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Chapter 13
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I was an idiot to try to kill him. Yeah, shocking, right? You're probably thinking, "What kind of moron does that?" Well, this kind, apparently. And oh, what a fool I was. A clueless, blundering amateur, thinking I could just waltz in and end it all with a single, dramatic act of violence.
Spoiler alert: I couldn't.
Because Jaune Arc? He's not some regular guy.
Oh no. He's more.
I thought I was targeting a man. You know, flesh, bone, a little bit of common sense. But no, he was… a messiah. And not just any messiah—my messiah. The kind of man you don't try to assassinate unless you have a death wish or, in my case, a tragic lack of self-awareness.
Let's talk about the time he saved my life. Risked it all for me, even though I was actively trying to murder him. And okay, sure, CPR isn't exactly romantic, but let's not split hairs. A kiss is a kiss, right? Even if it's technically life-saving first aid and you were unconscious for the whole thing. Details!
I still hold the record, by the way. First kiss? All me. Not even she can take that away.
So, yeah, take that, world.
But Jaune Arc, let me tell you, he's on a whole other level. His closest friends—his closest friends—don't even know what drives him.
Why he does what he does. Why he fought in that one battle wearing nothing but his briefs.
Yes. Briefs.
I know what you're thinking: "That can't be true."
But it is.
Oh, it is.
Picture it: the battlefield, a chaotic mess of clashing swords and flying arrows.
And there, in the middle of it all, Jaune Arc. No armour, no shirt, just his confidence and a pair of briefs that screamed, "I'm better than all of you, and I don't even need pants to prove it."
It wasn't just a bold fashion choice. No. It was strategy. A psychological weapon to mock the enemy, to make them realise how hopelessly outclassed they were. And the best part? He didn't even use his semblance. Just raw skill and pure audacity.
He let them think they had a chance. Played the underdog, stumbling and flailing like an idiot. Letting them kick, claw, scratch and bite his smooth ass.
But he wasn't losing.
Oh no. Not Jaune Arc.
He was just bored.
Because after all, he was Jaune Arc the Undefeated.
-Adapted from 'Jaune Arc: The Undefeated'
—X~X—
Winter Schnee tightened her grip on the elderly faunus woman's neck, her icy blue eyes narrowed with suspicion. The old woman struggled, her wrinkled hands clawing futilely at Winter's pristine gloves.
"Admit it!" Winter snarled. "This is just another one of your schemes, Arc! You won't fool me by pretending to be some helpless elder."
The scene was tense, but it didn't last.
From the shadows, Jaune Arc appeared. He froze, taking in the bizarre sight before him. The voice in his head growled with frustration, its tone sharp.
"Handle this now," it ordered.
Jaune's mouth moved on its own. His voice came out low and commanding, a chilling edge to every word. "I'll say this once—let. Her. Go."
Winter stiffened, her body locking up as if she'd been struck by lightning. The sheer force of Jaune's killing intent felt like a blade pressed to her throat. Reluctantly, she loosened her grip, and the old woman stumbled back, gasping for air. She quickly clasped her hands together in gratitude.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," the faunus woman whispered, bowing deeply before scampering away.
Winter turned to Jaune, bewilderment clear in her eyes. "Hokage-sama?" she repeated under her breath.
Jaune, still glaring, crossed his arms. "Explain. Quickly."
Winter hesitated, caught between her embarrassment and indignation. "Oh, well, I—" Her gaze drifted down, and her words faltered. Her jaw dropped as she noticed a figure clinging tightly to Jaune's leg. "Weiss?!"
Jaune blinked, looking down in confusion. "Wait, you 'know' her?"
Weiss Schnee, crouched like a cat, looked up with a grin that could only be described as delirious. "Meow! Who's asking?" she purred.
"Of course I know her!" Winter barked, pointing at Weiss with a trembling hand. "She's my goddamn 'sister!'"
Jaune raised a brow. "Seriously?" He glanced at Weiss, whose catlike grin only grew wider. "Well, that explains... nothing, actually."
