tale, not a single interruption arose. They sat there in quiet contemplation, with Pyrrha occasionally furrowing her brow, caught between wanting to hug Jaune and give him some space as she finally saw the real person behind the sweet friend who had accepted her so openly.

Jaune let out a self-deprecating chuckle, feeling a bit justified for speaking the truth. A mix of reality checks combined with a "look around you" mentality worked wonders for his perspective. Considering he had ordered Pyrrha to deck him across the face without hesitation because he owed her that much, it certainly did.

Nora... was a unique case. She's incensed-No, she was downright furious.

Jaune hardly had time to react before his face smooched the floor. As a searing, burning sensation crept across his cheek like an army of angry biting ants. Jaune swore he heard someone scream before hitting the floor, but his mind didn't need to register that information as his blurred vision showed someone standing over him.

Before Jaune could absorb what was happening, a violent hand yanked him by the collar, forcing him to witness a fury that he had never seen painted on Nora's face. Pyrrha's frantic fuss faded into the background as Nora's words rang in his ears.

According to the enraged ginger, his recklessness was nothing but a death wish. It's even more surreal that it was Nora, of all people in the room, who showed her indignation as disbelief at what she'd heard.

Faking grades and documents was one thing. Pulling it off with nothing to support him besides an old heirloom he borrowed without permission and improvising on the fly? That he's entering the initiation without even knowing what Aura is and just learning how to use it on the day of the exam without knowing anything else? It was beyond reckless. One wrong step, and Jaune could've ended up dead.

This is it. Jaune was ready to accept the verdict, one that he deserved. But no. Nora cried.

As her grip on his collar trembled, Jaune sensed a mix of rage and an unfamiliar emotion brewing behind her eyes, but it didn't loosen. Nora is extremely upset that Jaune is willing to risk everything just to prove himself to people who don't deserve his everything. Tears streamed down her cheeks, driven by anger and concern for Jaune, who has gone through years of indirect rejection from his own family, of all things.

She exploded that they were a team, loud enough that anyone could hear, but she didn't care and continued her rant. Roaring that Jaune could rely on them, not only as teammates but as friends who always had his back. Friends who would never leave him when he needed them the most. That he could believe in them even if he didn't believe in himself.

Even hours later, as he nursed his newly earned bruises, Jaune remained unsettled by Nora's emotional outburst. He had always been disappointed with himself but had never questioned nor blamed his team, apart from casual conversations. Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha, and Ren had only known each other for a few months, so he had no idea how much his actions had hurt Nora when their interactions had mostly been cordial, aside from ensuring she didn't cause too much trouble when left unchecked.

Jaune couldn't help but morph his face into a scowl with furrowed brows and tightening cheeks. He was unable to bury the bubbling memories of what happened next in the dorm, which would make that guilt linger for months, if not years, on his shoulders.

Nora's tirade abruptly stopped, as if someone had pricked her with a needle that paused her in place. Her eyes widened in dismay, something Jaune had failed to notice and regretted not acting upon, as Nora's attention shifted to Pyrrha, whose face was overshadowed by her bangs, fists turning white without even making a single noise the entire time.

"You knew…" Nora accused almost in a whisper. Connecting his avoidance and her lack of attempt to inform her and Ren like a punch to the gut.

"…And never told us?" The silence that followed was suffocating.

Nora's release of Jaune's collar to let him fall to the floor and establish another suffocating tension was one thing. The sight of Nora administering a brutal hook to Pyrrha's cheek that drew blood, which also sent Pyrrha sprawling to the floor and sent the temperature in the room plummeting even further, was an entirely different crap basket.

Ren and Jaune barely had time to react verbally, as both rushed to restrain their respective partners in an armlock to prevent the situation from escalating even further. Pyrrha, who was already reeling back from the punch, was uncharacteristically seething with a deep frown, while Nora, red-faced with anger, appeared ready to go again.

In retrospect, it was a wonder the walls did not crash down when Nora made no effort to conceal her second tirade as Ren tried preventing her from lunging at her current source of ire. Blaming Pyrrha's choice as nothing but a hypocritical indecision.

Little metallic items slowly float upward with a humming buzz alongside Pyrrha's rising indignation. Seething that Nora could never comprehend the anguish that comes from making that one mistake that would lead to everything crumbling beyond their control, for always picking the most forward option without thinking of its consequences.

Needless to say, the response was not pleasant. It was astonishing that no one from Team RWBY or the adjoining dorms overheard Nora's loud shout and intervened in the growing tension. It's also astonishing that Jaune and Ren were able to restrain them enough to prevent the brawl from taking place.

They couldn't recall who believed that their actions were the best choice. But that declaration was the final straw.

"To hell with your stupid beliefs!" Nora's voice shattered under the intense strain of her roar. "Cardin's beating would be nothing compared to what I'll do if you ever pull this crap again! I will not lose my family again!"

Nora's last outburst left her visibly drained, petrifying everyone in the room except Ren, who sprang into action.

"Nora!" Calling her name with urgency before enveloping her in a tight embrace. Gently soothing her with calming strokes on her back as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. Telling her it's okay to let it out when brushing her locks to swipe some of the tears away.

"It's okay. Let it out," Ren hummed like a steady rhythm. The distraught ginger could only bury her face deeper into the crook of Ren's neck, dissolving the tension as her soft weeps slowly filled the room.

Pyrrha and Jaune were left in disbelief, as if someone had just hurled a brick at their foreheads, because Nora —of all people—was attempting to maintain the team's harmony through aggression.

All because she didn't want to lose her family again. The absence of that familiar grin on her face was an unnerving inconsistency that the two wished they would never see again. Not to mention how their hearts sank after struggling to digest the slithering veracity of what Nora had accidentally revealed in the heat of the moment.

Gradually, after inhaling to prevent another unintentional shiver, with Ren's comforting palm holding hers the entire time, Nora turns her attention back to Jaune and Pyrrha after Ren's encouraging nod and grip of reassurance. Nervously, she calms down her erratic mind before preparing herself to tell their story.

One where she and Ren would prefer to keep to their childhood stories remain kept to themselves. Where the two of them have no one else but each other. Moving from one place to another as drifters in the vastness of Anima's forest, looking for shelter and safety as Kuroyuri... is no more.

Jaune was harshly grabbing his loudly thumping chest after learning how Ren had saved her when their village was under a literal Grimm attack, being its only survivors. He was actively biting his inner cheek to stay awake after deeming the whole story messed up in his mind.

Suddenly, the once-funny stories Nora told during lunch lost their absurd luster, no longer conveying the same humorous tone that Jaune had always taken with a grain of salt whenever Nora boasted about fighting Grimm in the most ridiculous way possible.

What if those are alterations of the truth?... How much did they truly show and share beneath those random moments together? Did... Did they ever see him and Pyrrha as friends in the first place?

The nonchalant follow-up—that they were immigrant orphans without proper citizenship for years after leaving Mistral Harbor, with nowhere else to go—caused Jaune to flare his aura outward without knowing, squeezing his chest in a vice grip to quell its rapid beating as his pupils turned into pinpricks.

Unaware of Jaune's increasing heart rate, Nora languidly continues recounting how they had to survive by scavenging for food in the slums and learning to defend themselves from those who showed no sympathy for two kids rummaging through dumpsters.

Eventually, they ended up joining the Xiong crime family, the only benefactors willing to help two Mistralian orphans wandering around Vale's streets, who only seeking shelter and food from the world's harsh reality.

Jaune has to make sure his mouth is sealed shut before blurting out a thoughtless response.

Ren and Nora have a mafia connection.

They have every right to throw him under the bus when Jaune indirectly jeopardizes their future. Accidentally putting Nora in a position where they can no longer hide their secrets, right after Jaune pours his heart out about seeking validation for his stupid pride and selfish dream.

But… they didn't. Both of them prefer to be proper huntsman and huntress in training to forge a better future for themselves... and for those to not experienced what they went through in the past.

Their conviction alone entirely dispelled any lingering doubts that Jaune ever deserved a spot in Beacon to begin with.

Pyrrha embraced them in a tight hug, setting aside her fury after escaping Jaune's loosened restraints. Strings of raspy grief escaped her trembling lips as she whispered unsteady apologies into their ears. Tears freely streamed down her cheeks, treating both Ren and Nora as if they were precious, fragile glass that could shatter any moment with the slightest touch. She couldn't even let them go, as her hug grew tighter for speaking harsh words and being a terrible friend.

All three fervently opposed Pyrrha's own labeling in unison. Jaune, in particular, was fiercely shouting that it was his fault for starting everything that led to this outcome. And it could've been avoided if he had just swallowed his false pride and accepted her help that night.

Pyrrha shook her head softly. She told him it was fine and took the unspoken turn to reveal her deep-seated insecurities. Revealing that, no matter where she went, she would forever be seen as the "Mistral Prodigy". The Invincible Girl was never simply Pyrrha Nikos.

The untouchable pedestal they put under Pyrrha's feet, along with the worldwide prominence that nearly crushed her with the pressures of fans' adoration and towering expectations. She couldn't help but fidget and hollowly confess that it was beyond exhausting to deal with such fame and people like Weiss, who kept regularly mentioning the title nearly every time. Pyrrha admitted that she would've given up at some point had it not been for them reintroducing her to what friendship and compassion are all about.

In Pyrrha's eyes, JNPR was like a precious box of unique and irreplaceable jewels. Despite their quirks and nature, they formed a colorful group of four, hailing from different backgrounds and all vying to become Remnant's future defenders and its hope for the future.

While their noble objective was commendable, it was their camaraderie and refreshing interactions that brought back a sense of normalcy that Pyrrha had long sought since her meteoric rise to fame. It was too much to stomach that her indecisiveness almost royally tore them apart.

The blame game would have spiraled out of control if not for Ren's intervention by using his Semblance to ease everyone's apprehension and restore order in a wash of gray color.

It was… Enlightening,

JNPR had never felt more connected than they did at that moment. Jaune realized he had been fortunate to have amazing friends who kept each other grounded as a group. A part of him still despised himself for nearly breaking the team apart. Yet... Another was happy, that it taught him to cherish and defend those friends he'd nearly taken for granted.

Jaune swore that as long as his body could move and act, he would repay their compassion in full by never disappointing them again.

Ren begged to differ.

"Got it, kokh-?! out of your system yet?…" The blond groaned aloud after carefully pushing his jaw back to place after another loud crack echoed from his chin

He wouldn't say it out loud, but Jaune thanked Ren in some way for beating him up without their partners' knowledge. The Arc couldn't sleep if everyone was perfectly fine with him staying on the team.

"No… Just, just give me a few more minutes…" The martial artist strained as he tilted his face upwards in an exasperated huff, trying to regain a portion of his so-called "saint-like" patience.

Ren was angry—no, he hid it well enough since Nora never once sensed his growing rage from how Jaune rubbed his childhood memories against their faces without an ounce of malice. Especially when Nora had cried for him and unintentionally exposed their past in the process without preparation for the fallout. Despite that, Ren couldn't hold it against Jaune any more than he already did.

Still… the Lie just couldn't fathom the allure of becoming a hero, nor the romanticized tales of saving others at the last moment during their grand quest or saving those in need. Jaune's willingness to go as far as forging his transcript only reinforced Ren's presumptions about all things heroic.

Don't get him wrong; Ren understood the pain and frustration Jaune had shouldered.

He would much rather confront idiots like Cardin any other day of the week than endure years of subtle denial from his own family. The irrefutable reality of Jaune's unwavering stubbornness was hard to deny as it was troublesome to deal with.

However unlike Jaune or Ruby, who always chased the idea of heroism like a sacred mission. Ren found the entire ambition... laughable.

The Lie would never admit it out loud to the shortcake's face out of respect. Nor even discourage her from that goal. Though Jaune already knows his stance on their dream the moment his fist landed square on his face. Repeatedly.

Ren has no desire to see a hero or become one. Not now, not never, ever since that day-

Soft hands gently tapping his cheeks, accompanied by a gentle chuckle whenever he tried to make her proud with his childish antics. Reassurances and affectionate hair ruffles from a calloused palm and a reassuring chuckle from a dependable man he always looked up to, along with deep-seated beliefs that he would grow up to be a great man alongside an amused laugh from both of them. The bustling streets filled with stores and bazaars in the morning that lasted till afternoon, the calming scent of nature mixed with processed spices, serene ponds adorned with water lilies and blooming lotus each morning under the vast blue skies—where those simple times reduced to nothing but tainted memories.

