Here's the chapter! As always, thank you for the support! I had a lot of fun writing this chapter and I hope you all have a lot of fun with reading this as well.
P.S.
Major update to be announced at the end so make sure to read that.
And I've got some fanart by the way that I post in my pat (reon), X, tumblr, and even the RWBY subreddit! Check them out if you feel like it!
Weiss didn't know what they were talking about but she was glad to have a moment to catch her breath as Jaune talked with his supposed older self.
Yet as time went on, Weiss found herself caring less and less if what Arc was saying was true or not because right now she only wanted one thing.
For everything to stop.
Because the Rusted Knight, Professor Arc, was going too far.
She considers for a moment surrendering before she shook that notion out of her head.
A Schnee did not surrender.
Not when all her teammates were only eliminated because they were defeated after they fought.
It would be humiliating if she was the only one of them who surrendered.
Still, she wasn't alone right now.
She had Arc delaying the Rusted Knight and while she was thankful for that, the person she was really betting on was Pyrrha Nikos.
"We need to think of a plan." She said even as one began to form in her mind.
If she could coat the floor in ice again, Pyrrha could push the Rusted Knight out of bounds.
Before she could even speak to Pyrrha however, Jaune fell to his knees and puked on the floor.
Weiss clicked her tongue as she saw the Rusted Knight begin to walk forward again even as he gave parting words to Jaune.
"Drat! Pyrrha! We need to-"
"Well, well, well. Bullying kids now, Rusty? Here I thought you were supposed to be the protector and I, the villain."
Weiss paused as she turned toward the sarcastic voice until another one piped in.
"Professor Arc, I would appreciate it if you stop bullying our students."
Weiss and Pyrrha gawked as the Curious Cat and Headmaster Ozpin walked in together.
She sighed in relief before her breath gets caught in her throat as the Rusted Knight turned towards them.
"You could hardly call this bullying, Ozpin." His voice echoed loudly and while Weiss would beg to differ, she winced at the sound of his voice.
It was cold and flat and Weiss could barely fathom how an employee could speak to his employer that way before she froze at a memory.
It wasn't even that long ago since he arrived in this world and Weiss could slap herself for forgetting the circumstances of his arrival.
The Rusted Knight could speak that way because he could.
Because he already beat the Headmaster, the Curious Cat, and Professor Glynda at the same time.
He could speak that way because he was the strongest man in Beacon right now.
Yet credit where credit is due, Headmaster Ozpin remains unfazed at the disrespect as he walks up to the arena with the Curious Cat.
"If not bullying then what would you call this?"
"Training, of course."
As much as Weiss respected and idolized the Rusted Knight, she wanted to scoff at his words.
This was obviously past the bounds of training or if it wasn't then it should have been training done when they were older and more experienced!
Yet she stayed silent just as Pyrrha did so as not to draw attention to themselves.
The Curious Cat had no such problems like that however.
"Training, huh? So that's what you call fights to the death." The Curious Cat finished mockingly with a look towards the stands where Weiss could see the rest of their friends were.
"As if I would ever go so far against them. If I wanted them hurt then they would be a lot more injured. I was merely teaching them a lesson." Professor Arc shot back and Weiss could see Yang wince as she tenderly supports a broken arm.
She felt the tension rise however as Headmaster Ozpin asked sarcastically. "And what, pray tell, was this training supposed to teach them?"
The Rusted Knight took a moment to answer the question before shrugging casually as he glanced at Jaune who was now struggling to stand up.
"I suppose this would teach them not to seek fights they are not ready for. At least this way they'd learn to avoid needless deaths."
Weiss gulped at that. She could understand the sentiment but did he really need to go this far?
Headmaster Ozpin paused before narrowing his eyes at the Rusted Knight. He stepped forward and pulled Jaune behind him to stare resolutely at the armored man.
"What made you think this was a good time to teach them that lesson?" He asked slowly.
The Rusted Knight stayed silent but an answer comes from the panting young Arc behind Headmaster Ozpin.
"...Me. Because of me."
"A bit arrogant don't you think?"
It took a moment for her to realize that she was the one who said those words as her face changes into one of mortification as the attention shifted onto her.
Headmaster Ozpin raised an eyebrow at her but Weiss only blushes as she looks down at her feet.
Eventually, she hears him speak towards Jaune again.
"Why do you think all of this was because of you, Mr. Arc?"
"Because I know the truth." Jaune answered and Weiss held her breath as she saw Headmaster Ozpin suddenly straighten himself.
"The truth...and what truth is that?"
