Oh boy it has been a while since the last one hasn't it? Well, sucks but my laptop finally said goodbye after many years of faithful service and I had to get the money together to purchase a new one but in that time it also gave me a chance to think about the previously released chapter and how much of it was influenced by the editing/AI software I was using and accidentally posted the incomplete draft of. I reread it myself during my downtime and the drop in quality between the chapter before that one and that was unacceptable. I decided in the end to scrap it and try again making sure I didn't rely too heavily on editing stuff.
So, although I cannot say for sure whether this new chapter is better than the previously posted draft one or is up to the standard of my previous chapters I don't know, it's mostly just to close off an arc (pun not intended) that I've been wanting to close for a while and to move onto the next section of the story unburdened by constantly having to write the same thing all the time.
Anyway, there's something else I want to discuss but it's a chapter spoiler so I'll wait until the end. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY just surfing in the sand for a bit
ACT I - THE PIECES
CHAPTER XV - COME FORTH, CALIBURN!
Jaune had been questioning it for weeks now. Every combat class he was paired opposite Cardin Winchester, no one else having been called up to fight, even if it was against him. What the hell was Goodwitch trying to prove by having them fight all the time? What was to be gained from repeatedly throwing him at the same wall over and over again, knowing he couldn't overcome it? In one of those funny sort of ways it reminded him of his obsession with Acheron Arc's book and discovering the secrets his ancestor had left behind. Like him, Goodwitch seemed to repeatedly throw the problem at the solution hoping it changed something.
Again he was left wondering what benefit that brought to him and not to mention, as loathe as he was to admit it, Cardin wasn't exactly going to improve constantly being made to fight someone like him.
These were the thoughts that pressed down on Jaune Arc as he made his way through the campus of Beacon Academy that afternoon. A soft sigh passed from his lips and he slipped his hands onto the back of his head.
"It's still a mess, no matter how you present it, right? I wish I could work out her angle." Jaune looked down at the sword strapped to his waist, "No chance you'll help me out here, right?" A sigh passed from the young man's lips, "Figures."
He left the corridor and made his way out onto the grassy field, a look of concentration on his face as he exited out of the building.
'I obsessed over Acheron Arc for weeks thinking the key to beating Cardin and maybe moving on from whatever reason she's obsessed with making us run it back constantly, but that didn't yield any answers. Then I lost because of his semblance and it's likely she's going to throw me into the deep end yet again. I have to do something about this. I cannot allow myself to lose to Cardin again. How can I expect to make any progress as a Hunter if I'm constantly held up by the same road block? I want to be a hero like Acheron, right? Then it's high time that I did something about it and started advancing.'
Though he wasn't a hundred percent sure, Jaune was near certain he felt a tremble of excitement from Crocea Mors. He gripped the pommel in his fingertips and closed his eyes, "You're right," he murmured, "It's not about beating him because I feel a type of way about losing to him. I have to win our next match…because he's an obstacle between me and my dreams of becoming stronger!'
Jaune finished the walk back to combat class in silence, though he could feel sweat on his palms. This was his final opportunity, and he knew it. How many times had he let his friends and team down because he couldn't hack it? Logically, he knew the power to defeat Cardin was inside him. Hell with a few swipes of the powered up Crocea Mors he'd been able to take down a full grown Nevermore all on his own. So why couldn't he do the same with a normal opponent? It wasn't like Cardin was in the same department of strength as Pyrrha was.
I won't clam up this time. I swear.
Jaune finally breached the space between the courtyard and himself, pushing the door open and entering the room. He locked eyes with the teacher, but neither of them said anything as Jaune ascended the stairwell from the floor to the arena.
"Hey, Arc's got a serious look in his eyes," Weiss murmured.
"I don't think I've ever seen him so focused on a fight before," Blake couldn't help but agree, "Well maybe except for that time in the Emerald Forest."
"Do you think he's finally worked out the secret of his sword?" Pyrrha vocalized.