Weiss tilted her head, her voice dripping with mischief. "He's my king now, Winter. My demon king. Meow."
Winter's face contorted with fury. "What in the hell are you 'wearing?!' And why are you clinging to him like that?!"
Weiss nuzzled Jaune's leg with exaggerated affection. "He's my 'demon king,' big sis. We've bonded. We're... 'connected.'"
Winter's outrage boiled over. "You brainwashed her, didn't you?!" she yelled at Jaune, her voice quivering with accusation. "You sick, twisted monster! What did you do to my sister?!"
Jaune threw up his hands defensively. "Whoa, hold on! This isn't my fault! She was already like this when I—"
His sentence was interrupted by the crack of a bullet whizzing past his head. Instinctively, Jaune summoned a wooden wall to block the next shot.
"Sniper!" he shouted, diving behind his makeshift barrier as more bullets slammed into it with deafening force. Splinters flew everywhere, and the ground trembled under the impact.
Winter's rapier was in her hand instantly. "Is this your doing?!" Jaune barked, glaring at her.
Winter scoffed, offended. "Of course not! I'm not a coward. If I wanted you dead, I'd shoot you straight on!"
Jaune groaned, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, because that makes it so much better."
Weiss, still clinging to Jaune's leg, looked up dreamily. "Don't worry, my king. I'll protect you, meow."
Jaune buried his face in his hand. "This can't be happening…"
"More incoming!" Winter shouted as the sniper shots intensified.
Jaune peeked out from behind the wooden barrier. "Great. Just great. Today's officially the worst."
The voice in his head chuckled darkly. "Oh, it's just beginning. Now, do it."
Jaune clasped his hands together, his voice steady and commanding. "Wood Release: Heavenly Arrows of Justice!"
A breathtaking sight unfolded as thousands of wooden arrows materialised mid-air, shimmering with an ethereal glow. They shot forth in a single, unified storm, hurtling toward the source of the sniper fire. Somewhere deep within the forest, a sharp, high-pitched scream echoed—a girly shriek that carried both pain and indignation.
Satisfied, Jaune released his jutsu, and the arrows dissipated. He exhaled, his palms glowing faintly as the energy subsided. "Well, that takes care of the mystery shooter." He smirked, brushing dust off his jacket. "You're welcome, by the way."
Weiss, still curled around his leg, purred approvingly. "That was amazing, my king. Truly... meow-nificent."
Jaune groaned softly at her pun but kept his focus on Winter, whose rapier was still raised. His expression turned mockingly formal as he addressed her. "Now then, Winter Sick—state your business."
Winter's face twisted with outrage. "It's Schnee. Winter Schnee."
"Sure thing, Ms. Sick," Jaune said with a playful grin. "Go on."
Before Winter could retort, Weiss chimed in. "Yes, Winter, listen to the king." She looked up at Jaune dreamily. "He knows everything, meow."
Winter's hand trembled on her sword hilt. "What is WRONG with you, Weiss?!"
"Nothing's wrong," Weiss said, her voice unnervingly serene. "I've just found my purpose in life. It's to serve him. To worship him. To—"
"Stop talking!" Winter snapped, turning back to Jaune. "You! What have you done to her?"
Jaune gestured lazily toward Weiss. "I've done nothing. Trust me, this is all her. Pretty sure she ate something she shouldn't have."
"You brainwashed her!" Winter accused, pointing her rapier at him. "I'll—"
"—shoot me directly?" Jaune interrupted, mimicking her earlier tone. "Yeah, I got the memo. Still waiting for that business statement, though."
Winter growled. "I came here for answers! Why are you here? Why are you playing village chief in the middle of nowhere?"
Jaune shrugged. "I dunno. It's peaceful. The kids are happy. And occasionally, I get to fend off lunatics like you."
Winter's eyes narrowed. "Don't play coy. What are you planning?"
Jaune sighed, his patience wearing thin. "Look, I'll gladly tell you whatever you want—after you take your sister off my leg."
Weiss clung tighter, rubbing her cheek against Jaune's shin. "Never. He's mine. Meow."
