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"WHAT?!" Jaune shouted, staring at Shade with his face full of disbelief. "What do you mean by that?! Aren't your parents deceased?"
"Did I give the impression that our mother was gone? Because I don't believe I did." Shade replied. "She has no power to influence any calls within the pack. I was the Alpha!"
"Was? Why the past tense?" Jaune asked, worried. "I thought one has to kill the Alpha to take their place. Isn't that how it works?"
"More or less. The transfer can be peaceful, but it is most often taken by force. Only the strongest may thrive and rule. But, there is another aspect." Shade explained. "The elders … "
"I think you mentioned them before. They are older hellhounds, correct?" Jaune asked, receiving a nod.
"My mother doesn't stand the idea of Cerberus existing anymore! It was her infidelity that gave her life, yet she now believes she holds the right to TAKE that life as well! No parent should have that right … " Shade growled. "She convinced the elders and the entire pack to BANISH me."
"BANISH?!" Jaune gasped in absolute shock. "What about Ignium?! Surely, the strong hand of the Emperor of Hell can convince them not to do anything stupid!"
"Trust me, Ignium gave them a stern warning to stay in hell. They won't dare come to the human world … for now." Shade continued. "But we hellhounds are stubborn beings, Jaune. I KNOW they will break Ignium's command and trespass into this realm to bring harm to Cerberus. And they won't spare anyone in this house. Do you think they fear Lucifer and Beelzebub, two Cardinals? Wrong."
"What then, Shade? You said you could not do anything to stop them anymore, but I have the feeling you misspoke! You are arguably the strongest hellhound I know! If push comes to shove, then just like me, you'd do anything for Cerberus."
"Read me like an open book. This is why I am here. They might have banished me from the role of Alpha and the pack, but those who are not blinded by hatred see that their call turned me into their enemy. Their newly chosen Alpha, once my second-in-command, is NOTHING compared to me." Shade stated strongly. "But I know naught when they will attack. And how. I just know they will. I already spoke with Lucifer about it in secret."
"You have a plan."
"I cannot stay here, in the human realm. Unlike the women in this house, I don't have any demonic talent for taking on disguises. I only learned to do it to come here, but if I lose focus, I revert right back. Fortunately, I was able to pull through the week." Shade explained. "My presence here would have been enough to deter them from trying anything. Unfortunately, it is not an option that either of us can enjoy. Not that you'd want my presence around anyway."
"I think Cerberus would have loved having her brother around some more, but I see your reasoning. But what then? Are you banking on me being able to fight them off?" Shade snorted. "Ok, that's a no."
"I do not mean to insult, but you are yet to be able to stand up to us. You might get a few good strikes in, but ultimately, you need to remember that we hellhounds fight united. They will NOT fight you one on one." Shade explained. "Jaune, listen. The plan is simple: Lucifer will reinforce the barrier around the house, and if they do show up, it won't be anywhere near here."
"Wait, what about the other people on the island? This is Patch, for fuck's sake! There are many other people on the island, and if those hellhounds are willing to go against the word of the Emperor of Hell to get to Cerberus, who is to say they won't go on a rampage across the island?" Jaune voiced his worry, which really gave Shade something to think about.
"That is a fair point. Too fair. Fuck!" He swore, growling lowly. "I haven't considered collateral."
"Shade … "
"Don't look at me! I am not a thinker. I am a fighter. Fuck … "
"We need a way to prevent this," Jaune said again. "Can't you earn your spot back by right of battle or something?"
"Possible, but not so easy. Being banished meant I could only challenge their Alpha, and I knew my blood better than to assume they didn't think of that. No, they will have tricks. And there is no telling what they might attempt." Shade said once again. "But there might be a way to deter them. But if you do it like that, then I won't be able to visit anymore."
"What is it?" Jaune asked.
"Silver Needles." Shade said. "It is a flower which grows in Hell. Namely, it grows in Limbo. Its smell is like … hot needles in our noses and eyes."
"Won't Cerberus suffer from it as well? She is part hellhound." Jaune reasoned.
Shade shook his head. "Cerberus is only half hellhound, Jaune. The flowers won't affect her unless she sniffs them directly. And I mean really directly, pushing them in her face."
"I see. Alright then, so what then? Do we just get some seeds?"
"Should be that easy, yes." Shade replied. "I will speak to Ignium, and he will send some Imps to spread seeds across the island in the death of night."
"Ok … Ok, I think that covers that, then. Damn it, Shade, way to kill my good mood right after my family left." Jaune said, rubbing his face. "I mean, it's not like I was already under some stress trying to become a huntsman with less than half the years of training others have."
"Not my fault," Shade replied, shrugging. Jaune found no way to complain to the man. It was really not his fault any of this was happening; he was just doing what he could with the cards he was dealt.