The world slowed down for Weiss as Jaune slowly turns to look at them, then their friends, and finally back to Headmaster Ozpin and the Rusted Knight beyond him before opening his mouth.
"That he is my future self."
"Do not listen to him, Ozpin!" The Rusted Knight cried out immediately and Weiss shook at the emotion in his voice.
No, no, no! Weiss still refuses to believe it. Surely Headmaster Ozpin would see how ludicrous it is too!
The world held its breath however as they all turn towards the Headmaster.
"I see." Headmaster Ozpin nods neutrally at Jaune before turning back towards the Rusted Knight.
The Curious Cat took the chance to laugh loudly, their mocking tone cutting through the silence. "Oh this is priceless! We have never had this much fun back in the Ever After, did we Jaune?!"
No, please...
Weiss choked a whimper in the back of her throat. Any other time she would have found the Cat cute but the implications of its words, its laugh, its tone...
Weiss does not like it one bit.
"Do not do it, Oz. He doesn't know what he is saying." The Rusted Knight growled angrily.
Her eyes widen in horror as instead of nodding in agreement with the Rusted Knight, Headmaster Ozpin shakes his head.
"No, he says the truth."
Weiss blacked out.
""""Weiss!""""
Jaune heard Pyrrha cry out from behind him as well as their friends on the sidelines and his eyes widened in horror as he saw her crumple to the floor.
"What happened?! Is she okay?!" He shouted, his own pain forgotten as he immediately slid beside Pyrrha.
"I don't know! She just passed out!" Pyrrha answered as they both knelt over Weiss' form.
"No, no, no. Come on, Weiss." He mutters panickedly, lightly slapping her face as memories from his older self overlap with what was happening.
Was this how it felt?
Intellectually, he knew Weiss wasn't dying but his heart beat itself into a frenzy as he couldn't help but imagine it happening.
T-thump.
T-thump.
He felt something inside him beat but whether it was just the sound of his blood pumping through his body or something else, he does not know because Weiss chooses that moment to slowly flutter her eyes open.
Blue eyes lock with even colder blue eyes and it does not take long for Weiss to glare at him.
"Arc. Get your hands off of me." She growled but Jaune sighs in relief even as he leaned away from her.
He'd take her being angry over seeing her dead body.
"I-I'm glad you are okay, Weiss." He speaks shakily as she slowly sits up.
"I don't suppose we could pretend the past few minutes was just a dream?" She sighs tiredly and Jaune and Pyrrha looked at each other before chuckling wetly.
"Sorry, Weiss, but all of it was real." Pyrrha giggled as she stood up, stretching her hand out to pull the smaller girl up.
"Drat." Weiss clicked her tongue before turning towards him with a frown on her face. "You really are the Rusted Knight then?"
Jaune winced and they all turned silently back towards the Rusted Knight.
He... did not want to be the Rusted Knight. It shamed him to think that but seeing what he saw...it scared him.
It was one thing to talk about being a hero and to do his best to stop Pyrrha's death.
It was entirely different to see the death of a close friend and the murder of another even if he does not know her yet.
The scent of blood invaded his nostrils and Jaune looked down in shame as dizziness starts to creep up on him.
"I owe you my apologies, Jaune Arc. But for now we fight."
The voice snaps him out of it and Jaune stares at Weiss in awe.
"Ms. Schnee. I urge you all to step back." Headmaster Ozpin called out to which Weiss only shakes her head.
"Forgive me, Headmaster. But a Schnee does not surrender." Weiss announced resolutely, holding Myrtenaster tightly.
"Neither does a champion." Pyrrha piped in before smiling at Jaune.
Jaune shook as Pyrrha looked expectantly at him.
As proud and amazed he was at them, Jaune could not open his mouth to speak
It was shameful that he couldn't even nod his head but what he saw terrified him.
Was he really leading them into that fate?
Pyrrha, dead?
Weiss, bleeding out in his arms?
And another woman, killed by his own hands?
He couldn't take it.
Blood pounded through his ears and darkness began to creep up his vision.
The feeling of terror, hopelessness, fear, and despair gripped his heart before a hand landing on his shoulder snaps him out of it.
Pyrrha locks eyes with him with a smile on her face before saying one word.
"Together."
His breath rushes out of his mouth as the world suddenly cleared.
A shaky smile crawls up on his face as he nods at Pyrrha.
"Together." He calls out and Pyrrha's smile brightens as they both brandished their weapons.
Together. They can do this together.
Didn't he say as much when they first fought the Rusted Knight?
He looked at his older self to see him tightly gripping his sword as light seemed to shine off of him.