Haunting him till this day.

No hero had come to his aid.

His mother is gone.

His father perished by that nightmare.

His village lay in ruins, reduced to nothing but ashes.

The ongoing destruction, the ravaged houses, the scorching flames reaching for the sky, the pervasive fear hanging heavily in the air like lingering miasma, the foul scent of despair, the piercing cries of murderous ravens, and the howl of the damned completely muddle those happy memories into a shattered mirror.

Piece by piece,

limb by limb,

cries by cries-

Where were they when he needed them?

"Tch-!…" Ren couldn't determine whether his Semblance was a blessing or a curse when he earned it. The reignited flame of hate and anger was quickly washed in transparent gray together with his body in mere seconds before all those emotions were buried deep beneath a tranquil water surface that is "calmness" once again.

Judging from how the life drained out of his partner this evening, Ren wouldn't be surprised if Nora went ballistic for the second time upon learning about his secret semblance usage over the years. Not to mention sparing her from extra grief if he were to send their dear leader straight to the infirmary for a week or worse.

Oh… Ren held back, a lot. He's not the type who would send his opponent through solid metric tons of pure concrete when provoked like a menace; he had class.

Speaking of a menace. Jaune certainly creates damage like one, despite the idiot's supposed altruistic intention. He's too far gone in the clouds to only understand that not all business in this world is fun and glory, but Ren had to be blind like everyone else to ignore the untapped potential Jaune has after the idiot got his bearing together.

"Just… What were we doing exactly? …" Jaune shot rhetorically. Sensing the Lie's barely concealed animosity.

"Humph… Oh, the usual thing: you doing what is supposed to be an illegal action, and me delivering the overdue karma. Nothing worthy of alerting the authorities or the Headmaster's knowledge, which might create a national issue sparking a civil war or worse."

"Woooow... You're never going to let it down, are you?" Jaune deadpanned. Ren responded with a similarly unimpressed stare.

"... You could've gotten Nora killed." He conveyed bluntly, all boiling down to this.

"... I'm aware."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I am."

"You aren't."

"I am!"

"Both of them are crying because of you tonight. I'm taking your words with a grain of salt from now on. If they're hysterical again, just be glad you're still in one piece." Ren never openly threatens someone. But when he does, it's practically a certain doom for them.

"Nora could've taken care of herself, Ren," Jaune argued, fighting a scowl from leaking back into his wincing expression.

"This is why I beat you down dumbass." Ren shot back, resisting the urge to growl.

"Oh ya?... Explain." Taking a few sharp inhales, Ren was debating whether he should beat Jaune for the third time today because the appeal of maiming him to the next week and blaming it on Cardin's team to watch the fireworks is sooo tempting.

"Use Yang as a comparison if you led Ruby into a fight with a horde of Alpha Beowolves without any preparation and only a handful of ammo." He effortlessly drew the situation. Jaune simply snorted.

"A weak example: Ruby could have prevented the lack of ammo and taken the situation into her own hands because she modified that oversized lawn tool to never run out of it. In her words, naughty mutts are no match for her unmatched speed when she has her baby in hand." Ren openly rolled his eyes.

"-but we are talking about Nora, right? Both are stronger than me, so I should be worried about the pack they're facing instead… Though I'm not up for debate." Jaune then looked away, his mouth curled as if biting a lemon.

"You're right, one wrong move… and anyone could killed anyone in this line of profession." Remorse thick in his voice once more.

"I'm sorry, I really am…" Jaune apologized again in a strained quiver.

"For all its worth, for not being good enough to give a calm of mind..." A total stubborn klutz he might be, suicidal and brainless-

"For betraying your trust. I… I should've been a leader you can count on, not babysit…" He was not. This is not how Ren expressed his displeasure, but a warning.

That much is clear.

"Humph… if half-heartedly babying you gave you this much of a lesson, then I wonder what would happen if we never pampered you to begin with."

"Hah! Bite me!"

"No, I'm good."

"Well… I never seen, or heard you this talkative before..."

"You're going out of topic."

"Again, Bite me!"

"Stop offering yourself dimwit, I don't swing that way."

"You know what I meant, pasty face!" Jaune shivered at Ren's insinuation.

"Then no. You're too bloody to chew, I had my fill like an hour ago." Ren openly rolled his eyes at Jaune's originality.

"Gee~! I wonder who thought it was a good idea to render me into a bloody mess after we had a satisfying pancake party to stop Nora from being sad again?!" Ren has no obligation to answer the last snark.

"Weak as you are now, you are much better off than most other trainees in self-preservation and resilience. That includes Cardin," Ren acknowledged with a cold stare to quickly change the topic. That much is true, even with the backhanded statement when Jaune, the poor bastard that he is, was bleeding and still had enough energy to banter.

"Yeaaaah, really encouraging with that patronizing- ptfu-! That's the fourth one! Can I use my aura already?!" Jaune whined when his mouth could feel the lack of teeth.

"Who said you can't?" Ren flatly raised an eyebrow, it took a few seconds before Jaune glared back with murderous intent.

"Cheeky little…" Jaune slowly grumbled as his dwindling reserves collapsed further. A bright wash of flickering yellow wrapped his bruises and cuts. When the sound of a shattering aura crashed between them, the bleeding skin was restored to its original state.

"Arrgh-!… Ow… okay, teeth first before fixing the jaw. Gotta remember that… Crack-! Aarghh-?!"

"I didn't say anything. It was you who assumed so." Ren shrugged, finding dark humor towards Jaune's predicament.

"Thought we had an agreement until you used yours, I wouldn't use mine either?" Jaune, who's checking his other limbs for unhealed injury, naively remarked.

"I repeat, it was you who assumed so. I have more class than Yang ever had because beating the living crap out of you is far more effective than hurling someone through the walls." Ren coolly remarked. As if he hadn't casually sworn when forgoing basic courtesy.

"Bah! I hope Nora can see how much you can banter back and forth like newlyweds."

"You already tried?"

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"Good, have fun with sugar high Nora and Ruby inside Professor Goodwitch's office if you pull this nonsense again." It's official, Ren was one unhappy camper.

"... You're evil."

"I have no reason to defend myself from such accusations when they deserve it."

"I don't deserve that…"

"The audacity to fake your way into this school and be a literal pain in our asses indirectly?" Ren retorted sharply with the never-changing stoic side glance.

"... Would Ruby consider you the Demon King?" Jaune grumbled instead, sulking after Ren's brutal rebuttal.

The teen dressed in green just shrugged, Jaune palmed his face before his brain could process it. "Don't tell me you've been getting lessons from Weiss…" Jaune warned with exasperation.

"Oh! Why should I? But striking a deal with Weiss in the art of negotiation is as easy as tempting Nora with stacks of fluffy pancakes in the morning." Ren's change of tone, which was laced with so much fake sincerity, made Jaune gag on reflex.

"Plus, if Ruby decides to bring her cookie stash when sitting through Professor Port's monotonous lectures again, or shows off her weapon in the cafeteria while everyone's trying to have a peaceful meal… I've got some incriminating information on our shortcake that Professor Goodwitch or Yang would love to hear about. I mean, who could've built such a deadly bed? Or that lovely yawn after casually swiping some of Big Sis' hair care products without permission? Forcing her to learn sociology and speak without going off on a tangent with the campus' chattiest gossiper, or getting someone to prohibit those two items for a week outside of combat class was simple if you knew the right approach." Ren blatantly tattled what should have been an illegal exploit with an out-of-place smile. Jaune was too aghast to even voice an outraged comment.

"As for Yang's aversion to math and Blake's questionable reading material in class... a Dust class taught by our chemical goddess of destruction is certainly worth their cooperation. I've got some pretty good pictures of what they did to Weiss' locker too, after all." Ren continued, holding his scroll up and waving it like it was some essential, but very illegal, commodity.

"I mean, Consider the chaos that would erupt if Yang lost all of her hair in an explosion due to their lack of actual class group work," Ren concluded with no small degree of genuine satisfaction, his smile so fake that it was obvious at glance.

"...Forget Demon King, you're the Overlord himself." Jaune declared with the flattest expression he could pull off. Ren snorted in amusement before leaning back using his hands.

"I would never start a forest fire like our other trigger-happy classmates who love property damage a bit too much. What kind of image do you have of me?" The Lie had the audacity to look aghast.

While Ren would never ignite one, who said he'd bother to put it out if it wasn't on his to-do list? Seriously, had Jaune really assumed Ren was the sanest one in JNPR?

Mundane chitchat flowed between them, managing to remain civil as they sat on the rooftop's edge. If sniping and throwing sarcasm like a game of ping-pong counted as civil conversation, they were doing just fine.

Ren explained how Nora had earned so much blackmail material, more like what she'd come across when doing her thing, and decided to tell Ren about it, on others with a few placed words and a bit of self-research for guaranteed evidence.

It didn't take long for Jaune to pick up some of the tricks and vowed never to piss Ren off more than he already was, noting that his sole male friend had a chatty, no-nonsense side when he cared enough to talk.

"Sigh… So? What now? I'm sure they're both fast asleep by now…"Jaune commented nonchalantly, but Ren didn't respond right away. His eyes were unusually focused on the starry Milky Way beside the fractured moon.

A shooting star suddenly comes to life before simply vanishing out of sight. Bright and momentarily. A moment you lose in a blink of an eye. The absence of artificial sounds prolonged for a good ten seconds before Ren offered an option.

"Stargazing?"

"...Sure, why not?" Jaune unwinds before lying down on his back with a long grunt, resting his head on his arms. The sight alone was worth staying awake for a little longer.

Observing the stars; where thousands of glittering dots hang onto who knows what decorated the endless black canvas, was surprisingly therapeutic after enduring so much beating in one day.

Ren, sensing what the blond is probably thinking from his bland front.

"I'm going to ask again, what are you going to do now?" offered plainly to fish out answers.

"... I don't know." Jaune was truthful, right bicep covering his vision as he relaxed further on the floor.

"I'm sure as heck going through my training more seriously with Pyrrha, maybe reading actual books about how to fight better after fixing my grades…" Jaune huffed to the side, feigning defeat, aware that this wasn't the answer Ren was looking for.

Ren let it slide, copying Jaune's position to simply enjoy the night view. But he could tell the blonde was fighting an internal battle.

As a person who already encountered a colorful experience as a first year at Beacon. Jaune wasn't the type to do much deep thinking. But that didn't mean he hadn't questioned his life choices before coming here. And unsurprisingly, the answer came to him quickly.

Would he bail out from Beacon? In a billion years. Would he adapt? Eventually. Would it be easy? Of course not… Could he do it?

Grimm could finish him off in a single bite it wasn't funny.

"... Ren,"

"...Yeah?"

Jaune paused and rephrased his wording for a moment before looking back at Ren directly in the eyes after sitting up, back straight and chin facing down.

"My answer remains the same: I'll be a Huntsman who will make my family proud, to honor what I promised. To live up to everyone's trust. I'll pull my own weight and help those who put their trust in me."

"..."

"As hard as that sounds, as tough it would be, with so many challenges put before us." Jaune reverses his gaze upward. In time witnessing another shooting star brighter than the previous one-

"I won't stop." He resolved, with no courage to take his words back. The stars and the shattered moon were his witnesses.

"I'm tired of standing at the back and letting people do all the hard work for me. I don't need their pity, I want their respect." He gritted his teeth. Sparking the sleeping flame inside his chest ablaze.

Ren had yet to respond, fully immersed in his speech.

"So, would you help me? To become stronger? So I can stand proud beside everyone?" Jaune offered his palm. Waiting for Ren to approve his resolution.

"... Took you long enough, leader." Ren thinly smiled. Shaking his hand. For that instant, nothing could break their vow.

Till Jaune's scroll chimed.

"Was that a timely intervention?" Ren chuckled.

"Timely intervention." Jaune dryly took out his scroll and began reading the message, raising his right eyebrow steadily as Ren then peeked over his shoulder to read it too.

