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.

3. Under the rumbling skies-

Update (2/12/2024) local time AN: Ahahahahah… Seriously, I have no excuses…

Again, sorry for taking my darn sweet time for these updates. I've finished my thesis and everything else with em. Surely, I have more time for writing fanfiction that I love so much, right?

Society and the impending threat of unemployment.

...

Sigh…

Total words: 14k (The pattern continues...)

Special thanks to my friends: Jdog2k, Stuufy, 5had0wHand, and SSJeanne35.

They are awesome and very talented writers. Go check their story out fellas. Definitely better than mine dang it XD

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"Speaks" 1st and 3rd Pov

Thoughts 1st person

'thoughts' 3rd person

"Speaks" flashbacks or another language

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

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C. 3 Under the Rumbling skies-

There will always be those who dare to brave the lightning's glow.

-Tomo (Kazuha's yet to be named friend). Genshin Impact

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February 10, 2014. Nagazora.

Around Two hours after Jaune's awakening. 1.43 P.M local time.

An ominous presence is swelling out beyond proportion.

Such agitation, coming from an obscure premonition, would be easily mistaken for uncomfortable paranoia, were it not for a noticeable unease that loomed heavily out of sight behind everyone's back.

No matter how odd or dramatic it may sound, it's a bizarre circumstance where usually only a handful of people with sharp perception can adequately perceive the nearly negligible glimpse of passing silhouettes that wrap the city in a dreary, claustrophobic embrace, which can now be felt by everyone.

Even though there were some distant gusts of wind suggesting a storm was on its way, it hardly eased the creeping anxiety in the air. As everyone's breath was stifled in slithering tendrils of invisible unease, each bated breath required a valiant effort to resist the sensation of being submerged in a lukewarm ocean supercharged by electricity on the precipice of eruption.

"Ugh... What should I even do?" While firmly planting both hands on his sides, Jaune can't help but let out a resigned groan at the darkening sky. Silently begging someone up there to throw him a bone for once.

Unsurprisingly…

A brief flash from jagged lines in afar illuminates the distant horizon. Which is soon followed by a delayed boom that extends far across the stratosphere, was the only answer Jaune got. His limbs couldn't help but tremble from the leftover friction remaining in the air.

"Oh, come on, now..." The high-pitched shrill alone was more than enough to silence the sharp quip that had been dancing on the tip of his tongue. Nevertheless, Jaune wasn't above acting juvenile to show how stressed out he was by dramatically sighing an exaggerated groan when introducing his palm to his furrowing forehead.

As Jaune finished looking up, he couldn't help but feel a random epiphany that... perhaps it was from this level of distress that his mom and the rest of his sisters expressed an endless streak of protective nagging about his dream, which they didn't want him to pursue at all costs.

'No wonder the old man is so hard-boiled, and definitely not because he's the only male in a household filled with feminine wrath 24/7.' The irony of that thought process wasn't lost on Jaune, and he wasn't going to poke that specific hornet's nest anytime soon.

That said…

"Even if they're served on a silver platter, there's no way I'm going to enjoy all these troubles suddenly popping up from the woodwork man..." Jaune groused while squeezing his nose bridge to alleviate the pounding migraine.

Jaune was also one hundred percent sure that Nicholas Arc had never participated in this brand of insanity from a badly written B-movie either. 'He would've warned me just for the bragging rights,' Jaune can't help but internally remarked with a touch of morbid amusement.

Seriously, what were the odds of finding himself trapped in a city swarming with aggressive infected after free-falling into open sea and popping several blood vessels? As if that wasn't enough, the ongoing ordeal had already taken its toll on his nerves and backside… Well, let's just say it's about as chewed up as his patience. Okay, his wording could use some work, but the sheer annoyance alone justifies his dramatics, damn it.

Adding more salt to the injury, Jaune always has a strong aversion to zombie movies. Not only is it one of the staples of the horror genre, and he's still positively irritated to be constantly reminded that he can't handle jump scares at all by his sisters. Which is not one of the major cause he might add!

Jaune just can't stand how the characters in the movie always seem to make things worse for themselves. Most plots in the genre often leave him scratching his head at their absurdity. Plus, the whole "infected" or "walking corpse" thing being… what it is. So now, being able to relate to those characters on a new personal level is…

"No wonder they took reckless gambles and pulled off moronic stunts. Guess they're learning it the hard way too..." Jaune muttered under his breath after a brief shake to clear negative thoughts that were swimming like crowding fishes.

As much as he's never a fan of it, should he follow the Walking Dead thumb rule? Survival is important but… Nah. He sucked with guns, not to mention there's a higher chance of him being ambushed than finding a gun lying around or inside a crate when blindly looking around, so it's better to just stick to what he can whack around with.

And honestly, what did he do to end up here? All Jaune wanted when boarding the Airbus with Ren to Argus was to pick up their respective partners at Pyrrha's house. Definitely not because he wants to escape Ren's tortur-training! It was training, for the rest of the one-week break. Maybe walking around the port city for a while before returning to Vale. That's it!

"Did I get cursed?... or is this just Karma giving me the mother of all paybacks for forging that darn transcript?" Jaune deadpanned as his twitching eyebrow aimed upward again.

If he wasn't already feeling like a total wreck, his travel jacket—thankfully not his beloved Pumpkin Pete hoodie—was in tatters after the intense chase and that nonsense of a fight. Shirt? Soaked by sweat. Shoes? Seen better days. Pants? Don't get him started on that. Having his boxer partially exposed to the world while fighting and running around like a madman wasn't a pleasant experience in the slightest.

Fortunately, while the stains all over him were not entirely his own, with his rather dwindling aura reserve already repaired the accumulated scars and bruises. Jaune refused to strut around like the zombies he'd slain for obvious unsanitary reasons. Besides, the Bloody stench was unbearable.

"… I cracked a pun that sounded punny… Give me strength… Everything was juuuuuust peachy, wasn't it?"

On the flip side, a little leeway was indeed reserved for everyone in their time of need, and for Jaune. Salvation did arrive in the form of a thrift shop that was mostly untouched by the ravenous infected that terrorized the streets. Even though the display had been thoroughly wrecked, its interior seemed mostly untouched.

Jaune would dramatically praise the place as a temporary refuge like it was a blessing from above if it weren't for spotting an unsettling sight that greeted him when stepping inside. Mainly, spotting what's lying down face first on the dried, red, smudged floor. Jaune somewhat managed to prevent himself from flying off into a visceral yell, but the paralyzing grimace still slipped through to his expression.

After a moment of doubt that feels like an eternity, Jaune reluctantly let his practical side win the moral tug of war and browse the remaining intact display racks.

At the very least, Jaune made sure to lay the shop owner's… unmoving body in a more respectful manner after offering a quick prayer and apology. With his guilty conscience temporarily appeased, and to not waste too much time, Jaune quickly assembled everything that he could get his hands on.

At first, he only fancied a plain hoodie and trousers in the discount corner, or one with the sign he assumed was, to replace his torn clothes when checking the fabric's durability. But then, something caught his eye—a sharp white button-up shirt, some stylish yet sturdy black slacks, and a long cream leather coat that flowed down to his calves. The coat had a touch of fluffy white fur on the lapels, a black belt cinching the back just a bit lower from the hip area, and a few zippered inner and outer pockets. He also found a black t-shirt to go underneath. To top it all off, Jaune also discovered some solid dark hiking boots that matched the set's overall aesthetics, along with a functional wristwatch to keep track of time as his scroll was still out of commission after that bus explosion.

Flipping the teenage runaway look into a celebrity in incognito. The only thing left to complete that impression is a shade, and the fame like Pyrrha has to back it up. Jaune would never let his fashion sense down, or the self-inflicted emotional damage anytime soon. Should he blame his siblings for teaching him about clothes against his will back in grade school? That aside,

Is this stealing? Undoubtedly. Did his conscience condemn it? Not really. With new pants, no breeze brushed against his ass, and he had enough supplies, such as first aid kits and several snack bars, snuggled under a brightly colored, lightweight travel backpack secured around his waist. The rest of his belongings, along with his wallet, were caught aflame after all. So Jaune didn't have many options to begin with.

Jaune felt a spreading chill run down his spine as two ghostly figures materialized on both sides. They scrutinized him with disappointment, like metaphorical angels perched on his shoulders. Pyrrha's sad puppy eyes, which were honestly illegal, were gut-wrenching enough to overshadow Ruby's. If this were real and not just vivid imagination, Jaune would already be squirming like a worm thrown in salt under that heartbroken gaze, especially since she couldn't prevent his descent into shoplifting.

On the other side, Nicholas' disapproving glare with crossed arms, as if silently saying he didn't teach him to be like this and maybe even would snitch to Mom, only worsened Jaune's anxiety. Being an inadequate leader for his team and a partner for Pyrrha was one thing, but being treated like a common thug on the street by imaginary critics who have yet to say anything is a new low blow to Jaune's already battered self-esteem.

However, Jaune had an even bigger problem that pressured him to shove that inevitable lecture for another day.

What on Remnant could be so important that it distracted him from the two looming figures?

Could it possibly surpass the horrors than being in a city infested with flesh-eating monsters leaving him with too many painful hickeys only a love-struck teenager on punishment game could ever pull off?

Unbelievably, the answer was a solid yes.

It's Ren. He's still nowhere in sight.

"Hiiiiiii-!" A chillier shiver ran down his spine faster than the previous one.

Jaune could've sworn he heard a deafening, chirping noise of electricity erupting out of nowhere right behind him, accompanied by a peal of unhinged laughter. There's no way the poor blond can mistake that cheerful tone of someone sweetly calling one of his nicknames while loading up a grenade launcher with the intention to fully maim him until next Wednesday as someone else's. Jaune can only hope that his shivering knees will be spared from that impending pain.

"Uhm... Sir?" Until a small voice pulled Jaune out from his trance.

"Hm?" When turning around, his eyes spot a little girl that looks no older than ten looking up with innocent concern in her eyes.