"I see you have not learned your lesson yet. The training continues then." The Rusted Knight called out and Jaune had to brace himself as the pressure suddenly began to mount.
That's when the Curious Cut cuts in again.
"I don't suppose any of you would mind if we join the training then?" They said while walking beside Headmaster Ozpin.
"You seem to forget that I've already beaten the both of you." The Rusted quipped as he brandished his own sword.
"It would at least even the odds against you but who knows? We might even surprise you." Headmaster Ozpin smirked and Jaune wished he had the man's confidence.
Th-thump!
A loud thud accompanied a quick flash of light and Jaune gulped as he saw the crystalline armor of light return to cover the Rusted Knight's body.
"No, I don't think you joining in will change anything."
It was an amazing show of power as even Headmaster Ozpin had to step back in shock.
"Fascinating, so you can use magic."
"Magic?" Jaune asked with wide eyes.
Okay, as much the impossible seemed to love happening around him, learning that his older self can use magic is still pretty cool.
He just wishes it wasn't used against them right now.
"Of course your older self can use magic." Weiss rolled her eyes exasperatedly at him to which he bashfully cringes away.
Their attentions are taken however when Headmaster Ozpin makes another remark.
"I haven't seen this application of it for a long time at least."
"You've seen it before Headmaster?" Pyrrha asked with wide eyes.
"Seen it? I've used it myself thousands of years ago. "
Jaune's mind grinded to a halt at that.
"T-THOUSANDS?!" Weiss screamed as Jaune stood speechless.
"Why yes dear, I am immortal after all." Headmaster Ozpin chuckled as all of their jaws dropped in shock.
WHAT. THE. FUCK.
As far as proofs of Jaune telling the truth to his friends go, having an apparently immortal Headmaster Ozpin confirm it was just too much.
He shook his head slowly even as he heard the rest of their friends expressing their own shock from the sidelines.
"You are a lot more open with your secrets than I remember you being, Oz." His older self called out coldly.
"I suppose you would think that, wouldn't you? Let's just say certain conversations have convinced me that keeping secrets is futile. Not when there are a lot more people who know everything running around." Headmaster Ozpin laughed before glancing at the Curious Cat near his feet and the Rusted Knight in front of him.
"The Cat. Of course it would be the damned Cat who would convince you." The Rusted Knight scoffed.
"What? We had a valid exchange of information." The Cat said smugly.
The Rusted Knight rolled his eyes at that before sighing resignedly.
"I hope you don't plan on just blurting out everything, Ozpin."
"Oh heavens, no. That would be catastrophic." Headmaster Ozpin shook his head instantly as Jaune and the rest just looked on intently.
They...they were learning a lot more things than Jaune expected and he breathed a sigh of relief as his older self began to calm down at Headmaster Ozpin's answer.
"Okay, okay. That's good. I could live with that."
That's when the Curious Cat decided to mess things up with a grin on their face.
"Yeah, telling them everything could give them a heart attack. We are only sharing things about the Maidens, Relics, and Silver-Eyed Warriors."
Jaune was slowly understanding why his older self hated the Curious Cat because again...
WHAT. THE. FUCK?!
It wasn't as unbelievable as finding out their Headmaster is an immortal but it was still too much.
Jaune's head swirled at the deluge of information they were receiving and he was sure he was not the only one.
They all stood speechless as they did their best to process what they've just learned.
First, there was magic and his older self could use it.
Second, the Headmaster was apparently immortal and also used magic himself.
Third, the Maidens who were capable of amazing feats of power were apparrently real. Who knew what the relics were but they sounded important when used in the same sentence with Maidens.
And then there were the Silver-eyed Warriors.
Jaune could hear Ruby squeak from the sidelines at that.
Were they missing anything else?
Judging from how angry his older self was however, it was still a few secrets too many than he was comfortable with.
"What the fuck, Ozpin?! That's mostly everything important! You aren't even trying to hide secrets anymore!"
"Ah, well. I've decided that it would be easier for Remnant's future protectors if I started with the truth. Besides, from your own history, you seemed to prefer it more when I was being honest." Headmaster Ozpin shrugged guiltily.
"So that's it then. You blurt out secrets and then twist their hopes and dreams of being heroes so you could use them as your own pawns?" The Rusted Knight growled as they looked worriedly at Headmaster Ozpin who only rolled his eyes casually.
"You make me sound so bad when you put it like that. Is it so any different with how they were already training to fight the Grimm?"
"You and I both know that this is different than that! You corner them with the trappings of destiny and the next thing you know they'll fight Maidens one on one! You will lead them to their deaths, Ozpin!" The Rusted Knight shouted and Jaune has a sudden realization.