"Hard to say," Ren said softly from beside them, "I don't think he'd be the type to get arrogant about it but if he had unlocked the secret to that, I would assume that he'd have shared it by now. Maybe he's just as tired of losing as the class seems to be of this being almost the only fight we ever see during combat class' demonstrations before we all go off and form our own matches."
"Mr. Arc," Goodwitch interrupted the discussion, "I do hope you do better today, otherwise I may have to question your participation in this class. Understand?"
"I do," Jaune said quietly, slowly sliding Crocea Mors from its sheath and the blade glinted at the end as it caught the light sliding into the open air. Jaune redoubled his grip on his weapon and held it ready. For the first time since he'd entered this Academy he felt it.
He was ready for this.
"Hope you're ready to eat dirt again, Arc."
Jaune said nothing and merely took his stance.
"You should've brought your shield for this, that way you could cower beneath it while I beat you into the ground!"
"Mr. Winchester!" Goodwitch exclaimed.
Jaune looked into Cardin's eyes, all trace of friendly calmness having vanished from his face entirely, "Are you going to fight me or are you going to stand there talking about fighting me? If you're not going to make the first move…then, allow me."
Without waiting for Cardin's response, Jaune kicked off into a lunge, launching himself across the battle stage, wind whipped through his hair as his aura engaged and he slashed Crocea Mors through the sky, swiping it at Cardin, only for it to be blocked with the head of his opponents mace.
"That was Jaune?" Ruby exclaimed, shock all over the young reaper's face, "I've never seen him move like that! Wow~!"
"Tch, so little brat finally grew a spine, huh? Well, that ain't going to be enough to beat me." Cardin pushed Jaune's blade off with the force of his own strength and then took his own swing, trying to implant the ball of his mace in the side of Jaune's skull, but like happened with him, it was blocked by the opponent.
"Good start," Blake observed.
"Come on, Jaune," Yang whispered.
"I believe in you," Pyrrha whispered.
"I'm gonna make you regret coming to this school!" Cardin yelled.
Jaune stopped, laughter finally rolling off the Arc's lips, "What are you, a mid-tutorial boss villain? That was so corny, man. Whoop." Seeing Cardin's mace coming for his head, Jaune quickly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the incoming blow.
"Don't get smart, you idiot!" Weiss shouted at him.
"Oh, you're in for it now!"
Cardin tightened his grip around the handle of his mace, and Jaune could feel an impending sense of dread growing in his chest. This was the same power from their last match, their last match which Cardin had turned around so easily. He had to stop-
"Speak now to the depths of my soul," Cardin muttered, "Power sealed within the depths of the shard, come forth and assist me, Caliburn!" The moment the last word left Cardin's lips, a rush of power flooded the mace in his hands and it slowly grew to have a distinct red light around the surface of it, the light continued to pulse and pulse until it had formed a giant blade of aura that protruded from the ball-like head of the weapon, essentially creating a giant energy sword.
Goodwitch's eyes narrowed in confirmation, her fingers twitching a bit. Jaune was locked onto Cardin with a slightly slacked jaw, so he didn't notice, but to the others that did, if they knew about Jaune's familial relation to Acheron Arc, it would finally make sense why Goodwitch had refused to let Jaune go against anyone else.
Goodwitch sighed to herself, 'I know it was awful of me to keep repeatedly pairing them like this but with Ozpin's suspicions about Mr. Winchester's Mace, I had no other choice. As strong as the other students that are above his level, I am confident a wound to his ego was the only way he would reveal this particular secret.'
The battle completely changed once Cardin activated the piece of Caliburn inside his mace. What had been an even fight a few moments ago now saw Jaune on the backfoot, doing his best to avoid taking damage and intercept the shots Cardin was taking with The Executioner. Jaune wasn't in the right headspace but he totally thought that was an edgy name, and oh crap-
He quickly dodged again, staying on the defensive.