"Is there... is there a problem?" The inquiry was followed with her head tilting adorably to the side.

The bright yellow jacket perfectly complemented her layered bobbed haircut, with the delicate hems of a white floral camisole peeking out from the collar and trailing just past her knees. She also wore chocolate brown shoes and carried a red school backpack stuffed with grade school textbooks and all the essentials for survival, like first aid kits and the snacks they had scavenged for emergencies.

The only mismatched item that doesn't fit her image is the lugged steel pipe on her left, wrapped in barbed wire and bent nails, which was meant as an improvised bludgeon for self-defense. The object is certainly an ill fit for the girl, especially since it is nearly as tall as she is.

It was a jarring sight, but Jaune would argue it was endearing.

"Sir?"

"… Nah, it's nothin'... It's just… surreal for being in a zombie show without a script and no one to tell you what's coming next... if you catch my drift," Jaune tried to lighten the mood by a playful comment paired with a goofy grin. The girl paused for a second, absorbing his unexpected joke for a moment before breaking into a soft giggle. Shoulders gently shaking with amusement.

Unable to help himself, Jaune reached over and gently ruffled her hair. Her smile widened even more, and for Jaune, it brought back memories of a little girl with the same shade of blonde as his in Ansel. Which somehow, felt unreasonably like ages ago.

"ねーねーミリー、 兄ちゃんって何言ってんの?"

"ミリーちゃん、ミリーちゃん! 早く教えよ!"

"ああ… 兄ちゃんってさ-"

When planning their trip to Argus, Jaune and Ren had a simple plan in mind. First, once they landed at the airport, they would meet up with their teammates, then head to a local pancake parlor for brunch to catch up on what everyone had been doing over the past three days.

Maybe even stopping Nora from a sugar-induced rampage from consuming too much sugary hotcakes by setting her on the city's local Grimm population before blowing something up that may or may not cost a huge fortune to fix, because why not?

Later, Jaune might introduce his team to his sister by paying Saffron a visit later in the evening after meeting with Pyrrha's parents. Though he probably won't be spared from the tirade for running away from home with the family heirloom without words beside an apology letter. He can already feel the diatribe would be legendary, with Ren, the pasty mug that he is, gleefully recording the entire thing without mercy.

The thought of flopping onto Nikos' living room sofa with permission to pass out after an exhausting day, while patiently waiting for supper, sounds wonderful and very tempting. Besides livening the place with banter and ribbing one another by flipping through his own or Pyrrha's baby photos, of course.

But what can Jaune do when life throws a monkey wrench into that beautiful daydream by setting the flying contraption on fire? And the worst part is that Jaune barely even enjoys his one week break at all as Ren spends the first three days putting the fear of god in him before ending up here after with a rude awakening.

"ーへ？んだそれ?... あまりに紛らわしいんじゃね?"

"だろう~?"

So, stuck playing the role of babysitter to a bunch of grade-schoolers in the middle of an apocalypse is... Well, honestly, far tamer than that one time Nora thought it'd be a good idea to mix gravity and hard light dust into Ren's pudding and then tried to serve the smoking monstrosity to the alarmed martial artist in the cafeteria. But still pretty up there on absurd things Jaune couldn't believe are real and experienced after running away from home.

"So... where are we going now, Mister?" Jaune heard Millie chime in as he studied the public map in front of them.

Mentally speaking, he's not thrilled about becoming the unquestioned leader of this group either. But despite the initial skepticism and awkwardness-

"Hm... according to this map... Okay, so we're here-" Handling kids as the only responsible adult around wasn't as challenging as many often feared. They were mischievous little devils, no doubt. But when compared to angst-ridden teenagers with auras, hormones, and an array of methods to send him flying to the next Monday like recycled trash… Jaune found them far easier to handle.

Even though, by all rights, they shouldn't be this calm and compassionate after enduring what they've gone through...

"Wait, hold on. Wrong spot... Where's the direction legend... Oh, got it! So, we've been following this fork in the road—" Jaune squinted at the map, but his confusion only deepened as his scrunched face.

Additionally, Jaune had dealt with a fair share of demanding and incredibly difficult siblings, namely the crossdressing nightmares and feminine comparisons throughout his childhood. So he was more than well-equipped to handle children. Since they can't be any more hazardous than the "time of the month" crisis when the his old man conveniently abandoned him to the wolves.

"Okay, the clinic is right where we popped out of the alley, so... is it here? Wait a sec," Jaune said, running his finger along the map but quickly getting confused again.

"That's not a legend for a shelter…" Jaune muttered to himself, scratching the back of his head once more.

For one, he certainly wouldn't question their eagerness to lend a hand and their good manners. It's way better to have kids who are mindful and ready to listen than to deal with spoiled brats throwing temper tantrums every ten seconds. Especially when navigating a city full of dangers that almost took his life and could be an even bigger threat to them.

Again… They have every right and freedom to do so though...

"Urgh, I give up... I can't read this thing." Jaune slumped down. Heavy sense of gloom weighting him over like someone dropped concrete blocks on his shoulders without notice. Forget navigating, how come he couldn't even comprehend or read a single word used in this place?!

"H-hey... uhm, how do you read this again, Millie?" Jaune reluctantly relinquishing the navigation duties to his... guide? 'They should rely on me, not the other way around…' he inwardly mulled with a disheartened sigh.

"Sure!" Millie chimed, her sweet smile lighting up the room like a switch, and it almost made Jaune's heart melt from all that adorableness. Deep down, a part of him believed that her joy is a bit misplaced, as he's currently not nailing the role a decent leader really should do.

"We're here, on Seigyoku Street, right next to this yellow marker!" Millie brightly pointed out.

"… The What street?"

"Seigyokudo, the Seigyoku street."

"...And that is...?" Jaune trailed off, eyes already twitching.

"It's right here," Millie pointed casually at the street map to trace one of the lines. "If we follow this street northwest toward the Uchibo line, we should reach Chiba Station in about two hours as long as we don't encounter any zombies or monsters along the way, sir."

The kids suddenly nodded excitedly in unison. Whispering with one another and then taking turns pointing and tracing their fingers on the map to discuss something. Millie soon joined with a comment that makes them even more elated in a language Jaune still has trouble to adapt. The chattering buzz now sounded like an adult conversation that leaves him tilting his head in disbelief.

What the heck? Why did they suddenly seem smarter and more dependable than him all of the sudden?...

"So... what's this street name mean again?" Jaune weakly voiced to hide his wavering indecision from leaking out again. Stealing subtle glances at the rest who are still too engrossed chatting with one another.

Admittingly, it was astonishing how composed these kids are. Jaune can't help feeling a bit embarrassed for thinking that his ten-year-old self would never be able to handle things as calm or thoughtful, much less in this type of absurd fictional situation he's not going to unpack today or anytime soon.

Aside from speaking a language he wasn't familiar with, Jaune could roughly conclude that all of them were of east Mistr-no, Asian descent, as Millie had corrected when he mumbled that out loud, with features that reminded him of Ren and Blake.

Thin jawlines, slim lips, slightly sharper eyelids, either raven or coal-colored hair, signs of a thin nose, and nearly all looked the same. Millie is one of the few exceptions with blond hair like him. She came from overseas to visit her relatives in Nagazora, before everything went to hell.

"Oh, Seigyoku (青玉) means Sapphire. It's a combination from two kanji made up by Ao (青) that means blue, and Tama (玉) that means gem. The color indicates what type of gem it is." Millie's voice snapped Jaune from that train of thoughts, but there's still something that bothered him.

"Then… where did the Doo come from?"

"Doo…?"

"You said Se..Se-Seiga-pfft! Se-gyokkudoo, where did the Doo come from?" Jaune couldn't hide the blush from butchering his pronunciation.

"Doo? Oooh… Do, yeah. It's how to read the michi (道) kanji when there's an adjective in front of it. But it can also be read as Aogyokudo too if it's a direct translation by meaning," Millie helpfully clarified.

"...You know what? I'm not even going to try. I'm done." Jaune raised his arms in surrender, which made a lavender-haired girl, who was almost pink and leaning on a crutch next to Millie—what was her name again? Sora?—stifled a giggle. She then smoothly filled in the rest of the group, who were not secretly listening in on their conversation.

"Why do they have to make a blue gem and street name so darn complicated with all these variations?" Jaune grumbled openly to point Millie nodded sympathetically, wearing a restrained knowing smile as the rest were struggling to contain their chuckles.

"Can't they just... I don't know? Use normal letters instead of these confusing strokes in the first place?" Jaune continued his rant, glaring at the—not-so-innocent—symbols. The younger blonde failed to conceal her amused grin, nor brief giggle, when she glanced back at the map.

"With all due respect, sir, if they could have done it differently, they would have done so a long time ago. Maybe even coming up with harder ones." Millie chirped again, unable to suppress another chuckle at Jaune's indignant gape.

Sora also couldn't contain her own budding laughter when Jaune heard more gibbe-Japanese, around them. Probably voicing something that probably was a joke that made the rest finally join in with amusement.

Seriously, without Millie clarifying what he was trying to convey, there was no way Jaune could effectively interact or maintain the upbeat mood with the rest of the kids without risking a major misunderstanding.

"Also, don't you think it's a bit random?" Jaune shrugged, unwilling to chastise them for making too much noise when the giggles eased pressure off their shoulders. His blade remained in a ready-to-draw position, just in case some zombies decided to go ambush happy at them though.

"Random?" Millie tilted her head curiously.

"You know, for a street name. I can think of better ones, like... here's the Fifth Road to Lower Park, the Jefferson Line, or 'The Great Blue Spirit Lane!' or something. It's more grand than just a plain gem color," Jaune weakly cracked a joke, pointing to himself and hoping for an eye roll that conveyed a playful "Oh, sure, you can".

It worked like a charm. Lame or not, they were amused by his upbeat and funny demeanor, creating sparks of optimism that diverted the stressful reality as much as possible.