Was that...was that how his Pyrrha died? Getting caught up in events too grand for her? Having to fight a Maiden one on one?
Headmaster Ozpin dropped his casual attitude at that.
"Then train them, Mr. Arc. It's why I hired you as a Professor after all. Train them to survive."
"I. ALREADY. AM!" The Rusted Knight growled back even as Headmaster Ozpin shook his head.
"I mean really train them, Mr. Arc, don't just beat them. You of all people know what is coming for us all. Whether we like it or not, they are already involved."
"They aren't and they don't need to be because I will handle all of it." His older self said resolutely.
It was the exact same answer he gave Jaune before and before anyone else can speak, Weiss piped in furiously.
"Uhn, excuse me! We are the ones allegedly involved here! Don't you think we get a say if we want to be trained to survive this oh so ominous danger that's coming for us all?!"
"Yeah! You tell them, partner!" Ruby screamed from the sidelines and Jaune smirked as he saw both the Rusted Knight and Headmaster Ozpin jolt at that.
"You don't understand! This is it! If you can't even beat me together then how do you expect to survive what is coming?! Just stick to fighting Grimm and leave everything else to me!"
"Then all we need to do is beat you, isn't it? That would prove that we have what it takes to fight with you." Pyrrha added.
"You've already proven you can't." His older self scoffed before turning his head away.
"The fight's not over yet though." Jaune pointed out.
"Oh, it will be. Trust me." The Rusted Knight cracked his neck at that and boy wasn't that intimidating?
"That's easy then! We put it all into a bet!" The Curious Cat shouted excitedly, causing the Rusted Knight to glower at it.
"If I win, you drop it. They go back to focusing on killing Grimm and you leave everything else to me. No more asking questions."
"I promise not to force you to train them but...you've been a teenager yourself. You know how young people are. They just do what they want." Headmaster Ozpin answered, glancing at Jaune who guiltily looks away while whistling.
After all, they were in this situation because he did what he wanted.
"Oh I know alright. That's why I'll keep beating it into them to stop if they try to dig deeper." The Rusted Knight stared at him as he said that but a voice thankfully takes the attention away from him.
"Uhm, excuse me! We are standing right here! You can't just threaten us to our faces like that. That's abuse!" Weiss called out furiously.
"It's training, not abuse." The Rusted Knight deadpanned,
Headmaster Ozpin laughed even as they all cringed.
"We are in agreement then, Professor Arc? If we win, then you train them."
"Fine. It's not like you joining in would change the outcome."
"How arrogant." The Curious Cat drawled as they walk around Headmaster Ozpin's feet.
"It's the truth."
"Maybe, maybe not, but what makes you think we didn't train for a rematch with you?"
What happens next was one of the most disturbing things Jaune has ever seen.
Headmaster Ozpin opened his mouth wide and...in goes the Curious Cat.
Sounds of disgust echo all around them.
"I think I'm going to puke." Weiss muttered as her cheeks puffed up.
"Me too." Pyrrha muttered as her face went green in disgust when choking sounds start to emanate from Headmaster Ozpin's throat.
The only reason why Jaune didn't puke ahead of them was because he already puked all the contents of his stomach.
He could see Headmaster Ozpin's neck bulge even from behind and Jaune shivers as his mind can't help but think where the Curious Cat was going.
Was it just going to chill in Headmaster Ozpin's stomach?
If so, how was it going to get out?
Jaune's butt involuntary clenched at that and even he could see his older self is repulsed by the Headmaster's action.
Eventually, the sounds stop and everyone watches as a blue streak slowly appear on his white hair. When he turned towards Jaune, Weiss, and Pyrrha they were all mesmerized to see his teeth grow sharper and his eyes take on a crystal hue with a glow of their own.
And when he spoke, his voice sounded like a mix of his old voice and the Curious Cat's.
"Students, take notes. You will see how adults really fight. Don't jump in carelessly and only support me when I call you to before immediately disengaging."
They all nod speechlessly at that before Headmaster Ozpin turned back towards the Rusted Knight.
T-Thump!
Power thrummed from Headmaster Ozpin's body and in a flash of light, a crystalline armor similar to the Rusted Knight appears over his body. This one though was sleeker and more form-fitting like an ancient knight's.
"Now then, are you ready, Jaune Arc?"
The Rusted Knight's answer to that however was to slam his greatsword again into the arena.
Ozpin, leapt into action as the arena broke under him.
The world slowed as Ozpin's thought's ran quickly.
He had no time to check on the students as Mr. Arc sent an Aura slash straight at him.
