Jaune kept his hand steady, a faint golden glow emanating from his palm as he channeled his aura into Ren. Beads of sweat rolled down Jaune's temple, but he remained focused, his breathing slow and measured. Every ounce of his willpower was dedicated to maintaining the flow of aura, ensuring Ren could keep his Semblance active.
Below them stretched a sight that would make even the hardiest huntsman falter. Thousands of Grimm roamed the ruins of Mountain Glenn, their glowing red eyes and monstrous forms creating a living sea of black and bone. From Beowolves to Creeps and the hulking forms of Mutated Grimm with their sickly green crystal-like protrusions, the sheer scale of the horde was staggering.
"We'd be overwhelmed in minutes," Pyrrha muttered, her voice tight with concern. "There's no way we could fight through all of that and come out unscathed."
"We wouldn't last long," Jaune agreed, glancing down at the chaos below. "It's a death of a thousand cuts and bites if we try."
"You okay, Ren?" Jaune asked, his voice steady despite the overwhelming amount of monsters below them.
"I am, leader," Ren replied, his tone calm but strained as he maintained his Semblance. The faint ripple of his Semblance concealed their presence from the Grimm below, but it was a delicate balance that required immense focus as well.
Ahead of them was a gap in the rocky terrain. The cavern's jagged edges and the gaping maw of darkness made it a perilous crossing. Pyrrha stepped forward, quickly assessing the distance.
"Get ready, Nora, I'll boost you there," Pyrrha said, planting her shield firmly on the ground. With a practiced motion, she crouched low and braced herself. Nora grinned, twirling her hammer before stepping onto the shield. With a mighty push, Pyrrha launched her teammate across the gap, sending Nora soaring to the other side. Nora landed with a roll, quickly springing to her feet and turning to wave.
"Come on!" Nora called, her voice echoing slightly in the cavern.
Jaune glanced at Ren. "Your turn. Ready?"
Ren nodded, his focus unbroken. Jaune and Pyrrha moved in unison, each gripping one of Ren's arms. With coordinated strength, they swung him forward and released, sending him sailing across the chasm. Ren landed with a soft grunt, immediately sitting down cross-legged to continue maintaining his Semblance.
"Pyrrha, you're next," Jaune said, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Pyrrha hesitated for a moment, her gaze flicking to Jaune. "Got it," she nodded, stepping back and taking a running leap. Her form was precise and controlled, her landing flawless. She stood by Nora and Ren, ready to assist Jaune.
Jaune took a step back, steadying himself. He crouched low, gathering strength in his legs before launching himself into the air. His fingers caught the rocky edge of the far side, and he grunted with effort as Pyrrha and Nora quickly reached down to pull him up. Once on solid ground, Jaune didn't hesitate. He extended his palm toward Ren again, resuming the flow of aura to replenish his reserves that were quickly dwindling without Jaune's amping. His face twisted for a moment.
"You okay, fearless leader?" Nora asked, her voice unusually soft as she noticed the weariness in Jaune's expression. "Should we rest? We've been moving for hours now and I kinda want to relax for a bit."
"It's alright," Jaune waved her concern off with a faint smile. "This is nothing compared to what my master put me through. I've gone a week straight before. Besides, I can't exactly take a nap while surrounded by Grimm. I mean... who could? Anyway, we'll rest when we can."
Nora glanced at Pyrrha, who shared a worried look with her.
Pyrrha placed a hand on Jaune's shoulder, still worried. "Yeah, we should rest as soon as we're able."
Jaune met her gaze, his smile widening slightly. "I'll be fine you two, I promise."
"If you say so," Nora muttered, clearly unconvinced.
The team pressed forward, their steps careful and quiet as they navigated the treacherous place. The tunnel opened into a cavernous room filled with crates and machinery, the remnants of some long-abandoned operation. Ren stopped, lowering his hands and letting out a slow breath as he allowed his Semblance to dissipate now there was no Grimm presence. He sat cross-legged on the ground, his face pale from the exertion.
Jaune leaned against one of the crates, wiping sweat from his brow. He absently brushed away a layer of dust on the crate's surface, revealing pieces of what looked like dismantled machinery. He frowned, tracing the sharp, industrial lines of the equipment.
"What is this place?" Nora asked, her hammer resting on her shoulder as she wandered through the room.
"It looks like an old operation site," Pyrrha said, examining one of the crates. "But it's strange. Why leave all this behind? And why are the Grimm so concentrated in this area?"
Jaune tapped his fingers against the crate, his eyes scanning the room. "Probably when Mountain Glenn's defenses failed because of the Grimm, they might just left it all here. Not that they'd be able to carry them with Grimm rushing in."
"It's like they're being directed," Ren said, his voice quiet but steady. "Organized. It's lie their turf."
The group fell silent, the weight of the situation sinking in. Jaune's gaze hardened as he stood straight, his hand tightening around the hilt of Crocea Mors.
"We need to contact Miss Goodwitch," he said. "She needs to know about this."
Ren pulled out his Scroll and attempted to connect, but the signal was faint, and the call failed. He frowned, shaking his head. "No signal. The mountain and the walls must be interfering."
