Jaune'll survive the fall he has fall damage immunity and can always land on his feet
Dust, Maidens and Oh my (RWBY/Celestial Grimoire SI)
- Thread starter Magus Explorator
- Start date
Whether the fall hurts him or if he lands on his feet isn't really the main concern here.
It's the thing falling on his head that's the problem.
lmao
- Location
- U.S.
objects falling on your head is just you falling on it in reverse, damage negated
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Jaune has a halo that bolsters his durability to the point of surviving tank shots. He'll live through the initial hit, it's the ones that come after he loses consciousness that are the real danger. Or maybe he'll wake up in a cart being taken away by Salem's minions.
How come he's not getting achievements or milestones for all the stuff he's done.
"Hey, you're finally awake"
JBcristal
Bring Me All The Puppies!
- Location
- Somewhere that doesn't have enough puppies.
...it's the finals. Of a tournament. Where everybody has shown themselves to be competent. Penny included, we had a whole chapter section dedicated to Jaune appreciating this. Why the heck wouldn't he open with respectful wariness? Hell, he says so himself, he was losing the battle by the end.
If there's something to wince about it'd be Jaune's lack of experience with stamina management and battlefield healing (Although once again, this reeks of his inexperience, not a writing flaw). Dude reeeaaally needs to learn how to pace himself to keep chugging. It's understandable why he hasn't been training this sort of thing (It basically requires people willing to tag-marathon against him) but it's certainly biting him in the ass.
Chapter 26 Part 1
New
- Location
- Florida
- Pronouns
- He
"Wake up, sir. Designation: Jaune Arc," a monotone voice called out, shaking me from unconsciousness. My eyes snapped open—or tried to. A thick blanket of dust coated my face, stinging my eyes and clogging my throat. Warm liquid trickled down my temple, the unmistakable sensation of blood.
I groaned, wiping at my face with a trembling hand to clear my vision. As the world came into focus, I saw the figure addressing me: an Atlesian droid, its pristine white chassis smeared with dust and grime. Around us, other droids moved with mechanical precision, pulling survivors from the wreckage. The air was thick with smoke and chaos, and in the distance, I could hear gunfire and see dark plumes rising into the sky.
"What... what happened?" I croaked, my voice barely audible over the cacophony.
The droid paused for a moment, its head tilting slightly as if accessing its internal database. Then, in its mechanical voice, it responded, "Geographic designation: Vale. Status: under attack by terrorist organization White Fang. Explosions detected in the arena machinery. Incident utilized as a diversion. Enemy forces have breached Valean defenses using a vehicle—designation: locomotive—carrying operatives and designation: Grimm. Event occurred moments ago, per Atlesian Battlenet reports."
The words hit me like a freight train, and my stomach twisted into knots. I forced myself to sit up, wincing as pain shot through my body. My armor was scuffed and dented, and I could feel my aura struggling to mend my injuries. Around me, the devastation was overwhelming—collapsed structures, scattered debris, and the cries of the injured blending with the distant sounds of battle.
I took a shaky breath, trying to process the droid's report. The arena was a diversion. The White Fang and Grimm were inside the city. Vale was under siege.
Staggering to my feet, leaning on the droid for support as the weight of the situation bore down on me. My head throbbed, but I pushed the pain aside. "Where's my team?" I asked, my voice hoarse but steady.
The droid's head tilted again. "Your team is located at a temporary triage center established outside the arena. Status: injured but stable."
Relief flooded through me, but it was fleeting. Injured or not, we had to regroup and figure out our next move. "Take me to them," I said, gripping my sword tightly as I followed the droid through the rubble-strewn streets.
The triage center was a mess of chaos and desperation. Makeshift tents were hastily set up on the cracked pavement, the air thick with the mingling scents of antiseptic, smoke, and blood. Medics rushed between patients, their faces strained with exhaustion, while Atlesian droids worked tirelessly to assist. My heart twisted as I spotted my team among the injured.
