Chapter 16

The night air was thick with the scent of roasted meat and spices, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the villagers. Firelight flickered across the festival grounds, casting warm hues over the crowd as people ate, drank, and celebrated their newfound security. Jaune Arc, seated at the center of it all, was in good spirits, laughing as a pair of Faunus children challenged him to an arm-wrestling match. He humoured them, letting them win before playfully feigning defeat, much to the crowd's delight.

Emerald Sustrai, however, was far from entertained.

From the shadows of a nearby tent, she watched him closely, fingers tightening around the small syringe hidden in her sleeve. The liquid inside shimmered faintly under the torchlight—a paralytic agent, fast-acting and undetectable. One quick jab, a few seconds of struggle, and Jaune Arc would be unconscious before he could even register what happened.

If only she could get close enough.

But the idiot was never alone.

Everywhere he went, there was a swarm of villagers, Faunus children hanging onto his sleeves, old men patting his back, young women sneaking glances at him, and, worst of all, Weiss Schnee. The girl practically latched onto him, making Emerald's job ten times harder.

Mercury Black, leaning lazily against a wooden post near the feast tables, had the same problem. Arms crossed, he surveyed the area, his sharp eyes tracing possible openings—except there weren't any. Even with Jaune's laid-back attitude, there were simply too many variables.

Emerald grit her teeth. "Damn it," she muttered under her breath. "How are we supposed to do this if he's never alone?"

Mercury let out a long sigh, tilting his head toward her without taking his eyes off Jaune. "Yeah, no kidding. You'd think a Hokage would have some breathing room, but nope. Guy's a goddamn celebrity."

Emerald's fingers twitched with impatience. They were on a timer. If they failed to complete their mission, there wouldn't be a next time. Cinder Fall didn't tolerate failure, and the thought of her wrath made Emerald's stomach tighten.

She glanced at Mercury, lowering her voice. "We need a plan. Fast."

Mercury exhaled through his nose. "Yeah? Got one?"

Emerald's mind raced. Jaune was unpredictable, but the festival atmosphere meant that sooner or later, he'd have to step away—either to rest, relieve himself, or check on something. That was their chance. They just had to be in the right place at the right time.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the tension in her chest. "We split up. You watch him from the main square; I'll circle around the back. If he heads anywhere alone, we strike."

Mercury shrugged. "Fair enough. Just don't get caught."

"Same to you."

They separated, each blending into the crowd with practiced ease. Mercury, despite his usual smug attitude, kept his steps light and nonchalant, hands stuffed in his pockets as he weaved through the festivities. He picked up a skewer of grilled rabbit from one of the food stalls, taking a bite as he positioned himself near the outskirts of the gathering.

Emerald, meanwhile, moved with more precision, using the flickering torchlight to avoid attention. Her emerald eyes darted between the tents, analyzing every possible route Jaune might take.

Minutes passed. Then an hour.

Jaune showed no signs of stepping away. If anything, the guy looked comfortable, basking in the villagers' attention.

Emerald clenched her fists.

Damn it, move already!

Just as she was about to curse their luck, something changed.

Jaune stood, stretching his arms before excusing himself from the table. The villagers continued their revelry, too distracted to notice. Weiss, however, perked up immediately. "Where are you going?" she asked.

Jaune yawned. "Just need a little air. Might take a walk."

Emerald and Mercury exchanged glances from across the square.

This was it.

Jaune made his way toward the outskirts of the village, where the warm glow of the festival lights gave way to the cool, dim atmosphere of the desert night. The sounds of the celebration faded as he walked, hands in his pockets, lost in thought.

Emerald moved first, silent as a shadow, her fingers brushing against the syringe hidden in her sleeve.

Just a few more steps.

Jaune sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Man... tonight was crazy." He turned slightly, eyes scanning the darkened landscape.

Emerald froze.

His posture shifted. His shoulders straightened, his fingers flexing instinctively.

He knows something's wrong.

Mercury, who had moved into position behind Jaune, narrowed his eyes.

Damn it. We waited too long.

Jaune sighed again, but this time, there was something different in his tone. Something knowing. He slowly turned his head, glancing over his shoulder. "You guys do realize you suck at sneaking, right?"

Emerald's stomach dropped.

Jaune didn't sound alarmed. He didn't even seem particularly surprised. If anything... he was annoyed.

Mercury rolled his neck, stretching lazily. "Well, you caught us," he said, his voice light. "Guess we gotta do this the hard way."

