Sorry for my bad English.
If you guys remember what Ryan told to Jaune about a thin line divinding victory and defeat, a good example of this is in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Battle Tendency. When Caesar was fighting against Wamuu, right at the end he had the victory in his hands, this until he decide to finish him with his hands, giving Wamuu the chance he needed to turn the table on his favor.
I guess it was from Jojo series that I thought about this lesson. Besides, there are a lot of places were someone got arrogant near the end and got defeated because it got careless.
On a second note, finally a chapter without Ryan. Giving the guy a break for now until I decide to torture him and Jaune again.
That's all for now, to the fic!
As discussed before Ruby's kidnapping, the young reaper wanted to make an improvement on the duo's weapons. While Ryan refused, Jaune was open to the idea, anything to have some advantage during the fights of the Challenge.
At first, he thought she was going to put a shotgun on his sword because he once heard her mumbling the idea. So when she approached him saying she was going to put a crossbow in his shield, he was surprised and relieved.
So there he was now, in Beacon's shooting gallery with Ruby, Chocolat, and Ren.
The reason Ren was there is that despite what almost every guy thinks, spending all day surrounded by girls is not that great, so sometimes he spends some quality time with the duo.
And Chocolat was there to make sure her fellow team leader don't overdo it with what she planned to do with Jaune's shield after hearing Ruby mumbling something about explosive arrows.
-Alright! -Ruby cheerfully declared. -We are set to go!
-Someone is in a good mood. -Chocolat said.
-Of course! Is not every day I can work on someone's else weapon!
-Sneaking around our classmates in the workshop is not enough? -Chocolat asked with a raised brow and a smirk.
Ruby blushed at the question despite not seeing the problem in putting a bazooka on a shoulder plate.
-The dummies are set. -Ren said while tapping on the nearby computer.
Right after he said that grimm dummies were lined up ahead of them.
-Hey Jaune. -Chocolat called. -Something happened to Ryan?
-No. - Jaune answered while inspecting his shield and then asked. -Why are you asking that?
-It's just that he's not here. -Chocolat answered. -Aren't you guys like, always together?
-We are not always together. -Jaune explained. -I mean, we leave each other alone while going to the bathroom. -Both Ruby and Chocolat let out a chuckle. -It's just that after the attack two nights ago, he was told to lay low while the teacher look for those triplets.
-Do you think Fée would purposely make him leave the work late to meet with those triplets? -Ren asked. -Or is just him being paranoid?
Jaune would bet on the latter if he had not met the side of Fée that Ryan had to deal with before coming to Beacon. He knows that his partner can take care of himself but could not help but worry about the length Fée may go to using her words, destroy Ryan.
No use thinking about that right now. He has his matters to attend to at the moment. With his shield in hand, and gave a small push with his fingers and the shield transformed and was looking like a crossbow.
-Ruby, may I ask why you choose a crossbow? -Chocolat asked.
-The recoil. -Ruby answered and began to explain. -If I put a gun or something similar on the shield, the recoil of the shot would make it difficult to use the shield, leaving Jaune exposed to attacks more often than usual. A crossbow has almost no recoil to get in the way.
-Makes sense. -Ren stated.
-It is not for nothing I'm the team leader! -Ruby cheerfully said.
-Alright. -Chocolat said clapping her hands. -Let's begin already.
Jaune pointed the shield against the dummies and pulling the trigger Ruby put, bolts were shot from the shield. It was his first time using a long-ranged weapon, so Jaune had a little difficulty at first. Like Ruby mentioned, the recoil was sure inferior to a firearm but Jaune still could feel the force pushing his arms after shooting.
Surprisingly, most of the bolts hit the targets, with some going far away from the dummies. Still, Jaune was surprised he managed to land a few hits while never using a crossbow in his life.
-I call it a success! -Ruby cheerfully said.
-You went good for your first time using a crossbow. -Ren commented.
-I guess it can work for long-range combat. -Chocolat commented.
Jaune was about to add his opinion but Ruby's voice cut him.
-Alright! Now the first test was a success, let's try now with those babies! -What Ruby was showing to her friends was bolts red colored right on the tip.
-Ruby, those are explosive bolts? -Chocolat asked.
-Uh, how did you know? -Ruby asked tilting her head.
-Ruby, it is the first time I'm using a crossbow. -Jaune commented. -Perhaps I should practice a bit more before using something with that... caliber.
-It is fine! -Ruby said. -You were quite good for your first time using a crossbow. I'm sure you can handle it...
-Ruby, is that a lit fuse? -Chocolat asked.
Both Ren and Jaune look at the red bolts with eyes wide open seeing a lit fuse slowly burning and going to the bolts in Ruby's hands.
-Strange. -Ruby commented. -They suppose to be lit after you shot them.
Then comes the explosion.
-Ms. Rose. -Goodwitch started. -I can't believe I have to remind you again that while experimenting with dust, you explicitly need to be in the presence of one member of the staff, especially while testing with weapons. Professor Peach already said she is glad to help you with your experiments, then why did you decide to carry out this test on your own?
As Goodwitch scolded Ruby, the rest of the gang were sitting not far from there. All of them were covered in ashes from head to toe. While waiting for the professor to finish with their friend, they were offered wet wipes to clean at least their faces.
-Well, except for the part we end up with a blast, I say the test was a success. -Chocolat commented with a smirk.
-Oh, haha! -Jaune sarcastically laughed. -How come you did not see that coming?