"Hehe... mister, you're being silly! That's actually one of the better names out there!" Millie said with a grin, still dragging her pipe along the pavement after they finally walked towards the route agreed upon.

"Come on, what better name could you give to a simple lane? And don't call me a sir, it makes me feel old," Jaune responded in a playful snark. Tossing a half-smile when silently offering his hand to carry the homemade self-defense weapon. He's… not that old in their eyes, was he?

"Well..." Millie struggled to suppress another fit of giggles as she handed over the pipe.

"In Fubanashi, another district west of here, there's a popular family restaurant serving steaks and such. The name of the place is 'Kodake's Dinner' [子だけ夕食]. If translated literally, it means "only son" dinner.'"

"What kind of parents named their kid Only Son?! Were they on something when they named him that?! Being lazy or intoxicated won't cut it!" Jaune instinctively roared, frustration evident as he ruffled his hair in exasperation after nearly dropping the pipe. Unknowingly pronounced the name correctly on the first try.

"I'd be depressed if I had to live the rest of my life with that name! I thought having the surname Arc was strange enough! And he had the audacity to open a restaurant with that name!" Jaune ranted energetically, hiding a triumphant smirk as his exaggerated blather drew another chorus of genuine laughter. For once, his goofy personality came in handy, as seen by several pointing fingers and bright smiles that replaced previous uncertainty and awkward cooperation.

Although Jaune was contemplating whether to be genuinely mad for real when the boys started calling him an Enko (円弧) as if it was the funniest thing ever. And judging from Millie's troubled expression, he could roughly tell that baka meant idiot or something similar.

So… when Jaune requested his translator to clarify what made them so smug, and caught a glimpse of a nervous Sora who was actively averting eye contact. Jaune can tell his brow is twitching harder from the reluctant answer.

"Hold on... So… I'm Baka Enko?" The belated laughter was hysterical.

Jaune stormed off in exaggerated steps, fuming and pouting like a petulant child. Meanwhile, the real children only raised their cackling volume in response to his indignant antics. Genuine smiles and optimistic chatter soon filled their conversations, melting away the subtle unease in the air like ice thawing under gentle sunlight.

But Jaune's mind held neither a shred of sunlight nor a rainbow. He couldn't bring himself to share their infectious joy, even after successfully boosting their morale and keeping up the clown act. How could there possibly be any room left for it?

The unknown virus had successfully transformed the city's inhabitants into husks of their former selves, terrorizing the survivors who hadn't succumbed to the virus into a sick game of hide-and-seek. Twisting sense of safety as nothing but a vivid illusion. Like they were inmates awaiting their turn on the chopping block... and these kids were next in that line.

'This is no laughing matter, damn it…' Jaune puckered his lip and huffed to the left, petulantly ignoring the half-hearted apologies from the kids who had called him an idiot. Grateful for not faltering his fragile poker face didn't fail him to maintain the sullen act.

A tide of rising questions surged through Jaune's mind, far too many to count with hands when traversing the wrecked city. His grasp of the current situation, aside from the fact that they were not safe, was painfully limited. It was a gross understatement to say that the available information he could get was scarce.

So far, there's only two consistent questions sticking out like a red flag that bothered Jaune that needs to be verified soon.

First is "What caused the city to be so devastated like this?"

And the second one… "Why were the only survivors he came across were children?"

Even if one of the far-fetched assumptions Jaune used as speculation was able to temporally answer lingering confusion regarding what happened around here held some truth, it still answered nothing about why these kids have to suffer this.

That second question also led him to inwardly wondered where all the adults went to... and he means, those who have yet to turn into zombies or… Something else.

"..." It was too early to draw several baseless presumptions without enough evidence.

However, Jaune connected the two questions together, as it bugs him so much. There's an... additional, disturbing contextual correlation that not only serves as a temporary hypothesis but... also increases his uneasiness about such merciless implications.

The glaring contrast between the number of boys and girls in the group was also hard to overlook, but if Jaune also links that additional information to the worrying deduction, then…

"..." Jaune momentarily averted his gaze. Withholding the half-baked conclusion from escaping his mouth. When noticing there's a small hand is weakly reaching out to him.

Gently, Jaune grasps the delicate, quivering palm that seeks physical comfort belonging to a small child walking beside him. Offering it a small solace when dispelling the dark thoughts looming behind their conscience. Continuing the journey through the haunting streets as the distant zombies' moans echo like a ghostly chorus.

Furthermore…

Call it a gut feeling, but from the looks of it… Jaune could almost confirm that aura… wasn't a thing here.

'Shocking... But where I should classify this observation as?' although Jaune snorted at his own thought, it's not a small detail to notice either.

Although Jaune is not forthcoming on that one with them, not because he's wary of their reception but more because he's not sure where to start without having another pounding migraine to explain what aura is all about, there's no sign of any of them showing hints of awakening.

That's already a huge abnormality within his book. Ren had taught him the basics of what aura is, what it's all about, how to use it, and make it useful, with an additional mention that it could be awakened. Jaune didn't like how Ren calmly described his childhood trauma with a neutral tone when clarifying how civilians awaken their aura under intense stress or danger.

Additionally, thanks to the intense training (which was just Ren chucking projectiles without mercy), Jaune went through. He could somewhat sense a fellow aura user to a certain extent. Ren had better awareness, sure, but at least Jaune could distinguish between civilians and Huntsmen who have their aura unlocked.

Each living being has its own soul except Grimm, so all of them are capable of awakening theirs to a certain extent with external stimuli that bring forth their soul outward as a layer of protection.

However, even as the situation in this city deteriorates and is definitely stressful enough to awaken one's aura, none of the kids in the group shows the slightest hint of manifestation.

Nothing. No shimmer of protection. No flash of desperation manifesting as power. Not even the slightest sign of semblance activation went out of control. No nothing.

It was more than enough for Jaune to temporarily confirm that he's a walking anomaly in this situation as the only person who can passively stall the effect of zombie infection in this city because he has access to a super power where all those who have souls can access it.

Albeit at the cost of half his reserve, until Jaune could fully flush out the virus from his blood vein.

'Should I awaken their aura then?…' Jaune briefly entertained the idea, but swiftly dismissed it after giving it a second thought.

Whether it was possible or not, he couldn't simply awaken others' auras without considering the potential consequences. Besides, his reserves had better be saved for emergencies, not to mention that awakening them one by one would take forever.

Also, Hell will freeze three times over before "His kids" do his fighting for him.

"Nothing changed then..." The priority to search and find a decent shelter and gather more supplies was still the first thing to think of. If they were lucky, they might find some locations to rest and gather their bearings until the mess toned down a bit.

However, things couldn't be easy or straightforward for him. Jaune had completely underestimated the size of Nagazora, only realizing how large and far-stretched this region was after experiencing it. The city is vast, and he mean... That vast.

Nagazora may even have surpassed Vale in terms of towering buildings and centralization alone when Jaune observed the area from a nearby building's rooftop. The skyscrapers here were far taller than he'd initially expected, and his jaw positively dropped at the sheer weight of realization when a city this massive was reduced to rubble and despair. The only building still standing is very far away, with "ME" letters.

It also slotted in as another reason into the huge jigsaw puzzle of why there are so many zombies around. Not to mention the creatures that spawn all over the area and don't attack the zombies under the darkening skies.

It has an appearance that's distinctively different from Grimm. Yet, it's hard to deny their surface similarity of roaming around and locked into their target on sight. The world tilting discovery has yet to end, and it forces Jaune to accept he's treading into uncharted territory that is possibly far more absurd than initially predicted about this variable.

As these strange… Otherworldly creatures, definitely look tougher than your average Creeps or Beowolves. The winged beasts he encountered recently, which he's calling "bees" for now because they swarm when they attack, might be in the same league as the white things. As far he could see and studied, these creatures follow their targets with prejudice identical to lesser Grimm and some undead types, which he's currently labeling as "variant."

"Tch... I don't like this..." Appearance wise, these things are like night and day to Grimm. And no, he's not trying to be poetic. They're so… foreign, for a lack of better word.

Jaune also couldn't ignore the familiar pink lines running down the monsters' white exoskeletons, similar to those of the infected. The longer he noted that each white creature had the same sickly pink lines and cube-shaped smoke coming off their bodies, the harder it was to not see them as "alien" to a certain extent.

He stiffled remark about wrong genre, but he's mostly right to not sticking to horror movie preconceptions because... What the hell is really going on this place?

'Not to mention…' Jaune barely concealed a quick glance towards Sora, who was giddily conversing with Millie and a redhead named Ayu, using crutches to support her injured legs. Occasionally, a weak pink flicker pulsed underneath the bandages.

What's Worse… She's not the only one with subdued glowing pink light.

"Damn it..." Jaune muttered while turning to look in the other direction to hide his furrowing from the kids, only to find remains resembling a war zone.

Cars, motorcycles, fences, and wreckage were all in such disarray that a slight push would reduce them to ashes. There was a clear correlation between the deteriorated state of the environment and the creatures he had encountered—degradation. Or, at the very least, an expression that describes how metal crumbles away like sawdust.

Jaune couldn't precisely identify the term, but the notion of being devoured by a massive, formless maw wasn't entirely incorrect. And putting all of this information together...

"A widespread outbreak, one that spreads via biting or airborne transmission... and practically infects everything, rendering them irreparable... like self-destructing biological cells that attack other cells from the inside," Jaune murmured to himseld, cupping his chin in contemplation. He's not book-smart like Weiss or Ren, but even he reads school science and biology books to get that knowledge and see how wrong the sight is to naked eyes.

"Millie confirmed there's an ongoing panic after a massive explosion happen just before things going wrong, and the mention of rings... Should I classify this as a trivial coincidence, or..." That explosion might be the catalyst for everything going south.

While the rings she defined must've been the aftershock from whatever detonated in the air. Jaune couldn't rule out her testimony as slightly off yet, as she was the only one he can freely converse with who could attest to it.

Were the white creatures that plagued the city tied deeper to this disaster too?

