CHAPTER 48: This Is Love
Reviews:
Phantom117a: The Final fight between Jaune and Hades begins! Who's gonna win!?
Guest: Thank you and I hope you like this story, and yeah I do notice that Nora's Arc Fic's are rare. Also, yeah that was an error on my part in chapter 3.
Axccel: Ok... there was so many things wrong with what you just said that I don't even wanna get into it. Now I'm not trying to defend the actions of a fictional terrorist group, because their not innoncent in all of this but neither are humans innocent in the RWBYverse because I'm sure there are those on Remnant prolonging the problem.
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Adam chuckled softly, the sound both mocking and defiant. He raised Wilt high above his head, preparing to throw it with all his might. "I guess I'm leaving the rest to you... Jaune Arc," he said, a hint of confidence lacing his words as he released the blade.
Hades' eyes followed the sword as it spun gracefully through the air. He felt a knot form in his stomach, a sensation he hadn't experienced in years. The moment the blade was caught by a hand gripping its hilt, his heart sank. When he saw who had seized the weapon, his eyes widened in disbelief, and a chill of fear crept into his bones.
Jaune Arc stood tall, determination radiating from him as he held Wilt in one hand and Crocea Mors in the other. "Thanks... Adam!" he shouted, his voice steady and resolute.
Adam managed a smile, though exhaustion weighed heavily on him. "I want that back," he replied, his voice faltering as he fell to the ground, the fatigue from the intense battle finally catching up to him.
Hades glared at Jaune, anger boiling over. He extended his one good hand, channeling his telekinetic semblance to summon Winter's saber. The blade flew into his grip, its polished surface glinting menacingly as he prepared to confront Jaune head-on. "I've had enough of you fools getting in my way," Hades seethed, his voice dripping with contempt.
Jaune returned the glare, resolute and unyielding as he took a fighting stance, his heart pounding with purpose. "Same here," he spat back, fury igniting in his chest. "I'm gonna make sure you pay for what you did to Penny,"
"So you keep saying... but let's see if you Arc's truly do keep your promises!" Hades roared, his voice echoing off the walls of the office like thunder.
The two warriors surged toward each other, their resolve unwavering.
Jaune swung Crocea Mors in a wide arc at Hades, the clang of steel ringing out as the Madman intercepted it with Winter's saber. Sparks flew as their blades clashed, but Jaune pressed forward, slashing again with Wilt in a quick follow-up. Hades barely managed to twist out of the way, the edge of the blade grazing the fabric of his coat. Seeing an opening, Hades lashed out with a sharp knee to Jaune's stomach, the impact sending the young knight skidding backward across the floor.
Jaune gritted his teeth, digging both swords into the ground to stop his momentum. He took a deep, steadying breath before yanking the blades free and surging forward once more. This time, a brilliant white aura flared around him, flowing into Crocea Mors and Wilt, making the weapons glow like beacons. The sheer intensity of the energy radiating from Jaune caused Hades' eyes to widen in alarm.
"Impossible," Hades muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on the saber.
With a powerful slash, Jaune unleashed a radiant X-shaped Arcus Mortis, the twin arcs of energy roaring toward Hades with devastating speed. It was the Arcus Mortis Gemini, unleashed with even greater precision and force than before.
Hades staggered back, his aura reserves too drained to form a proper shield. With no other choice, he threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. The beams of light carved deep gashes into the walls behind him, shaking the room with their impact. But as Hades turned to recover, Jaune was already at his side, moving with relentless determination.
"Not fast enough!" Jaune roared, thrusting Wilt forward. The blade found its mark, piercing Hades' arm and drawing a sharp growl of pain from the ex-headmaster.
Snarling through the agony, Hades retaliated with ruthless precision, yanking Winter's saber back and stabbing it into Jaune's forearm. Blood spilled as both combatants grimaced, their expressions locked in mirrored pain and fury.
