Alright, we made it to the good part. Let's take it from the top.
My name is Jaune Arc. I am a huntsman, one in training, to be more exact, from Beacon Academy. This weapon with me has been in my bloodline for centuries is Crocea Mors. Somehow, someway, it got a rockin' upgrade. But how did we get here?
A while ago, I got chosen to lead my own band at Beacon, Team JNPR. But things turned out rough at the start. You know, bullies, food fights, and then some. But over time, I honed my craft with the help of Pyrrha as we practiced for the Vytal Festival Tournament. That was until Vekk-Torr and his band came into the limelight. Once I came back on stage for the first time, I saw that Remnant had changed. Everyone said it had been two weeks since Vekk-Torr's invasion of Remnant, known as The Onslaught. As I was out of action, Vekk-Torr painted Remnant black, meaning he took over the planet with his generals.
But now, there is hope. I heard that Ruby and her band had new members, and I have a few questions. Who are these guys? What is this 'Remnant Resistance Front' faction who was fighting alongside them? And who are these robots that fight for justice across time, space, and reality? These are the questions I have to ask everyone, but I digress. Like I said, there is hope in Mistral, and it's me.
This is my story.
Mistral, City of Mistral
17 days since The Onslaught
On a Mistral airship flying toward the city, Jaune was strumming Crocea Mors in its guitar mode with his back on the wall. This strumming would eventually catch the attention of the ship's pilot itself. He is gruff-looking yet skinny with a large cleft chin, one normal black eye, an Atlesian cybernetic eye, and almost bald, despite his head covered by a sailor cap. He wore a black dress shirt with a red neckline, sleeves with blue edges, blue pants, brown shoes, and enormous steampunk-like gauntlets covering his forearms.
"You's play that guitar so well." the man admired.
"Thanks." Jaune replied, "Must've been something that changed in me. But how I got those skills and how Crocea Mors got upgraded is a mystery."
"Isn't life just that?" jested the man, "Besides, watcha doin' here in Mistral City, whippersnapper?"
"To see what's changed here." responded Jaune, "How did these robots take over Remnant in the first place?"
As the airship approached the city, Jaune marveled at its beauty despite the changes.
"Neva got yer name." the man smirked, "
"Jaune." Jaune replied, "Jaune Arc."
"Popeye Vasilias, me grandson Neptune told me about yer food fight with Team RWBY at Beacon." the man smirked.
"He did?" Jaune marveled.
"Yup." Popeye laughed, "Ya sure is one crazy gazookus!"
Suddenly, the ship encountered a pair of turret towers built after The Onslaught. As they targeted the ship, Jaune transformed Crocea Mors into its longsword mode and ran to the front of the vessel to see the trouble ahead.
"Attention, unidentified vessel, state your business, or we will shoot you down." the turret operator demanded.
"Surely, you must be joking." Jaune jested before bolting from the front of the ship to its bow.
"We are serious." the turret operator said, "And don't call me—Hey! I demand you to halt!"
Surprised by this, the turret operator saw Jaune heading towards the turrets on foot, but he leaped to the leftmost turret when he got on the bow. But as he jumped, he jumped higher than ever before. Seeing how high he jumped, he marveled at it just before the turrets fired at him. After taking a hit by one of the turrets' laser fire, his Aura absorbed it. After taking the attack, he converted his weapon to its sword and shield mode to block the next few shots from the right. However, he took one laser shot to the chest. This barrage causes Jaune to lose guard, and both turrets fire at him. Popeye saw the conflict as he approached the front of the ship, and he gasped in shock. Soon, Jaune's young life began to flash before his eyes every time the turret's laser fire hit him, causing the sword half of Crocea Mors to fly. But as the next last blast hit him, he saw a moment in his life that flashed before him, one he didn't see in person.
Vale, City of Vale
Day Two of The Onslaught
In the war-ravaged city of Vale, Roa-Nyn walked toward the five members of the Knights of the Core: Erde-Vere, the birdlike Knight, the merman Knight, the fire spirit Knight, and the angelic Knight. As he approached them, the group turned to Roa-Nyn.
"This world. This reality." Roa-Nyn began, "This is one of the last remaining surviving universes left in the omniverse. If this falls, the others will, too."
The angelic knight then placed his hand on Roa-Nyn's shoulder
"This world is not doomed yet, my friend." he retorted.
"What do you mean? What did you see?" Roa-Nyn asked.
"I see a hero from another world. Who wanted to experience this world to herself but somehow freed these individuals from their slumber. " The angelic Knight predicted.
"Slumber?" the merman Knight interrupted, "You mean these kids will become the last bastion of the omniverse on its deathbed?"
"How effective would that be once Vekk-Torr takes over Camylon?" the birdlike Knight asked.