"Right. You're right. Still, it is a problem." Jaune pointed out. "Got a more permanent solution, though? I don't imagine Remnant has the needed fauna to support those flowers for long."
"Oh, don't worry. They are highly invasive. Unless you humans decide to get rid of them, they are here to stay! That being said, if you DO get rid of them, then we will have a problem. But no worries. I will work on something with Ignium and see if we can come up with a plan to get the pack off your back." Shade replied.
"Thanks, Shade. What are you going to do now?"
"Now? Now I will return to hell." Shade said and tapped his foot on the ground, opening a portal behind himself.
"Can anyone open portals to hell now?!" Jaune gasped.
"I got something special from Ignium! I will see you around, Jaune! And remember! Be wary around my sister, or else … " Shade showed Jaune his claws, driving the point home.
"Heard you like a gospel truth."
"Marvelous." With that, Shade left, leaving Jaune alone in his room. With the hellhound gone, Jaune sighed, letting himself collapse on his bed, now exhausted mentally as well. However, as he did, he felt something … off. Right next to him, under the sheets, he felt a large number of bumps. And the heat that was coming off of it was telling him plenty.
"Oh no … "
"Oh, yes~" Modeus purred. "Come here! Tonight, you and I are cuddling. Naked."
"Mo, for the love of all that is good in this world, at least put some underwear on!"
The following day arrived well, and the members of the hellish household were finally able to enjoy returning to their normal string of activities. Currently, this implies that Jaune is training outside, with no top clothing, and that Judgement is watching him like a hawk. And right now? Push-ups … While standing on his hands.
"Remind me again … " Jaune spoke as sweat dripped from his face, and he was clearly struggling even to talk without losing focus. "Why am I doing push-ups like this?"
"This is to work on your strength and balance at once. In this position, you are effectively pushing against the entire weight of your body, and you need to do so while keeping perfect balance on your arms. Don't fall again." Judgement warned him.
"Yes, Ma'am … " Jaune replied, continuing his exercise.
"So, I take it we are leaving tonight, huh." Judgement said. "The Sanctum Selection is soon, is it not?"
"It is," Jaune replied, still going at it.
"What is your plan, then? I doubt you are just going to see the battles." Judgement replied.
"Remember what Beel said? This is a chance for me to get some extra semblances for Origin." Jaune replied, surprising Judgement.
"I thought you had something against abusing it." She replied. "What changed?"
"I guess I just came to accept its reality," Jaune replied, letting himself down and finally standing back with his feet on the ground. "Origin is something I was pretty much meant to inherit all along, and not using it feels like a slap on the face of my heritage. I didn't ask for it, but I am stuck with it regardless, so I might as well. Besides, I will need all the edge I can get if I want to make it to Beacon." Jaune replied, offering his answer.
"What about the sisters? They have semblances." Judgement suggested.
"Yang and Ruby … I guess you have a point, but it's different with them. I know them, and I dare say they are friends by now. I don't think I'd be comfortable with copying their semblances without asking first." He replied, making Judgement sigh in slight frustration.
"Still not selfish enough. Power is power, and if you can take one's power without actually taking it, there is no harm being done." Judgement replied.
"Maybe. But it still doesn't feel right." Jaune replied, grabbing his coat. "I am ok with copying the semblances of strangers, but it is more difficult with people I know. Mister Colt's semblance, Only the Truth, was the only exception."
"If you say so." Judgement replied, not fully buying Jaune's words. She still detected hints of doubt in his voice, like he was not entirely set in his conviction. She hoped this issue would solve itself with time.
Beelzebub and Lucifer greeted Jaune as he came inside the house and talked in the living room. "Ah, darling, great timing. We were just discussing the details of our little trip."
"Considering we are going into a highly populated human settlement, we will, of course, be holding our disguises, but there is also another detail we need to iron out," Lucifer added with a grin. "Your shopping trip."
"Right," Jaune replied, knowing that this talk was coming. "Ok, so, first things first, we need to make sure we do not cause a ruckus. Let's keep the event intact, meaning we won't be doing anything like starting a riot or fighting anyone if we can help it."
"Naturally, staying undercover is crucial here," Lucifer replied. "But what about your semblances? Let's say you find one that strikes your fancy. What then?"
"We follow that person, and I need only touch them once; that's that. If possible, I could bump into them or pretend to be blind and ask to feel their face." Jaune explained, making Beel giggle at his words. "Something the matter?"
"No, darling, no. Your ideas are good, but there is the odd chance of people recognizing you or taking among themselves and realizing you were up to something." Beel pointed out, making Jaune blush from embarrassment. "Don't worry, we are here, remember? I can have my flies fly around, keeping tabs on the targets, and when they are alone, I can open a portal to them!"
"From there, it is a matter of restraining them and altering their memories afterward to make it seem like a dream," Lucifer added. "They won't be harmed or remember anything."
"Seems a bit more complex than what I had in mind … Or not, if I think about it. My ideas seem far more complex than this." Jaune admitted.