They staggered apart, each clutching their wounds, their breathing labored. The once-pristine office was now a battlefield, the air thick with the scent of blood, sweat, and lingering energy.
Jaune leveled his gaze at Hades, gripping his swords tightly despite the pain. "This ends here," he said, his voice steady despite the fire burning in his veins.
Hades glared at Jaune, his face twisted with fury. His voice thundered through the ruined office, sharp and venomous. "WHY!? Why do you care so much about that thing? She's nothing but metal and synthetic parts! A machine designed to fuel the AMR's research! She's not real! She's not alive! So why, Arc? Why would you risk everything for something that isn't even human?!"
Jaune's grip on his swords tightened, his knuckles white. His golden aura flickered violently around him as he returned Hades' glare, his own expression a mirror of rage and defiance. "Penny's more human than you'll ever be, you bastard!" he shouted, his voice trembling with raw emotion.
Hades opened his mouth to retort, but Jaune cut him off, his words pouring out in a rush, fueled by memories and conviction. "Every time I've seen Penny, she's looked at this world with nothing but wonder. She's curious about everything—about us, about life, about things you'd never stop to appreciate! She doesn't just see this world—she feels it. She wants to understand it, to explore it, to make it better for everyone in it."
A flood of memories washed over Jaune, vivid and bittersweet. He recalled Penny crouching in Beacon's garden, her emerald eyes wide with amazement as she admired a patch of vibrant flowers. She had brushed her fingers gently over the petals, her smile radiant as she marveled at their delicate beauty. "Look, Ciel! So many colors! Aren't they wonderful?" she had said, her voice brimming with childlike joy.
Another memory surfaced—Penny standing in front of a pet store, captivated by the glimmering fins of betta fish as they swam lazily in their tanks. She had insisted on buying one, naming it "Glitterfish" and doting on it as though it were the most precious thing in the world. For days afterward, she had babbled excitedly to Jaune about everything she'd learned about caring for her new aquatic friend.
"And most of all," Jaune continued, his voice steady now, filled with an unshakable determination, "she's full of love! Penny loves everything about this world—the people, the places, the little things we take for granted! She loves with all her heart, without expecting anything in return! And that, Hades... that's what makes her alive, That's what makes her human!"
Hades sneered, his fury momentarily replaced with a cold, mocking disdain. "Sentimental drivel," he spat. "You let your emotions cloud your judgment, Arc, love doesn't make a machine become human,"
Jaune stepped forward, his swords raised, his aura flaring brighter than ever. His voice was a resolute roar. "That's where you're wrong! Love makes us stronger, it's the reason we fight, the reason we stand up against monsters like you! And that's why you've already lost—because you'll never understand what it means to truly care about someone!"
The air between them crackled with tension as Jaune prepared to strike, his heart pounding with the strength of his convictions. Penny wasn't just a machine—she was his friend, and he would do whatever it took to protect her.
Jaune pressed forward, his muscles screaming in protest as he channeled every ounce of remaining strength and speed into his movements. His twin swords, glowing faintly with the flicker of his aura, met Hades' saber in a relentless storm of sparks and steel. Their blades clashed repeatedly, creating a cacophony of metallic ringing that echoed throughout the shattered office. Neither fighter landed a decisive blow, but each strike carried the weight of their determination.
Despite the stalemate, Jaune's relentless assault began to force Hades back. Inch by inch, he drove the older man toward the massive, shattered window that overlooked the battlefield below. The night wind howled through the opening, carrying the sounds of the ongoing chaos from the city into their deadly duel.
Hades' eyes narrowed as he realized the boy's tactic. His mind raced, and his anger boiled over. 'How? How is this possible? How is this boy pushing me back?' His thoughts were a storm of disbelief and fury. 'I am Hades! I was the Headmaster of Atlas Academy before that insipid fool Ironwood! I've stood among the strongest warriors this world has ever seen! So why—why is this child and his rabble of fools able to bring me to this point!?'