"With Vekk-Torr and his forces being nigh unstoppable and the king still powerless and weak, guess what will happen to us?" the fire spirit Knight noted, "Out of service, out of Camylon, we wouldn't hang about!"
"Quiet!" yelled Erde-Vere, "Brothers, sister, let Fyuz-Elot explain his plan."
"Thank you, brother." acknowledged the angelic Knight, Fyuz-Elot, before turning to the group. "Once I pierce these Crystalline Cocoons with my lance, they will transform into Distortion supersoldiers."
"What?" shouted the birdlike Knight.
"Are you crazy?!" gasped the merman Knight.
"Fyuz-Elot, explain yourself!" demanded the fire spirit Knight.
"True, Distortions are what we, the Knights of the Core, are meant to stop, Vuur-Cival." replied Fyuz-Elot, "But these are not what you may think."
"You're off your throne, Fyuz!" the birdlike Knight ranted.
"Ea-Wain, let him explain." the merman Knight responded to the birdlike Knight, Ea-Wain.
"You're right, Vetta-Had." Ea-Wain replied to the merman Knight, Vetta-Had, "Once again, I judged a book by its cover."
"Care to explain your supersoldier program?" Vetta-Had asked.
"I call it Project Metamorphosis." Fyuz-Elot nodded,
"I know you have been working on this for years for moments like this." Roa-Nyn said, "It would be great if you could tell us about it."
"I will." explained Fyuz-Elot, "This super soldier program is made to intercept Crystalline Cocoon transformation by enhancing their physical forms, intercepting the brainwashing and cyberization procedures within the cocoon. Thus, they transform into powerful new versions of themselves unique to any individual variant in the omniverse, becoming positive distortions."
"Positive Distortions?" gasped the fire spirit Knight known as Vuur-Cival. "But none have been seen once since I was an ember."
"Well, sister." chuckled Fyuz-Elot, "This new batch of them will blow you away."
Meanwhile, in the present day…
As the sword half of Crocea Mors flew in the air, Jaune continued to take heavy fire from the laser turrets while his Aura weakened with every blast. It then flew to the leftmost turret until it lodged itself into it, jamming the rotary system and ceasing its fire. As it happened, Jaune, thanks to his enhanced Aura Shield, used his literal shield to block the oncoming laser fire, which sent him to the turret he was going for in the first place.
"Thanks for helping me get to my trajectory!" Jaune smiled. "You surely are dumb enough to let me get my sword back!"
"Hey, you are the one who was dumb enough to come at us with your stunt!" the turret operator yelled, "And don't call me Shur-Li!"
The wreckage of Vekk-Torr's airship
At this point in the story
When reading the story from the writer's computer, Vekk-Torr, Tri-El, and Err-Yr noticed the joke written into it.
"Oh, I get it now!" the warlord realized, "They are homophones!"
"Right?" Tri-El acknowledged.
"I lose sleep over crap like this!" Err-Yr noted, only for the others to look at him awkwardly, "It's funny because—"
Now, back to the good part!
Meanwhile, right now…
Jaune is on the verge of landing on the rotary cannon of the turret. He braced for impact by placing his shield in front of him, and as he did so, he landed shield first, making a miniature dent in the gun barrel. As soon as he got up, he dusted himself off, and by noticing this, the turret operator prepared to fire her turret. The only problem was that the Huntsman's sword was jammed in the turret, giving Jaune the advantage as he ran toward his sword. Soon, the turret operator activated a homing beacon on her wrist to signal a squadron of VekkCopters to her location. But as soon as Jaune approached his sword, he pulled it out and converted it into its longsword mode. But as the wave of VekkCopters approached him, he drove his sword into the hole it made and incapacitated the turret's main controls. Then, using its guitar upgrade, he damaged the circuitry, causing the systems to short-circuit slightly and starting a small fire.
"Rebel, we have you surrounded!" demanded the VekkCopter squad leader, "Surrender or be executed!"
"You'll never take me alive, but you're welcome to try!" Jaune said as he pulled Crocea Mors through the right side of the hole it made.