'It's plausible but... wouldn't that classify them as literal aliens rather than a byproduct of infection instead?' Jaune really stretched the inductive reasoning to match the pieces when there's so many to keep track off but…

"No, the most reasonable cause is-" a detonated "bomb" containing dangerous material that renders the inhabitant of this city to this state. The virus or whatever caused zombification was likely transmitted through the air, as indicated by the outward ring observed above the city this morning.

It was a major leap to make, if not for him catching glimpses of the stuff in the market area still retaining fresh products like fish and vegetables in decent condition when running around like a headless chicken. So it couldn't have been longer than half a day. It was happening in the morning or earlier...

It still sounded a bit stretched, but Jaune is getting somewhere since Millie and Sora confirmed some of his earlier deductions regarding the "when" and "what" by informing about what they remembered before things went sideways.

Alas, there was one more irregularity that gnawed at his brain. Even with wild assumptions and coaxing random thoughts to bait logical reasoning, it refused to make sense.

The 'Why?'

There's a "who" that caused this, but the "why" is still the most vague.

Why this city?

Why did he wake up when everything was already on fire and filled with zombies?

Why were these innocent children stripped of their safety, their families, and their normal lives?

Why was this happening to them?

"-Of course, it can't be that easy..." Jaune's voice trailed off that was filled with a familiar sense of resignation.

It was already bad enough he had awakened in the midst of disaster without any warning. Couldn't he have appeared before or after this instead? Perhaps then, there would have been enough time to...

"Wait... appeared?" Jaune slowed his pace a bit. Backtracking one of his thoughts that finally directed him somewhere.

Yet, a cautionary voice whispered in the back of his mind, warning him that the impending discovery wouldn't be pleasant.

The ring in the skies.

Loud noise.

Him waking up when things already messed up…

That the correlation sounds all too coincidental… to the point it's too suspicious.

But, if it's true?

'No… then that means-' If it was…

"N-no…" Then…

A sharp inhale cut through the air, deepening Jaune's frown into a pained expression. The previous unease that washed over his entire frame in cold sweat paled in comparison to the wince he openly fought to suppress.

Because wasn't that a macabre of "coincidence"?

"khh…" But Jaune stayed focused.

Maintaining a resolute expression, he pushed the intrusive emotions to the background to address later. He has a group to take care of. There's no time to wallow in sadness and self-blame yet. There's still so much to do.

Like how they should proceed from now.

Where else they can scavenge supplies for later.

What should he do when-

""Jaaaaaaaune!""

"Woah-?! Hey, get off!"

"ねえ！ねえ！ジョーンの盾がブーメランになるって本当？! それとか、大きなビームを発射できるとかな⁈ (Hey! Hey! Is it true that Jaune's shield can turn into a boomerang? Or it can shoot a big beam?)"

"じゃねえよ!剣がもっと大きくなり、大きなビームを出せるようになる！(No! The sword will become bigger and be able to shoot a bigger beam!)"

"そんなことできるわけねーだろう! 他に何かあれば！あのかっけなロボット騎士のような居合術だぞ！(There's no way it can shoot beams! If anything, He can do quick drawings like those robot knights!)"

"Wait wha-"

"みんな、彼から離れろ！落ちてしまうぞ！(Guys, get off him! You'll fall!)"

"やだ！今すぐ答えてもらうから！(Nope! I will get my answer now!)"

"そうだ！ねえ、ジャン！松田がさ、お前の黄色い髪、変だって言ってたよ。でも、そんなことないと思う！結構かっこいいじゃん！(Oh yeah, Jaune! Matsuda said your yellow hair is weird, but I don't think so. I think it looks pretty cool!)"

"おい！言ってねぇよ！ただ珍しいって言っただけだろ！だってミリー以外で金髪見たことないし！ (Hoy! I didn't say that! I said his yellow hair is unusual 'cause we've never seen blond hair other than Millie!)"

"Hey! Stop yelling near my ears!"

"じゃあ、やっぱり彼の髪を変だと思ってるんだな！ (So you admit you found his hair weird!)"

"言葉を曲げるなよ 健太! (Don't twist my words, Kenta!)"

"えっ、じゃあたし髪が変ってことかよ！？ (Wait, so you're saying my hair is weird!?)"

"違うって！俺はあいつの髪が珍しいって言っただけで、お前のじゃない！ (I didn't! I said I think his hair is unusual, not yours!)"

"いや、言っただろ！ (Yeah, you did!)"

"言ってねぇよ！(I'm not!)"

"言ったって！(You did!)" "言ってねぇって！(I did not!)" "言ったってば！ (Yes, you do!)"

"お願いだよ、あれがどうやって変身する？！お願い！見てほしい！ (Please, can you tell me how that thing can transform? Please! I want to see it!"

"お前ら、もういい加減降りてこい！(You three, please get down already!)"

""絶対やだ！(NEVER!)"" *An: The JP only till this part, the rest are in italics]

"You three better get off before I do it for you…" Jaune threatened in an exasperated groan.

Remember that he was used to tiresome sisters? Yeah, that level of proficiency didn't quite translate to handle hyperactive brothers.

If this is how annoying he was to his sisters, he promised himself he'd apologize to each one and maybe even shrink their underwear in the washing machine and blame it on his old man again if he ever returned home. He's not this handful.

The trio exchanged mischievous glances and smirks that made Jaune uneasy. One of them smirked and playfully nudged the others for attention.

"Guys, looks like Jaune wants us to go down."

"Yup, let's get off and show him what we got." The second returned the smirk as the third nodded enthusiastically, prompting the teen to stare angrily at them with a red tick mark.

"No piggybacks, no pestering, get down. Now." They complied right away.

It was a mistake when Jaune released a relieved sigh when they hopped off his back.

"Wait-when did they-?!" As the lack of guard made him unaware that Crocea Mors was no longer on his belt when noticing the lightness of its weight.

"Got it! Woah! This is heavier than it looks!" Jaune couldn't even find the words to express his sheer panic when one of them started swinging the sword around like it was just a cool toy.

"Hey! Be careful with that!" The huntsman in training exclaimed in urgency that only grew stronger as the taller boy lifted his sword with both hands while grinning ear to ear.

"Guys! Look! I can wield Jaune's sword! I'ma swordsman!" Jaune swiftly grabbed the sword to confiscate it before any limbs or someone could get hurt, especially when the kid almost toppled over under Crocea Mors weight.

"Aw come on! I almost had it! Let me try again!"

"I have no idea what that means, but if you're planning to swing it around again, then the answer is no," Jaune said flatly as he held Crocea Mors high above the brat's reach.

Another groan escaped his lips when the kid was still trying, and failing, to reach the sword again. His patience is steadily chipped away and it hit him why Ren kept his semblance active in secret the whole time when dealing with Nora's or JNPR shenanigans.

"No fair, my turn! You already tried it!"

"Look at me! I'm a walking tank!"

Jaune pinched the bridge of his nose as these three troublemakers—Kyota, Kenta, and Matsuda— showed zero remorse for their antics.

"Aw, come on, Jaune! We just want to see your transforming shield in action!" Jaune assumed that it was Kyota who was yelling on his left after he got the shield out of reach too.

They do balance the male hormone level, but they're too much in large doses that make Ruby's constant pestering to upgrade his sword into a gun hybrid feels far tamer, to his internal disbelief.

"Guys… maybe he wanted to show us how to use it!"

"Really!? Score! Dibs on the shield!"

For the life of him, Jaune couldn't help but wonder why they're holding him in such high regard. It was pretty obvious that they're showing looks of hero worship that are also hard to be overlooked.

"Kyota, it's not a boomerang! You have to fetch it yourself if you throw it into the air!"

"Forget that! If the sword can make us transform! You can have the lame shield for yourself! I'mma be a real hero!"

Upon turning to Millie and Sora for translation… They just stood there watching from a distance with a mix of affection and annoyance, so he's on his own. Great.

Jaune is still pretty puzzled by Japanese overall, but he's managed to piece together some of the meanings of these three phrases by guessing what each word might mean. Though it mostly revolves around cool stuff and the term hero that keeps popping up, but he just can't figure out what they're talking about with Arahato. And then there's this mysterious dude who's supposed to show up in a Kamen Rider thing but hasn't gone Henshin on the zombies… whatever the heck that means...

Their excitement soon turned into a lively debate over who would get the chance to be his sidekick and take a swing with his sword next. Millie was the one translating all this, and Jaune felt like this was some sort of obscure punishment.

With a resigned sigh, Jaune coined the trio's designation as KKM out of sheer annoyance. Unsurprisingly, they didn't take his satire well coming from the indignant "You suck!" after Millie explains it. Then comically wrestling him to the ground, eyes blazing with mock anger. One of them even managed to bite him on the nose.

"EEEEEeeeeyoooowch-?!" In that moment, Jaune couldn't help but silently pray to whatever higher power up there might be listening to his struggle to ease his hardship down the road.

The girls had already lost interest and were watching the chaos with bored expressions. Meanwhile, Millie was too busy buffering her fingers instead of helping him from being bitten by these tykes, traitors.

That was an hour ago. After kicking up a storm and inhaling way too much dust while they rolled around like unruly dogs, they finally found a somewhat tidy refuge in a ransacked house in the suburban area, at least from Jaune's perspective.

As always, he took care of any hostile infected they came across, while making sure to handle it away from the kids' view and giving the house owner a proper burial in the backyard.

The older teen thought about whipping up something to snack on for them, but the kitchen was sadly stocked with leftovers he wasn't sure were safe from being exposed to the air. They did manage to find some tea bags, crackers, and chocolate candies that were probably meant for guests.

In the meantime the children are resting from the long walk, Jaune took the chance to recharge his aura to a more comfortable level. It was a bit tedious, but the crackers helped keep him awake enough to maintain his posture and focus so he could speed up his recovery rate, which Jaune needed to fight off the infection and ready to throw hands against hostiles when needed. The girls were chatting away in the background, making the snack time a bit more lively as they munched on whatever they could find.