[From "thE SuPReME bOmBAstic QuEeN oF tHe CASTLE":

Jaune-Jaune! Have you boys stopped your secret talking yet?! It's been soooo long waiting for you both to finish! :(

Soooo… :) Pyrrha and I decide to have a GIRLS' NIGHT like your bois' chat instead of sleeping In because WHY not, right?! And guess what?! XD We're having another one at her home son! I've alway wanted to know if her mom had same hair as her and how can she make chocolate pancakes without chocolate?! :O Brown sugar?! Right?! I Can't you believe it! :( This is an attack against my wisdom and knowledge as a pancake connisour :(

So, after agreement of the council of delicacy, both of us reached the agreement in storming her house to see if it's true! :D Tell Ren to have the pan ready. Imma not stopping and going to give up till I earn it! ;p

While I'm at it! This is the perfect opportunity to have some guy time, you know?… Bros thingy Dove and Russel rgue in hallway every Tuesday by holding some weird magz! :O Maybe you and Ren should do something less... weird? )/

Have fun! We left for the Airport after finally getting permission when you 2 were all spyish on the rooftop! XP]

"That… doesn't explain anything?" Jaune is a bit hurt, but the confusion outweighs the sting of her casual accusation. There are no other sounds besides the howling night wind and the distant sound of an airship's engine, causing the two sitting teens to catch a glimpse of a departing ship in the distance when processing the message with a double take.

"…Connoisseur, council consists of more than two people and Nora definitely could care less, exactly what she thought when I dragged you here, and likely forgot to turn on the auto-correct keyboard… again." Ren, always the helpful one, calmly and kindly explained.

"Long story short, she'll be eating pancakes at Pyrrha's house before eating the ones I'll cook later in the dorm's kitchen." Ren shrugged at his partner's logic while fishing out his scroll, expecting Nora to send the same message. The slight head tilt said it all.

"Didn't she just… decimate a tower of those?" Jaune implied in a leading tone. They did raid the cafeteria's stock not too long ago.

"It's Nora, a stack won't be enough," Ren replied matter-of-factly. Resigned but owning a hint of affection on that exhale.

"Wait, wasn't the drop station closed for students unless for emergencies?" Jaune's eyes then flicked towards the glaring 11 p.m. displayed on his scroll.

"Supposedly, you can always harass the pilot to fly you to the city even if it's not an emergency. Plus, if they're available tonight, you could always order an air taxi." Ren added nonchalantly, his gaze drifting to the shrinking silhouette of the airship in the distance.

"…She's plastered and managed to drag Pyrrha to break curfew... How is she still healthy again, Ren? We didn't even hear a bullhead leaving the drop station." Jaune let out in an awe-filled, horrified tone. Ren let out a prolonged sigh as if this were a question he had heard a hundred times before, as the ship shrank further from sight.

"A riddle that I have yet to solve… And I already shoved my homemade smoothies at that problem until I learned the hard way that forcing something on Nora is an exercise in futility. She also changed her victim tonight, so you're stuck with me regardless of whether you like it or not." He was also unabashed about Nora's misunderstanding.

"...So, we're just switching headaches?" Jaune hazarded, unable to suppress a comical sweatdrop.

"... long overdue break from her spirited company." Ren amended with another tired sigh. Safe to say, Jaune was the champion's headache.

"... Pyrrha's going to have her work cut out, won't she?" the ninja only nodded in condolences at Jaune's resigned deadpan.

"… Then again, it's Nora," Ren added forlornly, his gaze is rather distant. Leaning forward, Ren can feel his hair whitening from impending distress when resting his chin on his knuckles, which reclined against his thighs. Jaune couldn't help but openly cackle at the stressed man.

For once, they weren't the ones tasked with controlling a sugar-crazed Nora. Although the two sympathized with Pyrrha, they also felt a wave of relief at the idea of not having the responsibility to reign in Nora's latest shenanigans. Then again, if Pyrrha wants to make amends for Nora, this is her chance. Provided she can survive the first few hours without popping an Advil.

"Besides, this is the perfect time for you to sharpen your skills and fulfill that promise to become stronger," Ren chimed after a brief pause. Smoothly changing the topic to refocus on their current priorities.

"With the Vytal tournament just around the corner, I'm sure the professors are swamped with preparations. The one-week break after today's field trip should be the perfect opportunity to train without the usual distractions or assignments," Ren added, his tone firm but encouraging. Jaune nodded along, recognizing the practicality behind Ren's words.

"We can leave the final to Pyrrha or Nora. For now, we need to focus on strengthening your fundamentals from the ground up so you can last in the preliminaries," Ren further elaborates. Though it was clear he was unabashed to admit that letting the girls, who are the heavy hitters anyway, win the tournament for the team.

"Is it?... wasn't the festival a few months a-"

"-Now is time, to get you into an adequate level to participate, Jaune." Ren cut off Jaune's comment before he could finish it.

"Don't get me wrong, but I'm sure you can survive on your own accord by running around the field blocking bullets like a turtle hiding behind your shield when we take care of everything. But how you attack and counter is lacking at best, hazardous at worst." Ren didn't mince words this time, though Jaune couldn't help but feel a sting from the blunt assessment.

"Again, this one-week break is just a good start for you to properly build up your basics and ready for the tournament, two birds with one stone stuff." The Lie reconfirmed after rolling his eyes at Jaune's petulant pout.

"You can sulk if you want, but let me remind you—this tournament isn't for rookies. There are students from all over the kingdoms who could easily give Pyrrha a run for her money. If you want to hold on to your pride and keep doing things half-cocked, go right ahead," Ren ended with a casual shrug, nonchalant tone making it clear he was unconcerned whether Jaune fully absorbed the weight of the situation or not.

"That said, aura exhaustion wouldn't even be an issue if you were a competent fighter who knew how to properly utilize it,"

"Re-really?!" Jaune's voice was suddenly filled with hope, but quickly faded upon catching sight of Ren's unchanging expression.

"If, and only if, you utilize it properly," Ren stressed by raising his index finger, observing Jaune's increasing bewilderment.

"No offense, but let's face it: you can't even handle basic aura-strengthening techniques. Right now, even Cardin or some street-smart ten-year-old could probably beat you if you don't fix that overly defensive style of yours," Ren stated bluntly.

"No need to rub it in,"

"I just did."

"Don't rub on it!"

"As a freshly educated Huntsman in training though, your healing speed is exceptional. Even when your aura reserve is half depleted," Ren callously disregarded his protest by pointing out one of Jaune's stronger abilities.

"—Pyrrha was correct that your reserve is three times larger than hers, that's coming from a title holder. It's an advantage you should value above anything else." Jaune nervously stroked the back of his neck trying to hide his reddening, but Ren was not finished.

"For now, mastering control over your aura is our priority." The martial artist stated as the knight raptly listening.

"Additionally, I've noticed that you lack experience with shield and sword combinations, even though they are your main arsenals. When attacking, you prefer to use the sword instead of maintaining a proper balance between the two. You need to see them as two distinct weapons, not one. Particularly in situations where close-quarters or mid-range combat requires coordination between them."

"Is... is that so?" Jaune replied lamely, voice filled with uncertainty.

"… I used to believe it was simply nerves, but after your confession... it makes too much damn sense,"

"So... sorry."

"Too late. Now I know you're the king of fraud; you're doomed with combat familiarization 101 with me." The ravennette pinched his nose bridge while relentlessly poking where it hurts.

"It's... not that bad?" Jaune offered, though it was more of a question than a statement.

"And it's not good either," Ren shot back in restrained agitation. Jaune could almost feel imaginary arrows piercing his chest.

"Jaune, you always use a two-handed grip when the odds are stacked against you. It's not a bad decision technically, but Crocea Mors is an arming sword right?" The blonde couldn't help but nod at the sudden query.

"When Cardin targets your flank or head that's not covered by your shield, it's because you're leaving yourself open by using it that way. Sure, your instinct to raise your guard isn't wrong, but abandoning your defenses completely when you have a shield to redirect or block them who have a hard time fighting back makes you an easy picking, whether you like it or not." Ren couldn't help but point that out.

"I know you don't like complicated weapons, but simple stuff also wouldn't be a cakewalk when you have issues when wielding them either."

"...but, Pyrrha didn't have any issues when-"

"You're not Ms. Four-time Champion, shut it." Ren interrupted, causing Jaune to sulk again.

"Like I said, that response could be fatal if you're not learning how to use both of them as separate objects that they are. Besides, Pyrrha technically has a buckler, not a heater shield like yours,"

"But it's still a sword and shield," Jaune argued weakly.

"Those details mattered dumbass," Ren pressed onward with a huff.

"Yeah sure, both of you use the same weapon type. But Miló is a sword, javelin, and a rifle. Akoúo̱? She can fling that thing around to bounce like a rubber ball. It would need years of practice before you could even mimic that. And that's not even taking the design to suit her Semblance into account," Ren sensed Jaune's impending grumbling about overly complicated weapon designs, so he decided to cut to the chase.

"Look. Just to be clear, I don't care if you try to make it up to Pyrrha by learning her style after suffering too many brain concussions—"

"Woy—!"

"—Just remember that Pyrrha's influence can be both helpful and harmful to you." That was like a bomb dropped between them from how Jaune gawped at Ren.

"Wha?!—what do you mean harmful?!" Jaune almost demanded, prompting Ren to sigh and elaborate more straightforwardly to avoid future nagging.

"Listen, Pyrrha's fighting style isn't really suited to you in the long run. Those techniques are meant to complement her abilities and experiences, not yours," Ren explained, causing Jaune's eyes to momentarily widen in understanding.

"Think about it. Pyrrha excels at luring opponents into attacking her guard with the flashy back-and-forth style. It's showy, yes, but it's also effective for countering fast-paced exchanges since fluid defense followed by swift redirections is her specialty. So let's forget she's a champion who requires that kind of acrobatics for a moment," Ren said, raising a finger to emphasize his point.

"First off, her rapid thrusts and swings are both precise and efficient. But those movements depend on her lower hips, shoulder blades, and abdominal core— all from years of training to perfect her timing, grip, and awareness on the battlefield. Pyrrha is accustomed to acrobatics, which makes her style highly effective in close-to-mid-range combat. And let's face it, you don't have that level of flexibility yet. Not now, anyway," Ren paused, watching as Jaune silently processed the critique.

"Second, range. This is self-explanatory." Jaune nodded passively.

"Third, because of her familiarity with that particular reactive approach that mostly adapts on the fly with many cards available in her hand, Pyrrha will unconsciously encourage... no, that's too strong of a word... urge you to adopt a similar approach, even though you're still relatively new to fighting," Ren emphasized by raising his third finger.

"I still can't believe your first major encounter was with a Deathstalker and survived though…" Ren muttered to the side for that particular complaint under his breath.

"... So, was the downside to my growth in that way?" Jaune pondered after a moment of reflection.

"Hm... not exactly," Ren commented, approving the deduction.

"Pyrrha knows you can't pull off her exact techniques yet. So, she'll focus on your defense and counter form in hindsight." The Lie tried to rephrase his next words carefully, but Jaune already connected the dots.

"That's exactly why you said it could be detrimental in the long run if I don't move much when blocking too much…" The rationalizing was approved by a curt nod.

"Yeah. It'll only make you more stationary, limiting the dynamic approach that both you and Pyrrha are aiming for," Ren explained to confirm Jaune's earlier conclusion.

That said, Ren leaned forward a little, bringing one of his palms near his face again.

"There are ways to address this issue. One is to mod your weapon so it could match more of her style plus give you ranges with a gun-"

"Nope. I don't want my shield blowing up on my face."

"Fair enough," Ren grunted in acknowledgment, though he didn't hide his eye roll.

"The second option is to take on a main support role. But that will require you to do more blocking instead of attacking, as you would have to forgo your sword entirely if you are mainly in the front or middle formation." Jaune scrunched his face, and Ren knew what thoughts were running through the blond's head about that option.

"The third one is the most feasible. Which is the most practical by starting from scratch and working your way up, focusing on how to swing and block efficiently the hard way in starting from tomorrow." Ren explained further. Jaune began to see the logic behind these options. The way Pyrrha effortlessly swung her sword in a twirling flip was...

...rather ill-suited for his role as a main defender. Who needs to stay close to his teammates and protect them from fatal hits. It was elegant and fierce, sure. She's making her battle as if it was a dance with her enemies lining up in the area waiting to join the collective tango.

Jaune could perform a backflip with ease, but executing pure acrobatic maneuvers like throwing his weapon away and catching it mid-air under a short time frame, or displaying insane reaction time that captivates the peanut gallery when blocking is all he can do in a nick of time?

"...You're right," Jaune admitted with a sigh. He can copy some, but her base moves are too much for the time being.

"The good news?"

"Well, it seems standing around and taking attacks without retaliating isn't your idea of a successful strategy either. So the second option is already out of the window to begin with." Ren let out while resting his cheek on one of his palms.