Jaune then bolted toward the VekkCopter that was about to fire at him. With confidence, he prepared to leap at it, and once he reached the end of the turret's gun barrel, he did so. His jump was so high the leader pulled his VekkCopter up to ensure he did not land on his copter, only for Jaune to grab the hexagonal landing skid at the bottom. With things going as abnormal as they seemed, the squad leader sighed in relief, only for Jaune to swing from the skid and strike the aircraft's right side, denting and opening the door. As Jaune entered the helicopter, the squad leader pulled out his weapon and aimed at the Huntsman. Seconds later, he threw the squad leader out of his copter, causing it to plummet into the lower levels, but not before Jaune jumped out of it and kicked the windshield of the next VekkCopter in, taking down the pilot of it. Jaune then proceeded to exit it by jumping out of it, and by doing so, the remaining VekkCopter followed him. Jaune then turned and winked at the pilot before he landed on the remaining turret, infuriating him. On the turret's gun barrel, Jaune ran to the front of it while being pursued by gunfire. As the turret started to take damage, the operator ran to the exit as he saw the VekkCopter begin firing missiles at Jaune. Seeing the missiles fired at him, he jumped to the right, evading them. As he did so, the missiles made contact with the turret, causing it to blow up. The shockwaves of the blast were so powerful they knocked Jaune back and made the remaining pilot lose control of his VekkCopter. As Jaune was knocked beach, he landed on the airship he was once on with Popeye looking at it in shock, but he ran to the young huntsman's aid and helped him up. As Jaune regained focus, he saw the remaining VekkCopter hover near the airship, ready to fire at it.
"Oh, crap!" Jaune gasped.
"Hang on, ya wippasnappa!" Popeye shouted.
Popeye created a smokescreen using his gauntlets, causing the pilot to lose sight of his target. In seconds, it covered the front of the ship. To combat this, the pilot tilted his copter down to blow away the smokescreen and damage the front of the airship. However, Jaune then ran to the bow, jumped from it, and struck the main rotor assembly, causing it to disassemble. Soon, he grabbed onto the tail and swung back onto the airship. As he landed, he looked at the falling aircraft, which plummeted into the lower levels and soon exploded. As he turned to Popeye, Jaune gave a wink and a smile. Surprised by this, Popeye smirked and crossed his arms.
"Well, blow me down!" exclaimed the gruff elderly Vasilias in amazement, "You's one tough cookie!"
"Am I?" chuckled Jaune. "Well, given what happened to me, I guess I am."
As the pair walked to the airship's cockpit, Jaune turned back and remarked on the damage he had done.
After that unexpected predicament, good ol' Popeye took me out to lunch. There, he told me about what happened to Remnant.
At a pizza shop, Popeye treated Jaune to slices of spinach and mushroom pizza, which Jaune enjoyed. Despite the kingdom under the control of Vekk-Torr, some places serve as places of resistance for all of Remnant, refusing service to anyone supporting the warlord.
"So tell me," Jaune said while chewing, "What's with these robots, and how did they take control of Remnant in the first place?"
"You's must've ben unconscious with the times." Popeye smiled, "But's me will help ya get caught up."
"Thanks, Pops," Jaune replied.
"When dis Onslaught event began, Vekk-Torr started in Vale, and I believed you's was there too."
"I was!" acknowledged Jaune, "Me and my team, as well as team RWBY, went into the fray once the invasion began."
"Really?" marveled Popeye.
"Yeah, I was in the crossfire of the whole thing. Turns out it was more screwed up than I thought!" Jaune continued. "The Grimm were affected by this, and they started to bleed out this techno-organic sludge once killed. "
"On ze topic of techno-organic," interrupted Popeye, "Zhat ain'ts the only thing of dat type afflicted this planet. Zere's zis fuchsia haze vich's brainwashes it's targuts into Vekk-Torr's soivitude. That's what's happun'd to the Huntsmen n' Huntresses across the planet, 'cept for you."
"First off, what is this haze, and does Vekk-Torr still use it?" Jaune asked.
"So, da haze you's speak of is known as Mind Mist, which was named by me teammate back in me time in Haven, Olyv Oile-Greene." replied Popeye, "Second, not's recently."
"Good," Said Jaune. "Otherwise, I'd be screwed."
Suddenly, the TV near them started to show the emblem of Vekk-Torr and trumpet fanfare of the warlord, and the two then turned to the TV immediately. Rock-Skar appeared on it as they did so, prepared to deliver the news.
"Gooooooood morning, Kingdoooom of Haven!" greeted the general.
The broadcast was on every TV in the City of Mistral, but on the outside, it felt like an echo across the city.
"Who the hell is this joker?" Jaune demanded.
"Da's Rock-Skar." answered Popeye, "He's the general who dis place."
"Generals?" Jaune pondered.
"Yeah." nodded Popeye, "Each kingdom in Remnant is controlled by's a general of Vekk-Torr's forces. Rock-Skar and his literal drums of war run Mistral, Ram-Busch has his iron-fisted rule over Atlas, Shrapp-Null controls Vacuo with her destructive tendecy, and Braane-Strom had Vale under his robotic thumb until his ass got ousted by a vigilante group knoen as the Meta Hunters."
"Meta Hunters, huh?" Jaune marveled at the thought of this vigilante group, "I'll keep that in tow."