Hmmm... perhaps he should think of him with a new name? He isn't just the only Mr. Arc after all, and he certainly isn't fit to be called Professor just yet with how he acted towards the students despite Ozpin wanting him to teach them.
Perhaps Ser Arc then considering he was the Rusted Knight himself?
Hmmm...Ser Arc it is, Ozpin shrugged internally to himself as the world resumed its speed and he dodged the Aura slash midair by using a burst of kinetic force from Long Memory to control his momentum.
Ser Arc immediately capitalized on his movement as he leapt and clashed with Ozpin head on before he could even land on the ground.
Force pushed out from them as Long Memory grated against Crocea Mors' edge and Ozpin smiled even as their magic clashed.
"Surprised you aren't overpowering me like before?" He asked with a smile on his face as he held his own against Ser Arc's attack and landed on the ground still struggling against each other.
Unlike before when he was physically weaker than the Rusted Knight, Ozpin now had the strength to lock blades with him. More than that however, his experience with magic actually allowed him to inch out against Ser Arc as their Magic Armors grinded against each other.
Colorful sparks flew around them as both of their armors cracked and reformed while they stared into each other's eyes.
Now this was nostalgic.
Two Wizard Knights competing against each other?
His last experience of it were back on the days when he was still Ozma and that was literally ages ago!
Ozpin couldn't help but smile.
"Don't get distracted!" The Curious Cat thought through their link and Ozma was just about to send an affirmation of his own when he stumbled forward.
"Hmmm, not really. I'm a lot more used to fighting opponents stronger than me actually." Ser Arc answered Ozpin's last question with a hum as he pulled back and disengaged while Ozpin was distracted.
Only instincts have him horizontally blocking the overhead slash from above with Long Memory before light flashed between them as a knee finds itself burying itself on his gut.
His Magic Armor cracked but held even as Ozpin cringed at the hit.
Steeling himself, he slid Crocea Mors downwards into the ground with Long Memory before dancing around Ser Arc to get behind him and strike.
His eyes widened however when instead of taking the time to turn towards him, Ser Arc charged forward towards his students.
Long Memory met air as Ser Arc used both Magic and Aura to dash away from him.
While he could already see Mr. Arc and Ms. Nikos bring their shields forward to valiantly meet the Rusted Knight, Ozpin knew it wouldn't be enough.
Damn it! He cursed himself for being distracted and making a mistake.
"No use thinking about it! Just go!" The Curious Cat admonished even as he was already rushing to chase Ser Arc.
He couldn't help it however because for the first time in a long long looong while, Ozpin was physically feeling magic in his veins for an extended period of time.
It was the one thing he did his best to conceal from friends and foe alike. While he could still use magic with the power of his soul, the bodies he inhabits were no longer designed to hold such magic like the ancient humans did.
Which is also the reason why he only uses the magic in Long Memory in quick bursts. A force field here and there, a quick burst of strength, or a sudden burst of speed. Those were the only things he could do, at least before combining with the Curious Cat.
With the Curious Cat however, Ozpin could do things like this...
He stretched his hand out and out comes an elongated hand made of light to wrap around the Rusted Knight's feet.
It broke easily but it did its job as it disturbed Ser Arc's momentum so he had to stumble into a halt and catch himself on his knees to avoid falling face-first onto the floor.
Ozpin clicked his tongue at that. He intended to make more than one hand and constrict the Rusted Knight altogether but Salem always was the expert at that kind of magic.
Even so, it was enough to change the momentum of the fight.
"NOW, MR. ARC!" He shouted even as he ran and the students jumped into action.
TRIIING!
A ringing sound echoed as Mr. Arc launched an Aura Slash straight towards his older self, cracking the Magic Armor as Ser Arc only managed to block with one of his hands.
"MS. NIKOS!" Ozpin shouted again as he neared the Rusted Knight.
BANG!
A shield bashed against Ser Arc's sword before he could even swing it and Ozpin took the opportunity to strike him from behind together with an explosive burst from Long Memory.
The back section of Ser Arc's Magic Armor broke as he is shoved forwards just as Ms. Nikos disengaged.
"MS. SCHNEE!" He shouted as he kicked Ser Arc's knee in, causing the man to kneel.
Fire Dust exploded straight into Ser Arc's chest as Ms. Schnee stabbed forward with her rapier, causing the front section to finally break apart as Ms. Schnee retreated.
"Not enough! Get back! Keep your distance and wear him down!" The Curious Cat warned and Ozpin smiled as he stepped back, avoiding the roundabout overhead swing Ser Arc does.