"How is that good when I have to protect all of you?!" Jaune exclaimed as if his eyes turned fully white like a cartoon character.

"Stop yelling... It's only natural, dumbass," Ren muttered in exasperation at Jaune's dramatics. God save him from that hell if this blond becomes a second Weiss.

"Look, it's normal. Most people don't perform dangerous flips or unnecessary flair when facing down enemies that could kill them if caught off guard. Especially not when they're like ducklings still learning to fly." Ren's voice carried a resigned tone, but his words were insightful beyond his years.

Jaune frowned, but as Ren continued, his frustration began to give way to understanding.

"Pyrrha is accustomed to tournament battles that are controlled and precise. She often faces opponents of her caliber or stronger. Simultaneously entertaining the crowd and winning the said battle. That's why she adapts so well to most situations, especially in one-on-one duels." Ren paused, watching Jaune nod, the explanation making sense when framed that way.

"You are stiff, not slow. You can always dodge alongside the rest of us who are busy launching attacks from a safe distance," Ren continued, causing Jaune to blink a few times to absorb the statement.

"Avoid hazards and block when necessary to your advantage. Shields are designed to deflect and protect, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice mobility by swinging around a slab of steel that could still inflict brain damage on someone's temple." Ren explained with a deadpan tone once more, finally feeling a sense of vindication when noticing imaginary gears beginning to churn inside Jaune's head.

For all his insecurities, Jaune was sharp when it came to thinking outside the box. All Ren needed was to curb his bad habit of panicking when under pressure. Ren knew he had his work cut out for him, but he was already making good progress.

"The good news is that if you hate the idea of not contributing enough when we're doing all the heavy lifting, you don't have to limit yourself to defensive roles completely. Molding you into an aggressive player like Nora wasn't that hard by refining one trait you already have in huge quantities." Ren elaborated, aware that Jaune had followed up on the lead he had been highlighting from the start.

"Advanced Aura training then?…"

"Hmm... mostly meditation exercises followed by physical conditioning. " Ren confirmed.

"Remember, I cannot stress enough how important it is to balance the two in order to reach your full potential as a warrior. "Civilize the mind, but savage the body" will always be an important message whenever you seek to become stronger." Ren responded calmly, before closing one of his eyelids and channeling a significant amount of aura to the tip of his index finger.

Slowly, a soft fuchsia light coalesced at the tip of his index finger. Before expanding into a thin, hovering hexagonal surface that pulsed with rhythmic energy that expands outward from the center of his palm.

"This is the fastest way we can add more variety to your arsenal," Ren calmly voiced, and from the look of marvel Jaune had at the simple trick, Ren knew he got Jaune's interest. He'd never seen anything like this from Pyrrha, Ruby, or even Weiss after all.

"This is pure Aura manipulation, not a Semblance-based ability," Ren calmly enlightened, observing as Jaune's attention was fully fixed on the construct before him.

"Creating a simple object like this should be easy for someone with your Aura reserves. I'm more of a specialized practitioner since my Semblance isn't combat-oriented and more in tune with my aura, unlike others." The Lie then admitted nonchalantly, twirling the forming construct in place with a small tug from his finger.

"Nora was more comfortable with brute forcing everything compared to mastering this feat. Though she can do a double jump if she trained harder."

"She could?!"

"Uh-huh."

"No way…"

"Yes way. We all can double jump, just not with the same method." Ren uncharacteristically smirked at his childish glee.

"Weiss's Semblance is a definite powerhouse. While her Semblance is versatile, I have aura manipulation and application in spades. Her Glyph requires certain movements while maintaining body stability to be used or placed strategically. My Aura techniques, though, can be activated on the fly—provided I've got enough Aura to spare." Ren elaborated, his calm tone never wavering as he continued shaping the transparent Aura layer. The surface rippled slightly before solidifying into the ghostly form of a blooming flower.

"Experienced fighters can replicate this feat without too much difficulty, but... it takes time. Time most of us don't have in a real fight," Ren elaborated further, adding a bit more from his reserve to the construct. Making the flower glow a brighter translucent light.

"... True, why bother making these when a good whack to the head is more than enough?" Jaune murmured after connecting the dots. Not taking his eyes off the transparent flower, but… what did Ren want to- OH!

"I see you've come to the same conclusion,"

"So, the better I become at creating these types of constructs..."

"Yes, the better your control will be. This will enhance your basic aura mastery and focus, while also expanding your options—whether you need these constructs as backup or as tangible objects in a pinch." Ren returned his attention to the staring Jaune.

Who is unable to tear his eyes away from the transparent lotus. Jaune was already imagining the possibilities—the leaves of the lotus could be used as ranged attacks if he could learn to throw or detonate them like impromptu projectiles.

"It's a bit wasteful when you can use your aura to shield yourself from a fatal hit or patch yourself up. But with your kind of reserve, it's better to know the basics to use it both in offensive and defensive options. So dispelling the misconception that aura is simply a passive protective force field used only in application will be at the top of the list..." Ren relayed informatively.

"Hmm... That heirloom of yours is probably made of aura-conductive iron too... so, I wonder if..." Ren clenched the flower, shattering it into motes of energy as Jaune snapped out of his reverie.

"If that's the case, we won't need to focus too much on acquiring training resources... We can start prioritizing conditioning right away with proper aura lessons that the professors barely touched upon are the first thing to do after severing some of the obscuring mindset… Maybe start reinforcing his limbs and accessories to enhance precise control by sparring lessons in a controlled environment..." Ren mused aloud while cupping his chin.

"Hmm... no, no, no. I need to start from the basics. He's lean and lacking muscle mass, even though his build is decent. We'll need to build up his base strength... Should I test his aura limits first and then gradually increase the intensity?" A strategy began to take shape in Ren's mind. His leader would require all the help he could get to catch up with everyone else before the festival.

Though…

"What?…"

"Hm?"

"... You can send aura to your weapon as well? Does.. that mean I can infuse my armor and shield with aura, just like you did when making that flower?.." Jaune asked in a clueless tone.

Ren felt a spine-chilling frost running down his bones after processing the question.

"... Please, for the love of Pyrrha's chocolate, tell me you're joking. There's no way you blocked a Deathstalker's pincer without reinforcement or double-layered protection on your shield's surface on the first try..." Ren pinched the bridge of his nose even harder this time.

'Seriously, there's no way that kind of immense talent went unnoticed right-'

"Uhmm... No?" Jaune fidgeted nervously.

Ren slapped his face. Loudly.

---

"Hooeekh…"

"Hmm... thrilled aren't we?" The patronizing bastard offered casually as if this was just another day at the park. If it weren't for the faint hint of amusement in his voice, I might have mistaken it for genuine concern.

He gave me a sidelong glance, barely registering my withering glare. Sadly, I was unable to do anything else but prevent another bout of bile from escaping due to my nausea and general sluggishness.

Wiping my mouth carefully with a tissue and taking great care to look menacing instead of miserable, I chucked the used sheet, along with my remaining dignity, into the barf bag before tying it up and disposing of it in the garbage receptacle under my passenger seat.

Thankfully, none of it landed on my travel jacket, pants, or worse, Crocea Mors. The Arc heirloom is safely strapped in my belt compartment and always ready for action. Sadly, I wasn't, even if I wanted to reintroduce its blunt side to Ren's taunting forehead. I'm in no condition to do it because of my stupid airsickness. Old man, of all things you could have given me, it must be this?

On the bright side, this entire trip was smooth sailing, minus my airsickness. Apparently, as long as the hunters in question don't pose a security risk to flight attendants or other passengers and don't look like constipated madmen ready to storm the cockpit, the airline would permit them to carry their weapons under agreeable terms.

Fortunately, or unfortunately for me, I didn't carry that level of risk. I was more of a hygiene hazard than a safety threat. The sweet stewardess who delivered me the barf bags had already dismissed me as harmless, much to my increasing chagrin.

It had been three days since the Forever Fall trip, and that awkward, eye-opening talk in the dorm.

True to his words, Ren spent a few days on our one-week break to train me to his passable standard. Which translates to dragging my kicking and screaming bum into Emerald Forest for "field practice" after heartlessly tossing me into the launching platform without a second thought.

Given Ren's expertise in outdoor activities and hunting, as a kid who wandered through the Mistral wilderness with Nora, accepting his aid to become stronger is going to help me a ton in the long run. Besides, I didn't mind camping... in moderation.

Unsurprisingly, those three-day training session? Easily was the best and worst choice I've made to date.

Evidently, my combat skills were lacking and far below his expected standard. Ren was more than happy (jerk) to remind me of that every chance he got. My healed bruises, which still ached from phantom pain, could attest that his training did work and caused me massive improvements and newfound trauma under his surveillance.

Unlike Pyrrha, who would happily walk me through a helpful lesson step by step with an example, Ren's approach was… hands-on, literally.

No thanks to my reveal indirectly pushing Nora to confess their past, which still pisses him off no doubt. My training was filled with trial and error. A lot of errors that need to be corrected. I think.

Also, I'm not his partner and childhood friend. So Ren, and his infinite repressed stress suddenly finding the perfect punching bag when the universe already hates me enough, didn't even try to hold back.

If I was told to dodge, I better, or another black eye would sticks around by the end of the day. Ren didn't care if it hurt. In fact, I think that was the point. Getting hurt sucks, so dodge.

I'm not fond of his physical method to beat my "heavily reliance on blocking habit" out of me, even though it was emotionally justified and a strong motivator to adapt at all costs.

Yes, if getting launched without a parachute again wasn't clear enough, being kicked off a ravine as sufficient motivation to get better is enough to tell that Ren held a grudge like no other. I was man enough to admit I was doomed in the last three days and vowed to never be on his hit list again, thank you very much.

Despite the sore muscles and constant exhaustion, I couldn't deny it was worth it. Every moment training with Ren had been valuable, even if my body hated me for it. I picked up some great techniques along the way, and I had to admit, Ren's tutelage—while... intense—was effective.

Spending days fighting and using aura had its benefits. Sparring became much easier, kind of, and I could pace myself better by conserving my reserves instead of relying purely on aura as a defensive shield.

That said, while it's an overused cliché for me Ruby and me to dub our silent members as "ninjas". Ren shouldn't be able to back that title up with horrifying proficiency to conceal his presence, nor should he be able to chuck aura-constructed kunais —so, damn, many of them!—at my unguarded temple on notice.

Ignoring large to moderate levels of killing intent becomes rather impossible for me after that. Even hearing the faintest whistling noise was enough to make me jerk away before it could reach my awareness "sphere". Ren may sugarcoat it as spatial awareness and environmental advantage, but he just wants to vent, and I could tell from those rather accurate throws if he's not unloading his bullets without warning.

Bless Aura for making those harrowing moments bearable, and bless Nora for being the personification of "all that is sudden and unexpected that saved me by the bell" from that torme-training, by reminding us to pick her and Pyrrha up at the Argus airport before spending the rest of the vacation back in the academy.

However…

"Wish I could pull StormFlower from your sleeves and let it rain on your smug face…" I weakly croon. The prick had the gall to smirk, goading me to try.

"Excellent, our flight will be relaxing and accident free." Ren gratingly chirped. Tucking the collar of his own traveling coat inside rather happily while I suffer beside him.

Ooooh…What wouldn't I give to wipe that smug off his face...

I'm usually not this petty, but Ren was asking for it. And swapping his crazy vegetable concoction with green-colored soda filled with Mentos didn't exactly help my case when Ren trained me as he saw fit.

Although, I must admit, it tasted surprisingly decent. Why did Nora hate it so much?

I couldn't help but recall how we began our training with me stuck on the tree again, and this time by the pants, while Ren casually walked up to me without remorse, knowing it was his fault I was in that harrowing position.

When Ren mentioned basic, he meant the basic. You know, the 101 lesson of how to throw a punch, kick, and fight. Before going to roll out of danger, dodge thrown kunais, disengage and engaging in unfavorable terrain, surprise attack strategy, sparring, and how to manipulate aura properly. Not in that exact order with me screaming and fighting for my life.

One does not grow from coddling. I can't help but inwardly dislike the phrase in spite of its result.

Ren's tutelage regarding how to achieve balance within the soul to earn spiritual awareness did wonders for my understanding of the aura as a whole.

When he says harm, he means all harm.