Jaune exhaled sharply. "Figures. Alright, we'll rest here for a bit. Ren, recover your strength. Nora, keep watch. Pyrrha, help me take a look of what we've got here."
The team nodded, each falling into their assigned tasks. Jaune walked over to Pyrrha, who was already examining another crate. She handed him a small piece of machinery, her expression thoughtful.
"What do you think?" Pyrrha asked.
Jaune turned the object over in his hands, studying its design. "Looks like a power module. Probably for whatever operation they had here. But it's been abandoned for years. Why would they leave so much behind?"
"Not that they have a choice," Pyrrha suggested. "The Grimm could have forced them out."
"Mostly likely. Guys, we'll scout ahead," Jaune said, moving to the next chamber.
"Well bad back," Pyrrha said.
The two entered the next area. The air was chilly, filled with the earthy scent of stone and the faint metallic tang of abandoned machinery. Jaune stepped cautiously, his every movement deliberate as he scouted ahead. Crocea Mors ready in his hand. Behind him, Pyrrha shadowed his movements. She was a silent, her steps light and precise, but her emerald eyes never left him. Her hand lingered near Milo, ready to transform it into whichever weapon the situation might demand.
Jaune's focus wavered for just a moment, his thoughts straying to Ren and Nora. They were resting further back in the room, recovering from the strain and the countless Grimm they had encountered. He reminded himself that he was their leader, the one responsible for keeping them safe. Although they had been doing well. He couldn't help but assess himself and the troubles he had put them.
And that fleeting distraction was all it took.
A faint rumble echoed through the cavern, followed by the sharp crack of shifting stone. Above him, a loose slab of concrete broke free from the ceiling, plummeting toward him with deadly intent.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha's voice cut through the stillness like an arrow.
Before he could react, Pyrrha was there. She grabbed the collar of his armor and yanked him backward with surprising strength, the concrete smashing into the ground where he had stood. The force of her pull sent Jaune stumbling, his back hitting the cold, uneven surface of the wall.
His breath caught as he realized the position he was in. Pyrrha's lithe form was just inches from his own, her arm braced against the wall near his head, effectively trapping him. Her face was close, illuminated by the faint glow of the light, and he could see the slight sheen of sweat on her brow down her to neck from the troubles of the day.
"You alright?" she asked, her voice soft but tinged with a teasing lilt. A faint smirk played at her lips as her green eyes locked onto his.
Jaune's cheeks flushed a deep red, and he rubbed the back of his neck, laughing nervously. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for that. I really should've been paying more attention."
Pyrrha's smirk softened into a gentle smile. "You've been fighting hard, Jaune. Keeping Ren's Semblance going, leading us through this... I think I can forgive one little mistake."
Her words were kind, but her presence so close sent a different kind of tension coursing through Jaune. He felt trapped, not by the walls, but by the weight of her gaze, by the sincerity in her voice. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was... unfamiliar.
The dim light caught in Pyrrha's eyes, giving them an almost hypnotic glow. She bit her lower lip briefly, the movement drawing Jaune's attention before she abruptly looked away, coughing lightly to break the moment.
Jaune cleared his throat and shifted his focus forward, desperately searching for something or anything to anchor his attention. Ahead of them was a chasm that stretched deep into the cavern floor. He peered over the edge, the faint sound of movement rising from below.
"As I thought," he said, his voice steadier now. "More Grimm. A lot of them."
Pyrrha stepped beside him, their earlier moment passing as quickly as it had arrived. She pulled Milo from her back and transformed it into its rifle form, using the scope to get a better look.
"There's definitely another army of Grimm," she confirmed. "But it looks like they're not aware of us yet."
Jaune nodded, his mind quickly shifting into tactical mode. "Good. We'll keep it that way. Let's head back and regroup with the others."
Pyrrha glanced at him, her expression a mixture of admiration and something softer, more personal. "Lead the way, fearless leader."
Jaune rolled his eyes as they went back to the room where Nora and Ren were. Nora was crouched on a crate, carefully splitting an energy bar in two, while Ren sat near a wall, sipping from his canteen as if he had just ran a marathon.
"There's Grimm up ahead," Jaune began, his voice steady but carrying a note of urgency. "A lot of them. But if we keep going, we might find something."
Ren capped his canteen and turned to Jaune, a crease forming on his brow. "Maybe. But we're moving blind, Jaune. That's dangerous. We don't even know what we're looking for."
Jaune sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You're right. We don't. I don't like it either, Ren. But it's not like we can just turn back now. If we trace our steps back, we'd just find ourselves back into the horde we escaped. We've come too far, and whatever these Mutated Grimm are... we need to figure it out and destroy where they are coming from."
Pyrrha stepped forward, her tone measured as she added her thoughts. "We might find a way out. And so far, everything we've seen points to something deeper. These Mutated Grimm, the ones with the green spikes on their bodies, there has to be a reason they're concentrated here."
Nora chewed thoughtfully on her half of the energy bar before piping up, her voice more serious than usual. "Even if we find it, what then?"