"Today marks seventeen days since Remnant's forces surrendered to the great and powerful and soon-to-be emperor of the omniverse, Vekk-Torr after a three-day war against the planet known as The Onslaught," Rock-Skar remarked, "A monumental achievement of this almighty army—"
"Uh, Rock Skar?" Tri-El interrupted.
"What?!" the general shouted.
"We just got reports of vigilante activity in Mistral, one in Mistral City and the other in Herakles!" the henchman explained.
"Oh." said Rock-Skar before returning to the camera he once faced for the broadcast, "OKAY, VIGILANTES! YOU COCKROACHES WANT TO PLAY?! THEN COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP AND SURRENDER!"
Soon, the pair were surrounded by two dozen VekkTroopers with their guns locked, loaded, and aimed at the duo.
"Well, it's time for me to bounce." Jaune chuckled when he got up from his chair.
"Already?" Popeye questioned, "After you's saved me ass?"
"Yeah, thanks for lunch!" the huntsman replied.
Jaune then got up from his chair and stepped onto the table. He then started to jump over the footsoldiers and bolt away from them. As he did so, Popeye then turned toward him.
"Ay, one more thing!" he yelled, "Stay away from ze low levels. Za higher ya's go, za nicer it gets!"
"Got it!" acknowledged Jaune.
The VekkTroopers then turned around and saw Jaune run away from them.
"Don't just stand there, you dolts, after him!" One of them ordered.
The other footsoldiers also realized it and started to agree with their colleague. Soon, the soldiers then began to pursue Jaune wherever he was heading. Soon, Jaune learned the battalion was pursuing him and began to run even faster. As he did so, he felt like he was running as fast as an Olympic sprinter.
"Okay, this is weird." he thought, "First it was the reckless stunts, now it's the breakneck speed? What the hell has happened to me?"
Soon, he vaulted over a cart of cabbages as soon as he saw it. As the VekkTroopers saw the cart, they immediately attempted to evade it, only to stumble and fall on each other and the cart. Jaune turned back and saw the wreck and smirked before he continued running. As he reached a dead end, he saw another batch of VekkTroopers approaching him. As they aimed their weapons at him, Jaune looked for a way out. But as one fired its gun, he jumped onto the wall to the left, then to the right as another fired. Seeing this, he jumped from one wall to another when shot at. As he landed on top of a roof of a higher level in the city, Jaune taunted the batch by blowing a raspberry at them. As he did that, a VTOL aircraft of Camylonian origin flew past him and started hovering toward him in Rock-Skar's signature colors of cerulean and black and blue windows and windshield. Though shaped like a helicopter's, its body had plane-like wings and jet engines at each end. Rock-Skar stepped out into the open as the bay door opened, looking at the huntsman.
"Well, well. If it isn't the crass prick who wrecked my security protocols." the general greeted.
"Isn't that how you treat your subjects?" Jaune retorted.
Surprised by the insult, Rock-Skar pulled out a shotgun and aimed at the huntsman.
"Try this on for size, you rat punk!" he yelled before firing a shot at the huntsman.
Seeing the shot fired at him, he then set Crocea Mors in its sword and shield mode, blocking the shot. Or so it would seem. Somehow, the shot latched onto the shield as a sticky bomb and knocked back Jaune a few yards before he could regain his footing. As he did so, he leaped to the other side of the building he was on and on the ground of the higher level. Seeing this, the general headed to the cockpit.
"Follow that jabroni!" Rock-Skar yelled.
Acknowledging the command, the pilot turned around and pursued Jaune.
"You can run, vigilante, but you cannot hide from my VekkCondor!" Rock-Skar shouted.
"Let's see about that, flyboy!" Jaune responded.
Infuriated, Rock-Skar took control of his VekkCondor and started firing its machine guns at Jaune, only to jump to the left to evade the gunfire. As Rock-Skar turned around, he searched for the huntsman, but not long after, Jaune rolled and threw a tomato at the aircraft's windshield.
"I just got this waxed, you opening act!" the general retorted.
"Opening act, huh?" Jaune smirked, "Well, this 'opening act' is about to kick your ass!"
Jaune then jumped towards the VekkCondor and grabbed onto the door. Infuriated, Rock-Skar then headed back to the doors.
"You." He ordered the pilot, "Get your ass back in the spotlight and control this thing. I'll find this damn dirty ape if he grabs onto my ship!"
As he opened the right door, he saw no one, only for Jaune to open the left door stealthily.
"Ah-ha!" the general exclaimed as he quickly turned around.
As he did so, he saw no one, and his mood turned into rage.
"SHOW YOURSELF, CRASS PRICK!" he yelled, not knowing that Jaune got on board.
"Right behind you." the huntsman replied before he kicked the general out of the craft.
