CHAPTER 47: FURIA DEL TORO

Reviews:

Phantom117a: Indeed, but let's see if Adam has a chance to beat him!

Penny: Love the reference to Rick and Morty!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"Are you kidding me, Arc? Did someone like him really put you on the ground?"

Jaune's eyes flew open, his expression a mix of shock and relief. The voice was unmistakable, and as he looked up, he saw the familiar face of his savior. "Adam!?" Jaune exclaimed, his voice tinged with astonishment.

Standing resolutely before them was Adam Taurus, cloaked in a dark hooded garment that fluttered slightly with his movements. Unlike his usual intimidating mask, this time a black ribbon covered his eyes, adding to the air of enigma and authority. The sight of this infamous figure appearing in their moment of desperation left everyone in the room stunned.

"What are you doing here!?" Jaune demanded, his voice a mix of surprise and urgency.

Adam's gaze remained fixed on Hades as he responded. "I came for him," Adam said coolly, his voice carrying an edge of determination. "We have some unfinished business,"

Hades's lips curled into a snarky grin. "Adam Taurus! What a surprise," he said with a chuckle. "It's been too long,"

"Not long enough," Adam retorted sharply. "And if anyone's going to end Arc, it's me, though, I must begrudgingly thank him for softening you up for me,"

Hades's smirk widened, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the Bull Faunus. "Even in my current state, I am not to be underestimated," Hades warned. "Do you think you can take me on?"

Adam's blade ignited with a fierce red glow, the light casting an ominous reflection in his eyes. A confident smile stretched across his face. "Of course," he said with conviction. "Prepare yourself, Hades... This place will be your grave,"

"Or yours," Hades countered with a sneer, his eyes gleaming with defiance.

The tension in the room thickened, palpable enough to slice through. The two powerful hunters faced each other, the air crackling with unspoken challenges. Every eye in the room was locked on the standoff, the weight of the moment hanging heavily as they all wondered: who would emerge victorious from this clash of titans?

Adam stood across from Hades, the tension between them thick enough to choke on. Neither made a move, not even a sound, as if they were frozen in time, waiting for the other to strike first. The only noise came from the whistling wind that howled through the shattered window of the Headmaster's office, the eerie sound amplifying the stillness that filled the room.

Without warning, a sharp bang echoed through the space. Adam's sword shot out of its sheath with lightning speed, the blade slicing through the air with a deadly precision and slamming into the Ex-Headmaster's face. The impact was enough to stagger Hades, a momentary falter, as the blade ricocheted back toward Adam. Before it could fall to the ground, Adam was already moving. In a blur, he closed the distance, catching the sword mid-air as though it were a mere dagger in his hand. His eyes locked on Hades, burning with determination. In one swift motion, he raised the sword, aiming to sever the older man's head from his shoulders.

But Hades was ready. Anticipating the strike, he ducked low just as Adam's blade whistled through the space where his neck had been. Hades spun, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

Adam's breath came in sharp bursts, his teeth clenched in frustration as his attack missed its mark. His gaze darted to Hades, who had already charged his hand with crackling electric energy, preparing to counter. The air itself seemed to vibrate with the raw power in the room. With no time to waste, Adam whipped his sheath toward the advancing fist, firing a single shot. The bullet collided with Hades' electrified hand, the force sending a jolt up the older man's arm. A grunt escaped Hades as he felt the impact, but his smirk didn't waver.

In a fluid motion, Adam spun his sword, now gripping it properly, the blade flashing as it came down toward Hades in another attempt to cut him down. But Hades was already moving, his body shimmering with the speed of Neon's Semblance, phasing out of the way before Adam's blade could find its target. The sword crashed into the floor, cracking the ground beneath it.

Hades straightened, stepping back with a calm, calculated confidence. His proud gaze settled on Adam, as if measuring the younger man's potential.