Pyrrha sat on a cot, her armor battered and her crimson hair streaked with dirt and blood. She was holding her side, where a deep bruise marred her otherwise flawless body. Ren sat next to her, his normally calm expression tight with pain as he cradled his left arm, which hung limp in a makeshift sling. Nora was on another cot, her leg wrapped in thick bandages at its front and back, though she gave a faint smile when she saw me approach.
"Guys," I called out, relief and worry colliding in my chest as I rushed to their side. Pyrrha looked up, her emerald eyes lighting up despite the exhaustion that dulled their usual shine.
"Jaune," she said softly, her voice a mixture of relief and concern. "You're okay."
"Yeah," I said, kneeling beside her. "More or less. But you're hurt."
"We were still stuck in the locker room when the explosion started," she explained, but I was already channeling my aura. My hand glowed with golden light as I placed it over her bruised side. Slowly, the discoloration faded, her breathing evening out as the pain subsided.
Moving next to Ren. His arm was badly sprained, the muscles swollen and inflamed. As the golden light of my healing magic spread, the tension in his shoulders eased, and he gave me a small nod of gratitude.
"Thanks," he said simply.
Finally, I turned to Nora, who gave me a weak grin. "About time, fearless leader. My leg's not gonna fix itself, you know."
I chuckled, placing my hands over her bandaged leg. The light worked its way through the injuries, knitting torn muscles and mending fractured bones. As her aura replenished, she flexed her foot experimentally and gave me a thumbs-up.
"Good as new," she said, her usual energy returning, though it was tempered by the weight of the situation.
I stood and looked around at the rest of the triage center. Dozens of wounded civilians and huntsmen lay on cots or the ground, some groaning in pain, others unconscious. My aura reserves were low but quickly refilling, I couldn't leave them like this.
I moved through the center, healing anyone I could reach. Cuts closed, bruises faded, and broken bones mended under the golden glow of my aura. Each person I helped left me more drained, but I didn't stop. I wouldn't stop until everyone here had a fighting chance.
When I finally finished, I swayed on my feet, my vision swimming from exhaustion. Pyrrha was at my side in an instant, steadying me.
"That's enough, Jaune," she said gently, though her voice carried a note of firm resolve.
I nodded, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "We need to move," I said. "Beacon's the best place to regroup. Professor Ozpin will know what's going on and what to do next."
Ren helped Nora to her feet, and she leaned on him for support, though her aura was already beginning to recover.
"Heading back to Beacon sounds like a plan," Ren said, his calm voice cutting through the chaos around us.
"Yeah," Nora added, her usual enthusiasm returning. "Let's find Ozpin and figure out how to stop all this."
With a final glance at the triage center, now emptied of the worst injuries, we turned toward the academy. Smoke and chaos filled the streets.
Blocking the streets were a squad of atlesian droids not letting anyone leave.
The Atlesian droids stood in rigid formation, their monotone voices echoing through the chaos.
"Halt, citizen. This area has been closed by order of the Atlesian military," one droid stated, raising its arm in a mechanical gesture of authority. "Atlesian squads are engaging hostiles three blocks down. The enemy vehicle remains active and moving. This area has been cordoned off according to Atlesian military doctrine."
I clenched my fists, glancing at my team. "Damn," I muttered under my breath. The bullhead terminal was on the other side of that blockade, and we couldn't afford to waste time. My mind raced until an idea clicked into place.
Pulling out my scroll, I activated my team leader override.
It took a few tense minutes, the sound of distant gunfire and roaring Grimm filling the air as we waited. Civilians and fellow students cast us wary glances, some whispering amongst themselves. Finally, two rocket lockers came streaking down from the sky, landing with a loud thunk in front of us.
The lockers were empty—our usual gear was already on us—but that didn't matter. Turning to my team, I let a grin spread across my face.
"Alright, team," I said, my voice carrying a note of excitement. "Prepare for tactical deep strike, Type 20."
Nora's eyes lit up, and she let out an adorable squeal, practically bouncing with excitement as she climbed into one of the lockers.
Ren, on the other hand, sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping in resignation. "Why do I let you talk me into these things?" he muttered before stepping into the second locker.
Pyrrha and I exchanged a glance, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Ready?" I asked.