It seems the Curious Cat has thought long and hard on how to fight the Rusted Knight that they already knew what to expect when fighting him.
Ozpin kept his distance just as the Curious Cat said but neither of them expected to see a scabbard flying for his face however.
"Oof!" Ozpin grunted as he staggers backward and a shield bearing the Arc symbol sprung into existence midair only to fall into Ser Arc's hand.
"BLOCK!"
Ozpin's eyes widen when he hears the warning and he sees Ser Arc already standing and launching an Aura Slash straight at him.
This close, Ozpin could only cross his arms as he leaps back to disperse the force and hope for the best.
The light still slammed into him with the force of a canon and it painfully launched him back as Ozpin has to grit his teeth while his Magic Armor broke apart at the onslaught.
Digging his heels in, he assumes a defensive stance just as Ser Arc rushed to capitalize on his attack with a fierce cry.
And so the fight was on.
"You must have had a hard life if you are used to fighting against the odds." He says to distract as Long Memory meets Crocea Mors in a resounding clash.
"You already know what my life was, Ozpin." Ser Arc snorts before a shield pushes forward between them to bash Ozpin.
He sidesteps Ser Arc's shield, and unlike before when the Rusted Knight left Ozpin to charge at the students, this time Ser Arc followed.
"Did you know what magic you were using earlier?" Ozpin asked curiously as they danced around each other.
"Don't know, don't care. As long as it works, I'll use it." Ser Arc answers as he brings his shield forward and uses his blade as a stinger.
Ozpin laughed as he parried a thrust before backing away from another shield bash. "Such a practical mindset, regardless, let me educate you. It was called Magic Armor."
Now that gets a laugh from his opponent as Ozpin's counterstrike gets blocked. "Really? That's what they called it back in your days? I would have thought your people would have been creative with magic all around you."
"Contrary to your expectations, you would find a lot of naming conventions trying to label things as simple as possible to make sure everyone understands it." Ozpin smiled as Long Memory and Crocea Mors twirl against each other again. "Only those advanced magics would get imposing names."
"And what was the Magic Armor's imposing name if it was advanced?" Ser Arc asked curiously as he aimed a kick at Ozpin.
Ozpin lifts his knee to block the kick even as his mind dredges up memories from the ancient past. "It had many names and many versions but one that has always stuck with me was the version developed in the east. They called it Susannoo."
Ser Arc tilted his head at that before raising a foot to avoid Ozpin's leg sweep. "Susannoo? What did it mean?"
"The Storm God." Ozpin said as a savage grin creeps up on his face.
"The Storm God." Ser Arc tests the name on his tongue as they begin to circle each other before giving Ozpin a savage grin of his own. "I like it."
They meet again and again in a clash of steel and magic as they square up against each other.
It seems the time for talk is over as they both stand their ground to overwhelm each other.
Their strikes grow stronger. Then, their footwork blurs faster as they try to outmaneuver each other. And finally, magic tried to flare around them as both tried to manifest their own Magic Armor but neither could focus enough to do anything but fight.
And while Ser Arc beats him in strength and equipment, Ozpin has speed and experience on his side.
He darts around Ser Arc's shield yet the shield holds firm against his relentless attacks and Ozpin has to leap backward to avoid the powerful sweeps of Crocea Mors.
He doesn't get a moment to breathe after that because the cycle starts again when Ser Arc lunges forward with a warcry.
Not to be outdone, Ozpin ducks under the thrust and slips through his opponent's guard only to see a knee rushing towards him. Experience lets him bat it down with one hand but the shield above him suddenly collapses back into a scabbard to smack him in the head.
Instincts have him rolling forward past Ser Arc before he could even get hit and Ozpin finds himself standing up and turning towards Ser Arc who was now dual wielding a sword and scabbard.
Damn. Ozpin smiled.
Whatever happens here, Ozpin could not say he was not satisfied. Sure, he would like it if he won but even without that, Ozpin was already happy because for the first time for what felt like forever, he felt he wasn't really alone.
He had a peer. A fellow Wizard Knight.
"Getting tired, old man?" Ser Arc taunts and Ozpin chuckles at the younger man.
"I could do this all day."
"Don't worry, it won't take all day."
And with those words, Ser Arc charges again.
Unbeknownst to them both however, they were already approaching speeds that civilians could not perceive.
"We have to do something!" Weiss shouted as she watched Headmaster Ozpin and the Rusted Knight duel each other.
"You heard the Headmaster! Only support him when he calls us!" Jaune answered and Weiss bit her lip at that.
She remembers the Headmaster's instructions of course. She even understands why he said that what with them having a fierce duel in the arena.