'He's improved,' Hades thought, the faintest hint of admiration creeping into his expression. 'Far more than the last time we met, impressive, he might even be stronger than that Arc boy now,'

Adam stood unfazed by his missed strike, his calm exterior betraying none of the tension building in the room. Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished. Not a trace of him left where he had stood. Hades' eyes widened in shock, and from the far side of the room, Jaune froze, his mind racing to comprehend what had just happened.

'No way… Aura Step?' Jaune's thoughts tumbled over themselves, his shock palpable. 'How in the hell did he master that so quickly? A month—he learned it in just a month? Damn it… Adam's way stronger than he was before!'

Back in the fight, Hades scanned the room, his mind racing as he tried to locate the Bull Faunus. His senses sharpened, adrenaline coursing through him, but Adam was nowhere to be seen. A sudden shift in the air caught his attention, and his instincts screamed at him to look up.

Adam was already descending from above, his sword raised high. His red-tinted hair and the crimson edges of his clothing began to glow with an eerie light, as though his very essence had become something more. The blade gleamed, cutting through the air as he brought it down in a decisive arc aimed straight at Hades.

With mere seconds to react, Hades poured all the aura he could muster into his defenses, a shimmering barrier wrapping around him like a second skin. But even that wasn't enough. Adam's blade cut through the protective aura like paper. His glowing sword left a bright crimson trail as it cleaved through the space between them, striking Hades with a force that shook the ground beneath their feet.

Hades staggered as blood began to drip from his left arm. The aura that had always protected him had failed. Adam had bypassed it, his strike cutting deeper than anyone had anticipated.

The room fell into stunned silence. Everyone watching—Jaune, the others—gazed on in disbelief. Adam had landed a decisive blow, one that none of them had thought possible against someone like Hades. For the first time, there was hope.

Hades' growl of pain reverberated through the air, filled with both fury and frustration. He clutched his bleeding arm as his eyes flared with renewed intensity. Summoning the last of his strength, he shot beams of light from his eyes, each one sizzling through the air with deadly precision.

Adam leaped back, dodging the beams with an agility that seemed almost effortless. But then, something unexpected happened. The beams, which had been fired in straight lines, suddenly bent mid-flight, curving through the air as they followed Adam's every movement.

Adam's heart raced as he realized the danger closing in on him. The beams from Hades' eyes twisted and writhed through the air, chasing him with relentless precision. No matter how fast he moved, they were always one step behind, mimicking his every turn. His boots skidded across the cracked floor as he zigzagged through the ruined office, but the beams stayed locked onto him, darting through the air like venomous serpents.

"How troublesome," Adam muttered, his voice tight with concentration as he cast a quick glance over his shoulder.

His grip on Wilt tightened, and he thrust the blade in front of him, preparing to absorb the incoming attack. The blade's surface shimmered with a faint glow, ready to take the brunt of the energy, but just as the beams seemed to strike, they veered unpredictably. Instead of clashing with the sword, they bent beneath it in an instant, curving sharply and bypassing his defense altogether.

Before Adam could react, the beams slammed into his gut with explosive force. A deafening boom echoed through the room as the impact tore into him, sending a shockwave that rippled through his body. The explosion launched him off his feet, his breath stolen from his lungs. Pain flared as he was flung backward, crashing through debris, the force throwing him toward the far wall.

"Shit! Adam!" Jaune's voice rang out, a cry of panic that cut through the chaos.

As Adam hurtled through the air, instinct kicked in. With gritted teeth, he tightened his grip on Wilt and slammed the blade into the ground, its edge cutting deep into the concrete. The jarring force slowed his momentum, halting him mere feet from smashing into the wall. His body hung for a moment, suspended by the sword embedded in the floor, dust and debris swirling around him.

Adam grunted, pulling himself upright, the lingering pain in his gut making each movement a struggle. His breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths, but his resolve remained unshaken. He stood tall, steadying himself as he looked up at Hades.

The Ex-Headmaster's eyes still gleamed with that unsettling energy, and the smirk on his face was evidence of his confidence. He watched Adam with a cold amusement, as if he had expected nothing less than to see him on the backfoot.

