Chapter 5: Unleash the Roar Within!
SirStorytime: That's some praise and speaking of Soul Eater, damn I gotta watch that again!
BungusAmungus: I needed a crazed battle loving Faunus on Ozpin's side and since Salem had Tyrian, I wanted Tock to join Ozpin in this story.
Guest: Trust me, we'll see how Weiss takes the loss later.
merendinoemiliano: Thank you!
MereC55: No problem, story's not for everyone, but Ruby's still pretty much the same, she just realizes that she can't be just like Summer, she can't completely be kind because being kind only takes you so far.
Guest #2: Thank you and I hope you love this chapter as well!
ArgentOrange: No worries, thanks to you I did realize my mistake, so thank you for correcting me because now I'll remember not to do that again, Lol!
Wolfwood777: Thank you, I'm glad you liked the fight and I hope you enjoy the one in this chapter as well!
Lofus69: Thank you and I'm gonna keep cooking!
GhostRonin: No offense but if you didn't like it, why did you keep reading? Also, you do realize this is an AU right? I don't exactly have to follow canon, in fact, most Fanfics don't, besides, there's nothing wrong with doing a lot of things differently in a story. Sure some of what's happening in the story doesn't appeal to everyone and I can respect that, but there are reasons why these things have or are happening in the story, why some details are different than canon, also, let me explain a few things:
1. Yang may be laid back but just because she's easygoing doesn't mean she can't be nosey, she was suspicious of Jaune and when you're suspicious of someone, you're gonna pry and be nosey.
2. Aura manifests in different ways, manifesting it similarly to spiritual pressure isn't out of the realm of possibilities, if other Fanfic writers can make things up about Aura, so can I.
3. Also, I don't think I ever said Jaune's mom was a Huntress alongside Glynda and Jaune's dad, Glynda said she was a friend of theirs not that she was a Huntress. Also if she was a Huntress and made Saphron raise the younger kids she'd be in line with the rest of the shitty mothers in RWBY (minus Kali). Honestly it's not out of the realm of possibilities because let's be honest Raven and Summer abandoned their family for one reason or another and Willow was a sad drunk who ignored her kids in different ways.
4. Also, it's just a funny idea that the strictest teacher in Beacon was a punk and a delinquent, it's a classic and fun trope!
5. Glynda being Jaune's Mom and being raised by the Arc is meant to be explained later because it makes the reader ask why Jaune's dad and Glynda got together and produced Jaune and why Glynda seemingly abandoned him and left him the care of the Arcs, it suppose to make you question what's going on with Glynda and Jaune's backstory.
6. Weiss's Aura being larger than Qrow's makes sense, why? While he's older and more skilled, a Semblance like Weiss would require a higher level of aura reserves due to how much control and power is needed to manifest and produce different types of Glyphs, as summoning would require more aura. Meanwhile, Qrow's semblance is passive and simply manipulates his luck in the shape of bad luck.
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In Remnant, only a select few families are known to have inherited Semblances passed down through generations. Among them, the most famous is undoubtedly the Schnee family. Every member of the Schnee bloodline inherits the unique Semblance of Glyphs, a power that allows them to summon magical constructs with various effects. Remarkably, the Glyphs manifest in every Schnee, regardless of who they marry or have children with, making this ability a consistent hallmark of their lineage.
The second family with an inherited Semblance is the Soleil family, though their powers follow a more enigmatic pattern. Unlike the Schnee, the Soleil family's Semblance skips every other generation. The reasons behind this are unknown, but it has become something the family has long accepted. Those born in the "skipped" generations develop entirely unique Semblances of their own, giving the family a more diverse set of powers across the lineage.
The third, and by far the least known, is the Atlan clan. Whether their power can even be classified as a Semblance is a topic of debate. Members of the Atlan clan initially display the standard abilities granted by Aura, but when they face the brink of death, a peculiar transformation occurs. Their Aura dissipates entirely, and in its absence, their physical capabilities surge to superhuman levels.
In this heightened state, Atlan clan members gain strength so intense that a single punch can shatter an Ursa Major to pieces. Their speed accelerates to nearly 75 miles per hour, allowing them to move at blinding speeds, and their skin hardens to a density comparable to iron, becoming nearly impervious to attacks.