Just as Jaune enjoyed another sip of tap water, his brief moment of peace was interrupted by several hands reaching out with a cold soft drink, a pack of warm salted toast, some bag of snacks, and a clear can holding a fresh slice of appealing strawberry cake. What?

"Wait... where did you guys... actually, what is this?" Jaune couldn't help but exclaim, drawing the attention of others who rejoiced at the variety of snacks the KKM trio brought in a huge plastic bag.

Kenta excitedly shared that they had discovered a couple of working vending machines just a short stroll away. With some cash they found while digging through the house, the three of them decided to snag some snacks for everyone.

All without his supervision nor permission.

Jaune was so taken aback that he couldn't even scold them when Kenta followed with a burst of energy, waving his hands animatedly to explain something. He glanced over at Millie, who suddenly looked apprehensive.

"Uhm… Jaune." she hushed in a strained tone.

"Kenta suggests that… they will fight alongside you later."

"... What?!" Jaune had to bite his lips to prevent himself from shouting.

Millie began explaining Kenta's plan word for word, causing Jaune to stutter in disbelief. Apparently, they thought it would be a smart move to join him on the front lines, using his weapon while he took a breather. They even said it was a solid plan as long as Jaune kept an eye on them if things get dicey.

His brain must've short-circuited then because the idea was nothing more than asking permission to use his weapon when he's doing almost nothing. They didn't seem to grasp how ridiculous that was, treating the whole situation like it was just a game. Jaune had to wrap his head around it a couple of times because he was pretty sure Kenta wasn't stuttering and Millie wasn't messing up the translation.

Because again, they were all set to dive into danger without fully understanding what they were getting into, just to prove they could be his sidekicks or showing what they're capable of.

'Well F*ck.' Was this what his father and others felt all the time?

The idea of his ducklings willingly risking their lives under his command and permission was nearly enough to send Jaune into cardiac arrest.

"'Yeah, not happening…" Jaune muttered to himself, exhaling through clenched teeth as his frustration bubbled up from their innocent naivety. He rehearsed several ways to explain why their idea was terrible, but the words all felt wrong. Eventually, he settled for the bluntest route and shot them a deadpan look.

"... You three dumb?" Jaune knew he had messed up that delivery, but at least his point had landed.

"Wh-what do you mean dumb? We're trying to help you!" Kenta finally stammered, his indignant glare doing nothing to hide the crack in his voice.

"But we want to help! You can't fight alone!" It was Matsuda who said that.

"Help me by staying out of the way. I can't have any of you endangered when not looking." Jaune replied flatly, scrubbing a hand through his messy blond hair as Millie quietly translated it that sparked more complaints

"How do you know that? You've never even given us a chance!" Kenta quickly shot back.

"I'm not about to let someone without proper training jump into danger, Kenta." Who was shot down as fast when Jaune folded his hands with a serious tone.

"What if we're really good at it?" Kyota stepped forward this time, his expression as firm as his voice.

"You're not," Jaune is not afraid to put his foot down, refusing any of their arguments.

"You have to believe us by giving us a chance!" Was it Kyota? Or is it Kenta who remains stubborn at this? Either way-

"You're not getting one," It's his responsibility to keep them safe and sound. No amount of reasoning would budge him otherwise. Unfortunately the back-and-forth grew worse as their stubbornness infected Jaune's approach to their disagreement.

"A hero needs sidekicks to handle the bad guys too! You can't do this all alone!"

"Sidekicks? You're not sidekicks. You're kids. And kids don't belong anywhere near dangers like this!"

"But we're not just kids! We can handle it!" Kyota's voice rose in frustration.

"Stop treating this like comic books, there's no hero or sidekicks in the real world."

"We're not scared Jaune! We can show you how we can help-!"

"That's the problem!" Jaune snapped, using some Japanese words he'd picked up so far as the yell cut through the room. The trio flinched, with the rest of the girls who were startled by the rare edge in his tone. Of all the times they won't listen and throw tantrums, why did it have to be this of all things?!

"You should be scared!" Jaune is unaware he was raising his voice.

"This isn't some stupid movie where you can just mess up and try again! One mistake, just one mistake and you're done!"

"But we're not useless!" Matsuda countered, his voice wavering but determined.

"I know that! None of you are!"

"But if we don't fight, we're just dead weight!" Something inside Jaune cracked from Kyota's return, but as much he wanted to show how proud he is of their bravery…

"Dead weight is alive weight," Jaune said with a crack in his tone, though the steel within it remained. Millie hesitated for a second when catching the personal history behind that refusal, before translating it for the trio. Their reaction is also expected.

"That's not fair!" Kenta's voice cracked again, but this time it wavered as much from frustration as confusion.

"It's not, but it is what it is.." Jaune admitted with a bit of bite.

"You're alive because someone carries the weight for you."

"Then who's carrying yours?!" Kyota's voice rose, his frustration boiling over with fists trembling at his sides. Jaune froze, the question hitting harder than he'd expected.

"We're not useless! We just—we just want to help!" But Matsuda jumped in before he could say anything.

"You think I don't know that?" Jaune's reply came off sharper than he meant.

"Helping and showing how capable you are doesn't mean throwing yourselves into danger just to make yourselves feel useful. It's not about you!"

"Then what is it about? Protecting us? Fine! But who's protecting you then!? Huh?!" Kyota bristled, his fists clenching harder.

"That's not your job either…"

"Why not?" Matsuda interjected, his voice lacing with anxiety..

"You're not that much older than us! You're not—You're not invincible!" While it was Kenta's word, Millie's own feeling did seep through that yell.

"I know I'm not!" Jaune's voice cracked, and the words came out harsher than he intended.

"That's why I can't afford to make mistakes—mistakes that neither me or any of you'll make because you don't know what you're doing will make any of you won't be breathing because of me-"

"...we…" It was a whisper.

"We... we really are holding you back..." A quiet, barely audible whisper.

"-!?" That silenced their war of words in an instant, slicing through Jaune's conviction and stubbornness like a blade..

"What… Did you say?" Stopping his tirade by forcing him to turn towards the source with shock written all across his face. Widening his startled eyes even further at the sight of crying Sora who tried to stifle her whimper.

"We… We are really holding you back…" Sora repeated with tears welling up in her half closed eyes. He didn't need Millie's translation to understand her words, nor the sharp, unmistakable crack in her tone.

The rest of the children's rising voices—Kyota yelling at him, Matsuda's anger spilling over, Kenta's voice breaking under the strain—faded into static as his focus locked on to Sora.

He couldn't look away from her tears, nor the raw hurt written across all their faces. Even the girls who didn't follow the argument fully could sense the tension, their wide eyes darting between Jaune and the others.

As if fire had been lightened under them, Kyota started yelling something in anger that the other two followed suit. Even with limited understanding, Jaune can tell they're yelling that he's being a stubborn, selfish idiot.

What's worse, the sight of not only Sora and Millie, but the rest of them start to show tears in their eyes with Kenta's voice cracking when shouting at the top of his lungs that made Jaune draw a sharp breath. Unable to resist the urge to cover his face in mortification.

"Oh for the loving fu… They're barely my age, and they already know what it means to feel like a burden…" His throat tightened as their words, their cries, their indignation… It felt similar. Oh so similar. Their words. How often had he heard that same tone?

Worse, they learned their incapacity to assist solely from his obstinacy to defend civilians at all costs.

Clenching his fist, Jaune once again cursed his inability to let others help him when he truly needed it. He'd done it again…

"...I'm no better than they were…" The thought hit Jaune harder than he expected. Those same words—ones he'd secretly resented hearing for years—had come spilling out of his mouth. A part of him, his younger self, is screaming for making the same mistakes. But what choices do he have?

This wasn't just about shouldering the burden alone, nor his pride who won't accept help and deny others compassion. It was about their safety, about keeping them alive at all cost.

'So what?! I should Compromise?!' Jaune was screaming inside his head, toying with the idea for a good ten seconds before diving into some serious contemplation. His frown shifted to a thoughtful look as he rested his chin in his hand, racing through scrambling thoughts at lightning speed.

Thankfully, Jaune's resigned huff shattered the suffocating tension that had been putting everyone on edge. He directed his gaze at the gloomy, brewing horizon outside the house, exhaling another huff before redirecting his stare back to the incensed trio.

"No, I cannot allow the three of you to fight alongside me," Jaune didn't mince his words.

Just as Kenta and Matsuda were about to protest after assuming the worst, Jaune raised his right palm in a placating manner. His gaze shifted between them, resting briefly on each one until they fell silent.

"Not in the way you three proposed it, at least," Jaune then continued while breaking into a wry grin. Winging it on the fly, wasn't that how he does things?

Later, they sat in a loose circle on the floor, sharing snacks the boys had scavenged. Millie helped with translations while Jaune outlined a plan when eating the cake the boys offered him. It was far from what Jaune would call a decent plan, let alone good. But it's better than nothing after Millie informed the rest after ironing out the details.

"Alright…" Jaune muttered after wiping his mouth, "First, no fighting. Period. Your job isn't to take on zombies or anyone dangerous—it's to help us avoid trouble in the first place. Spot survivors, find supplies, keep an eye out for anything unusual. Got it?"

The boys nodded reluctantly. It might've been a bit slapdash, but it's all Jaune could come up with after roughly assessing each of the three prowess and interest.

"Kenta," Jaune said, pointing at him. "You're quick on your feet. Your job is to scout ahead when we're on road—but only when I say it's clear. No running off." Kenta seemed to pout but nodded regardless.

"Remember, take the high ground whenever possible, whether it's with a ladder or anything else that helps you stay away from danger or hostiles. Never gamble on the landing part and wait for me if you need someone to catch you ok?" Jaune wrapped up, and Millie chimed in with a little extra advice to make sure Kenta doesn't do anything rash after hearing Jaune's instructions.

"Kyota," Jaune continued, "you're good at reading people. Help keep the group calm down when we run into survivors or boxed by zombies. Talk to them. Get information. Try to come up with a quick route then inform me. But no taking risks, understand?"