Hades leaned back with a confident smirk, his piercing eyes never leaving Adam. "I'll admit, you've impressed me quite a bit, Adam Taurus," he remarked smoothly. "You've grown immensely after all these years."

Adam withdrew Wilt from the ground, gripping the weapon firmly at his side. His brow was furrowed in determination as he met Hades' gaze. "Of course," he responded coolly. "Did you expect me to remain that young, weak kid?"

A chuckle escaped Hades' lips. "Somewhat," he conceded, his amusement evident in his tone.

"How could I?" Adam retorted, his voice steady yet intense. "You showed me what true and overwhelming power was, when I saw it, I got a taste of it, and I knew I couldn't stay at the level I was, so, I trained day and night, pushing myself relentlessly in hopes of reaching your level, for a moment, I thought I had peaked, but…"

Adam's gaze drifted away, falling upon Jaune, who stood nearby watching the confrontation with a mixture of concern and awe. Adam seemed to hesitate, contemplating his next words before turning back to face Hades with renewed resolve.

"Someone showed me that I still have so much to learn and more power to possess," Adam continued, his voice gaining strength. "You see, Hades, this isn't just revenge for what you did to me in the past, it's also a test—a test to see just how far I've come,"

Hades let out a low hum, a small smile playing on his lips as he regarded Adam thoughtfully. "I must commend your ability to recognize how much you still need to grow," he said, his tone laced with a mix of respect and disdain. "But it doesn't change the fact that, despite all those endless days and nights of training, you still can't defeat me. Even in my current state, you're still just a dog, trapped behind a fence, failing to see just how vast the world really is!"

Suddenly, a shimmering purple glyph formed beneath Adam's feet, its intricate patterns glowing with an ominous light. Adam's eyes widened in disbelief. 'That glyph… it's the Schnee family's semblance!' His mind raced, unable to comprehend how Hades could replicate something so complex, so difficult to master. This wasn't just brute strength—it was a calculated move, one that demanded a level of skill Adam hadn't expected from the Ex-Headmaster.

Across the room, Winter Schnee's face twisted in fury as she realized what was happening. Her usual calm and composed demeanor shattered in an instant. "That bastard…!" she hissed, her voice barely restrained, fists clenched in anger. Hades had not only copied her Semblance, but was using it for his own twisted gain.

Jaune's heart raced as he saw the danger unfolding beneath Adam. He immediately understood what was about to happen, his instincts screaming at him. "ADAM! WATCH OUT!" Jaune shouted, his voice breaking with urgency.

But the warning came too late.

The purple glyph erupted in a brilliant explosion, sending a wave of destructive energy surging through the room. The force was deafening, the blast obliterating the ground beneath Adam's feet. From the center of the blast, Adam's cloak was blown skyward, burned and torn to shreds by the immense power. For a moment, the battlefield seemed to stand still. All eyes were locked on the rising plume of smoke and debris where Adam had once stood.

Everyone held their breath.

"ADAM!" Jaune's voice rang out in shock, the possibility of Adam's defeat sinking in.

The air grew heavy with tension, the aftermath of the explosion lingering like a dark cloud. But then, in the blink of an eye, something pierced through the haze—a flash of steel.

With a dull thud, Adam's sword, Wilt, landed in the ground mere inches from Jaune's face, the blade humming with residual energy. Jaune blinked, his mind barely able to process what had just happened. His confusion turned to awe as a figure appeared, emerging from the smoke with effortless speed. Adam stood there, calm and composed, his cloak gone but his smirk firmly in place.

"No need to yell, Arc," Adam said smoothly, bending down to pull Wilt from the ground. "I can hear you just fine."

Jaune stared in disbelief. "You… you escaped that?" he stammered, still processing the fact that Adam had not only survived but had come out of the explosion seemingly unscathed.

Adam glanced at the remnants of the purple glyph that had once been beneath him, his expression unreadable. "You'll have to do better than that to take me down," he replied, turning his attention back to Hades, his smirk widening. "Nice try, though."