These feats of strength, speed, and durability are just the baseline of what an Atlan Clan member can accomplish once they unlock this remarkable ability that converts their Aura into pure physical power. Most Atlans only tap into this power upon entering formal combat training at Huntsmen Academies, where they push their limits and hone their skills, reaching what is often considered the peak of their strength.
However, Arslan Atlan was unlike any other in her clan.
At the age of only seven, Arslan awakened this ability not during training, but in the aftermath of tragedy. Her entire clan was destroyed in a single, brutal attack, and in the face of overwhelming danger, her powers manifested out of sheer survival instinct. This early awakening saved her life, but unlike her kin who trained years to harness their power, Arslan's potential was far from realized. Her strength and speed grew each year as she endured her harsh reality, but even so, she was still at the beginning of what she could become.
Instead of reaching her peak in an academy setting, Arslan's strength became something feared and speculated upon by those who witnessed her in battle. It was said that her power surpassed anything seen in previous Atlan generations, as if her trauma had unlocked a deeper reservoir of potential. As Arslan continued to survive and adapt, she came to understand that her abilities had not yet reached their limit—they were only beginning to awaken.
If you asked who held the title of the strongest in every physical regard, many would point to Pyrrha Nikos, the four-time Champion of Mistral's Regional Tournament. Known for her unmatched skill and a Semblance that outmaneuvered any opponent, Pyrrha was feared not only for her power but for what she symbolized.
Others might argue that Elm Ederne of the Ace-Ops in the Atlas Military claimed the title, with strength formidable enough to halt an Ursa's charge and a Semblance that made her a living fortress.
And some would suggest Yang Xiao-Long, whose prowess in hand-to-hand combat rivaled her father's, and whose Semblance doubled her power with every strike.
But they would all be mistaken!
The true embodiment of strength—pure, unstoppable, and unyielding—was none other than the Golden Lion of Mistral herself: Arslan Atlan!
And that's why, in this free-for-all battle against three fierce opponents, Arslan was certain she'd emerge victorious!
Which is why, currently, Arslan lunged at Jaune again, her fist aiming directly for his face. Jaune narrowly dodged, feeling the force of her swing as it whooshed past his cheek. He immediately countered, swinging his bat toward her side in a quick, decisive strike. But to his shock, Arslan caught it mid-swing, her fingers tightening effortlessly around the weapon as though it were weightless.
The surprised look on Jaune's face didn't escape her, and in one fluid motion, Arslan yanked the bat from his grip and drove a powerful punch straight into his gut. The impact sent a gasp ripping from his lungs as he stumbled back, clutching his stomach.
Before she could press her advantage, Mercury charged at her, spinning into a high kick aimed for her head. But Arslan anticipated his approach; she dropped low, dodging his strike, and countered with a sharp uppercut to his crotch. Mercury let out a strangled cry, collapsing to his knees in agony. "Ah! C-Come on...! Really?!" he wheezed, wincing.
Arslan smirked, ready to finish him off with a knockout blow, but a shadow loomed behind her. Ciel appeared out of nowhere, her Atlesian pistol raised and aimed at the back of Arslan's head. Without even glancing back, Arslan twisted aside, dodging the bullets as though she could sense them coming. She spun around, eyes locking onto Ciel, and in a flash, seized her by the collar. Using her immense speed, Arslan charged forward, slamming Ciel into a tree with such force that the trunk snapped in half, sending splinters flying.
While Arslan dealt with Ciel, Mercury and Jaune managed to recover. Mercury, his expression tight with lingering pain, refocused on Jaune. He kicked forward, firing a shot from his boot's hidden mechanism, but Jaune reacted quickly, deflecting the bullet with his bat in a swift motion. He spun the bat in his hands and swung it toward Mercury's legs, catching him off-balance and knocking his foot away.
Using the momentum, Mercury spun and launched another kick, this time landing a shot from his boot straight into Jaune's shoulder. The impact made Jaune stagger back, gritting his teeth against the pain as he readied himself for Mercury's next move.
Meanwhile, Arslan straightened from the shattered tree, her gaze shifting back to the brawl, her fierce energy undiminished. The Golden Lion was far from finished.