"In all fairness? You never stalked and attacked anyone before." Judgement pointed out, and Jaune had to agree with her. This field was very new to him but not to the girls around him. "Still, we have time. The event is meant to last for several days, is it not?"
"Yes, it is," Jaune replied. "The Sanctum Selection usually lasts for a week or so, with several fights every day."
"Great. In that case, let us prepare. We will each pack our bags for the trip, and Baphomet already took care of our hotel reservations." Beel replied. "We are all set."
"In that case … " Jaune trailed off, grabbing Durandal and breaking it into two before folding them into guns, checking the ammo in each before he reformed the full blade and sheathed it. "Let's be on our way."
The Sanctum Selection has been a tradition in Mistral for decades, and it only grew as time went by. It is a nationwide event, a holiday, and a free period from work. Anyone can go and enjoy the food, drinks, and fun. But you need tickets to see the greatest event: the Selection. It is a fighting tournament that pits the best students at Sanctum against each other. The winner is allowed to graduate right there and choose whatever Huntsman Academy they like while also covering their traveling expenses.
A great opportunity. He wondered who would win, but he couldn't help but be excited about it all. Judgement has told him to pay close attention to everything during the event, to scan the participants and gauge their potential compared to his own. He had a feeling they would eclipse him since he hadn't trained for as long as they had, but he was not going to give up easily.
Officially, the Sanctum Selection started tomorrow, and it was now the dead of night. By choosing to arrive at such a late hour, no one was going to be around when Beel opened the portal, allowing them to pass through into an alley away from the main roads.
They even wore different clothing! Well, for the most part. Jaune wore a simple black shirt, a white jacket with golden detailing, and black jeans, and most of this was covered by his armor. But the girls were dressed more for the occasion and quite more like civilians than he was.
Beel was dressed in a red sweater, likely borrowed from Mo, with a pair of black pants, a jacket with fur along the neck, and black boots for the journey. To be fair, it was still winter and pretty cold outside. However, Lucifer acknowledged that more than them, having a long coat over herself that reached just below her knees with black boots, her jacket being black with pink fur along the wrist and neck. Lastly, there was Judgement, who was the most boldly dressed of them all, choosing to go in a jacket left open at the front with a black top on her held by two straps, wearing a pair of black ripped jeans and high boots that reached to her knees.
"Look who decided to show up," Lucifer said, seeing him come down the stairs. "Ready to depart, Jaune?"
"Yeah, I got everything I will need. Lien, my scroll, and even a map," He replied. "Shall we depart, Beel?"
"But of course. Follow me, everyone," She said as she led them outside into the evening, the snow falling gently on the ground. The last to go out was Jaune, who closed the door behind him. Then he watched as Beel took in a few breaths, steam coming from her mouth each time. Then she threw her hands forth, the portal opening itself to Mistral. "Alright, every one, one at a time."
When they came out the other side, they were met with the city of Mistral, the sight taking Jaune's breath away entirely, along with Lucifer and Judgement. Mistral was beautiful, decorated with lights all the way to Haven Academy, where his sister, Coral, studied. The houses had chimneys, letting out smoke from the fires inside to keep those within warm, and the snow was falling even here.
Beelzebub took a few steps forth. The girls had taken their human disguises. "Welcome to Mistral! I visited this place before when obtaining supplies for the house, so I know how you must feel. The city is amazing, through and through. The architecture and culture are tightly linked together, and the people are amazing as well. Granted, they do have their flaws, but we are not here for that now, are we?"
"No … " Jaune replied, recovering himself from his state of awe. "We are here to have fun. Let's find our rooms. The Sanctum Selection starts tomorrow."
"I wonder how you humans are capable of such wonders at times," Lucifer muttered, still looking around the city.
"This is beautiful," Judgement said.
"Yeah … It is," Jaune said, and then the group made their way to the hotel. They managed to check in, taking two different rooms each. Judgement stayed with Jaune in the room while Beel was with Lucifer. A risky play, but the two promised Jaune they would behave, so he had faith they wouldn't start genocide. He hoped. After getting everything settled, Jaune noticed Judgement getting ready for bed and taking off her clothing. He turned his gaze away, the former high prosecutor snorting at his behavior.
"Having so many women at your disposal, yet still too shy to look at a little skin?" She said, trying to sound mocking, but she couldn't hold the act together until the end. "T-Thank you for not peeking."
She changed into her pajamas and got into bed, but Jaune had other plans. He wanted to go out and explore a little bit. There was no harm in that, so without taking anything else off, he went out.
The snow was falling more than before. It really gave the surrounding buildings a magical air. He ventured out into the city of Mistral, keeping close to the center of the town and walking along the dimly lit streets of the lamps powered by Dust. His steps were obvious as the snow was crushed under his feet, and his blue eyes took in the beautiful nightlife of Mistral. The streets were not fully deserted either, with some people who liked staying up late running around, doing their own thing.