Winter, still seething, narrowed her eyes at Hades, her anger now mixed with a grudging respect for Adam's escape. "He broke free," she muttered under her breath. "Not bad, Taurus…"

Jaune turned to Adam, his face tight with concern, the chaos of battle still swirling around them. "Can you still fight?" he asked, his voice edged with worry as he glanced at Adam's tattered cloak and the burns that marred his skin.

Adam scoffed, the sound rough but full of defiance. He turned his head slightly, meeting Jaune's worried gaze with a smirk. "Of course," he said confidently, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the lingering pain. "Who do you take me for?" His voice carried a mixture of arrogance and determination, unwilling to show any weakness.

Jaune let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Right… sorry," he muttered, though the tension in his voice lingered. He took a moment to really examine Adam—the sweat on his brow, the subtle tremor in his hand as he held Wilt. Jaune could see it: Adam was pushing himself to the edge, dangerously close to his limit. And that scared him, more than he wanted to admit.

"Adam," Jaune called out, his tone more serious now.

Adam's gaze flicked over, a raised brow signaling his acknowledgment. "Yeah?"

"Don't die, got it?" Jaune said firmly, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. His eyes bore into Adam's, the weight of his words heavy with unspoken meaning.

Adam chuckled, a genuine sound that cut through the tension for just a moment. "I wasn't planning on it, Arc," he replied, the corner of his mouth quirking into a grin. His exhaustion was clear, but so was his resolve.

"Good," Jaune said, a small smile forming on his lips. Then, in a moment of playful bravado, he added, "Because if anyone's going to take you down... it's going to be me," His grin widened, but there was a seriousness behind the words, a promise that lingered beneath the humor.

Adam blinked, clearly caught off guard by the declaration. For a split second, his typical stoic demeanor faltered, replaced by surprise. But then his grin returned, wider than before. "Bold words, Arc," he replied, his eyes gleaming with renewed determination. He shifted his grip on Wilt, straightening as if the weight of exhaustion had been lifted, even if just for a moment. "I hope you can keep that promise,"

Jaune met his gaze, unwavering. "Arc's word," he said simply, his voice resolute.

The moment hung between them, the camaraderie born not just from the heat of battle, but from a shared understanding—a mutual respect. Adam gave a final nod, then turned back toward Hades, ready to engage once more. His aura flared as he squared his shoulders, the tension in the air palpable as the fight was about to reignite.

Adam shot forward like a bolt of crimson lightning, his blade flashing as he re-engaged the ex-headmaster. Each swing of Wilt was swift, precise, the sound of metal clashing with aura echoing through the air as the two combatants locked into another furious exchange. Sparks flew with every strike, the battlefield pulsing with the intensity of their battle.

Meanwhile, Jaune took a moment to catch his breath, wincing as he glanced at the wound in his shoulder—a reminder of just how brutal this fight had become. His mind reached out to his partner. 'Favnear, can you heal my wounds?' Jaune asked, his voice tinged with urgency.

The Wyvern's deep voice echoed in his thoughts, calm but cautious. "I can try, but at most, I'll only be able to heal the hole in our shoulder, the exhaustion and fatigue? They won't just vanish, even with a small boost of my aura,"

Jaune nodded slowly, biting back a groan as pain flared from his injury. 'That's fine by me,' he replied, determined. 'I just need the wound closed. If Adam can weaken Hades just a little bit more, I might have a chance to jump in,' His eyes flickered toward the fierce battle raging ahead, his focus sharpening. He wasn't going to let Adam fight alone—not if he could help it.

Favnear's voice hummed with understanding. "Got it, I'll start now,"

Jaune felt the familiar warmth of his aura flaring up, the Wyvern's energy merging with his own. The slow but steady process of healing began, the gaping hole in his shoulder mending inch by inch. Each wave of energy soothed the pain, though his body still felt heavy with exhaustion. Jaune gritted his teeth, his eyes never leaving Adam as the Bull Faunus continued to press Hades with relentless attacks.