Jaune's foot slammed into Hades' chest with all the force he could muster, sending the man stumbling backward. Hades skidded to a halt, now mere feet from the gaping window. The wind whipped at his hair and clothes as he glared at Jaune, his chest heaving with labored breaths. His teeth clenched, and his knuckles turned white as he gripped Winter's saber.
When his eyes met Jaune's, Hades froze for a split second. There it was—that same unyielding fire, that same unrelenting will. It was a look he had seen before, etched into the face of a woman who had once brought him to his knees. The memory of a long-forgotten battle flashed in his mind. He shook the thought away, but the ghost of her determination lingered in Jaune's eyes, haunting him.
The realization sent his fury spiraling into madness. With a primal roar, he bared his teeth, his voice filled with rage and desperation. "DAMN YOU, JAAAAUNE AAAARC!"
Jaune didn't hesitate. He roared back, his voice a thunderous echo of his resolve. Summoning the last remnants of his aura, he poured it into Crocea Mors, the blade glowing brilliantly as if it burned with the light of his very soul. Sparks danced along the edge as he charged forward, each step shaking the ground beneath him.
With a mighty swing, he unleashed a radiant Arcus Mortis, the golden slash tearing through the air like a blazing comet.
Hades braced himself as the blazing Arcus Mortis hurtled toward him. With a sneer of defiance, he raised Winter's saber, the blade glowing faintly as he blocked the attack. To his shock, the energy dissipated almost instantly upon impact, fizzling into nothing. For a brief moment, Hades' expression twisted into confusion. What? That was too easy. What is he—?
Before he could finish his thought, Jaune materialized in front of him in a blur of motion. Hades' eyes widened in realization, but it was too late. Jaune drove Wilt forward with unerring precision, the crimson blade piercing through Hades' chest. The sound of steel cutting through flesh echoed in the room, followed by a wet gasp.
Hades coughed violently, blood dripping from his mouth as his gaze dropped to the weapon embedded in his chest. His trembling hand moved to grip the blade, but his strength faltered. Slowly, he raised his head to meet Jaune's unyielding glare.
"For Penny," Jaune said, his voice steady despite the weight of his emotions. His eyes burned with righteous fury, a fierce contrast to the faint tremble in his exhausted body.
With a sharp yank, Jaune pulled Wilt free, blood splattering the floor. Hades staggered, his knees buckling as he clutched his chest. His eyes darkened, anger flickering like dying embers, but his body betrayed him. As his vision blurred, he fixed Jaune with one last glare of defiance before his eyes rolled back.
Hades toppled backward, his weight pulling him toward the shattered window. He fell through, his body plummeting thousands of feet into the abyss below, disappearing into the distant chaos of the battle for Atlas.
Jaune stood there, breathing heavily, Wilt hanging loosely in his hand. The tension drained from his body as he let the blade slip from his grasp. It struck the floor with a metallic clang, embedding itself upright into the tiles. Jaune's gaze followed Hades' descent for a brief moment, his expression unreadable.
The adrenaline that had sustained him through the fight began to wane. His body swayed, his legs threatening to give out beneath him. The room spun, the weight of his injuries and exhaustion finally overtaking him.
"Jaune!" Ciel's voice rang out, full of panic. She sprinted toward him, her usually composed demeanor replaced by visible concern.
Jaune turned slightly toward her, his lips parting as if to respond, but his body betrayed him. His knees buckled, and he collapsed forward.
"Jaune!" Neptune's voice joined Ciel's as the two of them rushed to catch him, but they were too far away. Before they could reach him, Jaune's unconscious body began to slip toward the open window, the sheer drop below awaiting him.
Just as his body teetered at the edge, a sudden gust of wind whipped through the room. A blur shot past Neptune and Ciel, diving out of the window.
It was Penny.