Kyota makes some affirmative hum, at least he's not as stubborn as Kenta.

"Matsuda," Jaune turned to the quietest of the three. "You're good with your hands, right? Help me check our gear, make sure the supplies are counted, and make sure we're ready for whatever comes next." Matsuda straightened a little, pride flashing in his eyes before he caught himself.

Sora was unanimously picked as their temporary medic because no one else could do first aid better than her and they'll be less likely to argue with the most level headed girl in the group. Since Millie had to keep running back and forth to communicate things to everyone because Jaune was still getting used to Japanese, and the tree needed a bit of time to settle into their roles.

With their plans set and everyone understanding their tasks, they gathered their belongings and prepared to set off once more.

---

Unknown place, Nagazora, 2014.

2.15 PM local time

"-I guess this can be postponed for another date, truce?"

"Processing ceasefire proposal… affirmative. Greater threat was detected approximately one hundred meters ahead. Cooperation recommended to ensure survival."

"I agree... That shadowy fox... I'm not sure why, but we must evade its claws and the fog around it at all costs... It gives me a bad feeling. Do you have enough firepower to harm it?"

"Measuring the amount... Approximately moderate level. Sufficient to bring down a modest structure if continuously unleashed."

"Good... Can you harm it?"

"Calculating… Probability of prolonged impairment is low, but possible disruption is achievable."

"Good enough...I'll create a diversion. Try to aim at its hind legs or nape to cause disorientation. It should give us enough time to retreat."

"Affirmative. Engaging combat module. Defensive mechanisms operating at optimal capacity. Project Bunny, stand by. Target acquired... Chamber reloaded, ready to engage."

"Quick question… Just, how are you controlling that thing?..."

"Classified."

"... Is that bunny plushie a remote control?"

"... Also classified."

"Fair enough… teamwork until we escape this city?"

"... Impossible."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but... Don't dismiss things before giving them a chance. Besides, strangers are friends you haven't met yet. I believe we have a misunderstanding here. So, how about we start with an introduction? My name is Lie Ren."

"Friends… improbable. But Bronya Zaychik accepts the introduction."

*ROAAAAAAAAAR!*

"...I have a lot of questions right now, but we'll deal with the fox first, Miss Zaychik."

"Affirmative. Modules synchronized. Weapon primed. Standing by for orders."

"I'll give the signal. Keep your distance and aim for its lower legs or back when I keep it distracted! Don't engage in it directly!"

"Observing enemy patterns. Maintaining optimal distance… Roger!"

"Let's go!"

---

Suburban area, February 10. 2014. Nagazora

4.26 PM Local time

Exhaustion. That was the only word to sum up the aches gnawing their limbs akin to a dog on a bone.

"Aaargh…" Jaune groaned, collapsing onto entrance stairs with a graceless thud. His stiff movements sent a chorus of cracks through his joints.

"Jaune… are you okay?..." Millie's fatigued voice was laced with concern.

"No... Tired... Need... sleep..." Jaune muttered, with a faint, bleached mini-specter of himself comically slipping from his mouth with a pitiful whine. Millie sighed, massaging her sore ankles in slow circles, mirroring his weariness.

"Can we agree to never let Kyota throw your shield into a horde of angry zombies again?…" Millie said in the most flat, fed-up tone no normal bright ten year old should possess. The fact her eyes went flat and darken says a lot.

"Ditto…"

"Permission to smack him if he justified it with that reasoning again?"

"Granted," Jaune replied, tiredly waving his right hand, "just don't use my shield while you're at it."

"Gladly…" She said a bit too… cheerfully, before going silent for a few seconds.

"...And why do I have a feeling Sora is going to start idolizing a baseball bat or a pipe after watching you take down so many zombies without a scratch with it?" Millie then flatly questioned.

Jaune then soon turns to where Millie was looking. Their expressions soon mirrored each other. "If it works, it works… if not, grab a pan or a pipe. You know, classic zombie movie logic, right?" Jaune casually said while rubbing his sore shoulder.

Meanwhile, Sora is too enthralled to notice their judging stares. Despite leaning on a crutch, Sora is able to swing around the younger blond's pipe with frightening enthusiasm. Stars practically sparkling in her eyes.

"But seriously, how did that pipe hold up while you were smashing that falling concrete?"

'Aura and spite Millie… Aura and spite.' Jaune thought to himself, but aloud he said, "I honestly have no clue. I'm just as lost as you are…" Not because he didn't trust her—he was just too worn out to explain in full detail, and none of them were up for a long discussion. Ren was way better at that teacher vibe anyway.

'Why do I keep forgetting about him?' Jaune scrunched in confusion before dismissing it. Ren was stronger than he'd look. That guy would figure out whatever was holding him up and join them eventually.

"Let's make sure she's healed properly before Sora starts copying me like Kenta did with my sword, ok?" he then added after Sora making another satisfying swing.

"Urgh... Let Ayu or Matsuda warn her... I'm still too sore from running for half an hour straight," Millie remarked when tidying her disheveled hair. Jaune mirrored her tired visage.

Jaune gave a tired chuckle but didn't argue. It had been a long, grueling day. They were all running on fumes, barely scraping by after a string of narrow escapes from the city. Arguing with Millie felt like tempting fate, and he wasn't eager to make things harder than they already were.

Jaune and Millie completely overlooked the fact that following the train line to Chiba's station would lead them to a bustling station. Which was infested with thousands of murderous pale moaners that aren't friendly in the slightest.

Kenta's panicked yell about the zombies number ended up giving away their location, which was a total bummer. The sight of those sprinting zombies like it was straight from a film was more than enough to make them bolt to the other direction without even thinking twice for thirty minutes straight.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the last time they had to make a mad dash, and now everyone, especially the girls, had a bit of a grudge. Kenta's loudmouth and Kyota's impulsiveness for throwing the shield into the angry mob while Jaune was trying to take down the infected one by one and keep track of everyone as they made their getaway.

The place they'd holed up in seemed mercifully safe. After Jaune had clocked the last infected nearby, he'd finally called it a day. Maybe Lady Luck was cutting them some slack for once. Even so, his paranoia insisted they stay alert. A convenience store with intact supplies and running power felt too good to be true.

Although having that mindset, he's not going to waste the chance to have a proper safe spot for the night to stock their supplies and sleep when the dark clouds hanging in the evening skies grow gloomier.

Whipping them a quick meal would be ideal since he's also starving and snacks can only do so much. Then again, he was on house arrest by the boys.

Who said nothing when he's about to patrol for one last time before forcing him to sit inside and recover.

"They shouldn't kick my shins if they're so worried about me…" Jaune grumpily chews down the sandwich they stuffed on his mouth when watching the trio coordinate with others to fortify the convenient store perimeter.

"Honestly… What's up with those kids now…" Jaune mumbled while finishing the food as he watched Kenta saying something before darting to the store back area while dragging two survivors they met in the city with him.

Jaune can do without being told to sit inside, but then again, he just jumped right into an incoming fireball when rescuing the kid who's now helping Matsuda moving some of the boxes outside inside.

At least the kid was safe. Slicing that monster in half had been worth it, even if he hadn't noticed the flames licking at his coat until it was over. Jaune was so busy dealing with their nagging that he didn't even notice the monster was on fire and way bigger than the bees by a huge margin.

Jaune gets why they want him to recover when they see him literally engulfed by flames, but he really doesn't need those troublemakers becoming this responsible just because he traumatized them.

"Still… guess Kyota was right… I should trust them more…" Jaune wistfully muttered while finishing the sandwich.

Kenta's suggestion still left him conflicted, but delegating scouting and support roles to the kids had spared him the chaos of trying to juggle everything himself. When Kyota offered to carry the shield to protect the group during their retreat…

"Okay, that's the only thing I shouldn't do." The way his stomach dropped when the shield smacked one of the infected on the jaw and he almost couldn't retrieve it was still too hectic for his taste. Especially when he's brawling all of the infected nearby when hearing Millie shouting something to Kyota's ears.

It did work though, as in less than half an hour after they'd bickered, their group had grown from ten to fifteen. Jaune wondered if his thrown-away theory about children having stronger immunity against these viruses compared to the adults held any truth…

"It's still too far-fetched and convenient even if it did…"

it felt like they kept running into way too many stranded kids along the direct route. It was almost like they were being… herded, toward them.

"Am I overthinking this?..." If he were his past self, he wouldn't question why it's getting easier to stumble with more children who are chased or cornered by the white monsters. Calling it coincidence is too good to be true regardless how glad he is to save more of them from roaming around this horrifying place on their own.

Kenta and some of the kids they saved also mentioned seeing some shadowy figure lurking around, but it never jumped at them, let alone showing any hostility. In fact, Jaune is almost sure it's still looming around them like a watchful hunter. Far more experienced and powerful than he is.

"It's like I'm dancing on their palm…" He didn't like it.

Nevertheless. Being told to stay put or not, he can't just sit around and do nothing when they're diligently gathering supplies and doing patrol. At least the three promised to not engage without his presence, and he would assume the mysterious figure was watching. Because Jaune can tell that their priority is the children's safety.

So to not have their judging stares at him again from monologuing inside his head too much, Jaune went inside to find the staff room and get the coffee machine working.

"Sora! Can you help me read this?!" He also calls Sora to aid him to read the ingredients label and name to get him to start cooking some meals for early dinner.

Jaune had to admit, the green thing called wasabi is sharply spicy in a good way. It's overwhelmingly strong, but the kick was wonderful to keep his eyes awake and prepared when munching on rice balls filled with chicken when preparing their meals.

"I wonder why Beacon never has this for quick grabs?..." Jaune would never know, while he liked rice like the next guy, this should've been a standard menu for a mistralian set in campus.

"Quick grabs?"

"Oh… fast food."

"I think it's pronounced 'quick meal' Jaune."

"Meh, Same thing." he hid a smug grin from showing when hearing her giggling on the side.