-I have to activate my semblance to see the future, Jaune. -Chocolat answered. -If I keep it activated, I barely will have any aura to use.
-She's right. -Ren commented next. -Any huntsman must be careful with the use of his or her semblance during a fight. Depending on how use it, it may create an opening or even leave you open for the enemy's attack.
-Oh yeah, speaking of which, what is your semblance? -Chocolat asked Jaune.
-My... semblance? -Jaune asked.
-Oh, you still don't know what is your semblance, right? -Chocolat asked.
While Chocolat patted Jaune's back, Ren was deep in his thoughts. He knew that something was wrong on the night Nora returned from the infirmary after the duo's encounter with the Behemoth. It took him a couple of days but he was able to make Nora spill the beans about Jaune's transcription.
He already suspected that seeing his combat abilities firsthand. He lacked even the basics of what a huntsman should know about combat. Even like that, was able to survive in the Danger Zone, with the help of Ryan of course.
When Nora revealed his fake transcriptions, Ren's mind went back to the Challenge, feeling a little worried about how the blonde knight will fair against Beacon students, the best of the bests. He knows that Ryan is helping him but can't help but feel that they will not be able to overcome this challenge.
And thus, he worries about the blonde knight's future.
-What do you think, Ren?
-Uh, what? -Ren asked, not noticing his leader talking to him.
-I asked what do you think? -Chocolat asked again.
-Sorry, I was deep in thoughts. What is the question again?
-Is Nora still hiding food below her bed?
-No after you told her it may attract rodents. Although she was pacing around our room last night while holding her hammer.
-Was she trying to play Whack-a-Mouse? -Jaune joked earning a chuckle from Chocolat.
Jaune, Ren, and Chocolat were excused by Goodwitch since the explosion was Ruby's doing, and the professor put the young redhead in detention for the next day because of the mess she created. Ren excused himself and went to look for Nora, worried that she still was trying to, using Jaune's words, play Whack-a-Mouse.
This left Jaune alone with Chocolat and with the spirit of a gentleman, he offered to take her back to the dorm room. Since Ruby would still be in detention, she accepted wanting to have someone to talk to.
-It was not the first time you used a crossbow, right? -Chocolat asked.
-I've been practicing since Ruby come to me with the idea. -Jaune answered. -At first, I had some difficulties but after some practice, I manage to hold my ground pretty well if I can say myself.
-And your training?
-Ryan keeps helping me in getting in shape for the Challenge. His type of training may be usual but it shows results.
-I can see that. -Chocolat said, remembering the day in the school's pool. -And your aura training, how it is going?
The question made Jaune stop on his track.
-Aura... training?
Chocolat notices the blonde stopped moving and turn back to him.
-Yes Jaune. You did know that you need to practice with your aura, right?
-What?! Pff! Yeah, of course, I knew! And what about you?
The eyebrow Chocolat raised showed Jaune that he needed to stop making those questions.
-I just asked you, Jaune.
-Y-yes, you did. cough cough Anyway, why don't you fill me in on the aura training?
-Couldn't you just ask Ms. Goodwitch?
-No... I can't...
-Oookay... Let me give a short explanation then. When it comes to aura, it is different for each individual. Like, Yang's aura is more resistant than mine for example, but my aura is more resilient than hers, so I may recover quicker than her. People like me, Weiss, and Koro need to have good control over their auras because of the semblances, her glyphs and his symbols need concentration to do as my clairvoyance. And there are those like you, who has more than any huntsmen usually have.
-This can work in my favor somehow?
-Actually, yes. I once heard those who have a huge amount of aura have more stamina because their aura is constantly healing them, and can handle more time in battle. But it all depends on how much you use during a fight. In your sparring against Cardin, you were not using too much and this made you tire quickly.
-So if I practice my aura, I can handle more time in battle?
-Precisely.
-Thank you, Chocolat. It was a very useful information.
-Glad I could help. Oh, we are here.
They reached the CNVL dorm room and Jaune, still trying to act like a gentleman, bowed to Chocolat, making her chuckle before giving each other a goodbye. But upon entering the room, Chocolat was shocked to see Nora had planted bear traps around the dorm. It clicked too late in her head that Ren was nowhere to be seen.
-So, what do you both say? -Dr. Oobleck asked two of his second-year students.
-I accept. -The bigger one said. -I heard about Forest, and I want to experience firsthand what he can do.
-I also accept. -The smaller one said. -I need to practice my new skills.
-Excellent. -Oobleck said. -I shall report this to Ozpin. I will send the details of the match to both of your scrolls. You're both dismissed. -And he left like a green blur.
Somewhere in the academy, Ren silently apologizes to his team leader for leaving her to handle the strange quirks of his childhood friend, wanting some peacetime before getting back.
As mentioned before, being surrounded by girls all day is not so great. And Nora may be his childhood friend, but he really needs a break from her sometimes.
End of the chapter.
To be honest, I don't know if the recoil of a crossbow can be weaker than some types of guns, but I once see a commercial of a toy shield of Captain America that could transform and shoot darts. I saw that and immediately wanted to make Jaune use something similar. Besides, we need some more arrow users.
One more chapter before the second round as you notice near the end of this chapter. I thought about a lot of OCs just to Jaune to face in combat but some seemed too, what the word I'm looking for, tasteless to use in the future. I hope the ones I choose can be used for later but for now, will have to wait until the 30th chapter.
That's all folks, see you nex time.