Jaune landed on the ground feet first, and Rock-Skar landed stomach first. The huntsman prepared to strike the general, and as he did so, the latter threw some glitter bomb guitar picks at his face to make him lose focus.
"Pilot, get back up! We got ourselves an outlaw!" Rock-Skar ordered.
The pilot nodded, turned the VekkCondor toward Haven Academy, and flew off. But as Jaune soon regained focus, the general delivered two swift kicks to his stomach, knocking Jaune to the ground. Soon, Rock-Skar snapped his fingers, and as he did so, a pod fired from The Deathstorm, and it rocketed toward him at Mach 1. As it approached the general, it opened and revealed the general's guitar axe, and as he grabbed it, he swung it at Jaune. Seeing the attack, the huntsman got up and dodged the attack.
"Well, looks like you aren't a dirty cheater," Jaune remarked.
"Huh, thanks." Rock-Skar acknowledged. "Now, let's see how well you are as a solo act."
Jaune then converted Corcea Mors into its guitar mode.
"Let's rock and roll," Jaune responded.
Rock-Skar screamed in rage as he swang at Jaune, causing the huntsman to back away from every swing the general. Jaune struck Rock-Skar in the face with a left hook and delivered a swing to the gut with Crocea Mors. The attack knocked the general back and sent him tumbling toward a fruit stand and crashing into it. As Rock-Skar emerged from the wreck with watermelon slices, shishkabobbed to the top of his crescent moon-shaped head, and an orange lodged on the bottom. He then fired a pair of taser darts from his wrist, and it struck the huntsman, making him fall to the ground. As he walked to the downed huntsman, the general stepped on his chest, ready to contact Vekk-Torr with his wrist communicator.
"Lord Vekk-Torr, I got one of those ruckus makers in Mistral." Rock-Skar began.
"Excellent," Vekk-Torr replied. "Which one?"
"The punk who's mocking my style." Rock-Skar responded as he got his foot off of his chest, "Asshole's been a pest the past few days, so I demanded every VekkTrooper on high alert for this chump. So once he made some noise, many of my units and I tried to stop him. We fought him, and we won. Anyway, with him out of the way, there is only Ruby, Tari, and the rest of those meddling Meta Hunters." the general reported. Unbeknownst to him, Jaune started to get up slowly.
"Excellent work. Cuff him up and prepare him for extraction." Vekk-Torr applauded.
"Wanna bet?" Jaune taunted as he got up.
"FUCK!" Rock-Skar shouted.
The general turned around to see Jaune standing but in a feeble way.
"I gotta call you back. We got a problem." Rock-Skar said before he hung up.
The two stared at each other like they were ready to go another round. However, the general had a trick up his sleeve as he revealed a flashbang from the right sleeve of his attire.
"That attire was made from rare Aracknasapien threads," Rock-Skar snarled, "AND YOU JUST RUINED IT!"
He then chucked the flash bang at Jaune, only for the huntsman to block it with Crocea Mors in its shield form. As the flashbang died down, Jaune lowered his shield, only for things to escalate even worse for him. He saw the VekkCondor and the remaining members of Team SSSN, Sun, Scarlet, and Neptune, fighting alongside Rock-Skar. Jaune was in shock at the sight of three huntsmen fighting on the side of evil.
"What the hell is this?" he thought, "Huntsmen in Remnant fighting against me?"
But then, he realized the blue-violet irises in Sun's eyes.
"Wait!" he noticed, "The Mind Mist. Popeye told me about this. That is what that 'Vekk-Torr' creep used to brainwash the Huntsman Academies!"
Now armed with the knowledge, Jaune prepared for battle.
"Give it up, outlaw." Sun ordered, "You're outnumbered!"
"Exactly, Mr. Wukong. There's five of us and only one of you!" Rock-Skar smiled, "I suggest you take a bow!"
Jaune snarled as he prepared for combat, only to think of another plan—turn around and run for his life.
"Gangway! Noble huntsman, coming through!" he shouted as he did so.
Surprised by this, the group of antagonists watched Jaune run from the fight. Unfazed by Jaune's tactic, the pilot fired a missile at him. The rest of the group turned and looked at the pilot awkwardly.
"What did you do that for?" Rock-Skar questioned the pilot.
"It was obvious." the pilot replied, "He was going to do that."
As the missile hit the ground next to Jaune, the explosion started to send him flying due to the blast's impact, making him scream in fear. As they saw that, Rock-Skar pointed towards the explosion. Team SSN then looked at it and then at the general confused.
"That means get him, assholes." he said.