Aura is the essence of my soul—a spiritual force residing within my body that giving it life. It's what makes me who I am. When awakened or stressed in dangerous situations, aura manifests externally in tangible colors and differentiates each person's individuality. It creates Semblance to represent and protect its user from harm; acting as a force field to prevent physical harm, disease, poison, internal bleeding, injuries, and so much more.

It was a lot of philosophical mumbo-jumbo about reaching out to my nexus chi point on top of my head or whatever.

But as long as I can control a fraction of my aura—that is, by directing formless energy through imaginary veins after a lot of trial and error—I could somewhat perform basic techniques he'd taught.

Creating a crystalline shield that hovered in the air or formed a thin barrier in the shape of a hexagon came rather naturally to me, as did reinforcing my fists to deliver harder hits. While my abilities were still below what I had hoped to achieve, it was a significant improvement nonetheless. Ren reassured me that I was doing alright for a beginner, even though I was expecting more from myself.

Forming a decent kunai or throwing knives is still a nightmare to pull off, but I finally able to broadening my options to protect my friends when my shield or sword couldn't reach them. I'm happier than a rabbit who'd found a carrot mountain in that sense.

Additionally, having a strong trigger when trying to flare my aura would hasten the activation process. It's a hard hurdle to punch through, but I somewhat managed after imagining the sound and shape of a fully drawn sword pointed at myself. Ren was unimpressed, but that's the best I could come up with since he refused to share what his mental trigger was.

Even if Ren deemed my trigger could've been better, and I somewhat couldn't disagree with that, my swordmanship still grown leaps and bound as a result.

The passive boost when awakening for the first time was like a burst of energy directly injected into my body. Now that I know I could do more than just being stronger than civilians, I could channel some of the reserve into my sword, making it so light that I could swing Crocea Mors like a stick instead of... well, a sword and shield.

Combining the two to attack and defend at the same time is much easier now that they're lighter and feel right when flooding my aura to further sharpen and harden Crocea Mors at will.

Another fascinating detail I picked up was how aura users could memorize combat knowledge or learned techniques far more quickly thanks to that knowledge being directly ingrained in the soul alongside muscle memory and experiences.

Ren's words, not mine. I don't fully understand the whole "soul-to-body circulation" thing either, it just happened. I could definitely feel it when focused, so I stopped questioning it.

However, relying solely on improvisation and personal adjustments could only take me so far. Since trying to keep pace with Ren's lightning-fast reflexes, palm thrusts, and footwork, which made him even faster than Ruby who use her semblance in close-combat sparring, was a chore and a half to do.

Who said this guy is weaker than Nora or Pyrrha damn it?

It might sound exaggerated to claim that his jabs and snap kicks were as fast as bullets, but my black eyes and sore arms could certainly attest to their speed. While Yang might be the one literally armed with handguns, Ren's lightning-fast jabs and coordinated hits are certainly worse than a shotgun shell to the face.

Hit hard still inferior to punched where it's hurt.

I have no doubt that Yang "Ms-I-can-kick-your-ass" is the strongest brawler in Beacon, compared to other huntresses in the block just by seeing her kickboxing footwork. It's just that it says a lot about Ren's prowess to create his own martial arts style by blending an amalgamation of several different Mistral martial arts styles into one.

From what I've learned, most of Ren's moves rely on hand-to-foot coordination, incorporating not just punches and kicks, but also elbows, fingers, shoulders, forearms, and knees to strike with precision in split-second one-two jabs rather than brute-forcing my guard all at once. Different from typical boxing and how to knock out opponents, like most basic self-defense takedowns, according to one of his detailed explanations.

His snap kicks and shoulder slams are one of many techniques that work perfectly with my newly developed sword style. Those attacks would leave enough openings to allow me to counterattack my foes, while reducing the chances of me being hit again.

Escaping further trashing by visiting Pyrrha's home after the ordeal was a well-deserved bonus, as her parents wanted to meet us thanks to Nora's exaggerated tale that saved my bacon from a full week training nonstop.

To be precise, they wanted to meet me. Her partner, the one responsible for their daughter's well-being, and someone they could trust with her at school. Thankfully, Nora and Pyrrha have kept most of our secrets and drama unsaid.

Still, it didn't allevate my nerves from spiking to the roof as we neared our destination. I was about to meet my partner's parents, who were probably ready to study me on a dissection table, regardless of how much Helena Nikos wanted to thank me for being a "good friend" to her sweet little Prairie.

Yes, all three of us will mercilessly abuse that nickname to hell and back without remorse. Sorry little Prairie, but your expense wouldn't be wasted.

No, I didn't make my partner's flustered blush as my lock screen when Nora forwarded a photo of her in matching pajamas after hearing that nickname like a snitch she is. It was Ren who used Nora's smiling face with a peace sign as his lock screen, not me.

Overall, the trip was going well, aside from me vomiting my lunch from airsickness and unadulrated anxiety.

Because I was about to meet my partner's parents before enjoying our quick trip in Argus and letting my family know that I was safe and sound at Beacon. And generally having a blast like Nora did —in a metaphorical sense, not literal ones… hopefully it stays that way—by going around the port city a bit longer before heading back to Beacon.

As I internally rambled, Ren was getting too comfortable in his seat and ready to doze off. There was no way I'd let him win our unfinished argument while he was in such a vulnerable state.

"You do realize," I groaned weakly, "that by saying that, you're bound… to jinx us instead?" but able to usher it without too many whimper.

"I'm a trouble magnet, remember?" I said it with a hint of mischief, savoring the immediate flash of irritation on his unflappable stoic expression. My delayed comeback worked like a charm, though he quickly regained composure to my disappointment.

"Ah, then it's your fault for not being able to stop it Arc. It's not mine to shoulder."

"Wasn't… my intention...to get involved… with so many,"

"Hm, Learn to avoid them then, yes?" This. Prat…!

Oooh… I gave up… I needed a nap.

My stare drifted to the window, catching a sea of weary faces falling asleep that urged me to follow their example as the softly humming engine blend perfectly with the sight of fluttering waves under the moving horizon. Where the night sky and peaceful ambiance lull me into further drowsiness.

So I let my eyelid tugged down by weariness with a sigh. Waiting for dream to whisk my mind away with darkmess enveloping my vision. Hoping for a nice, peaceful slumber.

It was a wrong decision to make.

*Jdaaaaaar!*

"WHat in ThE-!?" a Terrible one.

*BWOOOOOOOSSSSH-!*

An unholy cacophony crushed the weary air, followed by a muffled sea of profanities from all sides ringing like a zooming wasp. Lifting my head to locate the source, my eyes were assaulted by- a Brilliant ignition, along with a horrific clang of bending metal deformed in a horrendous direction, as the brightest of fireworks exploded into view and engulfing part of the airbus in flames.

"Hyaaaaaa-?!" "Aaaaargh!?" "What Just happened?!" "Oh dear Gods!" In the midst of cries and startle-

Chromatic light bled into a fiery orange, reaching its crescendo in a span of seconds. Another seat was consumed by the merciless heat, where the air carried the scent of charred plastic and heated metal. People scrambled to the back, shoving and tumbling their way with palpable panic toward safety.

For a moment, I was paralyzed. My brain refused to catch up. I can't do anything, is there even anything I could-

The flames roared louder, swallowing the entire side of the burning airbus.

Then I saw them—two passengers yanked through the gaping hole covered by veil of flame Their anguished cries drowned and unheard by others' cries of help as the ship's floor continued to shake beneath us.

It was as if Hell breaks loose.

"Mamaaaaaa-!"

"lOOk Ou-!" I stood still. Still trying to uselessly process the insanity.

"The flames are going this way!" "Ruuuun!" The scene continue to unjustly unfold.

"Don't push!" "My leeg!" "Aaaaaa-h-!" "The glass shards! Protect your eyes-!"

Instinct kicked in as I raised my arm to shield my face, positioning my inner elbow just below eye level to shield my face from the incoming shards. I can't understand this… why did the ship explode? Why do things go wrong so fast? How many behind me are injured or passed out from shock?...

Another unnatural roar from the hole, probably coming from the ship's wing or engine, sent deep shivers down my spine, heralding another imminent explosion. My mind went numb again, rendering me incapable of forming coherent thoughts or verbalizing meaningful words.

Then I feel it. The gentle but firm nudge of aura pulse on my right.

My daze was broken by that sudden, sharp jolt. One that made me realize that I needed to act.

Ren.

From the corner of my eye, he stretches his hand forward. A familiar pink glow gathers and expands on his outstretched palm. My gloved right palm immediately emanates pale gold to follow his example. We are the only ones who have yet to retreat to safety—!

"Shhh-!" In the literal heat of the moment—

The half-sphere gathered within my grasp disperses outward. Ren was right behind me, our barriers activated almost instinctively. Ren's translucent pink aura layered with my golden shield as we forced them to materialize together.

Pushing the translucent pink against the pulsating gold, Ren further fortified the vibrant energy wall to prevent more debris or flames from injuring anyone near the blast radius.

Merging the barrier into a thick, snow-white dome that trembled but held against the raging flames. Jagged lines etched deep into the ceiling in a hemispherical curve as I gritted my teeth, gasping for breath.

The floor rumbled like a beast ready to swallow us whole as I struggled to hold my arm and position in place from the intense strain. All Ren and I could do now was to hold on until the aircraft descended safely into the open ocean. Praying that the water would extinguish the flames before they could reach the entire cabin and compromise the emergency lifeboat. The sirens blared in the background, but I couldn't focus on anything else except the wall of heat pressing against us.

Sweating profusely from the rising heat and fatigue from holding my position, I maintained the barrier position while creating smaller barriers and a floating shield behind it with my outstretched palm. Persevering through pain and exhaustion, even at the expense of my aura reserves amidst the growing chaos.

Suddenly—

"Tch-!?" I gasped aloud. One of the aura shields had just shattered into simmering sawdust. A tug on my thumb directed my attention downward, and I narrowed my eyes at where it had dissolved. Forcing more aura to flood my palm, I created its replacement right away.

A brief pulse on my left alerted me to Ren's presence. The wordless conversation passed between our eyes in less than a second as he strengthened the main barrier while I swiftly manifested more aura shields around the barrier to deflect incoming debris and support the main barrier as best as humanly possible. Ignoring the thankful yell of Huntsmen and protective semblance, we maintained our focus on the imminent danger.

I feel no heroism; there's barely any time for me to even think about my righteous duty to protect others in this situation. I should've been catatonic like the rest who only want a quick weary trip to Argus when boarding this airbus.

Countless lives were in jeopardy, like those two unfortunate souls who are swept away by the explosion, unable to alter their fate as their last moments flashed before their eyes. And they could've been saved if I had acted.

"Khghk?!" Another emotion beside fear bubbled in my chest. It wasn't hope, nor courage to keep this barrier intact. It was the all too familiar sensation of loss and simmering heat that always hung around behind my heart. Feeding the urge to put an end to this unjust desperation from happening any longer.

What fueled my tenacity wasn't a sense of duty to protect civilians from harm, nor my desire to be a hero they needed and as a huntsman should be. No-

I am squarely fighting for survival. Not only for myself, but for the lives of others who have their lifeline abruptly shoved into tip of my fingers, where the paper-thin rope of their existence is on its last strand to snap away like a bubble pop-

"-?! HuuuuaaaaaAAAAAAAH-!" With a surge of primal valor I never knew I owned, I roared.

The barrier become thicker, stronger, and brighter as I forced it to hold against the flames. My aura reserves were running dangerously low, but I don't give a damn!

"Tch-?! Uaaaaaah-!" Ren soon followed with his own aid-

""Grrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah-!""-and our roar overlapped. Echoing through the growing pandemonium. Creating layers upon layers of aura barriers that shine through the unrelenting flames.

The second layer was cracked by the scorching heat, replace it.

The third layer suffered damage from flying metal parts, replace it.

Incoming debris from the shattered wings outside the bus found their way inside. Block them and let Ren take over for two seconds; reinforce the main barrier after deflecting more debris!

The fourth and fifth layers shattered under the assault of random luggages, replace them!

The third and tenth layers evaporated due to the sheer air pressure. Let it and fortify the sixth now!

Ren's down! Take over! Don't fall back! Stand your ground Jaune!

"I'm fine! Don't over-exert yourself!" I can hear Ren's angry shout but I couldn't break my focus now.

Replace the broken barriers and spread them out! Don't let a single object or heat pass through you!

Chairs and luggages disintegrated like burned toys, going in all sorts of directions, alternating densities between the fifth and eleventh!