"Well there goes his win," Nora sighed, "Time for us to go around in the cycle we always do with this. He gets so close then Cardin pushes himself and sends Jaune right back to square one."
"I refuse to give up on him just yet," Yang told Nora seriously, "He's ABYN's leader and he will win today. I believe in him."
Cardin laughed as he paused, cracking his neck, "Well, Arc, looks like we've reached the end of this little spar. Did you really think you could beat me?" He held The Executioner aloft and activated the fire dust component, with the help of the energy from the piece of Caliburn, Cardin was able to fire it in Jaune's direction, an almighty battle cry flying from his lips.
NOW!
Jaune took a deep breath, pushing his right foot back behind him as he adjusted his stance. He pulled Crocea Mors back too and then exhaled a calm breath. Take The Enemies Power and throw it back with even more power. This is our win!
"FULL COUNTER!"
The words flew from Jaune's lips and he shoved the flat of his blade into the fireball that Cardin had thrown at him and for a split second Crocea Mors' blade flashed a brilliant sapphire, Jaune forced the fireball back slowly and slowly until with a roar of wind, it flew right back at Cardin. The flame smashed into the other's chest and…
The force of the impact threw him over the side of the battlering!
Goodwitch's eyes were wide, but she turned to Jaune nonetheless, and pointed her hand his way, "Mr. Arc is the winner, well done."
Jaune hunched over slightly, heaving for breath as he tried his best to remain on his feet.
"He finally did it!" Yang exclaimed happily, "Well done ladykiller!"
"I knew he could," Blake smiled to herself.
"That's our leader, he finally overcame Cardin."
"He looks completely spent though," Nora observed.
"Must be a side effect of Full Counter," Ren theorized, "Sure his Aura's not depleted because he was only throwing someone else's attack back at them, but a projectile fired from one of the pieces of Caliburn is nothing to scoff at. I'm surprised Jaune's full counter had enough to redirect that though."
"Are we just gonna accept that Cardin randomly has a piece of a legendary blade hidden inside his Mace?" Weiss pressed, "Not that I care that much for Cardin but having that sort of power so randomly seems…seems… wrong somehow! Like he should not be that strong. How on earth did he even get one?"
"All important questions," Ren agreed, but elaborated no further.
"This is bullshit!" Cardin roared, "I had you! I don't lose to you! I demand a rematch!"
Jaune sighed, "You seriously want me to fight you again when neither of us have had a chance to fight other people in combat class yet? You have enough wins against me Cardin, let it go man. I did have fun fighting you, so thanks!"
"Mr. Winchester, I would highly recommend reporting to the headmaster," Goodwitch said, sighing, "Please excuse yourself from class."
Jaune, on the other hand, returned to his seat, dropping in beside his team and exhaled a contented sigh, "It's finally over."
"You had fun fighting him?" Pyrrha asked, "You always seemed to be broken up about losing to him, not having fun."
"True," Jaune admitted, "I wasn't having fun in the moment, honestly it sucked having to get my ass kicked by him nearly every class but today was different. I would've been comfortable walking away today win or lose but I also knew I had to prove that I belong here at Beacon no matter what anyone else tries to say."
"So what now?" Yang put in.
"Hopefully a chance to fight other students who I can learn from and refine myself even further. Training with you girls and LVWR is great, but fighting others is also a great way to change it up and learn more about fighting as a whole. I suspect this is only the beginning of what's to come."
Goodwitch cleared her throat, "Next up we have a match between Pyrrha Nikos and Ruby Rose. Please collect your combat gear and return to have your match."
End Chapter
Many of you will likely be questioning Cardin's major part in this story and that's fine, I just hate how so many stories waste him, yes he is a bully in the beginning but I don't think he's beyond redemption and also he kinda serves as a compelling foil to Jaune and his piece of Caliburn.
So, I hope this chapter is better than the previously posted draft and see you in the next update. Sorry it's not better and more worth the long wait.