Arslan leapt into the fray between the two boys, her fist swinging with deadly precision. Her punch connected squarely with Mercury's face, sending him stumbling sideways. Before Mercury could recover, Jaune saw his chance and lunged forward, jabbing his bat into Arslan's stomach with all his strength—but to his dismay, she didn't even flinch.
Jaune's eyes widened as he watched her absorb the hit without any reaction. "Oh... you're a tough one," he muttered, half in awe, half in disbelief.
A smirk tugged at Arslan's lips as she swiftly caught Jaune's bat in one hand, yanking him forward with surprising force. In a single, brutal motion, she slammed her forehead into his, knocking him off his feet and sending him reeling to the ground in a daze.
By now, Mercury had regained his balance and quickly retaliated, firing two shots from the built-in guns in his boots. But Arslan sidestepped each bullet with ease, her focus now shifting back toward him. Just as she closed in on him, Ciel rushed in from behind, hoping to take advantage of the opening.
Arslan paid no heed to Ciel's approach and kept her eyes locked on Mercury. She pulled her fist back and swung at him with immense force, but Mercury managed to lean back just in time, narrowly avoiding the blow. He countered with a spinning kick, firing a shot that struck Arslan in the chest.
But once again, she didn't even blink.
Mercury's face twisted in shock, his confidence shaken. "What the—?" he began, but before he could finish, Arslan grabbed his leg with both hands, her grip unbreakable. In a stunning show of power, she began spinning him around like a ragdoll, gathering momentum with each rotation. With a final, powerful twist, she hurled Mercury directly at Ciel.
Seeing Mercury's airborne form hurtling toward her, Ciel instinctively ducked low, narrowly avoiding the collision. But as she straightened up, she found herself face-to-face with Arslan, who had closed the distance with blinding speed. Before Ciel could react, Arslan delivered a powerful upward kick that struck her squarely in the chin, the force lifting Ciel off the ground.
With her opponent airborne, Arslan wasted no time. She drew both fists back, then launched a brutal double punch into Ciel's stomach, the impact sending the Atlesian girl rocketing backward through the air. Ciel hurtled in the same direction Mercury had flown, both of them smashing through tree trunks with splintering force before tumbling to the ground, dazed and battered.
As the two lay groaning amidst the shattered wood, Arslan stood tall, her presence as unyielding as ever, her focus already shifting to whichever challenger dared to rise next.
Behind her, Jaune staggered to his feet, picking up his bat and resting it on his shoulder with a heavy sigh. A grin tugged at his lips as he looked at Arslan. "Damn… you're a real beast, lady!" he called out, his tone both impressed and amused.
Arslan turned, a small but confident smirk playing across her face. "That? That was nothing," she replied coolly.
Jaune raised an eyebrow, the smirk on his face growing. "Oh, really?" he said, teasingly. "Were you holding back this whole time?"
Arslan gave a slight nod, her gaze steady. "Indeed, if I hadn't, all three of you would've had your Aura shattered on the first hit,"
Jaune's eyes sparked with excitement, his smirk widening as he swung the bat off his shoulder, gripping it tightly. "Oh yeah?" he challenged, taking a step forward. "Then let's see what happens when you stop holding back!"
Arslan's smirk deepened, her eyes gleaming with a fierce light. "Careful what you wish for," she told Jaune
Arslan unleashed her Aura, letting its pressure surge outward like a tidal wave. The ground beneath her feet cracked instantly, radiating fractures from where she stood. Her Aura was unlike anything Jaune had ever felt—it was raw, untamed, the roaring intensity of a wild lion ready to pounce. The sheer ferocity of it seeped into his bones, setting off every instinct to freeze, as if a feral predator were watching his every move, ready to strike if he dared even breathe.
What unsettled him even more was the depth of her Aura's power. It was far beyond anything he'd experienced, even more intense than Weiss's formidable presence.
Most people, when confronted by such overwhelming power, would either retreat in fear or brace themselves, forcing their resolve to face an opponent so powerful.
But Jaune Arc did neither.
Instead, he threw his head back and laughed.
"HAHAHAHA!" His laughter echoed across the battlefield, unrestrained and full of energy. Arslan's smirk faded, her fierce expression giving way to bewilderment as she watched the blonde in front of her double over, laughing as if this were the best day of his life.