…

How long have I been holding my ground?

"Aaarkh... Ka-kaaaah-!" Exhaustion washed over me. Damn it…It was to be expected. I had not paced myself, nor regulating the sizes of my barriers and shields at all!

"Jau…ne… hold… on!" Ren's strained call somehow managed to sound clear in all of this chaos. Kneeling on my right, with lines of veins becoming visible on his forehead and extended arm, slightly bleeding, and his eyes glowing an otherworldly pink.

"Kha-...AAaaaaa-h." It had only been a few minutes, a mere few minutes that felt like hours. The weight of everything, the strain, the suffocating air… damn it…

"... Aaaa...Aaaa-!" My hastily stacked shields barely withstood the next relentless barrage of debris and luggages coming from the bus hull that entered through the hole. They collided and shattered into pieces- my arms were killing me…

Red alarm plaguing my vision. The ground wasn't staying still as we tilted in plunging axis.

"Q-quick! G-get away from it-!" "Why is it not stopping yet?!" "Get me out of here! I knew I should've taken a five-star airline instead of this backwater Bus!" "Kyaaaaaaaa-!"

The terrified screams and cries joining together with the siren boise, filling the entirety of the descending bus. So… noisy…

"Everyone! Hold onto one another! Just don't let go!" Was…Was that me?… or Ren?…

As the seconds ticked by, we continued to hurtle towards the open seas. The fear was tangible, and it was only through sheer will that I didn't lose control, dreading the worst if aquatic Grimm were already near where the ship was going to land on water.

Multiple thoughts keep racing through my mind after that. I couldn't stop it when I shouldn't be thinking now… because since when did I start tasting copper? Had I been coughing up blood?...

What about the others? Did they manage to retreat to brace themselves for the imminent impact?

"Kah-?!" was that smoke?! I can't have them shatter my focus!

Thanks to the knee-jerk reaction to cover my eyes with my other hand, it gave me enough time to create another translucent shield in front of my face. Things were becoming too blurry, with a mishmash of gold and red obscuring my vision. I couldn't afford to lose control now, not even for a moment!...

The collective screams made it nearly impossible to discern who was crying out the loudest—whether they were children or adults. I clenched my teeth, a determination burning brighter within me. I have to protect everyone…

The blaring siren only making my ears and head hurt… so noisy…someone silence the damn thing already…

"Oh, dear gods! Please save us all!" "His Semblance can't keep up! We're still falling down!"

"I'm scared!" "It's okay sweetie! It'll be fine! It's all a bad dream, okay?"

Filtering it is…

"Mama-! Your face!" "It's okay… it's okay, as long as you aren't hurt…"

"Bring the fire extinguisher, damn it! Don't let it spread any further!" "Idiot! Do you really think an extinguisher will help at this point?" "Hold onto the chair tightly old man, or you'll get sucked out too!"

Too much…

"And let those two youngsters do all the work?!" "Don't play the hero now granpa! See the debris all over the place?!" "What can you do against a fire that size? They can't abandon their barriers and let you plummet to your death!" "Someone, please help us!"

Tiring…

"Fuck you! I found this parachute first!" "Please, no! Let my granddaughter use it!"

"It was made for women and children you dumbass! Don't you dare cut the line!" "I don't understand, and I don't care! I'm going to survive! I refuse to die here!" "Stop being a selfish asshole! There are barely ten left to use!" "Please stop fighting-!"

Why… So much… Red?… Wasn't my Aura… white?

"Mister! Your arm! It's—" "No! Please! Stop! You're going to-!"

So…S…Sleepy- *CRACK-!*

"Uuaaaaaaaaaarrrrgh-?!" A surge of pain jolted through me, an agonizing sensation that threatened to consume my consciousness whole that nearly made me lose my grip.

"D-don't give up! You can do it!" "Can't we do something dad?! We have to! He's going to lose his arm!" "Mister! you can do it!" "Kid, I don't care who you are! Save me before everyone in this place goes ka—"

"JAAAAAUNE!" Amidst the disorder, Ren's outcry pierced through the bedlam, why did he-

[Ost: Befall. Honkai Impact 3rd. Korean Ver]

"-!"

[F̴̟̽ŏ̴̲r̷̫̾è̶͔b̷̥͐o̵̧̒d̵̲͆i̴͕̎n̴̢̈g̷̦̏]

What… is… that?!

Behind the black smoke, shrouded in smoking chaos, where rising embers spiraling out of control, where the ship is falling face first to the open sea-

What the hell… what the hell?!

[W̵̞̒r̵̻̾o̴͔̎n̶̹̈́g̴͖͐—E̵͕̊m̶̞̓p̶͎̈́t̷̘̍y̶̾͜—] Was a ring of an inverted black sun, with a single line of energy slicing through the center, hanging unmoving in the air.

[ I̸͍͕̹͒̚͝t̶̨̲̦̀͐'̵̨͐̂ṡ̵͕̪ ̵̭̄͝f̶͙̏ȃ̵̱̌̔m̶̗̬͆̚i̴̗͔͑̆̎l̷̡͓̽ͅì̶̻̲̒̕ä̴̜̗́r̷̺͂]

Asserting its undeniable presence against the conquering bale of squall fanning the-

Nothing… there's literally nothing but darkness, where not even -̴͇͝-̸̧͌-̸̲̂-̴͚̒-̷͚̃ are able to penetrate that -̶̦̒͊-̷̟̾̎-̴̡̢͑͠-̸̧̠̑.!

The arguments in the background stopped, suddenly muted. Like a light bulb being snuffed out, swallowed by creeping shadows.

It was huge—no, encompassing. There's no other word to illustrate how massive that thing is.

[ Ḿ̸̰ä̶͎͚́̈l̶̰̼͌͝e̸̠͕̍f̶͙͑̈́i̸̡̺͂c̴͎͕̊]

Silence enveloped us like a suffocating blanket, broken only by the eerie resonance emanating from the malevolent… i… I… I can't describe it… what… sound is this?!

No one dared utter a word, for fear of disturbing the fragile equilibrium that held us in its grip.

[ Ä̸̛̗́b̴̭͌̄͜n̸͙̭͐͝ỏ̸͙͍r̴͓͗m̵̠̑̕a̴̛͕͋l̴̝̲̅͒]

The very fabric of reality seemed to warp and twist, as if we were being drawn into some otherworldly vortex.

Everything was frozen, as if it had broken the laws of space and time. We were petrified in one spot…no… we're hovering… attracted towards it… to a place where time barely works…

We dare not breathe air in its proximity, this… unconstrained presence is…

[A̷̭̅ ̸̼̓m̸̩͛e̴͇̓r̴͍̍ḛ̴͌ ̵̹͐f̶̢͆r̶͔̿a̶̺̋c̵͎̿t̷̥̏i̵̜̎ȯ̵̞n̴̢͋ ̵̫͘o̷̥͠f̷̜̐ ̷͔̎t̵̢̿h̷̼̎ę̵͑ ̷͝ͅq̶̡͗u̴͈͒e̷̪͗e̵̬̚n̷̬̚'̸̢̚ṣ̶̅ ̸̖̃p̵̼̊o̶̗̓w̸͋ͅé̵̢r̴͔͛]

Golden light flickered faintly in the shadows of this dark entity, like a glimpse into something far more destructive than we could ever imagine. This was no ordinary power… It was as if the very essence of t̵̢̿h̷̼̎ę̵͑ ̷͝ͅq̶̡͗u̴͈͒e̷̪͗e̵̬̚n̷̬̚'̸̢̚ṣ̶̅ ̸p̵̼̊o̶̗̓w̸͋ͅé̵̢r̴͔͛ had been distilled into this malevolent orb, radiating with untold potential for destruction. within those darkness...

[A Ḻ̶͌o̴͖͗n̷͍̓ë̸̼́ ̶̰̑e̸̳̊ȳ̵̗é̶͕ ̸̧͐b̴̝͐l̴̥̑i̵̹̎n̴̛̮k̵͠ͅḙ̸̿d̷̞̀]

Untold amounts of scrambling color was compressed and molded into pure nothingness from the constant cycle of horrid corruption.

It couldn't be anything but-

[T̷̟̔h̴̯̅ĕ̸ͅ ̷̱̃g̸͕̎ă̸͚t̷̪̀e̶̻̽ ̶̡̓t̴͍̍o̶͉̎ ̵͈̂ẗ̸̮́h̴̫͒e̷͕͋ ̵̪͝A̴̠̍b̴̳́ỷ̴̼s̴̹͒š̶̬'̴̺̑ ̷͊͜d̸̦̈́ẹ̶͂p̸̭̿t̴̥͝h̶̫̃ṡ̴̯].

There's no escape…

It's focusing on us.

".…A-" I can't breathe…

Get away…

Suffocating, the vile odor of smoke pales in comparison to what this unknown emits simply by existing.

Get away!…

Creating a chill unlike any other, devouring our cognitive ability in a single mouthful moment.

[T̷̅͜h̷̩̓e̵̟͒ ̸̮̒p̶̮̄u̴͎͝r̷̡̓p̸͇̾ő̸̻s̶̻̓e̵͈͋ ̵͚̆ẃ̸̢a̴͎̿s̸̳̏ clear]

Destruction, to end humanity as we know it, making us n̵̹̎o̵͖͠t̴̞̓h̴̦͘i̷͍͐n̶̹̕g̸̼̒b̴͉͆u̶̼̔t̴̼͋ḓ̴̄ù̵̙ś̸̩t̷̺͗-

"A-!" Enough to swallow me whole, enough to swallow us whole, enough to swallow Remnant whole-!

Get away from it-!

"Aaaa…!" No other voice could escape from my mouth, my hands were trembling in despair. The barrier's purpose grew useless, my feet were ready to collapse as blood flowed down from my forehead with flicking golden dust evaporating into the air.

No use, there's no way to avoid it-!

"Aa-" There was no howl of anguish, no detonation of flares from the damaged propeller.

This is it… The end.

"Like… Hell!" Suddenly, everything became crystal clear.

"…!?" Calmness washing away my fears and hesitancy.

A wordless agreement was exchanged between my determined Blue and Ren's fierce Magenta once more.

That there is one thing that must be done.

We blurred into action, leaving streaks of discarded colors behind us. Our auras dissolved into the air.

Emotions discarded.

Fear left behind.

Sacrifice are necessary-

To save everyone.

"NOOOOOO-!" We couldn't locate where the anguished cries came from, but it meant our gamble worked. Ren managed to push the bus away at the last second with a palm strike, and I sealed the breach with the last of my Aura. The gold barrier prevents the unknown from seeping into the bus again. Our body sizzles with record scratches before our aura shatters.

Where our listless frame sucked into it. Ending the casualty number before it could reach past four-

'"MIIIISTEEEEEER-!"' Multiple cries of young children reached my ears.

Hearing their fear, their desperation, could only make us smirk wryly. For sealing our fate and letting them live, we manage to protect them from fate worse than death.

Aw man… Now I feel bad for making those kids cry…

"Stay… strong." I'm not sure if they could hear my rasp, but I was pleased.

That in my last moment… I didn't flee, but fulfilling my role as the hero I wanted to be.

We accept our fate, one worse than death.

So we ascended...

T̶̃ͅo̵͉̐̀ ̴̯̈́t̴̬̀̇ẖ̸̔͐e̶͇̎ ̶̢̫͛Vo̴̫͋i̵̖̖͝d̵͖̺́̀

…

Why am I falling?… Rising?…

…

Is this… Blood floating around me?…

…

Aren't I?… Going somewhere?…

…

Ren… He's disappearing. So am I-

…

Pyrrha… Would be mad for breaking another promise…

…

Aaah…

I should've known to shut you up for that Ren…

…

…

"Arrgh… Kofh-?! Argh… Wh…WHat… hit my head?…"

...

"Holy sh-Where am I?… What the f-!Why am I in the middle of a Zombie Apocalypse?!"

…

"What is this place!? Damn it!… I can hardly read the signboard, but why is it reminding me so much of Mistralian writing?…"

…

"Eat this fugly! Gosh, I wish I wasn't so stubborn and attached a bazooka to my shield!"

…

"Since when did they wield guns and Sickles?! Shoo-! That was close! It should be the other way around! It's movie rule fifteen! No twists of supposedly established continuity! Get your fact checking right!"