"UGH!" Winter screamed in frustration. "You're embarrassing the family name!"
"Hey, Mr. Sick's family name embarrasses itself just fine," Jaune shot back. "Don't need my help for that."
Winter's cheeks flushed red with rage, but before she could counter, the voice in Jaune's head chuckled. "Oh, you're having fun, aren't you?"
Jaune smirked internally, keeping his poker face intact. "A blast," he replied silently. Then aloud, he said, "Right, if we're done here, I've got a village to run. Feel free to stick around and... do whatever it is you people do."
Suddenly, Jaune's scroll buzzed in his pocket. Answering it, he heard Mantis's familiar voice. "Boss, we caught a chick sneaking around the perimeter."
Jaune glanced at Winter. "You're already here."
"No, not that one. Another one," Mantis clarified. "She is staring at me like she owns the place."
Jaune groaned audibly. "Oh great, Mr. Sick's eldest is here too anyway. What does this new one want to do now, hit me with a sledgehammer?"
Winter's expression turned serious. "Wait, you mean my—"
Jaune waved her off, already walking away. "I'll deal with this. Don't cause any more trouble while I'm gone."
"Wait!" Weiss cried, clutching his leg tighter. "Take me with you, my king! Meow!"
Jaune sighed heavily, finally prying her off. "You stay here. With your sister. And please, for the love of all that's good, sober up."
Weiss pouted dramatically as Jaune walked off, leaving the Schnee sisters behind. Winter glared at her younger sister, clenching her fists. "Explain. Now."
Weiss just grinned. "Meow."
—X~X—
Jaune walked toward the clearing, trying his best to maintain his "smooth operator" act. Inside, he was sweating bullets. His nerves were frayed from days of nonstop chaos: assassins, overzealous reporters, deranged fanatics, and somehow maintaining peace in this forest village he'd magically conjured in a desert. Every step closer to the so-called "prisoner" brought another wave of anxiety. Was this going to be another lunatic trying to stab him?
He sighed, mumbling under his breath. "Just another day as the not-a-king-but-sorta-king. Fantastic."
When he reached the meeting point, Munkey—a tall, gangly faunus with unnervingly long arms—stood waiting. He held a calm but firm grip on a girl with black hair, striking golden eyes, and... cat ears. A faunus. For once, that wasn't a bad sign.
The girl's sharp gaze met Jaune's. Her expression was unreadable but confident. "Jaune Arc," she said, her voice smooth. "We meet at last."
Jaune froze for a split second, his inner thoughts racing. What is it this time? Is she a spy? An assassin? A reporter trying to—
"I'm Blake Belladonna," she continued, extending a hand. "And I've come to commend you for what you've been doing for the faunus people."
Jaune blinked. Wait, what? Commend? Not hate? She's not here to kill me?
He caught himself before his relief showed, quickly returning to his "smooth and authoritative" façade. With a practiced, diplomatic nod, he stepped forward and shook her hand. "Thank you. I appreciate the support." His tone was calm, but inside he was doing mental cartwheels. Finally! Someone who gets it!
Blake studied him. "It's impressive, what you've done. Creating this haven in such an unlikely place."
Jaune gave a modest shrug, though his chest swelled with pride. "Just trying to do what's right. For everyone."
"Of course." Blake nodded, but her expression turned concerned. "That said, I've... lost track of a companion I arrived with. Weiss Schnee. She's currently missing."
Jaune blinked, his internal alarm bells ringing. "Weiss Schnee?" he repeated, keeping his voice casual.
"Yes. She's my friend," Blake explained. "We were separated after arriving near the forest. She was acting a bit... strange."
Jaune coughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Weiss Schnee, huh? Uh... funny story. She's not missing. Actually, she's with me."
Blake's golden eyes narrowed. "She's with you? What do you mean?"
"Safe," Jaune clarified, holding up his hands defensively. "Totally safe. Just... hanging out."
Blake tilted her head, suspicious. "And... where is she now?"
"She's, uh..." Jaune hesitated. How do I even explain the current state of that situation? He cleared his throat. "She's fine. Probably eating something. Or... um... meowing."