"So there is someone here just as strong as me!" Jaune declared, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he spun his bat, readying it in his hands.
Arslan's confusion deepened, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of his reaction. No one had ever laughed in the face of her Aura before. It was meant to terrify, to overpower. Yet here he was, grinning like this was a friendly spar rather than a fight for survival.
Her thoughts swirled, the disbelief clear in her eyes as she wondered, 'Is he… could he really be as strong as I am?' For the first time, Arslan felt the thrill of uncertainty, an exhilarating question lurking in her mind. 'Just who exactly is Jaune Arc?'
Jaune locked eyes with Arslan, a fierce, unwavering grin spreading across his face. He took a batter's stance, bracing himself like he was gearing up to knock a fastball out of the park. "You've got some pretty scary Aura there, but...!" he shouted, his voice full of raw excitement. "You've got nothing on me!"
With those words, Jaune Arc unleashed his own Aura pressure. Dark purple energy erupted around him, swirling like a storm as the ground beneath him fractured and split, spiderwebbing cracks through the forest floor. His Aura crackled with intensity, and the very air seemed to thrum with an electric charge. It felt like a dormant beast had awakened, and his presence was undeniable, vast, and unyielding.
Arslan took a step back, her eyes widening as Jaune's Aura washed over her. It felt sharp and unrelenting, like a blade slicing through the air, and its weight bore down on her with a pressure she'd never known before. Her heart pounded wildly, but not in fear; instead, pure exhilaration sparked within her. A wild grin stretched across her face, her expression mirroring the excitement she saw in Jaune's.
In all her years traveling across Anima's deadly terrain, facing hordes of Grimm, rogue Huntsmen, and brutal bandit tribes, she'd never found an equal. No opponent had come close. She'd torn Grimm apart with her bare hands, shattered bandits' armor with a single blow, and walked away from battles unscathed. She'd always been the strongest—unyielding, unmatched, unstoppable. Since the day her clan was destroyed, she had faced every challenge and conquered it alone.
Even the renowned Pyrrha Nikos couldn't measure up. The only reason Arslan had ever lost to her was simple: she'd been bored.
The tournament had promised a challenge, a clash of champions, and Pyrrha Nikos had entered the arena with all the prestige and titles imaginable. She was the so-called "Invincible Girl," the undefeated warrior who had bested every opponent that came her way. People whispered that she was the strongest in all of Anima, the pride of Mistral. Arslan had entered the ring with anticipation, hoping that Pyrrha would finally offer something new, something that could test her strength.
But all it had taken was a single hit—one strike from Pyrrha—for Arslan to understand that the girl before her was like everyone else: predictable, disciplined, skilled, but ultimately weak.
As they traded blows in that fated match, Arslan felt nothing but emptiness, as though she were sparring with shadows. There was no exhilaration, no rush, and as the match dragged on, her anticipation crumbled into indifference. Pyrrha might have been the "Invincible Girl" to the crowds, but to Arslan, she was just another name in a long line of fighters who simply couldn't keep up.
Arslan's loss had been the result of that apathy. Her heart wasn't in the fight; she could barely muster the enthusiasm to counter Pyrrha's moves, let alone press her full strength. She'd let her guard slip, almost hoping that something in Pyrrha would spark. But nothing changed. And when the dust settled, Pyrrha Nikos was declared the victor, the crowds cheering for their hero as if Arslan were a stepping stone.
But Arslan knew the truth. She hadn't been beaten; she had only walked away, disappointed.
The reality was stark—there wasn't a soul in Mistral who could truly rival her strength, no one who could awaken that thrill of competition she craved. It was as if she were a lioness prowling in a land of rabbits. And as she stood now, facing Jaune, her blood finally racing, she realized that this was the feeling she'd been searching for all along.
For the first time, she was up against someone who wouldn't crumble.
Arslan's eyes burned with a wild, manic gleam, her entire expression ablaze with the exhilaration of a battle finally worth her time. Her body seemed to hum with energy, her Aura swirling around her like a storm. She threw her head back, laughing in a way that echoed through the trees, fierce and untamed. "HAHAHA! MAGNIFICENT!" she roared, her voice fierce with joy. "COME! COME AND FIGHT ME WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT! EMBRACE ME! DON'T YOU DARE DISAPPOINT ME!"