Adam was holding his own, but Jaune could tell—Hades was still far from finished. The ex-headmaster's aura flared, his movements sharp and precise, countering Adam's strikes with an unsettling ease. Despite the fire in Adam's attacks, Hades continued to deflect and evade, each move a cold, calculated display of power.

'Come on, Adam… just a little more…' Jaune thought to himself, his muscles tensing with anticipation.

The healing was slow, but Favnear was doing his best. Jaune's shoulder began to feel whole again, though the weariness in his limbs weighed him down like lead.

With every clash of sword and aura in the distance, Jaune's resolve grew stronger. If Adam could just create one opening—just one moment where Hades was vulnerable—Jaune knew he could strike. His fingers tightened around Crocea Mors, the familiar grip of the sword giving him a sense of purpose.

"Don't push yourself too hard," Favnear warned. "Even if the wound's healing, you're not at full strength,"

'I know,' Jaune replied, his voice firm. 'But I'm not going to stand by and do nothing... If Adam needs me, I'll be ready,'

"Is he not your enemy?" Favnear's voice rumbled in Jaune's mind, deep and curious.

Jaune nodded slightly, his eyes still fixed on Adam as he fought. 'Yeah... he is,' Jaune replied, his voice quiet but thoughtful. 'But… there's something about him that I can't help but respect,' His gaze softened as memories began to flood his mind, taking him back to the first time he had met Adam Taurus.

Roman raised up his cane and aimed it at Jaune, but Adam stopped him by grabbing his arm, causing Roman and Jaune to look at the bull Faunus.

"What are you doing?" Roman asked.

"I want to fight him," Adam said.

"What?" Roman asked.

Adam turned his head to the Crook, "You heard me, Torchwick," Adam said "I want to fight him... I've heard so much from you and the witch that I would like to see his strength for myself,"

"You can not be serious!?" Roman cried.

"I am," Adam said.

Roman lowered his cane and let out a sigh, "Fine, fight him and make sure you kill him! Because if this comes back to bite us in the ass! I'm making sure you're to blame," Roman said.

'He could've let Roman kill me… but Adam gave me a fighting chance,' Jaune thought, his voice quiet in the back of his mind as he spoke to Favnear. 'He didn't have to, Adam could've walked away, let Roman finish me off, and that would've been the end of it, I was nothing to him, just some human who tried to disrupt his plans, but he didn't...'

Favnear's voice hummed softly in response, his curiosity piqued. "Why do you think he did it?" the Wyvern asked.

Jaune frowned, his brows furrowing as he considered the question. He hadn't been able to figure it out then, and even now, the answer felt elusive. 'I don't know,' he admitted. 'Maybe he saw something in me, or maybe he just didn't want Roman to be the one to kill me, but whatever it was, he gave me a chance—a chance I didn't deserve at the time... He didn't say anything, didn't make it obvious, but I think... maybe he saw a bit of himself in me, like he knew what it was like to be outmatched, to be scared, and he gave me that chance to prove myself,'

"We are similar yet so different... it was as if it was fate that we met today," Adam told him.

"Maybe, but I'm not much a believer in fate or anything like that," Jaune said.

Adam just nodded, "Neither am I," Adam replied.

'And maybe… he was right back then,' Jaune admitted, his voice soft as the memories swirled in his mind like a tide he couldn't stop. 'Maybe we are the same, but different... Maybe it was fate we met that day,'

The thought lingered, heavy and unsettling. Jaune had never really believed in fate—not in the way some people did. He had always thought life was more about choices, about carving your own path, no matter what obstacles stood in your way. But as he stood there, watching Adam fight with a ferocity and determination that matched his own, something clicked inside him. There was a connection, a strange mirror that reflected back at him, and it was hard to ignore.

Favnear's voice rumbled in his mind, steady and grounding. "Perhaps… but remember, Jaune, he's still your enemy, he won't hesitate to cut you down if given the chance," the Wyvern warned, his tone cautious yet resolute.