Blake's brow furrowed, and her tail twitched. "Meowing?"
Jaune sighed. "It's a long story."
—X~X—
Blake silently walked beside Jaune, her golden eyes fixed forward as her mind churned with conflicting thoughts. This was the man who had killed Adam Taurus, her deranged and dangerous ex. Adam's death was something Blake had craved for years, yet seeing Jaune—calm and seemingly noble—stirred her lingering rage. But she had to hold back. Not now. There were more pressing matters.
Weiss Schnee, her idiot teammate, had ended up captured, disguised as a faunus no less. The plan had been for Weiss to infiltrate and rescue Yang, who'd been captured first. However, true to form, Yang had misinterpreted everything and knocked Weiss out, leaving her behind. Then Yang had stumbled back into the forest, dragging along a nosy reporter, Lisa Lavender, and a mysterious black cat named Winston. Now, Blake was left to clean up the mess. Again.
Blake had revealed her faunus heritage, presenting herself as an "ambassador" of the faunus community to commend Jaune for his efforts. It was her only viable cover to gain access to him and the prisoners. The real plan, however, was far more dangerous: rescue Weiss, and if possible, kill Jaune Arc. He had no idea who she really was—just another face in the crowd, a nameless ally. It was her best advantage.
Te White Fang leader didn't say anything about harming Arc let alone killing him.
Oh, no. She was doing this for revenge.
Not that she liked Adam much, he was an ass.
The real reason was she wanted to kill the person who had killed Adam Taurus, not the goofy boy who had killed her ex.
But everything would've been so much simpler if Ruby hadn't come here. Her presence had set off the chain reaction that brought Yang, Weiss, and their ridiculous antics along. Alone, Blake could've handled this—eliminating Jaune Arc swiftly and efficiently. Now, though, she was stuck juggling this mess.
Jaune glanced at her curiously. "So, Blake Belladonna," he said casually, interrupting her stormy thoughts, "what exactly brings you to this neck of the woods?"
Blake forced a tight-lipped smile. "To commend you for your work, as I said. It's not every day someone does something meaningful for faunus."
Jaune's brow furrowed slightly, as though trying to gauge her sincerity. Blake felt her grip tighten on her hidden weapon. If he suspected anything—just a flicker of suspicion—it would all unravel.
But Jaune just shrugged. "Well, thanks. I'm just trying to do the right thing."
Blake bit her tongue to suppress a bitter laugh. 'The right thing? You killed Adam Taurus. You don't even know what you've done.'
Her golden eyes narrowed, her resolve firm. First Weiss. Then Yang. Then... maybe… castrate…ahem, kill Jaune Arc.
Blake stepped into the clearing, her sharp eyes immediately falling on the peculiar sight before her. Winter Schnee, the infamous Atlas Military Specialist, was tying Weiss to a tree like a criminal awaiting judgment. But what stunned Blake even more was Weiss herself.
Weiss, her usually dignified teammate, was cooing and prancing around like a waitress in a maid café, trying to seduce Jaune Arc of all people.
Blake blinked. What in Dust is going on here?
"Would you like some tea, Master Jaune?" Weiss asked sweetly, bowing slightly as if her wrists weren't bound to the tree.
Winter, visibly mortified, slapped Weiss across the face. "Snap out of it, Weiss! You're embarrassing the Schnee name!"
To Blake's shock, Weiss—dignified, unshakable Weiss—burst into tears.
"Winter, you're so mean! I was trying to help the mission!" Weiss sobbed, her voice trembling. She spotted Blake standing awkwardly by the edge of the scene and immediately brightened. "Oh, hey, Blake! The plan is going great!"
Jaune frowned, his arms crossed as he turned toward Weiss. "What plan?"
Blake's heart jumped. "No plan!" she said quickly, cutting Weiss off with an overly cheerful tone. "Weiss is... just... delirious from all the stress. That's all!"
Weiss, still sniffling, added unhelpfully, "I just wanted him to fall in love with me so we could steal his secrets and save Ruby!"
Blake glared daggers at her, muttering through gritted teeth, "Shut. Up."