She nodded, stepping up to her locker and gripping the sides. "Always."
As civilians and students looked on, some confused, others curious, I couldn't resist the urge to add a little flair. With a grin, I turned to the crowd and raised my voice.
"We are Team JNPR, and we call this maneuver..." I paused dramatically, locking in the coordinates and activating my gravity sorcery to stick to the locker's surface. Pyrrha mirrored my movements, her feet firmly planted on the metal.
"...STEEL RAIN!" I shouted, slamming the activation button.
The rocket motors roared to life, and with a deafening whoosh, we shot into the sky. The ground fell away beneath us as we rocketed upward, the wind tearing at our hair and clothes. Nora's delighted squeals echoed through the comms, and even I couldn't help but laugh.
We soared above the chaos, the city of Vale sprawling beneath us like a battlefield torn apart. Smoke rose in plumes, marking the sites of destruction, and the cacophony of war reached us even at this height.
The Atlesian fleet was a flurry of activity, its airships swarming like bees around a hive. Bullheads zipped up and down, ferrying troops and supplies, while the fleet's anti-aircraft guns barked relentlessly.
Explosions dotted the sky as flak and missiles targeted attacking Nevermores, tearing them apart mid-flight.
But not all of the fleet was operational. On one side of the city, airships hung silent and battered, fires raging from their hulls. It was clear they'd been overwhelmed, leaving that sector of the city vulnerable.
From our vantage point, the streets of Vale painted a grim picture. The White Fang's train barreled through the city, somehow modified to travel the urban landscape with ease. It must have been carrying ten cargo cars behind it, each one bristling with turrets that returned fire at the Atlesian forces. The train moved like a relentless juggernaut, its path of destruction clear.
Then we saw it—the breach.
In the heart of Vale, a gaping hole in the ground spewed Grimm into the city like a black tide. Beowolves, Creeps, and worse poured out in numbers that defied belief, an unending swarm that spread chaos and death wherever it went.
The Atlesian fleet bombarded the breach, their missiles and artillery slamming into the ground with thunderous explosions. But the Grimm kept coming. The fleet's attention was divided—too many threats demanded their firepower at once. The breach, the train, the Nevermores in the sky... It was chaos, pure and simple.
On the ground, hastily assembled squads of soldiers and hunters fought valiantly to contain the Grimm. Makeshift barricades and defensive lines were barely holding, their defenders pushed to their limits.
The scale of the attack was staggering. Vale was under siege, and it was clear the city's defenders were struggling to hold the line.
I clenched my fists as we rocketed toward Beacon. The battle below was desperate, but we had to trust the people on the ground to hold their own. Our mission was clear: reach the academy, find Professor Ozpin, and do whatever we could to turn the tide.
"Professor, where are you?" I asked into my scroll as we ran through the shattered halls of Beacon. Our landing had been rough—we'd overshot our mark and slammed into the gardens instead of the locker room. Around us, chaos reigned. Rocket lockers were launching one after another, their engines screaming as they ferried students gear into the fray.
Thankfully, Ozpin answered almost immediately.
"I'm in the vault," he said, his voice calm but edged with urgency. "Bring your team and meet me there. We are going to perform the procedure immediately."
I nearly stumbled as his words sank in. The vault. The maiden.
My team and I exchanged tense glances. We all knew what was down there. Ozpin had trusted us with that secret a month ago. If everything went correctly, which we still had no idea about what would happen in practice, Pyrrha was walking out of there as a maiden, one hell of a trial by fire.
"Understood, Professor," I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing in my chest.
I closed the scroll and turned to my team. "We're heading to the vault. Ozpin's calling for us. You all know what that means."
Pyrrha nodded, her expression as sharp as her spear. Ren and Nora followed suit, their usual banter replaced by grim determination.
The halls of Beacon buzzed with tension, every moment feeling like the calm before a storm. Outside, the distant rumble of explosions shook the air, while inside, the roar of rocket lockers launching from the dorms echoed through the corridors. Each locker carried the gear of students rushing to arm themselves, preparing to join the chaos engulfing Vale. The acrid tang of smoke and the faint hum of the academy's automated systems filled the air.