Jaune paused, the weight of Favnear's words settling over him like a cold blanket. He knew the truth of it—knew that in the heat of battle, Adam wouldn't think twice about taking him out if it came down to it. And yet… 'Maybe,' Jaune replied, his thoughts turning inward as he wrestled with the contradictions that Adam embodied.

Back in the heat of the fight, Adam's relentless assault on Hades continued, his blade slicing through the air with brutal precision. Each swing of his sword struck Hades' aura, and to the ex-headmaster's surprise, the blows were far more potent than he had anticipated. Every time Adam landed a hit, his sword, Wilt, flared with a vivid, pulsating red light, signaling the activation of his semblance.

Hades' eyes narrowed, his mind racing to make sense of the damage Adam was inflicting. 'He's only activating his semblance in bursts,' Hades realized, watching closely as the blade's red glow faded the moment Adam withdrew from a strike. 'He's releasing small, controlled surges, just enough to chip away at my aura... Clever, but he won't be able to keep this up for long,'

Despite Hades' growing concern, Adam remained composed, each movement methodical as he pressed the advantage. His eyes burned with focus, his body moving with deadly grace. He swung again, Wilt glowing brighter as it descended toward Hades, aiming to chip away more of the older man's aura. But this time, Hades was ready. With a sharp pivot, he sidestepped the attack, narrowly avoiding the blade's crimson arc.

Without missing a beat, Hades thrust his hand forward, summoning a ball of swirling darkness, a mass of energy that churned with malevolent power. Adam's eyes widened as he felt the ominous presence of the attack, his instincts screaming at him that something was terribly wrong.

'What the hell is that!?' Adam's thoughts raced, an unfamiliar sensation creeping into his chest—fear. He knew Hades was powerful, but this... this was something else entirely.

With a smirk of cruel satisfaction, Hades hurled the black mass toward Adam. The Bull Faunus barely had time to react, raising his sword to absorb the blow. Wilt shuddered in his hands as the dark energy collided with it, the red of Adam's semblance flaring violently as it tried to contain the raw, chaotic power.

But something was off. The energy was far more potent than anything Adam had ever encountered. His hair, his blade, even the red markings on his cloak began to glow brighter—too bright—as if they were struggling to hold the power back.

'Damn it!' Adam gritted his teeth, feeling the strain in his arms as the energy pulsed through Wilt. 'What is this attack!? The power behind it is… it's unbelievable!'

Hades watched with amusement, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Can you contain all that power, Adam?" he taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. The ex-headmaster took a step forward, the confidence in his stance unshakable as he observed the struggle unfolding before him. "Or is it too much for you? You think you've grown strong, but strength without control is meaningless,"

Adam's muscles burned, every fiber of his being straining to keep the energy from overwhelming him. The red glow intensified, turning from a deep crimson to a blinding scarlet as his semblance strained to maintain control. The power coursing through his body felt like it was on the verge of ripping him apart, tearing at his very essence. His sword quivered in his grip, the once-familiar weight now feeling like a leaden anchor dragging him down.

'I can't let this consume me... not now!' Adam thought, gritting his teeth harder. He could feel the dark energy threatening to burst out of him, a volatile force that he had to contain, had to control, or it would destroy him. But how? This wasn't a normal attack; it was something far more insidious, something designed to corrupt and overwhelm.

Hades watched in amusement as Adam struggled, his lips curling into a smug grin. "This is the true power you've been chasing, isn't it? The power you've always sought but never truly understood... Now look at you, drowning in it! You wanted to surpass me? Well, show me!" Hades' voice grew darker, more menacing. "Show me if you're strong enough to wield what you think you deserve!"

Adam's body trembled, the energy threatening to spiral out of control. His mind raced, desperately searching for a solution, for some way to direct the overwhelming force rather than let it destroy him. 'I can't let him win… I won't!' His grip tightened on Wilt, and with a surge of determination, he let out a roar.