Emerald moved first, lunging forward. She was fast—incredibly fast—but Jaune was faster. In a single motion, he pivoted on his heel, grabbed her wrist, and twisted.

Crack.

Pain shot up her arm, and she barely bit back a cry as he forced the syringe from her grip. It clattered to the ground, rolling between them.

Jaune's expression darkened. "Yeah, no. Not happening."

Mercury cursed under his breath. "Damn it, Emerald—"

Before he could react, Jaune moved.

And then Mercury felt it.

A fist, backed by inhuman strength, slammed into his stomach. The air left his lungs in an instant, his vision blurring as he was launched backward, skidding across the dirt.

Emerald barely had time to process before Jaune's grip tightened on her wrist. His strength was unnatural, like being caught in the jaws of an unrelenting beast.

He yanked her forward, eyes cold. "Who sent you?"

She said nothing.

Jaune clicked his tongue. "Yeah. Figures."

Without another word, he let go—only to drive his knee into her gut.

Emerald doubled over, choking on her breath as she collapsed to her knees.

Jaune sighed. "I liked you guys, y'know?" He glanced at the syringe on the ground before kicking it away. "Really thought you were here to help." His tone was calm, almost disappointed.

Mercury groaned, struggling to his feet. "You're way too trusting, Arc."

Jaune's expression remained unreadable. "Not anymore."

Before either of them could react, Jaune raised his fingers in a strange pattern.

The air shifted.

Roots erupted from the ground, snaking toward them like living things. Before Emerald or Mercury could escape, they were ensnared, the vines tightening around their limbs like iron chains.

Jaune knelt before them, his gaze sharp. "Now," he said, voice low, "you're gonna tell me everything."

—X~X—

Jaune Arc was freaking out. On the outside, he was the picture of calm authority, but on the inside? Oh boy, he was panicking like a kid who accidentally broke a priceless vase and was trying to act like he totally meant to do that.

He had actually managed to take down Emerald and Mercury without tripping over his own feet or setting something on fire. And now? He was interrogating them. On purpose. Without accidentally blurting out something stupid.

That alone was a milestone.

Jaune leaned forward, squatting down so he was eye level with his prisoners. His blue eyes flicked between Emerald and Mercury, watching for any sign of them breaking under pressure. The vines wrapped tightly around them twitched slightly, responding to his chakra as if waiting for a command.

"Alright," he started, voice deceptively casual. "Wanna tell me why you guys tried to stab me with a mystery syringe?"

Silence.

Mercury smirked, his grey eyes half-lidded. "You really think we're gonna talk?"

Jaune sighed, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, I figured. But, y'know, it doesn't hurt to try."

Emerald snorted, her usual sass creeping through despite the situation. "Actually, it does hurt. That knee to the stomach? Not fun."

Jaune blinked. "Oh. Uh. Sorry?"

Emerald rolled her eyes.

Mercury shook his head. "Man, you really are a dork."

Jaune felt a twitch in his jaw. He was trying to be cool and intimidating, damn it!

He stood up, crossing his arms. "Okay, fine. You guys don't wanna talk? That's cool. I have other ways of making you reconsider."

Mercury smirked. "Torture?"

Jaune waved a hand. "Nah, too messy."

Emerald raised a brow. "Then what? Gonna lecture us to death?"

Jaune grinned. "Worse."

He turned on his heel and dragged them—literally, vines and all—deeper into the forest.

The two prisoners exchanged glances as they were hauled along the dirt path like oversized sacks of potatoes. Jaune didn't explain anything, which was honestly the most worrying part.

After a few minutes, the trees began to thin out, and a new sound reached their ears.

A deep, throaty growl.

Mercury stiffened. "...Please tell me that was your stomach."

Jaune grinned. "Nope."

Then they saw it.

A massive reptilian form stretched out lazily over a rocky patch near the riverbank. Its scales shimmered under the moonlight, a mix of dark greens and browns that blended seamlessly into the surroundings. Its jaws—wide enough to snap a person in half—rested against the ground, its long tail flicking lazily from side to side.

Mercury stared. "What the hell is that?"

Jaune clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Meet Mr. Chompy."

Emerald gawked. "...Mr. Chompy?"

The beast—crocodile? Alligator? Honestly, Jaune still wasn't sure—opened one massive yellow eye and grinned.

A deep, rumbling growl vibrated from its throat as it slowly lifted its head.