It was fierce, savage, and beautiful and she finds herself unable to do anything but admit that she was going to be more of a hindrance if she joined that fight.
Yet for the life of her, Weiss Schnee refuses to stand by and do nothing!
An answer comes from beside her however.
"We need to disrupt his rhythm!" Pyrrha called out as she watched the duel intently.
"What do you suggest?! We could hardly even see them strike each other!" Weiss asked as the sound of battle continued to echo around them.
"Some of the moves he was using before were my moves! I trained him!" Pyrrha answered and both Weiss and Jaune looked at her in shock at that.
It...makes a disturbing amount of sense.
They all knew Jaune faked his transcripts and while intellectually she knew the Rusted Knight was Jaune as confirmed by the Headmaster, she still couldn't believe how a dolt such as him managed to rise up to become the Rusted Knight.
Pyrrha being his mentor and teaching him the foundations of combat makes that notion much more believable however.
"If you throw me at him at the right time then I could either disarm him or hold him down long enough for Headmaster Ozpin to land a decisive blow!" Pyrrha continued as they looked on worriedly.
"How do you know you wouldn't disrupt the Headmaster's rhythm as well?!" She asked to which Pyrrha only shakes her head.
"I don't but we have to do something!"
Weiss frowned at that. Could they really risk disturbing Headmaster Ozpin by jumping into the fight?
"Let's do it!"
She jolts as she hears Jaune shout at them.
"What?! I thought you said we only support him when he calls us?!" Weiss yelled back angrily.
"I know but do we really want to know what happens if Headmaster Ozpin loses?! We all know we wouldn't stand a chance! This way, we at least do something and tilt the odds to our favor!" Jaune answered back and Weiss shook her head angrily at him.
It makes sense. It makes a lot of sense which is why it was so infuriating!
"Fine! Just make sure not to disturb Headmaster Ozpin! If your older self comes to beat us then I am blaming you, Arc!"
"Don't worry because you are going to throw both me and Pyrrha." Jaune chuckles and Weiss pauses at that, she mulls over that, and Weiss decides immediately at that.
"With pleasure."
Jaune must have heard something in her voice because he turns toward her.
"Maybe...don't throw me too hard?" He whimpers and Weiss only smiles at him.
"No promises."
"...Mercy?"
"No." She grinned vindictively as glyphs activated around them.
Ozpin was having trouble with how much versatility Ser Arc has managed to imbue in his weapon.
It might not have had any range options but it didn't need to when he can launch Aura Slashes from it all day.
With how much it was also able to smoothly change both offensively and defensively, Ozpin was having trouble adapting to it.
Sword went into scabbard and the next thing Ozpin knew he was ducking and dancing away from a greatsword as it gathered more and more momentum.
He did his best to parry it and deflect it to the ground using both hands with Long Memory when he can but Ser Arc only used the chance to advance on him and strike him with a fist.
Yet Ozpin was not without his own tricks. Millenia of living obviously had some perks in being able to master different fighting styles. More than that, Long Memory wasn't his only weapon.
His whole body was.
He employed kicks, leg sweeps, knee strikes, elbow strikes, and punches. Coupled with quick, explosive, strikes from Long Memory then Ozpin was a force to be reckoned with.
It just so happened his own enemy was also a force to be reckoned with.
While they've traded cuts and bruises between each other, Ozpin could see that Ser Arc's Semblance was in use even now.
It enhanced his strengths and covered his weaknesses so much that Ozpin could see that while they were currently in a stalemate, it was a stalemate he was steadily losing.
Sure he had magic that could turn the tide but it was magic that was sure to cause collateral damage and he was not willing to use such around his students against a possible ally.
Besides, he was counting on something else.
"AGHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Numbers.
Ozpin smiled as the shout whistled through the air and he agilely rolled backwards to disengage just in time for Mr. Arc to collided shield first with his older self.
""OOF!""
With the speed he was going, Young Jaune Arc managed to do one thing what Ozpin was having trouble with.
Break Ser Arc's guard.
He saw Ser Arc stagger backward as Crocea Mors almost flew away from his hand while young Mr. Arc bounced to the ground because of his older self's fortitude.
Before Ser Arc could even recover however, another voice called out.
"Good job, Jaune!"
Pyrrha Nikos came with the fury of an avenging angel.
Light flashed as she struck the Rusted Knight in the gut with her spear at the moment of her arrival, causing the knight to double over in pain as she struck the greatsword out of his hands with her shield.