Jaune's grin matched her intensity, his eyes locked onto hers with a shared hunger for the challenge. He had come to this place searching for a real fight, something to test his limits and push him to his edge. He'd thought Weiss Schnee might give him that rush, but he'd been wrong—so wrong. This was it. The woman before him was everything he'd been searching for.
Arslan wasn't just power, wasn't merely strength wrapped in grace and ferocity. To Jaune, she was the embodiment of a warrior's heart, beauty, and might combined, a figure so fierce and unyielding that he could only think of her as one thing:
Arslan Atlan was a goddess of strength, pure and indomitable.
He hefted his bat, his grip tightening, his body flooding with a fiery determination to meet her challenge. His own Aura flared with power as he poured every ounce of his strength into his stance. "DISAPPOINT A LADY LIKE YOU? NEVER!" he shouted, his voice ringing with the thrill of the battle. "NOT IN MY WILDEST DREAMS!"
With that, they both surged forward, the ground cracking beneath their feet with the force of their movements. Their Auras collided, blending into a blaze of wild energy, and Jaune swung his bat with everything he had. Arslan met it head-on, her fist crashing against the bat, a shockwave rippling through the air as metal and flesh collided.
The instant Jaune's bat met Arslan's fist, an explosive shockwave tore through the forest, blasting everything in its path. Ciel and Mercury were flung back, skidding across the ground as the force sent them tumbling like leaves in a storm. Trees groaned and snapped, their roots ripped from the ground as the shockwave tore through the woods, sending trunks and branches flying in all directions.
The entire forest seemed to tremble beneath the raw power of their clash. Everywhere, students engaged in their own skirmishes felt the ground shudder, and an intense, almost primal pressure washed over them, halting every fight as each combatant instinctively turned toward the source of the overwhelming force. For a moment, all eyes were drawn toward the heart of the forest, where two auras flared like stars in collision, their energy unlike anything anyone had ever felt.
Fear mingled with awe as those who had come to Beacon with dreams of becoming Hunters and Huntresses felt something they had only read about or heard whispered in stories. The power raging in that forest was not the power of students or rookies. It was something beyond them all—a clash of titans, raw and unfiltered, a collision between forces as relentless as nature itself.
For those who witnessed it, the encounter wasn't just a fight. It was a glimpse into a realm they had yet to understand—a realm where Hunters weren't just warriors but forces of nature themselves, capable of reshaping the very world around them. And in that moment, one thought resonated among every student watching:
This was no ordinary fight. This was a clash between monsters.
On a cliff overlooking the forest, the Beacon staff watched the battle unfolding below on the holoprojector, feeling the same monumental aura shift that had stopped every student in their tracks. Each professor's expression was a mix of surprise, intrigue, and intensity as they absorbed the raw power the two combatants—first-year students, no less—displayed.
Professors Port and Oobleck exchanged glances, stunned by the strength of these potential newcomers. The sheer force of the battle left them momentarily speechless, marveling at the idea that teens, barely out of initiation, could wield such power.
"Unbelievable," Port muttered, stroking his mustache with a look of awe.
Dr. Oobleck adjusted his glasses, his eyes wide with shock. "Such combat capability...! It's almost beyond comprehension!" he exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief.
Nearby, Maria Calavera observed the holoprojector with keen interest, her eyes narrowing on Arslan and Jaune. Her curiosity was piqued at the thought of two students potentially strong enough to rival her own abilities. Yet, her gaze drifted back to Ruby Rose, who had shown flashes of potential that reminded her of her own youthful days—and, in some ways, of Ruby's late mother. "Interesting... very interesting," she murmured, already making a mental note to keep a close eye on Ruby, Jaune, and Arslan alike.
Then there was Tock, whose reaction was anything but subtle. She burst into maniacal laughter, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Wonderful! These kids are something else!" she cackled, her razor-sharp teeth glinting as she ran her tongue over them, shuddering with anticipation. "I can't wait to see them in action up close! Oh, just imagine—what a thrill it would be to test them myself!"
Amid the uproar, Ozpin stood calm and composed, sipping his hot cocoa as he observed the fierce exchange on the screen. His gaze, however, shifted subtly to Glynda, who stood beside him. A small smile tugged at his lips as he noticed something rare—a soft, genuine smile on Glynda's face.