Mercury gulped. "I changed my mind. I totally want to talk now."

Jaune smirked. "Aw, but I thought you guys were tough?"

Emerald's confidence visibly wavered as the crocodile (or was it an alligator?) yawned, revealing rows of jagged teeth.

Jaune stepped forward, placing a hand on the reptile's snout. "Mr. Chompy here's a good boy. Very well-behaved." He shot a look at Emerald and Mercury. "Unless, of course, I tell him otherwise."

Mercury let out a nervous chuckle. "Haha. That's a good joke. That is a joke, right?"

Jaune patted the reptile's snout. "Hey, buddy. Do me a favour and treat these guys well, yeah?"

Mr. Chompy hissed.

Jaune turned on his heel and started walking away.

Mercury paled. "Wait. WAIT. What do you mean by 'treat us well'?! That's vague as hell!"

Emerald struggled against her restraints. "Jaune, be serious! You're really leaving us here?!"

Jaune didn't stop. "Good luck!"

Emerald's scream followed him. "WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!"

Jaune whistled as he strolled back toward the village, feeling very proud of himself.

Being a badass was kinda fun.

As he strolled away, a confident bounce in his step. Oh yeah, that had been smooth. A perfect mix of intimidation and psychological warfare. He could already picture the stories spreading through the village. Jaune Arc, the man who commands giant reptiles.

Honestly, he still wasn't sure if Mr. Chompy was a crocodile or an alligator. Either way, it didn't matter. The point was—he had successfully dumped two enemy agents into the very capable jaws of his new scaly friend. Problem solved.

Or at least, it should have been.

A furious yell cut through the air.

"You barbarian!"

Jaune stopped mid-step, blinking. That sounded like—

Oh no.

Yang Xiao Long.

He turned his head slightly, just in time to see a blur of golden hair launch toward the reptile.

Lisa Lavender had her camera out, filming the whole thing like this was a breaking news segment. Next to her, Gillian was frantically waving her scroll around, muttering something about how the signal was terrible.

Jaune groaned. "Oh, come on—"

Before he could even think about running back, Yang's fist slammed into Mr. Chompy's snout.

The beast hissed in outrage, snapping its massive jaws as it recoiled from the unexpected hit. For a moment, Jaune was almost impressed. Then again, this was Yang Xiao Long. She punched through mechs for fun.

Mr. Chompy, however, was not so easily intimidated. The reptile's tail whipped around with surprising speed, forcing Yang to leap backward.

"Darn it," she muttered, rolling her shoulders. "Alright, buddy. I've wrestled a giant python before, so you're just another oversized handbag to me."

The reptile lunged.

Yang ducked, barely dodging the rows of sharp teeth.

Emerald, still wrapped in vines, gawked from the ground. "Uh, hey—maybe less talk, more rescue?!"

Mercury, meanwhile, was straining against his restraints. "For the record, I totally had this under control."

Yang ignored him, cracking her knuckles. "Alright, big guy, let's see what you got."

Mr. Chompy growled, his eyes locked onto her with predatory focus.

Yang shot forward, fists glowing with Ember Celica's energy. She landed another punch, this time square on the reptile's thick hide. It barely flinched.

"Hah!" Mercury laughed. "Looks like you're not as strong as you think—"

The reptile whipped its tail at Mercury instead.

The impact sent him flying several feet before he crashed into a bush.

Emerald winced. "...Yeah, that's fair."

Yang clicked her tongue. "Tch. Okay, maybe you're tougher than I thought."

Lisa Lavender zoomed in with her camera. "And here we witness the battle between Huntress and Beast! Who will prevail?!"

"Lisa, not now!" Yang yelled, dodging another lunge.

The reptile snapped at her again, forcing her back. Yang gritted her teeth. This thing was annoyingly durable.

Gillian was still tapping away at her scroll, eyes darting up in growing panic. "Uh, guys? We should probably hurry. I think Jaune's coming back."

That got Yang's attention.

She cursed under her breath, then made a split-second decision.

Grabbing the vines that bound Emerald and Mercury, she yanked them up onto her shoulders like very annoying sacks of potatoes.

"Alright, we're leaving!"

Emerald struggled. "Wait, what—"

"No time, just shut up and hold on."

With a burst of strength, Yang sprinted.

Mr. Chompy roared behind them, nostrils flaring.

Then it chased after them.