Jaune, rubbing his temples, groaned. "I don't even have the energy to deal with this right now. Weiss, stay here. Blake, take care of her. I need to go talk to Ruby."
He turned on his heel and walked away, muttering something about how he'd rather fight Grimm than deal with this circus.
As soon as he was gone, Blake hissed at Weiss, "What part of this disaster makes you think it's going 'great?'"
—X~X—
In a clearing filled with the quiet hum of the morning, Ruby and Velvet were sprawled over a group of sleeping Faunus children, snoring loud enough to rival a chainsaw.
Jaune approached, his brow furrowed. He clapped his hands together, summoning crackling blue energy. "Lightning Release: Fart of Kumbhkaran!" A sharp crackle and zap lit the air, jolting Ruby and Velvet awake with synchronized shrieks.
Ruby shot up, hair frizzed, eyes wide. "What the heck, Jaune?! Are you trying to kill me?!"
Velvet groaned, rubbing her bunny ears. "My ears! My poor, sensitive ears!"
"It's an emergency!" Jaune said, his voice tight with urgency.
"Huh?" Ruby blinked, still half-asleep.
"A girl claiming to be your sister—Yang—attacked the village last night," Jaune explained.
Ruby bolted upright. "Yang?! Where is she?! What did you do to her?!"
"I put her in a cabin with Lisa Lavender," Jaune said, visibly sweating.
Velvet's ears twitched. "You put her with Lisa?!"
Jaune held up a hand. "Hold on! This morning, they're both missing."
"What?!" Ruby and Velvet shouted in unison.
"Stop yelling," Jaune grumbled. "Anyway, in their place, there's a girl named Weiss Sick—"
Ruby grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "You mean Weiss Schnee?"
"Yeah, her. Wait—"
"What is Weiss doing here?!" Ruby exclaimed, shaking him violently.
"Will you stop yelling?!" Jaune snapped, prying Ruby's hands off. "That's what I'm trying to figure out!"
Velvet groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This trip just keeps getting more and more weird…"
Ruby and Velvet nervously followed Jaune back into the village, where chaos awaited them. The first thing they noticed was Weiss. Yes, Weiss Schnee. She was tied to a tree—like a gift-wrapped disaster—cooing at Jaune in the most un-Weiss-like way possible. "Meow, welcome back, my king!" she greeted enthusiastically, her voice dripping with enough sugar to rot teeth.
Ruby blinked. Velvet blinked. Even Jaune blinked. The scene defied logic.
Nearby, Weiss's elder sister, Winter Schnee, stood with a hand over her face, visibly restraining herself from throttling Weiss. "Snap out of it!" she hissed, shaking her sister with enough force to rattle the tree.
To make things worse, the Atlas soldiers accompanying Winter? Oh, they weren't helping. They were recording the entire fiasco on their scrolls, chuckling like it was some reality show. "This is gold," one whispered to another, holding his scroll at just the right angle.
Jaune, rubbing the back of his neck, looked ready to melt into the ground. Ruby and Velvet dove behind him, desperately trying to stay out of sight. They had a mission—one Ozpin himself assigned them! They couldn't risk blowing their cover.
But then, in true Weiss fashion, she betrayed them. "Ruby Rose! Velvet Scarlatina! Meow! Come out and greet your king!" she practically sang, her eyes sparkling with a strange enthusiasm.
"Why is she meowing?" Velvet hissed, clutching Ruby's cape.
Ruby groaned. "Why does she always have to do this to me?"
Winter snapped her attention to Jaune, narrowing her eyes. "So, this is it, then. Spies from Beacon? Traitors to the cause? Care to explain, Mr. Arc?"
Jaune waved his hands defensively, his goofy charm doing him no favours here. "Wait, wait, wait! This is all a big misunderstanding! I don't even know what's going on in your mind!"
"Liar," Winter growled, her knuckles cracking ominously.
Ruby, in full panic mode, blurted, "Weiss! What are you even doing here?! You're supposed to be in Vale!"