Glynda's eyes remained fixed on Jaune, watching him push himself against an opponent who matched his raw intensity. A surge of pride welled up in her chest as she saw the familiar traits: the fierce determination, the rebellious spirit, the unbreakable resolve—all things she had once possessed and that Jaune had inherited. She'd always suspected there was strength hidden within him, but this? This was something else entirely. Her heart swelled as she thought of how far he'd come.
Ozpin's voice was gentle, with a hint of amusement as he spoke to her. "Seems the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?"
Glynda's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Yes... Jaune certainly takes after me," She said as she continued to watch the fight.
Back down in the forest, Mercury and Ciel stood off to the side, watching as Jaune and Arslan continued their earth-shaking battle. Every strike carried the weight of titans clashing, each blow landing with bone-rattling force that sent shockwaves through the air. Yet, to the astonishment of anyone watching, the two combatants didn't waver—they grinned with unbridled glee, reveling in the sheer ferocity of their contest.
Mercury crossed his arms with a groan, leaning against a tree as he watched. "Ugh, great! Guess I'll just wait my turn to fight Arc," he muttered, his tone dripping with irritation. He shifted uncomfortably, grimacing slightly. "And there's no way I'm jumping in while that crazy chick is still going at it... I'm still numb down there, thanks to her,"
Ciel, standing a short distance away, raised her pistol without hesitation, aiming it directly at him. Her expression was unreadable, cold and calm as her finger hovered over the trigger. "Have you forgotten about me?" she asked flatly.
Mercury glanced at her, an unimpressed smirk tugging at his lips. "Not interested," he replied bluntly, shrugging off her presence like a minor inconvenience.
Ciel tilted her head, her tone unchanging. "Why not? Don't you wish to pass the initiation?"
Mercury chuckled, finally turning his full attention to her. "Oh, I do,but I've already beat up enough students to get my ticket punched, I just need to cross the finish line, this?" He jabbed a thumb in the direction of the fight. "This is just for fun, I wanted to see what Arc's really made of," Mercury finished.
Ciel's sharp eyes narrowed. "You're interested in Arc? Why? Do you see him as a threat?"
Mercury shook his head and laughed, though there was a slight edge to it. "Not a threat, a grudge," he said simply.
"A grudge?" Ciel repeated, one eyebrow-raising as her curiosity piqued.
Mercury nodded, his smirk widening. "Yeah, nothing too dramatic, just some unfinished business in a sense, but that's my personal problem, though... Don't worry your pretty little head about it," he added with a mockingly sweet tone, flashing her a smug grin.
Ciel kept her gun trained on Mercury for a few lingering seconds, her gaze calm and calculating. Then, with a quiet sigh, she lowered the weapon and holstered it. Without missing a beat, she bent down to retrieve her sword from the ground, smoothly sheathing it at her side. "Very well," she said, her voice as composed as ever. Without another glance at him, she turned on her heel and began walking away, her posture confident and unhurried.
Mercury raised a brow, his arms still crossed as he watched her retreating figure. "Don't you want to pass?" he called after her, parroting her earlier question with a hint of sarcasm.
Ciel paused mid-step but didn't bother to face him. "Like you, I've defeated enough opponents to ensure my place at this academy," she replied evenly. "All that's left is to make it to the finish line,"
Mercury tilted his head, his curiosity piqued despite himself. "Then why'd you come at me earlier?" he asked, genuinely intrigued.
Ciel shrugged lightly, her tone matter-of-fact. "I wanted to test myself, fighting opponent after opponent seemed like a good way to measure my limits, you were just my next target," she explained, starting to walk again with the same deliberate pace.
Mercury let out a low chuckle, leaning back against a nearby tree as his smirk widened. "Oh, really? So you think you could've taken me?" he asked, his voice dripping with smug confidence.
"I don't think," Ciel said, her voice unwavering as she kept walking. "I know,"
Her simple yet pointed reply caught Mercury off guard for a moment, and his smirk faltered slightly. He quickly recovered, rolling his eyes and muttering under his breath, "Yeah, suuure! Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart,"
Still, he couldn't help but acknowledge her self-assuredness. If nothing else, she had guts.