He eventually reached the park, where a fountain was located. The water was most likely warmed up a bit so it wouldn't freeze, offering a beautiful sight. He went to it, leaning against the edge and looking down to see his reflection in the water.
He couldn't believe he was the same man he was half a year ago. Thanks to Judgement's training, he put on more muscle and grew a bit as well, not to mention the sword training he received. While not a master, he had the basics down, and he was confident he could stand up for himself if need be. Judgement was unforgiving in battle, so he never took her for granted or easily. Ignium was even more brutal, but thanks to them, he reached a level he never thought he would get.
He owed them a lot.
Hopefully, not his soul, however.
He chuckled as he waved his head around, seeing his ponytail at the back of his head. He has to admit, he looked good with that instead of, God forbid, using gel. He then looked around, seeing the sky. You couldn't see much because of the clouds, but it had its beauty. He turned around, leaning himself on the fountain and looking around.
That was when he heard another set of steps heading his way. Not even walking past the fountain but directly toward it. He looked in their general direction to see a girl, tall but still a bit shorter than him, with emerald eyes and fair skin. She was dressed in a long, red coat with black buttons and brown gloves. She had boots on her feet and black pants that went with her shoes. Her bright crimson hair was a colorful contrast to the white of the snow, and it was being let loose around her. She walked up to the fountain as well.
Jaune looked at her with the tail of his eye. She seemed familiar, but he decided to ignore it. "Good evening."
Catching her attention, the girl lifted her head and looked at him instead of the ground. However, she seemed a bit on guard, likely because he wore an obvious weapon and armor.
"Good evening." She replied, although reluctantly, which Jaune noticed. "I … I see you like the fountain, too, huh?"
"I guess … " He said with a small smile on his lips, turning around and leaning on the fountain again. "I actually came here for the Sanctum Selection."
"The Selection?" The girl echoed, looking at him and noticing the sword at his hip. "Are you perhaps a participant?"
"What?" He said, turning his head to her and looking at her with a bit of confusion before he realized she must have been asking because of his weapon. "Oh, no, I am not. I am here to watch, nothing more."
"Then are you from another school? Signal? Mantle? Or … " She trailed off.
"No, I am not. Never been to one, actually," Jaune said. "I am more or less self-taught. I mean, I do have people helping me train, but they are not exactly professionals."
"Oh, I see … " Her head dipped down again as she looked into the fountain's water.
Jaune wasn't always the most observant person, but he knew something was up. His instincts told him he should do something to help. "Do you … want my coat?"
"What?" The girl looked up, turning her head once more towards him, almost in a state of confusion, as he had just asked if she wanted to see him naked.
"Sorry, I thought you were cold. You seem a little bit off." Jaune rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Mind if I ask you what you are doing here? Except for enjoying the view, of course."
The girl's eyes darted around, seemingly looking for something off. Concern was now mixed with confusion on her face. What was it about Jaune that was having this girl act weird? Did he say something bad? Did he mess it up already?
"I am … actually taking part in the Selection," She replied hesitantly, looking like he was going to bite her or something.
"That's so cool!" Jaune quickly chimed in, catching her off guard. "That must mean you are one of the top students at Sanctum, is that right?"
The girl avoided his gaze and mumbled randomly for a bit. He strained his ears to hear her but only caught a few words. When her eyes searched around them again, she seemed to say something about 'cameras' and 'acting'. Okay, now he was really starting to feel that he was doing something wrong. The girl before him was acting strangely, like he was an alien creature.
Jaune heard her whisper the word 'name' and realized he had done at least one thing wrong. He pushed off the fountain and moved closer. He gave, according to his demon girls, his trademark goofy smile as he held out his hand. "Oh, sorry for my manners. My name is Jaune Arc. And you are?"
The girl stared at his hand before looking up at his face with wide eyes. The confusion and concern were now overshadowed by … Hope?
"I'm, I'm … do, do you … really not know who I am?" She asked softly, watching his face closely.
It was Jaune's turn to be confused. Was she someone important? A politician's daughter? A child genius who was changing the medical field? The next person to be killed in some sort of blood sacrifice Mistral had? Maybe Jaune had been spending too much time around demons.
"Um … should I?" He asked sheepishly, pushing other thoughts away. "I'm sorry if I do not know. I don't usually pay attention to stuff like, um … fashion models?"
"No, no, it's ok!" She quickly grabbed his hand and shook it. "I'm Ms … I mean the upcoming champ- … hold questions unti- … Pyrrha. My name is Pyrrha Nikos."
For Jaune, her grip was just a little too tight, making it uncomfortable. But with the training he went through, it wasn't anything he couldn't endure. Though he was less shaking her hand as much as his arm was being dragged behind her vigorously, moving her hand up and down.