Before Weiss could answer, Blake appeared out of nowhere like a shadowy avenger. Except, instead of saving the day, she stuffed Weiss's mouth with a handful of something… slimy.
"The 'Ew-rin,'" Blake explained casually, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "It's a miracle fruit Jaune Arc created. Supposedly cures everything, including stupidity. If you ignore the pee-like scent, it's a great medicine."
Ruby's jaw dropped. "Blake?! What are you doing here?! I thought you were—wait—are you working with Weiss?"
Blake, as calm as ever, said, "Of course. Weiss and I came to meet Jaune Arc the Great."
Ruby gasped. "You mean—you believe in him too?! I knew you'd come around!"
Amid the escalating chaos, Jaune backed away, muttering something about needing "a moment" before this circus drove him insane.
Velvet nudged Ruby. "Where's he going?"
"To his cabin. Probably to scream into a pillow," Ruby replied.
Meanwhile, Jaune sighed heavily, pushing open the creaky door of his humble abode. It was time to see what Principal—what was his name again? Ochako? Yeah, Principal Ochako—had to say in that mysterious message.
—X~X—
Jaune carefully opened the tiny box, its hinges creaking like an ominous warning from the universe. The moment it clicked open, a tiny hologram projected upwards, revealing Principal Ozpin—because of course it was him—with his ever-present cup of god-knows-what. Jaune squinted, half-expecting the hologram to somehow ask him for an extension on an essay.
"Jaune Arc," the hologram began, in a voice so heavy with gravitas it might've been auditioning for a soap opera, "thank you."
Jaune blinked. "Huh?"
Ozpin—the recording, mind you, not a live call, though you wouldn't know it by how it somehow reacted to everything Jaune did—pressed on. "Not just for saving me that day in Beacon during my panic attack, but for your bravery, your commitment, and your willingness to stand against injustice in this chaotic world."
Jaune tilted his head, already suspicious. "Bravery? Commitment? I mean, I've mostly just been... sitting here. Or running. Lots of running." Reflexively, he nodded at the hologram, which obviously couldn't see him. It nodded back anyway, eerily timed.
Ozpin continued, oblivious to Jaune's bewildered expression. "What you've done here—creating this forest, protecting its people—is extraordinary. A testament to your strength and leadership."
Jaune scoffed, folding his arms. "Yeah, well, I'm not exactly storming castles, Oz-Mint, or whatever your name is today. I'm just some guy who tripped over a semblance too powerful for me and got dragged into this circus."
The hologram flickered slightly, but Ozpin's calm, ominous tone didn't waver. He leaned closer, somehow managing to radiate intensity despite being a glowing projection. "Jaune, there's something you need to understand. Something few know."
Jaune froze, his attention locked now. "Wait—what's happening?"
The hologram seemed to take a deep, dramatic breath. "The truth about Salem and… me."
Jaune raised a hand as if to stop him. "Oh no. Nope. I don't want to hear this. Nothing good ever comes after a sentence like that."
But Ozpin ignored him. Of course, he did. "Long ago," he began, voice dropping into what could only be described as a tragic bedtime story cadence, "in my first life, I was a man named Ozma. I loved a woman named Salem. She was as radiant as the morning sun and as fierce as a storm. Together, we believed we could conquer anything—even death."
Jaune frowned, muttering, "Okay, first of all, gross. Second of all, what?"
Ozpin carried on, his narration reaching Shakespearean levels of tragedy. "But fate is cruel. Salem fell ill, and despite my best efforts, she passed away. In my grief, I turned to the gods, pleading with them to restore her life. They agreed—but their blessing came with a curse. Salem was brought back, immortal and unable to die, forever denied the peace of the afterlife."
Jaune's jaw dropped. "Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying the Big Bad isn't just some ancient evil queen with too much eyeliner? She's your ex-wife?!"
"Essentially," Ozpin admitted, the hologram flickering as if even it was uncomfortable with this revelation.
Jaune buried his face in his hands. "Why. Why is this my life?"