We moved quickly through the school, navigating the eerie silence of the upper levels. By the time we reached Ozpin's office, the contrast between the quiet here and the distant chaos outside was almost unnerving. I reached under his desk, flicking the hidden button that revealed the elevator. The doors slid open with a soft hiss, and we stepped inside, descending into the depths of the academy.
The corridor leading to the vault was just as foreboding as I remembered. Dim lights cast long, flickering shadows that seemed to shift with our movements. The sound of our footsteps echoed hollowly, a stark reminder of how isolated this place was from the world above.
At the end of the corridor stood the vault door, its imposing surface a barrier between us and Amber's sarcophagus. I tried the handle, but it was locked. Without hesitation, we threw ourselves against it, the weight of our team rattling the heavy door.
"Professor, it's us!" I shouted, my voice reverberating down the hallway.
For a moment, there was no response. Then came the sound of heavy objects scraping and clattering on the other side. The door creaked open just enough for us to slip through before a sudden force pulled us inside.
Professor Goodwitch stood by the door, her expression sharp and focused. The moment we crossed the threshold, she began moving debris and furniture back into place with her telekinesis, reinforcing the door with a makeshift barricade that grew thicker with each item added.
Ozpin stood in the center of the room, his posture tense but composed. Behind him loomed Amber's sarcophagus, its cold, metallic surface an unyielding reminder of the task at hand.
"Thank you for coming," he said, his voice low and steady. "There's no time to waste."
With brisk efficiency, Ozpin directed everyone into position. Nora and Ren moved to the door, taking up defensive stances alongside Professor Goodwitch, who kept her riding crop at the ready, her sharp eyes scanning for any sign of trouble. The tension in the room was palpable, the muffled sounds of chaos aboveground a constant reminder of the stakes.
Pyrrha stepped toward the pod, her movements steady despite the weight of what was about to happen. She must have been prepared for this moment during her private sessions with Ozpin, her demeanor calm and resolute. She climbed into the pod, lying back as the machinery adjusted around her, sealing her in place.
Ozpin turned to me, his expression more serious than I'd ever seen it. He guided me to the side of Amber's sarcophagus, where a small, sealed airlock protruded from the side.
"Jaune," he said, his voice low and firm, "place your hand in the airlock."
I hesitated for only a moment before doing as instructed. The metal was cold, and the mechanism hissed as it adjusted to my touch. Ozpin leaned in closer, his piercing gaze locking onto mine.
"Whatever happens, do not stop healing her," he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt or argument. "No matter what you see, no matter what you feel—do not let her die. I will tell you when you can stop."
His words sent a chill through me, but I nodded, determination settling in my chest.
Satisfied, he stepped away, heading toward the control desk. The hum of the machinery around us grew louder, and the lights in the room dimmed slightly as the systems powered up.
I took a deep breath, channeling my aura into my hand, the familiar warmth of healing magic pooling at my fingertips. The moment my power connected with Amber, I felt it—her life force, faint and flickering, like a candle struggling against a storm.
"Here we go," Ozpin announced from the console, his voice calm but edged with tension. "Hold steady, Jaune."
And with that, the procedure began.
Amber's pod emitted a series of rapid beeps, rising in urgency. Suddenly, a sharp metallic spike shot out from the cushioned interior, piercing directly into her head. I flinched, my instincts screaming to pull back, but I held firm, my hand still pressed into the airlock.
Inside the pod, I could see thin, writhing tendrils—no, cables—emerging from the spike and wrapping themselves around Amber's skull, burrowing deeper. Her eyes snapped open, wide and unseeing, her mouth parting in a silent scream before sound erupted—a raw, guttural cry of agony that tore through the room.
My aura surged instinctively, pouring into her through the connection I held. The warmth of my healing magic collided with the cold, searing damage ripping through her body. It felt like trying to extinguish a fire with a trickle of water—every bit of healing I offered was consumed in an instant, barely holding back the tide of destruction.
It was like trying to save a burning length of rope by adding more rope to it. The fire wasn't stopping; all I could do was buy her more time.