"He's not down yet! As long as he can use his Semblance, he can recover! You need to hit him with one big attack before he does!" The Cat shouted hastily and following advice and instinct, Ozpin stabbed Long Memory into the arena as he gathered a considerable amount of energy into both hands.
The Cat was right because even disarmed, the Rusted Knight did not give up.
Ser Arc held onto Pyrrha's spear and immediately headbutted the young maiden to everyone's surprise.
Pyrrha Nikos fell to a knee as she crumpled but before Ser Arc could capitalize on that, Ozpin rushes forward.
Positioned like this, Ozpin pooled the magic into his right hand before it blurred and the world suddenly stopped.
Three things happened at that moment.
The First thing where the rest stems from was epiphany related to one's self. Magic bared itself to Ozpin and he enters a state where manipulating it is as easy as breathing.
The Second thing was related to the Cat.
The Cat...The Cat was from the Brother of Creation and its divine essence is essentially made up of Creation but Ozpin has been a wizard for Millenia and while he was limited in his use of magic, his study of magic was not. He wielded the relics repeatedly and it was inevitable that he would get to know their magic on an instinctual level.
So as he pooled the magic in his hands, the Cat's essence bled onto it. As creation seeped into it however, Ozpin instinctively manipulates that essence of Creation to reverse itself into Destruction.
The Third Thing was timing or perhaps blessing.
Regardless, time resumes and Ozpin's fist travels towards the Rusted Knight's torso.
0.00001 seconds before contact however, space distorts and all the magic Ozpin pooled together with the essence of Destruction flashes back into reality.
The world shook.
BLACK FLASH!
Thunder boomed and lightning flashed as the Rusted Knight's chest armor broke apart and Ser Arc is launched into the wall in a cloud of smoke.
Silence filled the arena as everyone else gawked on what just happened.
Ozpin, however was just busy staring at his own fist and grinning to himself.
That was...that was the BLACK FIST OF DESTRUCTION!
A simple but peerless move he only saw during the Age of Magic and even then he was never able to do it!
This time however, he did! The moment he did it, he felt like a god as he peered into the secrets of magic and his own soul. He felt strong. He felt invincible-
"GET DOWN!"
The warning came too late because as Ozpin looked up, he saw Ser Arc's fist clad in lightning suddenly approaching him.
The fist gets buried in his guts and then the world turns black.
BLACK FLASH!
Jaune felt the magic hit him.
Jaune felt the darkness overtaking him.
Then Jaune felt two orbs collide and make sparks inside his soul.
He opened his eyes and Jaune just knew.
The next thing he knows people were shouting and he was topless while still wearing his helmet atop his head.
Shaking his head dizzily, he takes it off and drops it as he takes stock of the damage
He was standing on the rubble of the arena and he looked to the right, he sees everyone from the sideline freeze.
He looked from across him and he sees Ozpin slumped and moaning against a broken section of the wall.
He looked down and he sees Pyrrha kneeling in front of him in terror.
Looking to the left, he could see his younger self laid down on the ground near him to his left with Weiss gawking at him from a distance.
As he raised his hand to scratch the back of his head in confusion however, he heard a sound.
"Stop! Please! Just stop!" His younger self cried out from beside him as he shakily stood up.
Jaune paused, he looked at his hand, he looked at his younger self, and he looked at Pyrrha.
Did he...did he think he was going to hurt Pyrrha?!
"W-What?! I would never hurt Pyrrha!" He shouted instantly in denial as everyone just gawked at him. "What?!" He called out as they continued to look on silently.
"Y-You don't know what happened?" Pyrrha whispered shakily in front of him and Jaune's eyes widened at that.
What?! What did he miss?! He knew he had some weird episodes back when he was in the Ever After, did he have one here?!
He turned around to survey everything and really saw the damage around him.
Behind him was another broken section of the wall and he finally remembers what happened.
He remembers Ozpin hitting him with...something.
Whatever it did, he remembers the pain and being launched into the wall before...darkness engulfed him.
After that he was here.
He doesn't know how it happened but he knows one thing.
He lost first by virtue of ring out.
Did he have a weird episode when he lost and couldn't accept so he continued the fight? If so, that was really shitty of him.
Jaune sighed resignedly at that before turning back to his younger self and Pyrrha.
"Alright, a deal is a deal and an Arc doesn't break his word."
They gulped but Jaune continues undaunted as he clears his throat.
"Let's do this again one more time. As you know, my name is Jaune Arc." He smiles as he looks at them with bright eyes.
Seeing the tension slowly relax, an idea enters his mind and he gives them a cheeky smile and a wink.
"It's short, sweet, rolls off the tongue, Pyrrha loved it."
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
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