But Ozpin wasn't done yet. "Salem asked me to join her rebellion against the gods, to defy their judgment and remake the world on our terms. I refused, believing we should work with them instead. Her anger at my decision grew into hatred, and our love shattered. She became a force of destruction, and I was cursed to reincarnate endlessly, tasked with trying to stop her and undo the chaos we had unleashed."
"Cursed to reincarnate?" Jaune repeated, his voice cracking. "Dude, that's not a punishment. That's a nightmare! No wonder you drink so much coffee."
The hologram didn't laugh. Of course, it didn't. Instead, Ozpin's voice grew softer, somehow heavier. "Jaune, that day in Beacon, amidst the chaos, I had a vision. A prophecy."
Jaune groaned, already sensing where this was going. "Oh no. No, no, no, no, don't say it."
Ozpin ignored him. Again. "I saw a child with golden hair and glowing blue eyes. A child who would stand against the darkness and bring peace to Remnant. That child was you, Jaune Arc."
Jaune coughed violently, nearly choking on his own disbelief. "Me?! The guy who trips over his own feet on a good day? You've got to be kidding me!"
Ozpin's voice was unwavering. "I believe in you, Jaune. You are the key to ending Salem's reign and uniting Remnant. I—and all my resources—are at your disposal. Do your best."
The hologram flickered one last time and disappeared, leaving Jaune sitting alone in stunned silence. The forest around him seemed unusually quiet, as if even the trees were judging him.
Finally, after a long pause, Jaune exhaled sharply and muttered, "Well… fuck me."
Just then, his scroll buzzed. Absent-mindedly, he received it. "Fuck me… eh, I mean, hello?"
"Is this Jaune Arc?"
"Yeah, no, wrong number. This is Jonathon Quick."
"So, it is you." The voice said monotone.
Jaune sighed deeply. "Yeah, well, what do you want?"
"Jaune Arc, this is the Shade Academy and we would like to. Invite you to our Institute."
"...what?"
—X~X—
Gillian writhed against the unyielding vines that bound her. Panic mixed with frustration as the reality of her failed plan set in.
"This isn't funny," she muttered through gritted teeth. "Nope. Not at all."
The scheme had been ambitious: sneak into the infamous Forest of Death, assassinate the so-called Demon King Jaune Arc, and claim the magical forest for Vacuo. Victory had seemed inevitable, with her sniper rifle capable of ending the legend from a safe distance. Her brother had argued he should go, but Gillian wouldn't let him risk his life and no one from Crown was brave enough to come here.
It had all gone terribly wrong.
Jaune's response had been unnervingly swift. At a distance of 10 kilometres, her first shot had been met with a barrier of twisting wood. Her second and third shots were similarly deflected. Before she could adjust her scope, the forest itself retaliated. The trees swayed unnaturally, vines surged, and roots burst forth like living predators. Now she dangled, utterly immobilized, the forest's eerie sentience on full display.
The hissing sound sent chills down her spine. She craned her neck to see a massive 70-meter python uncoiling from the branches, its tongue flicking ominously.
"I am not a sausage…" she whispered, trying not to breathe too loudly.
The serpent eyed her lazily before slithering closer. Gillian cursed under her breath, clenching her jaw. This was supposed to be a simple mission, not a death sentence! Somewhere, her brother was probably pacing, wondering what had gone wrong.
From the distance came a voice, rich with amusement. "Looks like someone's tangled up in my forest."
Her heart sank as Jaune Arc himself stepped into view, hands clasped behind his back, an almost boyish grin on his face.
"Well, well," Jaune said, inspecting her with a raised eyebrow. "What have we here? Another ambitious assassin?"
Gillian glared at him, mustering every ounce of defiance she had left. "Untangle me, you coward! Let's settle this properly!"
Jaune chuckled, leaning casually against a nearby tree, but slipping awkwardly. "I'd argue that I already have settled this. But hey, I'm always curious—what's the plan this time? Poison dart? Explosive charm? Sniper bullets were creative but, uh… ineffective."
Gillian's cheeks burned with rage. "If you're going to kill me, just do it already."