"Jaune, hold steady!" Ozpin's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "You're doing exactly what's needed. Don't waver!"
Amber's body convulsed within the pod, her limbs twitching as the cables dug deeper, their movements almost organic. Her scream faltered, breaking into ragged gasps, and my heart clenched. The strain on my aura was immense, each passing second draining more and more of my reserves.
"Pyrrha, prepare yourself," Ozpin said, his voice heavy with urgency. "The transfer is beginning."
I couldn't look away from Amber, couldn't afford to. My focus was locked entirely on keeping her alive, even as the burning sensation in my chest grew stronger. Whatever this process was, it was tearing her apart from the inside.
"Jesus Christ," I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible over the hum of the machinery. My grip tightened as I forced myself to hold steady, even as every fiber of my being screamed at me to do something—anything—to stop this madness.
Then Pyrrha let out a cry, sharp and pained. My heart sank, the sound cutting through me like a blade. I glanced her way for a fraction of a second, seeing her tense in the pod, her body trembling as the transfer began to affect her. But I couldn't waver. Amber still lay motionless in her pod, her body glowing faintly now, a soft golden light radiating from her skin.
The machinery around us groaned and hummed, the lights on the consoles growing brighter with each passing moment. Whatever arcane and scientific process was at work here, it was escalating, the air in the room becoming heavy with energy.
"Good, Jaune," Professor Ozpin's voice cut through the tension, calm but firm. "Just a little more. Stay focused."
I risked a glance at the monitor beside him. A progress bar glowed on the display, inching forward steadily. It was already at 25 percent, but the gap between now and completion felt insurmountable.
Amber's glow intensified, the golden aura flickering like a flame caught in a storm. My aura surged harder, instinctively responding to the growing strain on her body. The process was relentless, tearing her apart and piecing her back together at the same time.
"Come on, come on," I whispered, pouring everything I had into her. My arms ached, my chest burned, but I couldn't stop. Not now.
The procedure seemed to be progressing smoothly. Amber's glow pulsed brighter with each passing second, the hum of the machinery growing louder as the transfer continued. I could feel my aura draining steadily, the strain mounting as I worked to keep Amber alive.
The bar on the monitor climbed to 75%. Pyrrha let out another pained cry from her pod, and my heart twisted, but I stayed steady.
Then, without warning, the vault shook violently. A deep rumble echoed through the chamber, and the floor trembled beneath us.
"What was that?" I asked, glancing toward the others.
Before anyone could respond, a deafening crash shattered the tense silence. The far wall exploded inward, metal and stone twisting and groaning as a massive Grimm burst through. Its serpentine body writhed, its eyeless head snapping back and forth as it let out a bone-chilling screech.
"Blind Worms!" Nora shouted, hefting her hammer. "These things are from Vacuo, not Vale!"
The creature lunged toward us, but Professor Goodwitch acted instantly. With a sharp flick of her riding crop, debris from the vault's shattered wall surged forward, slamming into the Grimm and driving it back.
"Ren, Nora, with me!" she commanded, her voice sharp and unwavering.
Through the gaping hole in the wall, I caught a glimpse of the chaos outside. A massive Grimm dragon loomed in the sky, its jagged black form illuminated by the flashing lights of Atlesian airships. The ships swarmed around it, their cannons tearing into its flesh, but for every wound they inflicted, more flying Grimm poured out, spawned from the creature itself.
"That thing's spawning Grimm!" I said, unable to look away from the horrifying sight.
"Focus, Jaune!" Nora shouted as another Blind Worm burst through the wall, widening the breach.
The second worm was followed by a third, their massive forms writhing as they tore through the vault's defenses. The hole grew larger, and then I saw them.
Two figures emerged from the shadows of the breach. One was a towering man with a hulking frame and a grim expression, someone I didn't recognize. But the other...
"Cinder," I said, my voice low and tense.
She stepped forward with a confident, almost predatory smile, her golden eye gleaming with malice.
"Hello, Jaune," she said, her voice smooth and mocking. "Long time no see."
My grip on Crocea Mors tightened. "Cinder... What are you doing here? Did you actually ally with the Grimm?"