Sora has been picking up his Valean well, or English as it's called here, when they're cooking dinner. The laugh had been adorable, and Jaune really thanked her and Millie for the language lesson since he almost tore a kerosene canister by accident if not for her warning. So yeah. She's getting better at translating too.

The kids were also told to rest and fetch whatever they can bring for later, stuff like canned foods and plain water are the ones that gathered first. Although they preferred sweet snacks and drinks he can't read without his translators around.

"Uuuuh, what's this?" Jaune questioned while holding a package with a cartoon octopus.

"Oh, you found the snack." Sora said with a bit of Japanese accent.

"...It's tentacles."

"Yeah, it's a snack."

"Surely after grilling it… right?" Jaune didn't like why Sora just cutely tilted her head, or Millie looked resigned when holding something called a dried bonito beside her.

After picking out the ingredients and getting everything ready—like chopping up the veggies, onions, and cutting the salmon—Jaune found himself in a nostalgic groove, almost like he was on autopilot, following one of his mom's recipes. He sautéed the seasoned salmon filets and then wrapped them in cabbage leaves, stuffing them with the cooked onions.

Not wanting to go overboard with the spices, he kept it simple with just salt and pepper. But the flavors were way stronger than what he was used to, totally changing one of his mom's supposedly easy recipes. He started to think about what kind of flavor he could create by mixing grilled mackerel with smoked chestnuts over buttered rice after trying out the salmon cabbage roll.

He worried that soy sauce might mess with his not-so-picky palate, just like wasabi did. It had a tang that surprised him, way more than he expected. At first, he steered clear of the communal kitchen, mainly out of self-preservation after witnessing Nora bully Ren into it. His sisters were already a handful when they were hangry, and he didn't want to face Nora's wrath if he tried to sneak away without a word. But seeing everyone enjoy his homemade dishes filled him with pride, just like when his sisters praised his cooking.

The remainder of the day was spent recuperating and preparing themselves for tomorrow. On a different note…

"Salty's the best!" Kenta's voice rang out from another aisle.

"You're crazy—curry's way better!" Was it Matsuda or the boy Jaune shield from the fireball?

"Beef is the king!" And that's Kyota~. Jaune huffed at their antics. At least they promised to just eat one cup and not more. Jaune quickly slips away from the noodle supremacy debate after taking off the apron.

"Well… better this than arguing about who's turn it is to swing my sword around." Jaune dryly muttered when collecting more bandages and antiseptic for later.

"Yup." Millie appeared nearby to give Jaune her bag so he can reorganize their first aid kit.

"By the way, cheese isn't supreme."

"Finally, sanity. Original all the way." Jaune shoots a smirk and fist bumps Millie.

As the day wound down, the store grew quiet. Jaune found a moment to himself, leaning against a shelf and closing his eyes. The kids' laughter echoed faintly in the background. The respite is very welcomed.

However...

"...It's still there..." The darkness looming in the distance refuses to dissipate. In fact, its appearance took on a more fierce look. If the gloomy skies this afternoon weren't dark enough, Jaune is afraid tonight is going to be pitch black.

"How unpleasant," he whispers without being able to suppress his wince, noticing that the impending downpour is about to unleash its fury.

'Could it be because of my Aura that I can sense negative sensations more keenly than usual?' Jaune ponders inwardly for a moment.

Ren had mentioned that unlocking Aura heightens one's senses sharper when harnessed properly to sense danger. The bastard was at fault for making his instinct unable to ignore huge or moderate killing intent unless it's thoroughly hidden. So Jaune is conflicted whether it's a good thing or not when his gut is screaming like a raging pinball going when studying another flash of white in air.

"Not much I can do about that... I could really use a good nap now..." Jaune ruffled his hair when the loud rumble entered his ears. He should wash up before taking turn on guard watch.

"Yo, does anyone else need to use the restroom again?" Jaune calls out to Millie after placing their luggage near the automatic door. The younger blonde shook her head after finishing her noodles before relaying his message to others.

A sea of shaking heads confirms his question, causing him to casually make his way inside after telling them to go inside before the rain goes down. He tries to ignore the obscure hammering sensation pounding on the back of his head.

"It's been a long day, Jaune... wash up, change clothes, and sleep," he recites slowly in a reassuring tone, hoping that the eerie sensation lingering at the back of his neck will eventually fade away.

Turning the faucet on, he rolled his sleeves to his elbow after taking his coat off. Eyes narrowing on the sight.

"Huft… That's definitely not there before…" Jaune gritted out. Intending to clear his heightened mind.

The similar circuit pattern. One that flickers in pale white, instead of sickly pink. It raised an eyebrow, but the pattern was mostly like the one he'd seen on everyone. It's just the color that was off… as if it's mirroring his Aura color… flickering between white and yellow in slow rhythm.

He was unsure whether he should expect or dread the gash becoming worse as it kept changing between pulsing red or dim lighted white. The virus is definitely not normal, if only he could make heads or tails of what's going around with the infection, he can stop worrying about the ticking time bomb on his arm like the rest has.

"Enough..." He slowly exhales in constrained anger. Berating the pessimistic mindset from dwelling the dread any further. Scooping generous amounts of water, Jaune let the liquid splashed to his dry pores. Washing the accumulated oil and grime away by repeating the process several times.

Jaune fixes his damp collar and examines his wet features in the mirror. Slowly studying his reflection, he can't help but notice the absence of his goofy-like energy that always appears uncertain, even for himself.

Cobalts orbs search for abnormalities that can be fixed to prevent Millie and Sora from nagging him to get some rest early.

"Heh… nothing goes normal so far." Jaune forced a sardonic sneer on his cheek, attempting to release some of the mounting panic with that outlet. To be frank, he'd expected to see more of the same pink mark the zombies had growing on his body. He'd found none, so he'll probably ask Kenta or Kyota to inspect his back later.

Droplets of water running down on his cheek. Another huff escaped his lip when slipping his unruly bangs upward. Few seconds passed as he remained impassive as the droplets continued to fall from his chin.

Outside the lavatory, the inaudible ticking of the clock paired with the rhythmic sound of water created a crisp staleness in the air. One that clears his mind of what he should do now and worries later.

"Don't worry, Jaune. Everything will be fine." He breathed slowly.

"Just… keep your cool, if not for you, then for them." The statement was slightly chanted aloud. Sharp stare fixated on the reflection. When grabbing the silky towel, Jaune wished he was using the soap Beacon always provided. The towel here has a refreshing strawberry scent though, so he wouldn't complain too much.

Jaune prepared to leave the restroom, folding the towel neatly, when...

"Jaune-!" A shout startled him.

"Help-!" It was Millie!

"Oh no, not again!" He tore the restroom hinges with a frontal kick, briskly picking Crocea along the way as he blitzed to the entrance with intention to fight.

"Millie! Are you okay-?!" His words caught in his throat.

Darkness.

Jaune's jaw hung open in disbelief. The storm was intensifying with thousands of cymbals crashing all at once deafened his ears, and torrential rain was the least of his concerns as Millie directed the children to get inside.

"I better be hallucinating cause I can't unsee this." He was so done with life right now.

"Everyone, quickly get inside! Don't push and keep the door open!"

"Millie nee-chan! Sora's crutch got blown by the wind-!"

"Carefully get her inside! We can make another one later! Kyota! Fetch the big planks to block the entrance now!"

"on it! Matsuda! Help me get it here! Kyota, you stay here and help whatever Millie needs!"

""Will do!""

"Millie! Sora! KocHI-!" He threw his sword inside while shielding others from the intense gust.

Using his body as a cover, Jaune braced against the powerful wind, preventing almost everyone from being swept off the ground.

"Jaune! What's happening?!"

"I... I don't know! Those things weren't this close the last time I checked-!" Jaune couldn't help but cover his face from another incoming squall.

Millie covered her ears, trying to block out the thunderous roar outside. Tears welled up in her eyes from the relentless rumble that assaulted her senses to no end as Jaune rushed them inside. Drenched and frayed from the bad weather that finally hit hard after brewing for hours.

"Are you okay?!" he grunted, wiping water off her face and hands.

"I-I'm fine! Is everyone inside?!" Millie reassured before switching to japanese to check everyone's condition

"Do a roll call!" Sora barked in urgency. Everyone listed their name one by one as the downpour intensified.

It was Matsuda's turn to yell his name, but he pointed outside with a trembling finger, causing Jaune to turn his head and see what had frightened him so much. The sight chilled them to deadly silence.

Dozens, if not hundreds of zombies were rushing through the rain like a marching army. Their growls and relentless running persisted despite the rain obscuring their vision to determine the marching army's direction.

In that single moment, only one thought raced through Jaune's mind. He had seen and understood the kind stimulus could elicit such aggressive behavior.

They never became that active unless...

"-They found a prey, they're chasing it," Jaune stated in horror. No... he couldn't let those zombies kill whoever they were pursuing.

The children, including Millie and Sora, grasped the meaning behind his weak whisper and huddled closer while suppressing the urge to scream and draw unwanted attention.

Flashes of pink pierced through the downpour, and Jaune had to fight back the urge to shout too as dozens of white creatures manifested in groups. All heading toward the same location as the zombies did at faster speed.

"They're in danger…"

"Jaune, you can't be serious!"

"But they need help! I can't-"

"No! You can't just rush in there alone and expect everything to be fine!" Jaune wanted to argue, but his words were silenced by a loud rumble, no-

A deafening peal. One that resembles the piercing cry of a dying bird pierced by an arrow. Tearing through the air in a shattering fracture that causes the sky to crack and reveals a glimpse of an unstable fissure from the supercharged rift of energy reaching billions of condensed volts, ready to be unleashed.

"Holy shit…" Jaune couldn't help but let the word slip.

"Was that… A thunderbolt?…" It was the largest and brightest peal he had ever witnessed in his life. Which was soon followed by series of light streaks spread and flashes after it. Another group of rumble ca be heard a second later.