…

"… A… Rampaging bolts? Is the end… of the world… near?…"

…

"No, it's okay guys, It's okay…it's okay… Nothing is going to hurt any of you inside here alright?… Just please… stay calm, and stick together. Okay…can you guys hear me? I'm going outside to check out what happened, h-hey… It's going to be fine, I won't throw my life away… After this we'll try and find your parents with everyone who survived, so don't leave this building until it's completely safe. You, use this blade if anything that's not me come here... Is that clear? I trust you with the most important job to keep all of us alive in this hell."

…

"Was that?… Two girls up there? How the heck-?! Oh shi- they're falling-!"

…

"Argh… H-hey! Are you two okay?! No big injuries?! Quick! Let's get out of here! fast! The zombies are almost through the south gate! Crap-! They broke the fence!"

…

"Yeah… So far, look... Can't say I've done a great job either, there is a group of children that were caught up in this mess, so we need to evacuate pronto, the parents?… I-"

…

"Oh yeah… I've never introduced myself, did I?… Name's Jaune, Jaune Arc. Short sweets and rolls of the tongue, laaaa, not important… You two?"

…

"Alone?…-shit! REN! WHERE ARE YOU?! REEEEEEN-!"

…

"Setting up a refugee camp to make pancake towers in the middle of a zombie outbreak?! Are you kidding me?! No, where did you get perfectly edible ingredients for making an unholy amount when I was barely gone for an hour?! This area is barely safe for complicated cooking!"

…

"*Slurrp!* Cup noodles are really the best! You can't tell me otherwise! See?! they get it too!"

…

"Uuuuhhhh… You bring freaking Guns and a Baseball Bat to bash a horde of undead heads in. Pray telling me why me bringing a sword around is weird, Miss apocalyptic gunner?… I really don't want to be victim thirteen or other if this is literally a B-rated zombie flick thrown in the dumpster..."

…

"Invisible robots controlled by pubescent shooting heat missiles… no offense, but it's pure bullocks. Though it's not the weirdest thing after a pink overall in my humble opinion…"

…

"Relic?… UUuuuh, Kinda?… Look, this thing has been a family Heirloom for a while… and Julius who?"

…

"Well fu- Ren! Take the left! I'll grab its attention! Bronya how much ammunition do you have left-… Nevermind, that's plain overkill… Am I even needed here?…"

…

"Oh, blow it out from your ass, you didn't regret emptying two cartridges in gunning that stupid elephant back at Nagazora, tch. Hey pass me the toilet paper will ya- what's with the glare reserved for a pervert?! These cells are already cramped as it is!"

…

"Our supposed vacation screwed up hard, sir Apocalypse. I don't know where to begin or elaborate for that matter, but Ren and I were fine for not dying, or turning into zombies for that matter."

…

"A decent room with no iron bars would be a good start sir, we would give you full cooperation as long as we're treated as normal human beings. Yes, a wall for a sitting toilet divider is very much appreciated."

…

"Herr…scher?… Forgive me, I'm not familiar with the term- er? Y-you mean Aura? I had this power for a while though?…"

…

"Yeah… Kinda runs in the family… Ren… I think he should tell his story, not mine to tell."

…

"What Mutation? My Da-Father and Mother, allegedly own this and my family said it's been generation-"

…

"No joke, after being sucked by that… Eye. It should be, there's no way that's not an Eye. Was that a Honkai like those beasts we met at Nagazora?… Then the size of its body is… humongous… I can't imagine if those monsters spawned on Vale's street…"

…

"Ren, it's been three days, I can strike another deal with Otto for a proper medical checkup if that's the better opti-"

…

"Excuse me, sir… I think there's wax blocking my eardrum. We what?!"

…

"St. Freya Academy… He wasn't kidding about enrolling us in an all-girls school, slap me in check this isn't a dream- ouch?!"

…

"Yeah… Nora would have a field day knowing an entire world is using her surname as a symbol to fight a national Grimm threat… It's kind of weird there's no Dust or the four main Kingdoms though. And why are we dressed as butlers?…"

…

"Male adaptability to Honkai cells are that rare?… sheesh-! NO wonder he's extra observy about our Aura… Wait a minute, didn't he inject us with that stuff from that weird purple monster?! Those aren't cures at all?! Am I gonna be growing pink tusks from my mouth soon?! Noooo~!"

…

"Speaking of which, is your family as long running as mine? Just curious, Lie clan? Last of… them?… Sorry, but… how does it feel to be called the master of Li-Owch?! What was that for?!"

…

"Mei, Bronya! Boy. It's good to see you two!"

…

"Miss Himeko lectured her again? Talk about a rough week, can't exactly forget the person who blocked your rampaging state in a single swing, Mei. Aaaah...I'm hoping there's a good way to polish my sword technique in… Eh? Sparring?… together? Well, if it's not a bother-"

…

"It's been three hours and nothing is sticking in your head?… Kiana, I know you're not totally stupid but this is ridiculous, and that's coming from a guy who's hanging around in the back of the school's academic rankings… Bronya, please don't say anything or we won't get anything done today. We're in a library so no shouting,"

…

"Yes Ren, Kiana is prettier and easier to handle than Weiss even if her rejection was way too brutal compared to Snow Angel. Kiana's cheerful energy is preferable to her constant dismissal, Happy? Must I really report everything Dad?"

…

"Heeee?~ You have the hots for prez?~ No wonder you keep following her around when we had no duties to do~ Didn't peg you for one who liked Glasses-Boakh-?!"

…

"Grading suuuucks~… I'm never going to mock Miss Goodwitch and Himeko sensei's dread anymore… I promiseeeeee, let them stop coming~…"

…

"Oy, pass me the history book on China's invasion, Professor Welt wants our assignment done before tomorrow's field trip. Ren, please…don't sleep yet, or I'll toss cold water on your face again. Don't give me that look. We know who has the wider whiz on editing and I'm not the one who is going to haul your ass when he's going to choke our necks two feet in the air again."

…

"Us being the only males in the academy wasn't that bad of a deal Kiana. Well… minus the fangirl army of our somehow 'existing' fan club, I would never have understood that I'm of all people would be more popular than Ren… Well Seven sisters hardly drove me crazy so- eh? Yes, I have seven sisters, why?"

…

"'We never talk about this?' Heheheh, You three never asked… and Honestly Rep? it never came up. Damn… I miss them…"

…

"Kiana, no. We're barely in the same class and curriculum. Fu Hua warned me you bombed your regular studies so bad except PE again. Borrowing my homework won't aid you in any wa- NO! Not the puppy eyes! WE had a deal!"

…

"Hey, Bronya… Can you make a game like 'Final Homu Fantasy'? You seem like this gameplay system compared to previous installments..."

…

"Ren… it's not even a day since the last cook off, the cafeteria supplies would dry up if you and Mei aren't settling the score in a single showdown…"

…

"Remnant's games got nothing on earth's… Melty Blood and Kallen Fantasy 7th are so awesome…"

…

"Ren, I know it's obvious when I see it. A Kaslana… former heiress of ME Corp CEO, a Russian kid genius with an invisible modded robot, a small Principal that can obliterate us in a single hit with the childish quirk of swinging giant cross that can one-shot most Honkai beasts regardless of their class, a class rep that can handle anything with the swipe of her fist, and a badass teacher that would probably be Pyrrha if she never met her soulmate… Okay, that last one… just sad-woy-! That's my mushro-! Aghh… Bowser got me..."

…

"I Miss Grimm! And I swear I can't believe I said that! Templars suck!"

…

"Then what should we do?! You want me to feel nothing when lying corpses of civilians, I can save had I own any shred of competency?! I can barely handle hordes of archangels and you want me to deal with an emperor class beast-graagh?!"

…

"You're right… Pthu-! No one's cut it out for this nonsense, and I am not backing out when there are others to save… If I freak out again, bash my head with a metal pole, I'm done moping around guys… Knights! Move out!"

…

"Lotus! Regroup with Delta and Charlie! There's a major reaction from sector 5! It's them! Gamma has reached our next rendezvous point! initiate the 2nd plan from the designated location! Ten seconds to contact guys-! Move! Move!"

…

"Incoming transmissions from Priest and Rune, unknown creatures went up by 300kps! Target locked! Northeast 200M! Shoot now! Knights! Begin phase two comrades, we have a city to save!"

…

"… Subjugation complete, requesting a clean up team to hollow out the carcass, over."

…

"Nice to meet you too in flesh Captain, Knights Jaune Arc and Lie Ren reporting for duty, ready for dispatch."

…

"We turned into chibis… We turned into chibis… We turned into chibis! None of you feel weird?! Lyan you're cuter than me! Shut up!"

…

"...Is that, is that me in a Navy suit? Uuuuh-? Welt Senseeeei?~ Why does the Protagonist of Kallen Fantasy in the Kitchen making our breakfast?~ and did my eyes deceiving me right now or there's two Ren arguing about risky pictures on the corner ther- Wait-… Senty-who? from the future?! Class rep what again?!… Yeah, it's the darn coffee, I knew taking the machine apart was a bad idea..."

…

"No-! You won't take me alive-! I won't make a speech for public statements on behalf of us assholes-! Let me go! Let me enjoy my summer vacation playing my games-! AC-chan and Soda-kun have been waiting for me~!"

…

"—With our presence being openly accepted as a growing force capable of taking on Honkai without the aid of armor or artificial Stigmata. A year passed without a greater hitch, than officially reintroducing the influence of elite male warriors within the Schicksal ranks other than the Valkyries after its former strongest knight, Siegfried Kaslana, with Shamash in his possession, was deemed AWOL."

…

"-Eastern branch vastly leading its enlarging number of the new independent assault generation. Consist neither by Valkyries, holder of artifacts, and Honkai energy imbued weapon neutralizing sightings on Japan and East China coast. We soon would expand our reach towards Northern Korea and outer border near Russia-"

…

"These numbers are cold hard evidence that Aura's function to save dozens of active and innocent officers is greater than artificial engineering. Two billion lives have been spared from the grip of recent major outbreaks, such as those in Shibuya and Hong Kong. Our influence had minimized many disastrous events that had prevented another catastrophe taking place, such as 1953's Berlin eruption for creating the first Herrscher, and a recent outbreak on February 10th, 2014 in Nagazora, that robbed five million lives and turning the city inhospitable. With Aura awakened officers, it had lessened the burden of global active A rank Valkyries and officers in possession of Honkai powered equipment."

…

"-By far, one of the top ten causes of natural STEM cells reproduction instead of renewing them by continuous strict diet. Providing minor regeneration without excessive attachment unlike the Stigmata installation procedure, Aura awakening is simpler and safer to perform-"

…

"-We aggregate these individuals as Hunters and Knights, independent male and female squadrons trained as a hit and run team respectively, with abilities of harnessing internal powers rather than Honkai energy stored within the human body. Manifesting it as a flexible external force both as shield and strength augmentation; Lengthening the prospect of survival against the unexpected with an additional trait of unlocking their latent locked abilities, known as Semblances related to their psychology and personality to channel it outward with a significant cost of Aura energy. See page four for further explanation-"

…

"Meeting up with neutral India and British branches who weren't fond of the idea of installing a base of operation, approving solar panels in South Africa for renewable energy sources after securing a sufficient water source and active defense systems against potential breakouts before dinner… I'm moving up in the world and I'm barely twenty… Who would've thought you have an early Postgraduate status for Psychology and Aura powered battle suits while picking up that sketchy Alchemy stuff because you were bored either Ren?"

…

"I get the feeling Sensei's not going to like it- yep, that's Neko chan. Another overtime Cap."

…

"You own the ship Kiana?! That's cool! When did you get a flying license then?!"

…

"Look Ren, you didn't fail Bronya! All of us got frustrated by this outcome, so don't you dare cage your pooling anger like every damn time you're about to explode! See what happens to me when I act all tough and rash!"

…

"Don't go running around making blunders as I did, get up. We have a friend to visit."

…

"Hey Bronya, bought ya some snacks, how is it goin? Ren scanned that chip with the doctors. So you should be fine for the time being, rest up for now okay?"

…

"She's certainly not hiding the Insomnia part, does Kiana sleep talking to Mei? I'm worried that the stress of cramming got in her head."

…

"Yeeeep… Sorry Rubes, but you're not the scariest person who can swing a Scythe around and never miss… Rita Rossweisse got you beat in spades."

…

"Durandal? As is The Durandal!? HQ sent our strongest Valkyrie as our back up in this retrieval mission!? Principal are you sure?! This is big! I should get an Autograph when she boards the ship-Owch?! What was that for?!"