She chuckled, the sound cold and cruel. "Oh, Jaune. You still don't understand, do you? This is so much bigger than you."
The hulking man beside her stepped forward, silent but menacing. I didn't know who he was, but he radiated danger.
"Stay focused!" Professor Ozpin's voice cut through the tension from the console. "The procedure isn't finished yet!"
The monitor read 78%. We were so close, but now the vault was under siege, and the enemy was standing right in front of us.
The battle erupted into chaos, a maelstrom of fire, steel, and sheer determination. Ren and Nora charged forward alongside Professor Goodwitch, each moving with the precision and resolve of seasoned warriors.
Ren was a blur, his semblance with the aid of the dagger and cloak rendering him invisible as he darted in and out of sight. His strikes were surgical, aimed at weak points in the towering man's defenses—pressure points, joints, and unprotected areas.
Yet, the massive figure barely flinched. His skin, or perhaps his aura, absorbed the blows like stone, and his counterattacks were devastatingly swift for someone of his size. Ren ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding a bone-crushing fist that smashed into the wall behind him, leaving a crater.
Nora, in stark contrast, was a force of nature. She barreled into the fray with Magnhild raised high, her war cries echoing through the vault. Each swing of her hammer was a thunderclap, sparks flying as she clashed with Cinder's fiery attacks. The air between them crackled with energy, orange flames meeting electric blue with every exchange. Nora grinned despite the chaos, the thrill of battle lighting up her face even as she was forced to dodge a searing wave of fire.
Professor Goodwitch was the eye of the storm, her movements precise and calculated. She wielded her telekinetic power with mastery, debris swirling around her like a shield. With a flick of her riding crop, she sent jagged pieces of metal and stone hurtling toward Cinder, forcing the fiery woman to leap and twist to avoid them. At the same time, she created barriers to deflect the massive man's relentless strikes, her focus unwavering despite the overwhelming odds.
I stood by the pod, pouring every ounce of my aura into Amber. The counter climbed steadily—80%. 85%. The glow of the machinery reflected in the sweat dripping down my face, my heart pounding as the battle raged around me. Every scream, every clash of weapons, every explosion of fire and lightning made it harder to focus, but I couldn't stop.
Not now.
Cinder was relentless, her flames flaring brighter and hotter with every attack. She moved with deadly grace, her golden eye locked onto her targets as she danced through the chaos.
A fiery spear formed in her hand, and she hurled it toward Ren, who barely managed to dodge in time. The spear exploded on impact, sending shrapnel flying and forcing Nora to shield herself with her hammer.
The massive man—Hazel, though I didn't know his name—fought like an unstoppable force. His punches shattered the ground, his kicks sent shockwaves through the air, and every time Ren or Nora landed a hit, he shrugged it off as if it were nothing. He was a juggernaut, and it was taking everything they had just to keep him occupied.
Then it happened.
Cinder's flames surged, blindingly bright, and for a moment, the entire vault was bathed in fiery light. She moved with inhuman speed, a streak of orange and gold as she closed the distance to Professor Goodwitch.
"Professor!" I shouted, but the words barely left my lips before it was too late.
Cinder's blade, wreathed in flame, plunged into Goodwitch's stomach. The fiery weapon pierced through her body, the tip emerging from her side. Goodwitch gasped, her knees buckling as Cinder twisted the blade with a cruel smile.
"No!" Nora screamed, her voice raw with anguish. She surged forward, but Hazel intercepted her, his massive arm swinging like a battering ram. The blow sent her flying across the vault, her hammer slipping from her grasp as she crashed into a pile of debris.
Cinder glanced at the monitor, her golden eye narrowing as she saw the counter climb past 90%. Her expression twisted with fury, and she pulled her blade free from Goodwitch, letting the professor collapse to the ground.
"Bring the Hounds!" Cinder cried, her voice echoing through the vault like a death knell.
From the gaping hole in the wall, three Beowolves leaped into the chamber. But these weren't ordinary Grimm. Their bodies were grotesquely elongated, their limbs twisted and unnatural. Glowing red eyes burned with intelligence, and something about them sent a shiver down my spine.