Her thrusters roared to life, leaving a trail of light as she shot downward, slicing through the wind with precision and urgency. Her hand extended, reaching desperately for Jaune as he tumbled through the air. Every fiber of her being surged with a singular purpose: she had to save him.
As she reached out, memories stirred deep within her, fragments of a conversation from long ago—a time when she was first learning what it meant to exist, to feel.
Penny's eyes widened slightly. "Love? What is love?"
Pietro's smile softened further, his eyes misting with a touch of nostalgia. "Love is when you're willing to do anything for someone, and they would do anything for you,"
As Penny surged toward Jaune, those words resonated in her mind like a melody she could never forget. 'Jaune would do anything for me… and I would do anything for him,'
Pietro's voice continued in her memory. "When you love, you'll go to the ends of the earth to save that person,"
Her thrusters flared brighter, the heat from the flames licking at the cold air as Penny pushed herself even harder. 'He came to save me… risked everything,' she thought, her hand stretching just a little farther.
"And you'll love them enough, to jump after them when they fall,"
Penny's emerald eyes shone with determination, her mind aligning her father's words with her own actions. 'This is what I'm doing,' she realized.
"Love is one of the strongest emotions a human can feel," Pietro said, his voice warm and steady, filled with the wisdom of a man who had seen and cherished the beauty of life. "When you feel it in your heart—when you love someone—you'll know that you are truly human,"
Penny blinked, tilting her head slightly as the words settled in her mind. "But… I don't have a heart," she replied, her voice laced with curiosity rather than sadness.
Pietro's smile deepened, his eyes glimmering with pride and affection. "Oh, Penny," he said gently, "You do, not in the way you're thinking, but you'll have one—because no matter who or what you are when you love when you find something that fills that void, you will have a heart,"
The memory burned brightly in Penny's mind as she reached out for Jaune, her fingers brushing his arm before finally grasping him tightly. Her emerald eyes softened as an overwhelming warmth spread through her, not from her systems or her mechanical body but from something deep within—a feeling she couldn't name until now.
'So… this is a heart,' she thought, her lips curving into a gentle smile. 'Thank you, Father, and thank you, Jaune, you gave me a heart...'
With her thrusters roaring to life, Penny adjusted her grip, holding Jaune securely in her arms, bridal style. He was heavy, and his body limp from exhaustion, but she carried him with ease, her determination far outweighing any physical strain.
Jaune stirred slightly, his eyes half-opening to see her face. "Penny…" he whispered weakly, his voice barely audible.
She looked down at him, her smile radiant. "I've got you," she said softly.
The bright jets of her boots flared as she shot upward, ascending back toward the shattered remains of the office. The wind whipped around them, and the ruined cityscape below faded into the distance as Penny soared.
As they landed back inside, Neptune, Ciel, and Winter were there waiting. Relief flooded their faces when they saw Penny standing strong, holding Jaune safe and alive in her arms.
"Penny!" Neptune called, his voice filled with joy. "You're awake!"
Ciel stepped forward, her usual composed demeanor breaking into a rare smile. "You did it, you saved him!"
Winter, standing a few steps behind, gave a small nod of approval. Her icy exterior softened, a glimmer of respect in her gaze. "Well done, Penny."
Penny carefully set Jaune down, her gaze lingering on him. She felt something unfamiliar yet beautiful swelling in her chest—a sense of belonging, of purpose. This was what it meant to have a heart.
However, as the group reunited and shared their relief, none of them noticed that Wilt was gone—vanished along with its owner.
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Finally, we've reached the end of the P.3.N.N.Y Arc! We've got one more chapter to go before we dive into the next arc, which is: The CROWN Arc!
In the next chapter, here's what you can expect:
Jaune and friends return to Vale and Beacon, telling everyone what happened while Jaune is once again confessed to by some of the Atlas girls! Can Jaune woo them over like he wooed the others? Meanwhile, Adam also returns back to Vale and plans to grow stronger.
Anyway! See you in the next chapter and I hope you have a good night/day!