Jaune's lips quirked into a small grin, an attempt to ease the tension. "Then it's simple. Jaune, Ren, Nora, and Pyrrha smash things up."
Nora's grin matched his as she sat back on her heels, clearly finding the plan acceptable. "Now you're talking my language."
Ren, however, didn't look entirely convinced. He folded his arms, his gaze flicking between his teammates. "If we destroy wherever these Mutated Grimm are coming from, that's one thing. But we can't stay here forever. Once we're done, we need to get out of this place."
Jaune nodded, meeting Ren's gaze. "Pretty much. I'm not delusional enough to think we can destroy every Grimm in Mt. Glenn. But if we can stop this new type from spreading, or at least delay them... it's worth it."
Pyrrha spoke up, her calm, confident voice grounding the conversation. "And if we can't find the source, or if it's something we can't handle... then we retreat. There's no sense in risking everything if it's beyond our abilities."
Jaune gave her a grateful nod. "Exactly. If it looks like we're in over our heads, we fall back and report to Miss Goodwitch. But until then, we keep moving."
For a moment, the team fell silent, the weight of the decision settling over them. Then Nora clapped her hands together, breaking the somber mood. "Well, fearless leader has spoken. Smash things first, worry later. Sounds good to me."
Jaune chuckled despite himself, the corners of his mouth tugging upward. "Glad you approve, Nora."
Pyrrha exchanged a brief smile with him before turning to gather her gear. "We'll follow your lead, Jaune."
Team JNPR continued deeper into the convoluted tunnels of Mt. Glenn. The eerie quiet of the abandoned city weighed on them, broken only by their muffled footsteps and the occasional distant growl of Grimm. Ren's Semblance cloaked their presence, shielding them as they moved through dangerous territory. Every so often, they would encounter a small group of Grimm, and with calculated ambush, they'd strike swift and silent.
Each ambush was executed flawlessly, the Grimm not even managing a growl before being cut down. It was a slow, arduous process of sneaking, ambushing, and avoiding detection, but it allowed the team to conserve their strength. Every movement was purposeful, every decision deliberate.
Eventually, their careful navigation brought them to a train track leading deeper into the mountain. The tracks disappeared into a yawning black tunnel, and Jaune's hand tightened around Crocea Mors. His gaze swept over the rusted rails and the faint imprint of recent activity. The faint smell of dust and machinery lingered in the air.
"This is it," Jaune muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Whatever we're looking for… it's down there."
The team moved cautiously along the tracks until they reached a facility embedded deep within Mt. Glenn. They found a small vent leading inside, just wide enough to crawl through. Nora, grinning, boosted Jaune up. He wrenched the grate loose with a solid pull, then braced himself before slamming his foot down to open it fully. The metallic clang echoed faintly through the vent.
"Stay close," Jaune said, glancing back at the others. "We're going in."
One by one, the team slipped into the vent, Jaune leading the way. The confined space forced them to crawl single file, their movements careful to avoid making too much noise. The air inside was stagnant, thick with the smell of rust and grime.
After several tense minutes, the vent opened into a large chamber. Jaune dropped down first, landing in a crouch. He immediately scanned the area, his hand resting on Crocea Mors. The chamber was expansive, filled with machinery and illuminated by the sickly green glow of Dust-powered lights. It was a twisted fusion of industrial infrastructure and Grimm corruption. Black veins of Grimm essence pulsed faintly as they were being fed into large tanks filled with an unknown glowing substance.
"This place…" Pyrrha whispered as she landed beside him, her eyes wide with unease. "It's like something out of a nightmare."
The others joined them, their expressions mirroring Pyrrha's unease. Ren's sharp eyes caught a movement near the edges of the chamber, his hand tightening on Stormflower.
Before anyone could speak, a mechanical groan echoed through the facility, followed by the sound of heavy locks engaging. The entrances slammed shut with a resounding thud, sealing them inside.
"Back to back!" Jaune barked, his voice cutting through the rising tension.
Team JNPR moved instinctively, pressing their backs together in a tight formation. Jaune stood with his shield raised and Crocea Mors at the ready, his back pressed against Pyrrha's. Beside them, Nora hefted Magnhild onto her shoulder, a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes playing on her lips, while Ren's Stormflower gleamed under the harsh green light.
The sudden blare of alarms shattered the uneasy silence, a harsh voice repeating "Intruder Alert" over and over. The sound echoed endlessly in the cavernous space, amplifying their sense of foreboding.
Instead of fear, Jaune found himself smirking. "Looks like we found the place."
"Yup, this sounds like an evil bad guy lair to me alright!" Nora quipped, grinning.
Their confidence was met with a sharp hiss that grew into a bone-chilling chorus of snarls. From the shadows, they appeared. Mutated Grimm with glowing green eyes and jagged green spikes protruding from their bodies. The Grimm flooded into the chamber like a tide of living darkness, their movements unnervingly coordinated.
Pyrrha's grip on Milo tightened. Ren steadied his breathing. Nora's grin widened, her knuckles whitening on Magnhild's handle.
Jaune raised his blade, his golden aura flickering to life as his voice rang out, steady and unyielding.
"Kill them all."