Then they stood up.
On two legs.
Their movements were disturbingly human-like as they stalked forward, their claws gleaming in the vault's harsh light.
"What the hell are those?" I muttered, gripping Crocea Mors tightly.
"Focus, Jaune!" Ozpin's voice snapped me back to reality. "The procedure is almost complete. You cannot stop now!"
I clenched my teeth, my aura flaring as I forced myself to keep healing Amber. But my eyes kept darting to the twisted Beowolves as they advanced, their every step reminding me of that old earth legend, the wendigo.
The counter ticked upward. 94%. 95%.
The air in the vault was electric with tension, every second stretching into an eternity.
The Hounds charged, their twisted forms bounding forward with terrifying speed. Their glowing red eyes locked onto us, and their snarls reverberated through the chamber like a death knell. At their forefront was Cinder, her eyes blazing with malevolent fire. She led the charge with chilling grace, her bloodstained blade catching the light as she wiped it clean against the folds of her crimson dress.
Behind her, Hazel remained locked in combat with Ren and Nora. Ren darted around him like a wraith, his semblance allowing him to vanish and reappear in bursts of motion, his strikes quick and precise. Yet Hazel's brute strength made him an unyielding opponent. He swung his massive arms like wrecking balls, forcing Ren to stay on the defensive.
Nora, meanwhile, was relentless. Her hammer crackled with electricity as she brought it down in devastating arcs, each strike aimed to shatter Hazel's defenses. But the man was a juggernaut. He absorbed the blows with a grim determination, his hulking form unshaken even as sparks flew and the floor cracked beneath him.
"Nora, watch out!" Ren shouted as Hazel feinted with one arm, then swung the other in a wide arc. Nora barely managed to sidestep, her hammer coming up just in time to deflect the blow.
"I'm fine!" she yelled back, her voice fierce despite the strain in it. "Focus on wearing him down!"
The battle raged behind me, but my attention was fixed on Amber's pod. My aura flared brighter as I poured everything I had into healing her, the glow of the transfer intensifying as the counter climbed to 96%.
Professor Ozpin, standing by the console, pressed something on the controls before stepping away. The machinery hissed and hummed louder, the pod glowing like a beacon in the dim vault.
Ozpin gripped his cane tightly, his expression calm but his stance one of quiet resolve. "Don't stop, Jaune," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Not until it's complete. No matter what happens."
I nodded, though my hands were trembling. My heart pounded as the Hounds closed in, their claws scraping against the floor with an eerie, deliberate rhythm.
Ozpin stepped forward, positioning himself between the console and the charging enemies. The glow of the vault lights caught the intricate carvings on his cane, and for a moment, he looked like a lone sentinel, standing against the tide.
Cinder's smirk widened as she advanced, the Hounds flanking her in perfect unison. Behind her, Hazel roared as he swung at Ren, narrowly missing as the nimble fighter darted away. Nora seized the opening, driving her hammer into Hazel's side with a crackling explosion of force. He staggered but didn't fall, his focus unbroken as he retaliated with a crushing blow that Nora barely managed to block.
I gritted my teeth, my heart hammering in my chest. The pod glowed brighter, Amber's body trembling as the transfer neared completion.
Professor Ozpin fought with a level of precision and power that seemed almost supernatural. His cane moved in a blur, striking at the Hounds with a crack of energy that sent shockwaves through the vault. But these creatures—these monstrosities—were unlike anything I had ever seen.
The Hounds didn't dissolve when struck. Instead, they absorbed the damage, their black, sinewy forms twisting and growing tougher with every blow. One leapt at Ozpin, its claws aiming for his throat. He sidestepped and brought his cane down on its back with a sharp crack, the force of the strike driving it into the ground.
But the Hound didn't stay down. It twisted its body unnaturally, its limbs bending at impossible angles as it rose again. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Ozpin, and it snarled, more determined than before.
"They're adapting," Ozpin muttered, his tone grim.
Cinder smirked as she advanced, her fiery blade burning brighter. "They're not like your average Grimm, are they? They're designed to break you, Ozpin. And it looks like they're doing a fine job."