Adam's glare intensified, his jaw clenched tightly as the immense power surged through his body. Every muscle screamed in protest, the energy pushing him to his limit, but he refused to back down. Roaring with determination, he forced himself to absorb it all, defying the overwhelming force that threatened to consume him. His entire body trembled, veins pulsing with a crimson glow as the power coursed through him, threatening to tear him apart from the inside.

Hades watched in stunned silence, his confident smirk fading into disbelief as he saw what Adam had accomplished. 'Incredible… he absorbed all of it,' Hades thought, a flicker of admiration crossing his face. But beneath that awe was a darker thought. 'However… will his body be able to withstand it? Or will he burn himself out?'

Adam stood there, visibly struggling to remain upright. Pain shot through his limbs like fire, his skin burning with the heat of the energy trapped inside him. His breath came in ragged gasps, every beat of his heart pounding like a war drum in his chest. He couldn't contain it for much longer. The power was too great—too volatile. His mind raced through his options, but there were only two: let his body overheat and slowly burn itself out, or release everything in one final, devastating strike.

He already knew his decision.

Adam staggered backward, his movements heavy and deliberate, giving the appearance of a man on the verge of collapse. Hades narrowed his eyes, watching closely. 'He's losing control,' the ex-headmaster thought, convinced that the Faunus would soon fall to the sheer magnitude of the energy.

But then, in an instant, Adam's demeanor changed. His stumble turned into a calculated movement, and with one fluid motion, he sheathed his sword, taking a precise, focused stance. His hand hovered over the hilt of Wilt, the tension in his body coiled like a spring, ready to unleash. The air around him crackled with raw energy, the faint red glow intensifying into a brilliant, fiery aura.

Hades' eyes widened in shock, the realization hitting him like a hammer. 'Impossible!' His mind raced, panic creeping into his thoughts. 'He's not overheating… he's preparing to release it all in a single attack! That much power should have destroyed him the moment he absorbed it!'

Fear—genuine fear—began to creep into Hades' expression for the first time. He had underestimated Adam, and now he was paying the price. His heart pounded in his chest as he instinctively threw up his aura, pouring everything he had into a defensive shield. It was a desperate move, a reflex born out of survival. He had done it before, when he blocked Jaune's Arcus Mortis, but this time… this time felt different.

Adam, sensing the shift in Hades, allowed himself a small smile. Through the haze of energy, even through his blindfold, he could see the fear in the ex-headmaster's eyes. It was a look Adam had been waiting to see for a long time.

"I told you…" Adam's voice was low, steady, each word dripping with controlled fury. "You'll have to do better than that,"

Hades swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly as he braced for the oncoming attack. His aura shimmered in front of him, a protective barrier that he desperately hoped would hold.

Adam concentrated, channeling all the raw power coursing through him into Wilt. The air crackled around him as his aura flared, the sheer force radiating outward like a shockwave. Those gathered in the office, Jaune, Winter, Neon, and Neptune, felt the energy wash over them, an overwhelming presence that sent shivers down their spines. Shock and awe filled their expressions as they realized the magnitude of Adam's strength.

In the blink of an eye, Adam surged forward, drawing Wilt from its sheath with fluid grace. He released the pent-up energy in a brilliant crimson arc, a destructive wave of power that sliced through the air. Almost faster than the eye could follow, Adam reappeared behind Hades, the tip of his sword glinting menacingly as he completed his swing.

The office fell into an eerie silence, the tension palpable. Then, with a sickening sound, Hades' chest erupted, blood spraying like a grotesque fountain from the gaping wound Adam had inflicted. The attack was the antithesis of Jaune's—a ruthless, precise strike meant to incapacitate and dominate. But that was not the end of Hades' suffering; with a swift motion, the ex-headmaster's right hand plummeted to the floor, severed cleanly from his body.

"DAAAAMMMMNNN IIIIITTT!" Hades howled, clutching the stump of his wrist, eyes wide with a mix of shock and pain.

Adam turned slowly, a self-satisfied smirk spreading across his face as he took in the damage he had dealt to his longtime adversary. "Heh... are you impressed yet?" he asked, his tone dripping with smugness, reveling in the sight of Hades' agony.