"Killing you? Oh no." Jaune wagged a finger. "That'd be too easy. Besides, my forest doesn't like litter. You'll be staying right here until I decide what to do with you."
The python hissed again, and Gillian winced. "What about that thing?!"
Jaune glanced at the python. "Oh, Jeff? Don't worry, he's harmless... mostly. Unless you move."
"I hate you," Gillian muttered under her breath.
Jaune grinned wider. "Get comfortable. You'll be hanging around for a while." He nervously chuckled for some reason before vanishing in thin air.
Gillian groaned in frustration, wriggling against the vines holding her captive. With every ounce of strength and determination, she worked her wrist against the constriction, using her nails to pry and twist a gap in the greenery. Slowly, painstakingly, she managed to free one hand.
Her fingers trembled as she reached for the scroll tucked inside her breast pocket. With a grunt of effort, she retrieved it and tapped the screen, initiating a call. The voice on the other end was her brother's.
"Trapped... caught... help me—" Gillian managed to whisper hoarsely before the vines snapped back, coiling tightly around her hand and the device. She gasped as her scroll was ripped from her grip.
The python, unbothered by her struggle, slithered down lazily and coiled its tail around the scroll. With a dismissive crunch, it shattered the device in its jaws, fragments falling to the ground. It then turned its piercing gaze on her, its tongue flicking out to taste the air near her exposed midriff.
The serpent's movements were disturbingly deliberate, and Gillian flinched as its smooth, cold tongue grazed her skin. Its gaze seemed to mock her, almost as if it could speak. The thought was absurd, yet the creature's body language was unmistakable.
'If only Master hadn't forbidden me to eat you... oh, such an intoxicating smell, its demeanor seemed to say.'
"Ugh, get off me, you disgusting overgrown belt!" Gillian spat, thrashing again despite the futility.
The python merely hissed softly, wrapping itself around her further, as if to ensure she wouldn't move again. Above her, the forest swayed, as though chuckling at her predicament. Gillian bit her lip, dreading what might come next—and cursing her own arrogance for underestimating Jaune Arc and his impossible forest.
—X~X—
Author Note: A guest reviewer said that Jaune having Wood Release made this slightly bad. Well, keep reading, within a few chapters ls, you'll love it, I hope. Dattebayo.
Hope you loved this chapter.
What do you want next?
Next Chapter
The Conspiracy Against Jaune Arc
Do drop your thoughts in the review section. They inspire me to write faster, better and larger and with more depth.
PS:
It's my birthday, I can't throw a party, but hey, what better way to celebrate than with a new story?
I published a new story: Thousands Of Spells Away. It's a crossover between 'Naruto' and 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End'. Go and check it out!
My one year anniversary on this site is coming soon: 29th December.
After 350 days on this platform, I've written 22 stories (yes, all ongoing—none abandoned) with over 900K words in total and nearly half a million views. I proofread everything myself—no editors or betas here—and somehow manage to write over 35K words every week while updating at least 8 stories weekly.
A huge thanks to:
…impashadows, SentinalSlice, Traitor of All Traitors, Samuel Santillan, ArashiNokitsune, Redone1977, Shisui No Akatsuki, EnoshimaYuno29, GodlyVortexofPain, Pinkypi, Joanne Frances Tiano Cajilig, FangofFire…
…for your unwavering support, help, and motivation. Apologies to everyone I couldn't mention, but know that I appreciate all of you.
And for those people who annoy me with copy-n-paste business offers in the review sections and PM… I have nothing to say.
I would like to remind you something: anybody writing here writes not for money and readers certainly aren't paying, so if you want to yell or waste your strength, do it somewhere else. Unless you have anything productive to say, go away. Don't like my story or MC? Think you can do better or can spend more time than me? Then be my guest, write one story yourself and let others be the humble judges.
Lastly, here are some highlights from my works:
Best Story: The Crystal Sage
Most Popular: Eyes That Hold The Heavens
Most Loved: A Greedy Witch in a Fantasy World
My admission test is on January so there will be irregular updates.
Thank you for sticking by my side. Here's to more stories and better writing ahead!
~Phoenix
Till next time.