…

"What are Anti-Entropy mechs doing here?! Kiana retreat now!"

…

"-Though I don't need to resort to such ends, right Principal? Say the word and the Knights shall follow the Priest's Crusade."

…

"Are you crazy?! Forced extraction is as haphazard as dipping city size molten lava into sub-zero saltwater! Are you trying to mess up the core's outer shell before it can contain all its leaks?! We're talking about a Valkyrie with abundant Honkai energy here!"

…

"Don't play that blaming game with me Mei… Bronya didn't want to see you lose your smile. The principal declared she would find a way, remember? Trust in her, awakening Bronya's Aura might be… counterproductive, especially in this state."

…

"Oh, Prez… Have you seen Kiana around? I can't find her on the campus grounds. Did she say anything to you?"

…

"Here, some cookies, hopefully it wasn't too sweet for your taste cau- duty calls? Okay then, don't let me stop you."

…

"-rovide a third logistic team for the eastern sea patrol route, introducing the new fishing gear… checked. Hey Mazz, has the new recruitment poster released yet? Great! I have great drawings to make them want to join us! Hey-! My drawing wasn't that bad! Grrr… Anyway… Send the files for orphan donations to my emai- ah, wait I have to take this. Hello? Ren, I'm currently in middle of gear alloca- Why the heck did Kiana go on a Rampa-?! What do you mean HQ got her?!"

…

[Ost: Endless Glow by 雷电红叶の鬼铠]

…

"Paladins! With me! Infuse the third barrier with the second emergency battery! Coordinate a phalanx formation with jet troops on the lower left side! We'll break through in five seconds-!"

…

"Don't let them land on the deck! Charlie squad! Return to the hangar and guard the back of the Helios chamber after resupplying heavy ammunition to prevent leak! Team eight and Bunker-bolt! Stand in position! My new prototype should be able to hold them off for another five minutes! Get squad ten on the deck to cull the numbers down!"

…

"...Be-Benares?! I thought it was sealed in Siberia-?! Noooo-! Schmitt! Lyan! Sensei! I gotta save them-! Ren I leave the diverting role to you-!"

…

"Retreat! Himeko got this! Get the injured on the double, those with healing Semblances and first aid equipment! Follow me! Don't let anyone with potent Honkai energy go anywhere near here! Distract it so Major can deal the finishing blow!"

…

"Hehe-!… Well, if they want to keep coming in, then let them be Sensei… buying time for Helios to recharge is a win in my book. Time to test my new moves on this moving target-!"

…

"A clone?! Emotionless Puppet!? Nonsense! Kiana is Kiana! She can be an alien from the moon and I'll still befriend her no matter what!"

…

"Fu Hua…Khghk-!… Why?…"

…

"We. Will, Save, Kiana, That's final Sensei... You may disagree. But my friend is out there. And she has suffered enough."

…

"Don't die on me Mei, two dinner rushes and a sparring match. Pay for that first then we can talk about last wills."

…

"NO… No… no no-!… that eye…Kiana is… Is that ABYSS-?!"

…

"Don't… Joke with me… That was made from the highest material for subjugating Emperor classes… and none of it managed to hit? This is… A Herrscher?"

…

"Dooooooodge-!"

…

"What's… the situation-?! Cough-! J-just give me the damn update!"

…

"Principal… Are you okay? Hold on for a few seconds, I'll boost you to heaven-!"

…

"Are you kidding me?… That's fifty percent of my Semblance boosting Principal with Judah… How strong Kiana is?!"

…

"Fu Hua…? Prez?…No…NO NO NO-! OOTTOOOOOOOOO-!"

…

"No! Sensei don't! I can fight! I can help you! Don't-! Please! I HAVE TO BITCH SLAP THAT ASSHOLE MYSELF! I don't want to stand by and do nothing again! SENSEI-! Himekoooooo-!"

…

"I'm going Ren, the Knights must resume its duty. Otto might disown me permanently from the organization, but… My influence is rooted deep in the public compared to his waiting game. The military cannot handle all of them as much as we can, even with Aura and Honkai powered equipment."

…

"-you search on the Pacific island, I'll take the European continent. We got a lot of ground to cover, no time to lose-"

…

"Keep an eye on the group too, would you?"

…

"Till we will meet again Ren, lead the Hunters well."

…

"How many are there? Twenty Chariots and two Templars? Archangels? Two school sizes? That's a lot… Squad ten and five, copy? Get the engine online and begin evacuation. Caliburn's 2nd form is ready to be unleashed. Cavalry charging in five seconds. Put the Sanctuary operation in motion,"

…

"Twenty-five points of refuge areas left on the entire planet, is the energy on the surface starting to decrease? Or raised for the worse?"

…

"Fifteen percent of the land in America left abandoned, Canada almost declared martial law if not for our interference in forcefully making them sign Z peace treaty with other the European countries to prolong a civil war from breaking out, if not for Durandal dealing with most of the worrying outbreaks, we wouldn't be here doing an annual meeting yet still no sight of young girl with white hair?… Sigh, I'm on a wild goose chase…"

…

"I repeat; Drop the gun. That shot is your final warning. The knights have all of you surrounded"

…

"Fix the Háoxiá frame and visor, is the Anubis sheet and Unicorn Strider battle suits ready to be deployed on the field? Get the safety rate above eighty percent before deployment, only Natlan can use the two without lasting side-effects. I want every upgrade installed we can get since the new implementation of energy regulation. Fetch me Caliburn's attachment from the Doctor's lab while you're at it, France and England have been open for our service. Use that to our advantage."

…

"-have the new recruit been given the introductions? Good, send them towards the training ground."

…

"Principal, it's been a while. It's been a rough month. Have… have you any… I'm sorry, there's no result in New York and Ohio, London as well... Greece is as far as I can make on a baseless assumption regarding her whereabouts on the imploding Honkai number in the South of the European nation thanks to AE's vast Intel. Ending the national food crisis when trying to find a friend is the last thing I had expected in my life either…"

…

"The only areas I haven't fully combed are in Asia, which Ren hasn't given me any concrete clues so far, given the situation that Kiana is the 2nd Herrscher's current receptacle. It's a miracle her whereabouts are nowhere to be found yet. She's alive out there, I know it…"

…

"File it for later, new information of various white haired girl sightings on Soukai and three small urban centers in Laos just came in. Squad three and four have completed their mission? Good, let them rest in the barracks and send them nutritious meals, get the eleventh Legions and trainees on standby."

…

"Einstein, my humblest gratitude for listening to my sudden proposal. Shall we write the contract to seal the deal?"

…

"Influx of Honkai energy in Arc city?… Any name I can Pin?"

…

"Gray… Serpent? Fill me in."

…

"The Principal and the others are there, give them a surprise visit, sorry Miss Ataegina. It's an important call and it was an honor to be summoned by the strongest Valkyrie to a simple lunch. Pardon me for being restless, the last few months have been a bit… rough for my mental state. Hopefully my subpar etiquette doesn't dampen your appetite."

…

"I enjoyed our short time together, but I'm unable to return to Schicksal for obvious reasons, sadly I cannot provide more information about Herrscher of the Void than the organization already has. Thanks to your haste, half of Europe was able to survive the 4th Eruption where the Knights were able to sweep unsavory groups that wanted to create disorder. You have my deepest gratitude for neutralizing the danger before it could become irremediable for the general populace."

…

"Hump, I don't understand any of the terms being thrown out of the window, or Cocolia threatening me to send my men, but basically you want reinforcements? Wait for three minutes, we're mobilizing."

…

"My gosh hearing your voice after months is soothing, but aren't you being way too cold Kiana? Sorry to cut the reunion short, but how about a little competitive bet? The loser buys the winner Ramen, Deal?"

…

"Heh~... So you're the head of the World Serpent? I'm honored, for such a big shot to grace his presence for little ol me without his bodyguard looming around as a tasteless shield to inflate your ego sitting too long on a throne."

…

"Sorry if I'm being rude, but hurting my friends while conducting Project:STIGMA in Arc city?… And wanting my organization with its head cut off by usurping it by its unique abilities combating the Honkai? 'You' crossed the line pal, so clench those pearly white teeth for VIP treatment. I can't defeat you, that much I'm aware… a little dog can't bite all the serpent s heads' off. But buying time? I'm a pro at that."

…

"Tch-! Back off, if I was Kaslana I would've already called you gramps in a heartbeat…"

…

"Kgh…. Aaaggh…Well, not-!… to brag… but if I… I can last this long and not your descendants… then-! Y-you're way too old for this business, Kgh-! Fifteen percent left from a single hit… No wonder you're called the big boss-!"

…

"No… the Knights, will always, and forever be, on the Humanity side... Dragging civilians to this war that forfeits their lives as sacrificial pawns then it becomes personal to us. You want to make every single person on this planet own Honkai cells in their body? Then think again how flawed that result would be-"

…

"Bring the medics squad here! Any Doctors with mastery over Honkai related illnesses?! Send them in as well! I'll buy several seconds if nee- tch?! At a place like this!?…"

…

"Hahaha, thanks for the compliments Durandal… No, Bianka, had you not worked with that bastard… then we… can finally talk eye to eye…Kgh-?!… This is… my limit?…Me…Mei-!…"

…

"Why can't my life have one simple thing that doesn't end up in a literal explosion when it's a flying ship, Ren? Sure, blame me for slamming that lizard with you before it can haul the two of you ladies off the planet's surface. For the record, that's my personal ship."

…

"Okay kids~ I brought the cake!~ Everyone stands in line and gets a plate!~ Ren will be back with the rainbow Pancake tower!~ So be sure to wash your hands and not push each other~!"

…

"Why is my impression that I am always the hopeless guy if not surprisingly capable?! That hurts! even coming from temporarily truce enemies you know?!"

…

"Tesla, are you sure we can trust Raven? We might have arrived a few hours ago… but is it fine?… Wish I could do more than give them food and living supplies."

…

"Two… Months?… Stop… Stop it… Doctor. I know, but why did it have to be Kiana?…all she wanted was to… to…This world… Why does the world and Honkai do this to her so much?… I don't understand…"

…

"-Call me a Devil's advocate Mei. I made my own bed, it's time for me to sleep on it."

…

"How could ten elite Paladins have missed her?! It wasn't a soundproof room! Any of you should be alerted if she opens her portal!"

…

"…So, is this your choice as well?…"

…

"-Come down to this?… Fine by me-!"

…

"Kiaaaaanaaaaa-!"

---

"Khaaaa-!" My head snapped up as I jolted awake, breath ragged and uneven with hint of light misty vapour. My shoulders shook as I pressed my left hand against my chest, trying to calm myself but failing miserably.

Sweat clung to my skin like adhesive glue, with my heartbeat continue to pound furiously within my chest along with shaking fingers clutching that spot. Even though panic had me in its grasp, my mind could process the sensation of lying on something soft and warm. Slowly, I scanned my surroundings, cautiously checking where I was to ensure I wasn't in any immediate danger.

Despite the strange sensations clouding my mind, I could sense that I wasn't in any real danger. I managed to dial down my paranoia and instinctive wariness a notch or two.

I began to focus my aura, allowing it to flow through my veins to assess the damage my body may had sustained. The process calmed my nerves even further, relaxing my tense muscles as I checked for any lasting injuries that might need immediate attention as the familiar warmth washing me over like a refreshing shower.

Rewiring my brain to remain alert, despite the hollowness of waking up, is rather easy after years of practice. My body tried to keep the chemical reactions from triggering the hippocampus to stabilize naturally, but I forced myself to remain alert regardless.

Taking in my surroundings once more after sitting on something comfortable, I noticed familiar green curtain, the white guardrail on the bed, and the steady beeping noise emanating from a heartbeat sensor.

An IV syringe attached to my right bicep, and a dry yet sterile scent infused with the unmistakable aroma of cleaning chemicals. Only one place could have these an environment I'm sadly always over familiar with over the course of my journey on earth.

After taking a deep inhalation and facing my head up, I finally reached a conclusive deduction-

"I'm alive."

---

An: Okay, I update this chapter and the rest, along with chapter 4. I really don't want to drag this out for another month, or worse, a year...again.

Though, when reading this and expected subpar things, why are you still here? Although thank you for sticking around till the end. Revs would be welcomed, suggestions and more pointing out for the story so this could be fun for you all is most desired.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you are having a fantastic day whenever you are now. Ciao.