Hades glared back at Adam, rage igniting in his eyes like a wildfire. "ADAM TAURUS! YOU FILTHY ANIMAL!" he roared, his voice laced with fury. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!"

Adam opened his mouth to deliver a witty retort, but a sudden wave of pain surged through him, forcing him to drop to one knee. 'Damn it…' he thought, gritting his teeth against the onslaught of agony. 'I wanted to be the one to take the old bastard down… but it looks like that's not in the cards for me…'

But as he knelt there, a flicker of realization struck him, and a small smile crept onto his lips. Hades might have been wounded, but Adam noticed something that the ex-headmaster had not yet registered

Hades noticed Adam's smirk, and a fresh wave of fury surged within him. "JUST WHAT ARE YOU SMILING ABOUT?!" he bellowed, his voice echoing ominously in the dimly lit office.

Adam chuckled softly, the sound both mocking and defiant. He raised Wilt high above his head, preparing to throw it with all his might. "I guess I'm leaving the rest to you… Jaune Arc," he said, a hint of confidence lacing his words as he released the blade.

Hades' eyes followed the sword as it spun gracefully through the air. He felt a knot form in his stomach, a sensation he hadn't experienced in years. The moment the blade was caught by a hand gripping its hilt, his heart sank. When he saw who had seized the weapon, his eyes widened in disbelief, and a chill of fear crept into his bones.

Jaune Arc stood tall, determination radiating from him as he held Wilt in one hand and Crocea Mors in the other. "Thanks… Adam!" he shouted, his voice steady and resolute.

Adam managed a smile, though exhaustion weighed heavily on him. "I want that back," he replied, his voice faltering as he fell to the ground, the fatigue from the intense battle finally catching up to him.

Hades glared at Jaune, anger boiling over. He extended his one good hand, channeling his telekinetic semblance to summon Winter's saber. The blade flew into his grip, its polished surface glinting menacingly as he prepared to confront Jaune head-on. "I've had enough of you fools getting in my way," Hades seethed, his voice dripping with contempt.

Jaune returned the glare, resolute and unyielding as he took a fighting stance, his heart pounding with purpose. "Same here," he spat back, fury igniting in his chest. "I'm gonna make sure you pay for what you did to Penny,"

"So you keep saying… but let's see if you Arc's truly do keep your promises!" Hades roared, his voice echoing off the walls of the office like thunder.

The two warriors surged toward each other, their resolve unwavering. Each was near their limit, muscles straining and minds racing, but neither would yield. This was the climax of their battle, the moment where everything would culminate in a fight to the finish.

As they clashed, the force of their impact sent shockwaves through the room, rattling the windows and causing dust to swirl in the air. Hades' fierce determination clashed with Jaune's unbreakable spirit, each refusing to back down, each believing they would emerge victorious.

Meanwhile, a figure darted upward thought the stairways of the building, urgency fueling her every movement. Penny ran with all the strength her mechanical body could muster, fear propelling her forward as she sprinted toward the office where the two powerhouses were locked in their final duel. The weight of fear pressed heavily on her chest. She couldn't wait any longer; she had to help.

"Please…" she whispered urgently to herself, her heart racing. "Please don't die…" Her voice trembled as she begged the universe for their safety, for Jaune's safety.

.

.

.

.

And so ends another chapter! How'd you like the fight between Adam and Hades? It may not have been long but I think Adam definatly showed his stuff! Now, he gives Jaune his sword to take down Hades as the final fight begins!

In the next chapter, here's what you can expect:

Jaune and Hades are locked in their climactic duel as the battle for Atlas reaches its critical conclusion! Will Jaune finally thwart the Madman's sinister schemes? Meanwhile, Penny rushes toward her friends, only to confront a dire scene where she must intervene to save a life. Can she muster the courage to leap into the fray and protect the one who has sacrificed everything for her?

Anyway! See you in the next chapter and I hope you have a good night/day!