The three huntsmen noticed the command and ran toward Jaune to pursue him. As for Jaune, he was launched by the explosion he had run from earlier and was sent flying by the shockwaves and falling down the city levels. Soon, he realized what happened as he ran and gasped at the sight. Just as he did so, he landed on the deck of an airship. As he got up, he groaned in pain after the hard fall.
"Careful, that's a rental." the ship's owner informed.
"You don't have to tell me twice." Jaune replied, "Can't you see I am on the run from Rock-Skar's goons?"
"Not my problem, amigo," he responded as he stepped out of the pilot's chamber.
As he did so, the pilot's characteristics were shown. He's a large, somewhat portly but muscular man with massive arms yet notably shorter legs. His most notable trait is his crooked but clean grin seen under his black, shaggy beard, not to be confused by his black hair. He wore an outfit similar to Popeye's but with yellow pants and shirt trim.
"Oh, glad to see someone friendly again. First Popeye, now you." Jaune sighed.
"Popeye?!" the pilot laughed, "We's go way back since our days in Haven! Once upon a time, we were at each other's throats. Now, we are partners and fellow huntsmen nowadays."
"And you are?" Jaune pondered.
"Bluto Terrenus." the pilot responded, "And you is the ruffian that Popeye told me about, Jaune Arc?"
"Uh, yeah," Jaune replied.
Suddenly, Team SSN managed to find the ship on the higher levels of the city, and by seeing Jaune, they leaped from the roof of a building and landed on it seconds later.
"Bluto, we need to lose these guys before backup arrives!" Jaune informed.
"You ain't my pappy, Popeye, or supervisor, so no thanks!" Bluto replied.
"Just do it!" the huntsman sighed.
"I was just joking," the sailor said.
Bluto then headed to the controls, ready to operate the ship's controls and lose the intruders.
"Now hear this," Bluto smirked, "Full speed—!"
"Bluto, I recommend that you buckle up!" Jaune interrupted.
"Ah, buckle this!" Bluto laughed, "Full speed ahead!"
The three brainwashed huntsmen charged Jaune as the airship began to pick up speed. Sun leapt into combat first and kneed Jaune in the face before the latter could strike first. Neptune was next, but Jaune turned his focus on his recent attacker and dropkicked him to the deck. The huntsman got up and prepared to fight, delivering a right hook to Sun and an elbow to Scarlet. As the airship began to pick up altitude like an airplane, everyone on the deck slid down toward the back of the ship, and by seeing this, Sun then used Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang in staff form to strike Jaune. However, the Beacon huntsman grabbed the staff, and the two rolled onto the deck towards it. Scarlet and Neptune continued to slide until they grabbed the ship's stern as they reached it, hoping to catch their leader and aid him in combat. However, the rolling impact of the two tusslers knocked the four of them overboard, causing the break of the tussle. Amid the collision, Sun lost hold of Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang.
"Oh, shit!" he exclaimed, "Someone grab it!"
Neptune grabbed the weapon and threw it at Jaune like a javelin, only for Jaune to block it with Crocea Mors in shield mode. As the former ricocheted off the latter, Sun saw it coming and then grabbed it, ready to resume battle.
"Uh, maybe we should land first?" Scarlet suggested.
"Your friend has a point, Sun," Jaune smirked.
"Huh?" Sun questioned, just before Jaune zoomed past him, riding Crocea Mors like a surfboard.
On the ground of a middle-class level, it was a busy day there as the city's citizens lived their normal, yet supervised, lives. Suddenly, a group of salesmen noticed the falling huntsmen, and they split, causing a ruckus amongst the crowd, which all fled the fight scene. All except a young woman clocked in beige. Soon, the four began to land on the ground, with Scarlet landing in a barrel of grapes, his legs sticking out as he landed, Neptune landing in a cart of hay, and Sun landing on the ground, back first. As for Jaune, he landed on a building's roof and then slid down like he was snowboarding toward the gutter. He then kicked Crocea Mors at Neptine's face as the latter emerged from the wreckage he caused. Jaune then ran towards the brainwashed huntsman to retrieve his weapon, and as he approached Neptune, who got up, the blonde jumped and gave the brainwashed Haven huntsman a single-leg dropkick, and landing on his buttocks, he picked up his weapon. Soon, Sun charged at him with Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang in their gunchuck form. As Jaune got up with his weapon in hand, he converted it into its sword and shield mode. Then, the two standing huntsmen clashed, with Jaune blocking every shot the monkey faunus fired, but Sun struck back as he sent the sword flying from Jaune's hand.