Lisa, still filming, gasped. "The beast pursues its prey! The tension rises—"

"LISA, GET IN THE JEEP!"

The extreme-jeep was already revving nearby, courtesy of Fū, a faunus with tiger-like fur. She rolled her eyes. "Boss told me you'd get lost, as expected."

Yang didn't slow down. "We can talk later—just shoot that thing before it eats me!"

Fū exhaled sharply, lifting her rifle.

A single shot rang out.

The reptile's charge halted.

Its massive body slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Yang did not stop running until she threw Emerald and Mercury into the back of the jeep and jumped in herself.

Fū pressed the gas.

The jeep tore through the trees, dirt and leaves kicking up behind them.

Yang huffed, catching her breath. "Fū. A lifesaver."

Fū snorted. "Don't mention it." She didn't even look at Yang, eyes focused ahead. "We need to move. Jaune Arc is coming, and I can sense it."

Lisa, still filming, turned her camera toward the unconscious reptile in the distance.

"A truly thrilling battle," she mused. "What a scoop!"

Emerald groaned. "I hate all of you."

Mercury, still sprawled out in the backseat, just laughed weakly. "...Worth it."

And with that, the extreme-jeep disappeared into the night, leaving behind a very unconscious crocodile (or alligator?) and a very confused Jaune Arc, who arrived just in time to see nothing but dust.

He squinted.

"...Wait. What the hell just happened?"

Jaune placed a hand on the ground. He didn't need to think. Didn't need to concentrate. The forest was already listening.

A tremor rippled through the earth. The trees breathed. The roots stirred. The leaves shivered as if whispering to one another.

Then, in a single, violent moment—

The forest obeyed.

From beneath the earth, wooden tendrils exploded outward like striking serpents. Gnarled roots twisted, churning up the dirt as they lunged toward their prey.

The jeep.

It was already tearing through the underbrush, Fū gripping the wheel with sharp focus.

Yang saw it first.

"Oh, hell no."

A massive root burst from the ground, like a titan's hand reaching to grab them.

"Fū, HARD RIGHT!"

Fū didn't hesitate. She yanked the wheel. The jeep veered sharply, tires skidding as the root slammed down where they had been a moment before.

But the forest wasn't done.

Another tendril snaked toward them from the left.

Yang braced herself.

The wood lashed forward—

And she punched it.

The sheer force of Ember Celica's blast shattered the root in an explosion of splinters.

"HAH! How's that for deforestation?!"

Fū didn't even flinch, eyes locked ahead. "Less talking. More surviving."

Another tremor.

The forest howled.

From all directions, roots and branches converged.

A wall of vines shot up ahead—Fū growled, throwing the wheel to the side. The jeep screeched, tilting on two wheels before slamming back down.

Lisa Lavender, still recording, grinned like a madwoman.

"This is some real action—"

A root whipped past, nearly taking her head off.

She ducked. "—Okaaaay, I'm starting to see the problem."

Gillian, gripping the seat like it was her lifeline, yelled over the roaring engine, "WHERE EVEN IS JAUNE?!"

Emerald twisted in her seat, eyes darting toward the receding tree line.

Then she saw him.

Jaune Arc, standing in the center of the chaos, hand still pressed to the earth. His golden hair swayed as power radiated from him, the very ground shifting beneath his feet.

His eyes glowed—not with Aura, but with something deeper.

Something ancient.

Emerald felt her stomach drop.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me—"

More roots exploded out of the ground.

Fū swore, shifting gears. "Hang on!"

The jeep lurched forward, weaving through the onslaught of moving trees. The ground itself seemed to rebel, ridges and spikes forming to slow them down.

Yang clenched her fists. "How the hell does he have THIS kind of power?!"

Mercury, still sprawled in the back, groaned. "Maybe don't question it—just keep us alive!"

A massive trunk slammed into the ground beside them, cracking the earth.

Another vine lashed toward the wheel—Yang shot it midair, the bullet barely clipping it before it could coil around the tire.

"This is insane," Emerald hissed. "We're gonna get crushed!"

Gillian, still trying to call for backup, shrieked as a wall of bark suddenly rose ahead of them, blocking the path.

Fū narrowed her eyes.

"…Hold tight."

She slammed the gas pedal.

The engine roared.

"WAIT, FŪ—"

The jeep hit the bark at an angle, wheels bouncing off the uneven surface—

Then it went up.

For a moment, they were weightless.