"Glad to meet you, Pyrrha." He held himself steady so he wasn't thrown around.
"Nice meeting you," She replied with a warm smile of her own.
"By the way, have I seen you before? You look a bit familiar." Jaune instantly regretted his question as her smile became brittle. She stopped shaking his arm, and he suppressed a wince as her grip on his hand tightened.
"Oh … you haven't heard, but you've seen," Pyrrha spoke quietly. After a moment of thinking, she raised an eyebrow. "Pumpkin Pete?"
"Oh my Gods, I love that cereal! I used to have it all the time." Jaune looked up at the sky as he remembered simpler times. "Sadly, I haven't had it in months. I was forced … convinced to change my diet. I miss it so much and … wait, you were on the side of the box?"
"Well, yes. My contract started a few months ago." Pyrrha's smile became less forced, and her grip lessened, for which Jaune was grateful. "You may have only seen me once or twice."
"Wow." His eyes widened, and he stared at her in awe. "They must have paid you in so many boxes of the stuff for doing that."
Pyrrha let out a small giggle from his childish reaction. "No, it was money. I don't think I could ever eat that much of the stuff. It's a good thing you stopped eating it. It's not very healthy."
"People would debate that," Jaune said a bit too quickly. Seeing her questioning look, he added. " … I would debate that."
"Perhaps another time." Pyrrha's smile returned, and Jaune relaxed at the apparent recovery from the conversation.
"Fair enough. Still, that must have been pretty cool to do. They don't normally put fashion models on the side of their cer-wait." Jaune's cheeks turned red as he remembered she was in the Sanctum Selection. He probably should have put this together sooner. "Huntress. Right, you're a Huntress-in-training. You're not a cartoon character, so I guess you must be quite the star athlete."
"Yeah … " She replied. "I am taking part in the Sanctum Selection tomorrow to try to finish early."
"I see. Any special reason for that?" He asked.
Pyrrha tensed up a little. "I … I just want to have more time for myself, I guess?"
"Oh, I see. That's cool, I guess, getting more spare time to spend with your family," He replied.
A small silence fell after that answer between the two. Jaune didn't know what else to say. Well, technically, he did. But it didn't concern her specifically, just anyone with a semblance.
"Can I … ask you." Pyrrha furrowed her brow in great concentration. "Oh! Jaune, you mentioned that you have people helping you train but that they are not professionals. Care to elaborate?"
It was now Jaune's turn to tense his body. He didn't expect her to ask about that in particular, but now he better put his time with demons to use and bullshit the living hell out of people.
Gods, they really rubbed off on him, didn't they?
"Well, they are not Huntresses, active or retired, for one. I had a bad falling out with my father, you see. It ended with some yelling and me running off." He saw her eyes widen and her mouth fall agape at his words. She probably wasn't expecting him to tell someone he just met that. But he pushed forward regardless.
"After I took off, I found myself wandering around for a bit before finding a place to stay. I met the landlady, and she offered me a room. And believe me, she had more than enough space," He said, even though that is not really what happened. Lying still felt somewhat bad to him, but he couldn't help it. Can't go around telling people he lived with demons and angels, all-female, and that he has Hell's current head honcho on speed dial. "I didn't have money to pay, but I decided to offer other services instead."
Red flags! RED FLAGS!
Pyrrha squeaked out so quietly that Jaune barely heard her. Then, her voice made him wince at the volume. "You're sleeping with the landlady?!"
"What?! No! Dust, why is everyone assuming that?! I have seven sisters, for crying out loud! I clean, cook, fix stuff, and even take care of any Grimm that comes around!" He replied in haste, not leaving the misunderstanding alive.
"Oh … Apologies for jumping to assumptions." Her cheeks turned a bit red. Her mouth opened to say something before closing quickly as her eyes widened. After a moment, she found her voice again. "Wait … did you say … seven? Seven sisters?!"
"Again, yes," he replied with a sigh. "I am the only son in a family of eight children."
"Forgive me for asking, but is your-"
"Yes, my mother is okay, and yes, she has killer hips from what everyone and my father keep saying," He replied in anticipation, having received that plenty of times before already. Thank the Gods for foresight. It comes in handy at times. "As I was saying, I offer my services in exchange for a room, but one of the other tenants has been offering their help. One in particular who loves to work out has been working me like a slave to get me into shape."
He flinched a bit, recalling the early days of his training. Hell … True, utter terrifying Hell. Pyrrha nodded her head after he finished putting the pieces together. Then she fidgeted for a bit.
"And um … How long has it been since you and your father … if you don't mind me asking?" She spoke slowly, trying not to be rude or trespass on a sensitive subject.
"Roughly half a year ago, at the end of last summer," He replied. "Since then, I have been pushing myself, trying to get in shape in time for Beacon."