As Ciel disappeared into the shadows of the forest, Mercury pushed off the tree and stretched his arms above his head, glancing back toward the chaotic fight between Jaune and Arslan. The sheer ferocity of their battle was tempting, but he shook his head.
"Nah," he muttered to himself, a sly grin creeping back onto his face. "Let those two lunatics finish up, arc's not going anywhere, and I've got time to settle things later,"
With that, he turned and began walking toward the finish line, his hands in his pockets and his gait casual. After all, there was no sense in rushing things. Let the others play their games—for now.
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Back in Vale, Junior sat at the bar nursing a glass of crimson liquor, the amber light from the ceiling casting an uneven glow across the battered remains of his once-pristine club. The place was still in shambles from the blonde huntress who'd torn through it not long ago, leaving wrecked tables, shattered glass, and dents in the walls as souvenirs. A handful of his men worked alongside hired construction workers, hammering and welding to restore the place to its former glory.
At least Melanie and Miltiades were unharmed, though the twins were out running errands, picking up supplies for the bar, and spreading the word to their more "discreet" clients about the temporary relocation of their operations.
Junior let out a weary sigh as he swirled the liquid in his glass, the faint hum of machinery in the background providing a strange sort of comfort. But his momentary reprieve was cut short as the heavy doors to the club creaked open. He turned, his sharp gaze narrowing at the sight of two figures entering. They were young—teens, by the look of them—and they weren't dressed like your typical wanderers.
Junior's eyes locked onto the light, familiar colors of their uniforms. His grip on his glass tightened. Spider colors. The insignia of Mistral's most notorious crime syndicate. This was bad news.
The boy spoke first. His raven-black hair, streaked with a bold line of pink, framed his sharp, stoic face. "Rough night, Mr. Xiong?" His voice was calm, unnervingly so.
Junior set his glass down on the bar, leveling a steely glare at the pair. "Bar got trashed. Huntress," he said curtly.
The boy inclined his head, taking a slow glance around at the destruction. "I see," He straightened and gestured to himself. "I'm Lie Ren, and this is my partner, Nora Valkyrie,"
The girl, Nora, waved lazily, chewing on what looked like a piece of gum. Her bored expression didn't do much to ease Junior's nerves.
"Pleasure," Junior replied gruffly, though his tone carried no warmth. He crossed his arms, leaning back slightly. "Now, why are you here? What does Little Miss want from me this time?"
"Straight to the point, she did mention you prefer to get right down to business," Ren said, his posture stiffening as he stood taller, radiating calm authority. His voice remained steady, devoid of emotion. "What Little Miss wants is simple, Mr. Xiong... She demands her daughters back,"
Junior's expression darkened immediately, his jaw tightening as he leaned forward on the bar. His glare was sharp enough to cut steel. "No way," he growled. "Not after what she did to them, I'm not handing them over,"
Ren's face didn't so much as twitch. "I'd reconsider if I were you," he replied coolly. "Little Miss instructed us to make her position perfectly clear: if you refuse to return the twins, it means war."
Junior chuckled darkly, his lips curling into a defiant smirk. "War? Does your boss even realize how outnumbered you are? My men and allies are better trained and better equipped than your little band of thugs,"
Ren's neutral facade slipped for just a fraction of a second, replaced by a flash of irritation. "Once upon a time, perhaps," he countered, his voice gaining a sharper edge. "But things have changed, Spider's numbers have grown, and the quality of her fighters has improved, we're not the same disorganized gang you remember all those years ago,"
Junior tilted his head, his skepticism evident. "Oh, really? And who's tipping the scales for you? Some street toughs who think they're Huntsmen?"
Ren allowed a small, almost imperceptible smirk to creep onto his face. "Myself and my partner, for starters," he said, nodding slightly toward Nora, who gave a playful wave, still chewing her candy. "And we're not the only ones, Little Miss has recruited some... specialists, fighters with skillsets rivaling Huntsmen, add to that the backing of the Branwen Tribe."
Junior's smirk disappeared in an instant, his eyes widening in shock. The Branwen Tribe was a name that carried weight—a violent, resourceful faction of bandits known for their ruthlessness and combat prowess. If Spider had truly allied with them, this was no empty threat.