In retaliation, Jaune shield bashed Sun, then kneed him in the balls and placed him in a double-arm front facelock. He kicked back, lifted him and fell backwards, driving his foe's head into the ground. Neptune then got up and delivered a roundhouse kick, only for Jaune to dodge it. Then, he swept the blonde's leg, making the latter lose balance. Soon, Neptune pulled out Tri-Hard, converted it into its Guandao form, struck the blonde in the chest with a single slash, then hit him a few more times as the blonde-haired brainwashed Huntsman juggled Jaune's body with swings from his weapon like a hockey puck. As quickly as he could, Sun got up and activated his semblance so that three of his clones could follow up with a jumping dive kick to Jaune's chest. Then, two of the clones dragged Jaune's body on the ground toward the barrel Scarlet was in and threw Jaune's body at it, shattering it, freeing the pirate huntsman and spilling grapes all around the floor. But not after, he bounced and then slid on the ground until he hit a stack of crates with a pail of water on top of it. Once Scarlet hit the stack of crates, the pail fell and the water spilled on his face. Back to Jaune, he soon regained focus, and the first thing he saw was the spilled grapes on the floor.
"Huh, grapes," he remarked at the sight of the spilled fruit, "Neat."
Soon, Jaune's sword finally landed in front of his face, and as he got up, he picked it up and prepared for combat once more as Sun and Neptune approached him slowly.
"Much like the guy who took Sage, you just don't know when to quit." taunted Sun.
"Yeah," Jaune panted, "It takes much more to break me down."
Then, Jaune threw a handful of grapes at Sun. As the small fruits hit him, briefly stopping the monkey faunus. The two brainwashed huntsmen looked down at the thrown grapes, confused, then back up at Jaune.
"Who throws grapes, honestly?" questioned Neptune.
Jaune chuckled, then stepped back. And soon, he began to run away from them.
"Hey, get back here, wuss!" Sun shouted before the brainwashed duo pursued the runaway.
Looking at the chase, the cloaked woman then facepalmed at the sight of it.
"Ugh," she groaned, "Idiot."
Elsewhere, Scarlet recovered after the tumble and soon saw the chase coming before him.
"Scarlet!" Sun shouted as the pirate huntsman saw the chase in front of him.
"Huh?" he asked.
But unbeknownst to the chasers, Scarlet was now free from the mind control.
"But he's one of us!" he shouted.
Then, Jaune ran past him and winked at him. Soon, Scarlet began to look confused about everything that was happening as Sun and Neptune approached him. Now ticked off that Jaune escaped, Sun shoved Scarlet out of the way, and he and Neptune continued pursuing Jaune. Scarlet sees Sun and Neptune continue their chase of Jaune as he gets back up.
Wait for me!" he exclaimed as he got up and ran towards his teammates.
The cloaked woman then saw him and followed Scarlet as he did so. However, things turned from bad to worse for Jaune, as Rock-Skar joined the chase in his VekkCondor, and as he saw the chase from a bird's eye view, he took his aircraft to the ground and fired a missile from it. As it hit the ground, Jaune was knocked to the ground by the aftershock of the blast. Soon, Sun and Neptune caught up to him, looked down, and managed to turn him over on his stomach, handcuffing him. Then, they pick him up by the shoulders and walk over to the VekkCondor. Seconds later, Scarlet managed to catch up with everyone else, but surprised by what he saw, he turned back and attempted to run away, only for the cloaked woman to stop him in his tracks.
"Something's wrong with them!" he panicked.
"I know that." the cloaked woman grunted.
"You got a plan?" he whimpered.
The woman then pushed Scarlet aside and ambled towards Sun and Neptune.
"HEY, YOU!" she shouted.
Sun and Neptune stopped and turned to see the cloaked woman, throwing Jaune on the ground and pulling out their weapons. Neptune struck first with a swing of Tri-Hard at the woman's chest, making tears in her cloak and undershirt underneath. Sun came in next with a lunge to her stomach with Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang, making the woman kneel in pain. However, the woman slapped her right forearm like a mosquito was on it and soon stood up. As she did so, her right forearm and hand were covered in tiny nanomachines in a few seconds covered in tiny nanomachines, and she soon raised it and formed a giant bronze colored sword with a ricasso of a skull combined with a football and spikes on top, framed by flames. She then spun around and swung at the duo, only for the pair to block it with their weapons. Seeing this, she set her sword on fire with a powerful flame that caused the duo's hands to burn slightly, making them drop their weapons and feel the burn. She spun around again, striking Sun and Neptune, sending them flying out of the city screaming. After that, she sliced the handcuff chains, freeing Jaune from his restraints. Surprised, Jaune turned around and saw the one who freed him.
"Uhh… thanks for the save," he said.
The figure walked away from Jaune, and her hand started to revert to normal. But then Scarlet jumped in the way, ceasing her movement.
"Thanks, Scarlet." Jaune smirked before turning to the cloaked woman, "Now, before we go our separate ways, I got one question: Who are you?"
"Welp, you asked for it," the figure sighed as her hands grabbed the big tear in her cloak, "You got it."