"Beacon? You plan on going there?" She asked, looking at him with a somewhat surprised expression. She bit her lip, focusing on him. "Wait, Jaune, how much training do you have, exactly?"
He sighed with a chuckle, looking down at the pool and answering, "Not much. I have been working my ass off, but I doubt it will be enough. Or it might, who knows? One of the reasons for my fallout with him was the fact that he was intentionally stopping me from pursuing a huntsman career."
"Why do you want to be a huntsman, Jaune?" Pyrrha narrowed her eyes in confusion, judging him. Her eyes roamed over his body, and she hummed in approval. But she frowned when she looked at his sword. Finally, her eyes met his own, waiting for his answer.
"To be a hero," He answered simply, making Pyrrha sigh. "But … It is more than just a childish dream. It's a legacy. My father, grandfather, and his father before him were huntsmen - heroes who stood against the masses of Grimm to fight and protect. And although not all my ancestors were as such … "
"They all had good intentions. I want to be a huntsman to protect others, even if … " Jaune recalled Artorious. That man did everything in his power for his people and family. That, as far as Jaune can see, is his redeeming quality. "Even if it means throwing my own life away."
Pyrrha's body locked up at his words. She stared at him, her face shifting through multiple emotions. Conflicted, dismissive, sad, respectful, and hopeful.
"Tell me Jaune … " She said softly, glancing away from him. "Do … you believe in destiny?"
"Destiny?" He echoed, pondering about her question. Destiny is the notion that everything a person is meant to be is pre-written for them, and they have to follow it. But honestly? When you know the supposed higher beings responsible for writing destiny, you don't believe in it much. His father would claim it is not his destiny to be a huntsman and hero, but that's the thing about it. He smiled with confidence, knowing how to reply. "I believe that destiny is not what dictates how we end up. I believe that if you don't like your destiny, you can change it."
"Change destiny?" She echoed in awe. "How can you do that?"
"Well, with my training, one would say it is not written for me to be a huntsman, but watch me prove them wrong!" He declared boldly. "I might not be the best fighter around, but hey. Been told I got the tactical smarts, big aura pool, and I know for a fact my semblance's kick ass."
She processed his words a bit, looking at the boy before her as if she saw an oddity. There was a moment of silence before she started … shaking. It took Jaune a second to realize she was trying not to laugh, and in the end, she failed. It was like a happy chirp as the dam broke.
"Did I say something funny?" Jaune asked in confusion as Pyrrha laughed, thinking he said something stupid. His social anxiety was returning to him. She put a hand over her mouth and took a few deep breaths.
"Yes and no, Jaune." She had a large smile on her face as she stopped laughing. "Look, I don't know exactly how good you are or what your semblance is, and honestly, I do not want to pry, even if I am curious now to check if everything wasn't just worded in the wind."
Suddenly, she pulled out her scroll to check the time, seeing it was quite late. "Oh no, I should go. I need to be ready for tomorrow."
"Wanna exchange scroll numbers so we can keep in contact?" Jaune asked. Pyrrha smiled and navigated through her device. He felt a bit of awkwardness as his scroll was in a pocket he couldn't reach. "Um … can I have my hand back?"
Pyrrha blinked, then looked down to see she hadn't let go of him since they shook hands. She had a firm grip as if she were afraid he would disappear if she let go. But as she let out a startled eep, releasing her hold and stepping back, he stayed right where he was. "I'm, I'm sorryyy!"
"All is forgiven." Jaune tried not to smile as Pyrrha's face decided to compete with her hair to see who could turn redder. Luckily, his arm was no worse for wear, and he pulled out his scroll. "Numbers?"
"Sure," She replied quickly, desperate to move on from her moment. As they exchanged their contacts, she calmed down a bit. "It was nice meeting you, Jaune. I hope to see you tomorrow during the Selection."
"You'll have at least one person rooting for you." Jaune's joke seemed to land as she smiled in amusement.
"Goodbye!" She said, running off in the dimly lit streets covered by the snow, leaving the boy behind.
"Bye," he waved at her, watching her go.
"Look at you, making friends," Lucifer spoke, spooking Jaune.
"Lucifer … How long have you been … there … no, where are you?" Jaune looked around, trying to spot her, but couldn't. He guessed she was using an illusion to hide herself.
"Guess again. But I'll be impressed if you can find me." The demoness laughed softly. "Also, I've been near you since you left the hotel in the middle of the night. Now come. We should also get back to the room if we want to be ready for tomorrow's shopping session."
Jaune didn't want to look crazy by talking to himself, so he replied mentally. "Right."
"Wh-ho w-would do that?" Modeus felt a disturbance as she stood still in her room. "F-for so long? That was several minutes, at least. Wh-o … Who! WHO HELD JAUNE'S HAND!"
Judgement? She just didn't seem the type. Beel? She might do it for food. Lucifer? If she was willing to go that far, why hadn't she fucked him yet? Maybe it was a mistake to let them be alone with Jaune.