The jeep sailed over the barricade, airborne for a single, terrifying second—

Then—

CRASH.

The tires hit dirt.

Fū barely managed to keep control, but they didn't stop.

Behind them, Jaune exhaled.

The forest shuddered.

The roots hesitated.

Then—just as quickly as it had started—the attack... stopped.

Jaune frowned.

He could still stop them. Could summon another wave. Could trap them if he wanted.

But as he watched the jeep disappear into the distance, something inside him whispered—

It's not worth it.

The trees sighed.

The roots slithered back into the earth.

And the forest fell silent.

—X~X—

The jeep screeched to a stop, sending up a cloud of dust as they finally escaped the cursed forest. The desert stretched endlessly before them, a sea of sand and scorching heat.

For a moment, nobody spoke. Just heavy breathing. Shaking hands. Racing hearts.

Then, from behind a dune, a figure emerged.

Blake Belladonna, her cloak billowing in the wind, stepped out with her arms crossed. "The mission fa—"

"The mission?!" Yang snapped, shoving the jeep's door open so hard it nearly broke off. "Screw the mission! Ruby! We couldn't save Ruby!"

Blake sighed. "Yang, I know—"

"No, you don't know!" Yang stormed up to her, fists clenched. "That barbarian—that smug bastard—he played us! He's got some freaky forest powers and a freaking crocodile army, and now—now Ruby's still in that hellhole!"

"Jaune Arc," Mercury spat, stepping out of the jeep and kicking a rock. "That guy. That guy. I swear to the gods, if I ever get my hands on him—"

"—I'll break his legs," Emerald finished darkly. "Then I'll break the sticks he calls legs."

"I'll break his face," Yang growled.

"I'll break his dreams," Fū muttered, cracking her knuckles.

Lisa, still filming, cheerfully added, "I'll break the news!"

Everyone stopped to stare at her.

Lisa grinned. "What? I mean, we are talking about the most insane story of the century—'Jaune Arc: From Dweeb to Dictator'—has a nice ring, don't you think?"

Blake pinched the bridge of her nose. "Lisa."

Lisa zoomed in on her. "Blake."

"Shut up."

"No."

Before another argument could start, Gillian, who had been silent all this time, hesitantly raised a hand. "…So, um. Just checking. We all hate Jaune Arc, right?"

A chorus of affirmatives rang out.

"Yep."

"Absolutely."

"Like a plague."

"Burning hatred."

"Visceral hatred."

Lisa was still filming.

Gillian sighed and slapped the camera out of her hand.

"Hey!"

"You moron!" Gillian barked. "Can you stop acting like a journalist for two seconds?!"

Lisa pouted, but picked up the camera.

Gillian turned back to the group, running a hand through her hair. "Okay, so listen. My brother and I run this… business."

"Criminal empire," Mercury corrected.

"Business," Gillian repeated. "And if you really want to take down Jaune Arc, you might wanna join us."

Yang immediately threw her hand up. "I'm in!"

Lisa's eyes sparkled. "Is this an exclusive interview?"

"…Sure?"

"Then I'm in!"

She had no idea she just joined a literal criminal syndicate.

Blake, however, narrowed her eyes.

She pulled out her scroll and walked a few steps away. The moment she was out of earshot, she dialed a secure line.

A voice answered. "Report."

"It's me," Blake murmured. "The mission was… complicated. We have intel on Jaune Arc, but there's a new factor. Gillian Austrosin."

"The Crown's leader?"

"Yes. And they're trying to recruit us against Jaune."

A pause. Then—

"Accept."

Blake frowned. "Are you sure?"

"We'll deal with the Crown after Jaune Arc. For now, play along."

"…Understood."

She ended the call, then turned back to the group.

"Alright," Blake said. "I'm in."

Fū crossed her arms. "If Blake's in, I'm in."

Emerald and Mercury, still mentally tallying up how Cinder would kill them for failing, exchanged glances.

"…Welp," Mercury sighed. "I'd rather die in battle than in some torture chamber."

Emerald scowled. "Dammit. Fine. We're in too."

Gillian smirked. "Good choice. Now then." She extended a hand.

"Let's take down Jaune Arc."

—X~X—

Author Note:

And just like that, this story became my fourth published work to surpass 100K words.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. The next one will be dropped soon.

Drop your thoughts in the review section if you feel like it. Seriously, your words mean the world to me. They keep me going, writing faster, better, and with more heart.

Till next time!