"You're lying," Junior said, though his tone lacked the confidence it had carried a moment ago.
Ren tilted his head, a small, knowing smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Am I?" he asked softly, his voice almost mocking.
Junior slammed his fist on the bar, his knuckles whitening. "Even if that's true, I'm not handing over the twins! I've kept them safe, protected them from her! They're my family now, not hers!"
Ren's calm demeanor shifted slightly, his expression hardening. "Family? That's not how Little Miss sees it... She views you as a thief, someone who stole what was hers, and she won't let this go,"
Junior's gaze burned with defiance, but he could feel the walls closing in. "If she wants a fight, she'll get one," he snapped, though the words felt hollow.
Ren studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Very well," he said, turning on his heel. "You've made your choice," Ren finished as he walked toward the door, Nora followed, pausing only to wink at Junior.
"Better get those repairs done quickly, big guy," she said with a grin, her voice dripping with false cheer. "Wouldn't want the place to get wrecked twice,"
As the doors slammed shut behind them, Junior sat back heavily, his mind racing. If the Branwen Tribe was truly involved, this wasn't a war he could win with brute strength alone. But one thing was certain: he wasn't giving up Melanie and Miltiades without a fight.
Outside the bar, Ren and Nora lingered in the quiet of the night, the faint hum of Vale's nightlife serving as their backdrop. The neon glow from the bar's flickering sign cast shadows across their faces, a stark contrast to the tension they'd left inside.
Nora crossed her arms and tilted her head, studying Ren's calm expression. "So," she began with a sly grin, "looks like the boss was right, he wasn't gonna give them up easily,"
Ren nodded slowly, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket with deliberate care. "Yeah," he replied, tapping the pack against his palm before sliding a cigarette free. "But that's exactly what she expected, Little Miss has been eyeing Vale for years, this isn't just about the twins—it's about setting the stage for something much bigger," He flicked open his lighter, igniting the cigarette with a small flame, and took a long, measured drag. A plume of smoke curled into the air as he exhaled, his face remaining impassive.
Nora's smile faltered, and her eyes narrowed. "Ren," she said sharply, pointing an accusatory finger at the cigarette. "We've talked about this,"
Ren sighed, holding the cigarette between his fingers and staring at the glowing ember as if it were a personal affront. "I am quitting, Nora," he replied, his tone placating. "Just like I promised, I'm down to one a day now,"
"Still not good enough, mister," Nora retorted, her tone stern. She leaned closer, narrowing her eyes further for emphasis. "Your lungs don't care about your little 'one-a-day' plan,"
Ren chuckled softly, a rare sound from him. "I know, I know," he said, lifting his free hand in mock surrender. He took another drag, savoring it, before stubbing the cigarette out on a metal railing beside him. "That was the last one for today, happy?"
"For now," Nora replied with a huff, though her expression softened slightly. She crossed her arms again and tapped her foot, the faint sound echoing against the pavement. "So, what now? Do we just head back to the boss?"
Ren shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "How about we stick around for a few days?" he suggested. "Get to know Vale a little better, it's not every day we're this far from Mistral, we can scope out the city, grab some food... maybe even relax for once,"
Nora raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Relax? You? Since when do you relax, Ren?" she teased, a grin breaking across her face. "But seriously, what would we even do here?"
Ren's smile deepened as he gently took Nora's hand in his, the simple gesture brimming with unspoken affection. "I can think of a few things," he said, his voice low and warm, his smile widening just enough to show a hint of mischief.
Nora raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "Oh, you naughty boy~," she teased, leaning closer, her tone dripping with mock scandal.
Ren chuckled, the sound soft and genuine. "Only for you," he replied, his teasing tone carrying a weight of sincerity that didn't go unnoticed.
With that, Nora broke into a grin and gave his hand a little tug. "Alright, Mr. Romantic. Let's see what this city's got to offer."
Together, they strolled down the bustling streets of Vale, hand in hand, blending in effortlessly with the crowd. The city was alive, its neon lights flickering above them, casting vibrant hues across the cobblestone streets. Music spilled from nearby clubs, and the scent of street food wafted through the air. The atmosphere was electric, but beneath it all, there was a quiet unease—a sense of impending chaos that seemed to follow the pair wherever they went...