When they got back, Modeus would need to interrogate all three of them to find out who did the deed and then somehow let them know she was better. Modeus could hold her hand to see who broke first. Yes, when the other pulled away first, it would show she was superior.
Modeus would make sure they knew that no one could outdo her when it came to debauchery.
The day was here. After returning to the inn and getting a good night's sleep, Jaune and the girls woke up to hear the sound of the busy street outside. The ruckus started at 8 AM. Those people didn't like wasting time in the least. The group of four got themselves ready and went out to explore the city in the light of day, take in the sight of Mistral, and have fun at the festival. And believe it, they had fun.
Jaune could not believe how lovely the streets were, not to mention the food stands spread around, serving all sorts of street food ranging from soups to sweets. His wallet had taken a toll as a result of the sweets since Lucifer and Beel wanted to try out the various new aromas put at their disposal. Judgement, to his luck, was more interested in the weapon accessories they had on sale, but nothing caught her eye in particular.
Jaune's eye, however, caught the time. The main event was about to begin. "The Selection will start soon, girls. Shall we make our way to the arena?"
"Certainly. We are here for that event, after all. Everything else is just a nice bonus." Beel replied. "Not to mention, this is just a semi-vacation for us."
"Quite so. We need to get Jaune here prepared for Beacon." Judgement added.
"Please, the two of you worry a bit too much. From what we know, there might not be any good ones there." Lucifer said, being the voice of realism. True, there was the possibility of semblances he didn't wish to take. Not because he had a problem but because they were either too complex or too situational.
Still, they began making their way to the stadium. It was time to observe and, later, to shop.
"WELCOME, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, TO THE SANCTUM SELECTION!" The announcer said loudly, the large crowd in the arena cheering in support of the many contestants who would be trying their skills here. Jaune and the girls were seated in the second row to the northern part of the arena, the place being a large, barren field.
There had to be a heating system that melted the snow and dried the earth since there was a lack of humidity despite it having no roof. It was a perfect square in shape, keeping a simple design in mind. "TODAY, WE WILL SEE WHO WILL CONQUER AND DOMINATE HERE, IN THE BATTLE OF THE PROMISED, FOR THE CHANCE FOR AN EARLY GRADUATION TICKET AND THE TITLE OF GLORY!"
"He sure likes running his mouth a lot," Judgement frowned, not minding her volume. "Come on now and start the fight!"
"Judgement, dear, please be patient," Beel said, sitting on the opposite end next to Jaune, Lucifer on the other side of him, and Judgement next to Lucifer. "I am sure the wait will be well worth it."
"It better be. Despite the heating, it is still chilly, and I hate being surrounded by so many people," Lucifer commented as well. "What do you think, Jaune? Will it be worth it?"
"Certainly," He replied with barely restrained glee. "It always starts like that, but you can get used to the people and - oh, look, the contestants are coming!"
Multiple students stepped out onto the arena, each one of them wearing their equipment and weaponry. Jaune counted at least 50 or so students. But one of them stood out to him thanks to their bright, crimson hair.
"NOW, LET'S GO OVER THE RULES!" The announcer said. "BEFORE YOU STAND THE TOP 50 STUDENTS IN THE LAST YEAR AT SANCTUM! THE SELECTION IS COMPRISED OF THREE ROUNDS THIS YEAR, AND THE FIRST ONE IS A FREE-FOR-ALL BATTLE ROYALE! EACH STUDENT WILL HAVE TO TAKE ONE PERSON OUT BY KNOCKING THEM OUT OR DRIVING THEIR AURA INTO THE RED!"
"ONCE THEY DO THIS, THEY WOULD'VE SECURED A SPOT IN THE NEXT ROUND! STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE THEIR GOAL CAN'T BE TAKEN OUT, NOR WILL ANYONE BE TAKEN OUT BY THEM AFTERWARDS LOSE!"
"ONCE THEY WIN THEIR SPOT OR LOSE, THEY WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE ARENA OR, IF NEED BE, PICKED UP BY A MEDICAL TEAM! FROM EVERYONE HERE, ONLY 25 WILL PROCEED TO THE NEXT ROUND! BEGIN!"
And so it began. The moment that the announcer finished explaining everything, all hell broke loose. Every student got their weapons, semblance, or whatever they had out and began dishing out punishment against those around them. No one was choosing opponents, either. It was a free-for-all brawl. A Hard-Light shield was erected to protect the audience from any stray fire, quite literally seeing that someone could launch fireballs in there.
"Anyone catch your eye, Jaune?" Lucifer asked, having established a telepathic link with Jaune to communicate without worrying about drawing attention. "I quite enjoy the person who can create those balls of fire."
"Please, that is a basic ability, at best!" Beel said, butting into their conversation. "I say he gets the person who seems to be in two places at once! Do you think they can make more than one copy?"