Its cry was enough to evoke the most cruel memories of terrifying storms, haunting them for days to come. Zombies and foreign monsters rendered nothing compared to nature's wrath. Yet it's not over…

"...A… Rampaging bolts? Is the end… of the world… near?" he barely recognized his own voice when he was finally able to register his hands were tightly gripping Millie's hand. Deafening roars ringing multiple times in quick succession in the sky.

First was that unknown black sun nearly swallowing the airbus, and now this?... just what the hell is going on?...

'They couldn't stay here.'

The longer they waited, the more this place would be overwhelmed or destroyed. A single stray bolt could be catastrophic if it struck anywhere near them. The delayed boom of sonic waves only reinforced the worst-case scenario he desperately wanted to avoid when spotting several trash cans and debris were thrown into the air by the rushing gale.

It was too much. One by one, each clung tightly to his jeans in fear, mirroring the meltdown from hours ago. Each of them weakly pleaded for the thunder to be chased away, terrified and on the verge of tears.

"No, it's okay guys, it's okay… it's okay… Nothing is going to hurt any of you inside here alright?…" he whispered softly, his palms gently circling their backs one by one. He tried to soothe their voices, lifting them from the grip of fear.

He calmed Millie first, followed by Sora, and then Matsuda, who couldn't let go of his shirt. It took a solid ten minutes to calm everyone down, at least to a level where they could hear him clearly instead of being a sobbing mess.

Contrary to his calming demeanor, his blood pressure skyrocketed. The bracket of rampaging zombies moaning in the distance did nothing to calm his racing heart.

The transparent glass trembled under the force of the wind, and moments later, several panels flew past their location. A logical course of action had to be taken fast. One that would lead to the best outcome and minimize casualties as much as possible.

"Just please… stay calm, and stick together." he whispered again, this time a bit louder. He could see a few nods and weak confirmations in response to his reassurance.

"Okay, can you guys hear me?" Jaune murmured once more, and the kids nodded despite their limited understanding of English. They understood that he wanted them to relax; this was not the place for them to lose their cool. However, the crying did not stop; it only became subdued.

Jaune allowed them to continue for another ten seconds before his gut warned him that he had no choice but to do what his traitorous mind had in store.

"Listened up." Jaune said, raising his voice slightly above a whisper.

No… don't… don't do it…

Fragile eyes and scared disposition greeted him.

Don't… they needed you…

But he didn't heed the cries of his heart. If not for the looming danger, he would have abandoned his foolishness immediately.

But… I'm a fraud till the end…

It's because he's a fraud, he's the perfect one for this.

Swallowing the lump in his throat as another flash of thunder cast a shadow on his grim expression, he voiced his decision.

"I'm going outside to check out what happened," They'll be okay, even without me.

His declaration was met with silence and muted horror. If he wasn't feeling terrible already, each betrayed look was enough to stab his heart one by one.

"No-! Don't go!" Millie promptly shouted, tackling him to the floor and screaming, wrapping her hands around his chest.

Sora's breath caught short before she quickly jumped in, screaming a sharp rebuke that echoed Millie's horror as she did the same thing on his left side. Kenta and Matsuda grabbed his legs without saying anything, throwing angry stares at his face.

Their cries of "shine" and "ikenai" indicated how much they didn't want him to go, but he had to do this even more.

Jaune must become the bait to distract those infected from going here if he couldn't save the remaining survivors outside. Two birds with one stone, it's just the risk that is too high.

If Jaune's brief chuckle was overshadowed by the louder rumbling outside, they were hearing it loud and clear.

'Geez… man, this is why Nora and Ren were so vocal when kicking my ass…' He thought longingly.

Their twitching fingers held onto him like a lifeline, their sobbing and muffled cries plagued his ears like a searing grill pressed against an open wound. The more he heard their unwillingness to let go, the stronger his conviction to keep them safe from danger.

Endless weeping pleas thrown in his direction. Fingers twitching, holding onto his shirt as if their lives depended on it. Sobbing and muffled cries were all he could hear amidst the rampaging thunders.

Jaune let them cry a bit longer, allowing their adrenaline to exhaust itself, so he could move at a careful pace. However, the distant howling of zombies grew louder the longer he allowed them to cry on his chest. They would come... soon.

He must act now before it's too late.

"H-hey... it's going to be fine," he gently pressed their heads against his chest, ignoring the wet shirt and trembling grip on his body. Jaune continued, almost whispering, "I won't throw my life away..." He declared, almost quietly. Brandishing the courage to face the incoming horror, he just couldn't let them be unprotected either. Like a real sitting duckling under the storm.

"After this we'll try and find your parents with everyone who survived, so don't leave this building until it's completely safe." he spoke tenderly to the brave eyes that dared to confront their fear. Trying to avert one trainwreck by diverting them to another, just how pathetic he is?

That's why...

"You," the knight said firmly, gesturing to the boy hanging in the very back with ashen hair and uncertain green eyes. He was as scared as the rest when the thunder became too loud. Just like when the fireball is about to hit him.

There is nothing to be said between them; he stepped closer as Jaune freed himself from others' hugs. They wanted to restrain him, but his aura was definitely far stronger than several kids could hold back.

Jaune stared into the scared and uncertain expression wanting nothing but a way to banish the scary things away. Which is why...

He will lend him Crocea Mors.

Confusion was palpable in his shrinking pupils. The weight, the message, and unspoken trust he had just given him, a kid he had met not too long ago.

Instead of Kenta or Matsuda, who had grown very fast in a short time, instead of Kyota, who wielded his shield like a budding guardian, instead of Millie or Sora, who trusted him like no other, it was him that he entrusted the blade to.

The short gasp was all he needed to voice his disbelief and thoughts about what possessed him to give him his weapon. Jaune knew what was rampaging inside his mind; the scared and unsure expression was all too familiar in his eyes, after all.

"-Use this blade if anything that's not me comes here... Is that clear?" Once again, he entrusted his only method of fighting, his family's legacy, to a kid who had never touched a real sword in his life, one that he could barely lift on his own.

What could he do? Why did he pick him?

Sensing the unspoken thoughts, Jaune said it with conviction.

"I trust you with the most important job, to keep all of us alive in this hell." He finished in certainty and stood up, leaving the blade to the boy

He looked at his reflection at the blade. Conveying a language a civilian like him would never be able to comprehend. However, he can understand the real value and the unspoken oath this blade carried for generations.

The determined look on the boy's face made Jaune smirk.

"Be strong for them, for me..." He briefly patted his head before walking outside, rain already drenching his frame as the aggressive groans grew louder and closer by the seconds.

"Jaunee! No! I-i'll be a good girl! Ju-just don't leave me-us! Don'ts leavge Ush-!" His step was halted by Millie's plea.

The girl was unable to see a glimpse of acceptance on his frown, only his broad back.

Jaune turned back, his stupid grin plastered on his face again as he shot a peace sign at them.

"Keep it warm for me, okay? I'll be back to fetch it soon." Ignoring the rain, ignoring the billowing thunder, ignoring Millie's cry.

He run-

"Jaaaaaaaune-!" Millie's cry broke his heart, and strengthened his resolution.

-To face the danger once more.

"Over heeeeereeeee!" The rain blurred his vision as he dashed through the street, drawing the attention of the approaching zombies.

Perfect, they were following him.

The store seemed to be getting farther and farther.

With only a shield and dwindling aura reserves, it was a challenging situation. But still manageable. He had just unlocked his aura that same day and used it to block a Deathstalker's pincer. It was that time to work that same miracle again.

Four buildings away, Jaune quickly formulated a plan in his mind. Taking on all of them was impossible, but he could employ his smack and sprint strategy. He definitely couldn't handle them all, so he created the necessary opening to bail out in case of being cornered from his impromptu blitz.

Three buildings away. His fear grew, but his determination grew even stronger. The groans became louder, impossible to ignore as his body was washed in mute white.

Welp, he's already infected anyway. Might as well go with a bang if he's not so lucky after this stunt.

No,

"Let's do this!" He would survive, he would meet them again, he would go back to his team, he would the kids greet him with a smile and angry treatment for pulling this stupid stunt!

He wouldn't die here!

"Who wanted some?!" He unfurls his sheath and lets loose on the first waves of zombies in flashes of yellow blur. Striking each undead in brutal fashion by swinging the shield like an oversized bat in swift motions.

He didn't stop until the last zombie in his field of view was defeated.

"Urkh... Why is everything going wrong every time!?" he breathed out in exasperation.

"Damn it... I'll be repeating my last mistake if I don't pace myself properly again..." He spat to the side, voicing his disgruntled complaint in a soft whisper as the rain finally stopped even when the skies weren't clearing up just yet.

His eyes trailed to the side before tilting up to see the higher ground, aiming where the crowded hallway was located. The blond exhaled a long, pained groan.

"Looks like I'm in for a late spring-cleaning…" After lazily rolling his sleeves to emphasize a point, Jaune grunt out a joke no one can hear but him.

Fight first, meltdown later. Thank you for the reality slap, Cardin, and Ren, for that matter. The world isn't kind, so it's time to stop whining and deal with it. Especially when everything is trying to kill him on sight.

"Looks like this is gonna be more troublesome than expected," Jaune muttered, trying to lighten the gravity of the situation. The lobby was jammed with bodies, blood splattered across the ceilings and floors. There must have been at least a dozen zombies killed there recently.

"I pity the janitor who needs to clean that," he chuckled, briefly imagining the unfortunate task. But there was no time for jokes. He was ready to jump in when he pinpointed the source of the zombies' hunt. Two figures exactly.

"Was that?… two girls up there? How the heck-?!" He stammered in astonishment. Moreover, one of them had a shade of white, reminiscent of pure snow, tied in twin pigtails. There was only one person he could associate with that color.

'Weiss?...' It can't be her… or is it? Man, World please stop throwing him so much chaos give him some answers for-

"Oh shi- they're falling!" One of them almost fell from leaning too close on the guardrail. Clutching her chest in obvious sign of pain that snapped him from his uncertainty.

"I better get there before they are overwhelmed!" Determination filled Jaune's voice as he ran inside. Forming a plan in mind.