The figure then ripped her cloak to the two huntsmen, revealing herself to be Sofia Porter. Though her features and attire, excluding the recently obtained tears in her undershirt, remained the same, she gained a muscular physique similar to an American football linebacker.
"The name's Sofia, Sofia Porter," she introduced herself to the huntsmen.
"Jaune Arc." Jaune introduced himself, "That right there is Scarlet David."
Scarlet waved to her as she made eye contact with the pirate huntsman. In the VekkCondor, Rock-Skar saw the interaction, infuriated with things going south for him and Vekk-Torr's forces.
"Not another one!" he screamed angrily.
He then started to fly away, fuming at the sight of the new allies Jaune received. Then, a hologram of Vekk-Torr appeared on his HoloComm Disc, a saucer-shaped device Camylonians use that works like a telephone, but uses holograms for communication.
"Rock-Skar, report." Vekk-Torr demanded.
"The bastard bested them, and he's got a new friend." Rock-Skar grunted.
"So do we." the warlord nodded as another hologram appeared.
The holograms revealed a female humanoid electric eel with turquoise skin, indigo lips, azure facial features, purple eyes, a dorsal fin mohawk, and elf-like ears. The new ally wore a sleeveless black bodysuit with the zipper in the front and cobalt blue greaves and zero-gravity boots on her forearms and feet, respectively. Said boots had neon green lights in the creases whenever they're activated. She also donned black fingerless gloves on her hands and a necklace of the kills she has in her experience in the field, which had four Skyrian talons, six egg-shaped small multicolored gems, and a locket with a photograph of her and her lover, another individual like her, but with silver skin and jade green facial features, inside it.
"Who this?" Rock-Skar asked.
"My name is Jennyfer Electron, Callsign Punk Shock," the new figure responded, "Pleasure working with you all."
"She has been tasked in Herakles to find and terminate Masa Shimamoto, but, unlucky for her, she was met with resistance from outside interference, mainly Gill Grunt and another superpowered huntsman." Vekk-Torr informed, "Anyways, what is your status update?"
"We could not apprehend Masa, the traitor, or the huntress. Many teams were sent to stop Shimamoto, but many of those soldiers were KIA." Punk Shock replied.
"Yeah, yeah, sure." Rock-Skar interrupted, "Also, has anyone got an update from Evelyn or the Komodo Bros?"
"Negative, sir." Punk Shock sighed.
"Damn, we all need to have out ears tuned to the right station from here on out." the general forewarned.
"Agreed," the warlord agreed, "Who knows what happens next?"
A few minutes later…
Recovering from being launched from Sofia, Sun and Neptune emerged from a marshy lake, crawling to the ground in pain, freed from Vekk-Torr's control due to their eye colors returning to normal.
"Remind me next time we go blasting off again," Sun said, "Make sure we wear a cup."
"Noted." Neptune nodded.
As they managed to a tree, they rested their bodies on it, sighing in relief. Then, they heard the sound of an airship fly past them, until it turned back and landed in front of the lake. Four figures stepped out as soon as it landed, and it immediately caught the duo's attention.
"Scarlet?" Sun gasped.
"And is that…my uncle?!" Neptune gasped.
Soon, Scarlet, Popeye, Jaune, and Sofia walked toward them, confident of their rescue.
"Ya sure took one helluva whoopin'," Popeye noted, "Les get these pazookas on board, Jaune."
"Will do, Popeye. Will do." Jaune acknowledged.
Jaune then carried Sun by the shoulder, and Scarlet did the same with Neptune. As the group approached the ship, Sofia pondered the tears of her undershirt, giving a sneak peek of her chiseled abs.
"You know, it's better off to show your abs in public," chuckled Sun, "Trust me, you'll look like a stud…uhh, whatever your name is."
"Sofia," Sofia replied, "Sofia Porter."
"Oh, nice to meet you—and your abs, Sofia." the monkey faunus smirked.
Everyone laughed at Sun's comment as they progressed towards the airship. But as the sun began to set on the City of Mistral, Rock-Skar sat quietly at the headmaster's office in Haven Academy, fists clenched, frustrated at everything that went down that day. Everything was peaceful and quiet until a hologram of Ram-Busch started to appear on the rockstar general's HoloComm Disc.
"Rock-Skar…" the Ram Camylonian said.
"Not now, buddy." the rockstar general retorted, "I am in a bad mood."
"I can see that, especially what happened when you encountered that 'Jaune Arc' pest in your kingdom." Ram-Busch comforted, "As well as the events that transpired at Herakles. Would you mind explaining what happened there?"
"Fine." Rock-Skar sighed, "You may not like the result of what happened."
/END TRANSMISSION