"Beel does have a point, actually. Numerical advantage can be crucial in a fight." Jaune commented.
Lucifer, however, frowned at being denied. "Have it your way. You are the one with Origin. But personally, do you see anyone who caught your eye?"
"Not everyone is using their semblance, so I cannot tell. Many of them may not use it at all or use it briefly, and we can miss it. But apart from the one we already agreed on, I have my eyes on the guy with blue hair."
"I see … " Judgement said, joining the conversation. "He seems able to control water at will. He is gathering the humidity in the air to launch small projectiles of it. He is out of his element."
"And out of the ring," Lucifer added as the crowd flinched at his violent departure. "Still, that IS a good semblance. He is on the list."
"Look there!" Jaune pointed at a guy who was effectively glued to the hard light barrier. "That is a semblance. It has to be."
"Most likely," Beel said. "A good selection so far."
"This is absolutely barbaric," Lucifer commented aloud. "I love it. It quite helps to reflect the real situations in the world where you never know who your allies are, considering everyone your opponent."
"Indeed. But stopping when they are defeated is disappointing. I expected a fight to the death," Judgement added.
"Pretty sure they wouldn't allow that," Jaune commented, then jumped as someone was thrown right at them, kissing the solid surface of the Hard-Light shield and falling unconscious to the ground. He couldn't help but say aloud. "Ouch. That looked like it hurt."
The fighting continued for a good amount of time afterward, and the number of students grew thinner and thinner. So far, they found another useful semblance for Jaune, but seeing how the number of students was growing thin, it was likely their pool of selection was, too.
Curiously, though, Pyrrha had yet to take anyone out until it was only her and another girl left. Jaune thought she might lose. The other girl's semblance has allowed her to survive this long, as she seemed able to daze people and induce a state of vertigo in them. But in the end, it didn't matter. As she engaged Pyrrha in battle with her curved dual daggers, the redhead dodged with grace, jumping back and turning her Xiphos blade into its rifle form, shooting two rounds, only one landing.
The vertigo was getting to her a bit.
Her opponent, despite receiving a bullet to her shoulder, showed a cocky smile on her lips and charged forth at Pyrrha with her daggers at the ready, but what followed was … Strange.
"What was that?" Jaune thought as the girl threw her daggers at Pyrrha, and they seemed to turn mid-air. "Weren't they going to hit?"
Pyrrha deflected them by quickly switching her rifle to javelin form and deflecting one, blocking the other with her shield.
"There was a faint black glow that seemed to envelop the daggers as they were thrown off-course." Judgement had sharper eyes than he and pointed out what she saw. "How interesting."
The girl was clearly frightened by this turn of events, but she didn't have the time to be scared. In the next second, Pyrrha was upon her, and her shield collided with the poor girl's jaw, delivering a dazing strike that sent the girl a few steps back. She raised her head just in time to receive three finishing shots to her Aura, placing it in the red.
Jaune knew why they hit those times. He had noticed. The girl's semblance needs her to look, to lock on to a target. And Pyrrha knew that as well. Overall, it was not a semblance he would take. Judgement made it clear it was a semblance that only worked on one person at a time, meaning it was useless in fighting groups.
"THAT'S THE FIRST ROUND, COMPLETE LADIES AND GENTS! FINISHED BEAUTIFULLY BY SANCTUM'S TOP, BEST STUDENT, THE ONE AND ONLY 'INVINCIBLE GIRL', PYRRHA NIKOS!" The announcer called out, and then a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd, Jaune processing the information that was revealed.
"She is the top student?" he muttered softly, then watched as Pyrrha went away into the hallway. He had to admit, at first, he nearly didn't recognize her. With her hair tied, she looked different, and her armor and tiara added to the warrior feel. Her weapon was also different: a sword and shield combo like his, but more modern and of a distinct race, so to speak.
"Her skills were above the others … " Judgement remarked. "And everyone was aware. The reason she finished last was likely because she wanted to observe everyone, a fact made possible by their intimidation. I swear, humans can be such cowards."
"I see. That does make sense," Jaune commented. Judgement noticed the black glow around the daggers, and it was indeed interesting. It changed their trajectory, allowing Pyrrha to counter them and strike back effectively. He wondered if that was her semblance.
"ALRIGHT, EVERYONE! WITH THE CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST ROUND, WE WILL NOW TAKE A BREAK TO ALLOW THE STUDENTS SOME REST. YOU ARE FREE TO WONDER ABOUT THE ARENA, BUT PLEASE KEEP TO THE PUBLIC SECTIONS. UNLESS YOU ARE FAMILY, I SUGGEST YOU DO NOT BOTHER THE PARTICIPANTS. THANK YOU. WE WILL RESUME THE SELECTION TOMORROW!" The announcer informed everyone in the spectator seats, and they began to stand to leave.
Jaune and the girls, however, had some shopping to do that night.