Ozpin didn't respond. He moved to intercept her, his cane swinging in wide arcs to keep her at bay. But the Hounds were relentless. One lunged at his legs while another circled around to strike from behind.
He managed to deflect the first, sending it sprawling, but the second slammed into him with a bone-rattling force. Ozpin staggered, his aura flickering as the creature's claws raked across his side.
Meanwhile, Ren and Nora were locked in a desperate battle against Hazel.
The towering man was a juggernaut, his every movement precise and deliberate. Ren darted around him, his semblance flickering as he struck at Hazel's joints and ribs. But Hazel barely seemed to notice the blows.
"You're quick," Hazel said, his deep voice calm despite the chaos. "But speed alone won't stop me."
Nora charged in, her hammer raised high. She swung with all her might, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the vault as it connected with Hazel's side.
Hazel grunted but didn't falter. Instead, he reached into a pouch at his side and pulled out a jagged chunk of Dust. Without hesitation, he slammed it into his arm, the crystalline shard embedding itself into his flesh.
The reaction was immediate. Lightning crackled along his veins, his muscles bulging as raw power surged through him. His eyes glowed faintly, and his movements became even more ferocious.
Hazel roared, the sound reverberating through the vault as he swung at Ren with newfound speed and strength. Ren barely managed to dodge, the force of the blow sending cracks spidering through the wall behind him.
"Nora, fall back!" Ren called, his tone urgent as he struggled to keep up with Hazel's onslaught.
"Not a chance!" Nora replied, charging forward with a defiant cry.
The counter on the pod ticked upward. 96%. 97%.
I poured more of my aura into Amber, my hands trembling as I tried to keep up with the damage the transfer was doing to her. The pod hummed louder, the glow from the machinery casting flickering shadows across the walls, across me Pyrrha started screaming, a painful cry that bit into my heart, but I couldn't stop
Ozpin was losing ground. The Hounds had adapted to his fighting style, their movements more fluid and coordinated. One of them lunged at his legs, and when he moved to block, another leapt for his shoulder.
He managed to deflect the first, but the second sank its claws into his side, tearing through his aura. Ozpin grunted in pain, slamming his cane into the creature's ribs. It let go, but only for a moment.
Cinder watched the scene unfold with a cruel smile, her golden eye gleaming. "You're out of your depth, Ozpin. This is where it ends."
The counter ticked to 98%.
And then Hazel roared again, his electrified fist slamming into the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked Ren and Nora off their feet. The Hounds, sensing an opening, surged forward toward Ozpin.
Professor Ozpin, despite his skill and power, was being overwhelmed. All three Hounds charged him simultaneously, their twisted forms moving with unnatural speed and coordination. He managed to block one with his cane, deflecting its claws, but the second slammed into his side, and the third leapt onto his back.
Ozpin staggered under their combined weight, his aura flickering dangerously low. The Hounds snarled and tore at him, their claws raking through his robes and into his flesh. Blood spattered the floor as they hacked at him, relentless and merciless.
"Professor!" I shouted, my voice cracking, but there was nothing I could do. My hands were locked in place, pouring healing aura into Amber as the counter climbed. 99%.
Cinder, seeing her opportunity, darted past the chaos. Her fiery blade ignited with an intense glow as she charged toward Pyrrha's pod.
"You're not stopping this!" she yelled, her voice filled with rage. She raised her weapon, aiming to strike at the machinery.
"Nora!" I screamed, desperation in my voice.
Nora, despite being dazed from Hazel's earlier attack, saw the threat and hurled herself forward. Her hammer swung in a wide arc, forcing Cinder to jump back, but the pod now bore scorch marks from where Cinder's blade had nearly connected.
Meanwhile, Hazel was a storm of fury. Ren had turned invisible, darting around him and striking at weak points, but Hazel's enhanced strength and speed made him nearly impossible to evade.
"You can't hide forever," Hazel growled, his eyes scanning the area. Then, with a sudden motion, he slammed his electrified fist into the ground. The shockwave disrupted Ren's invisibility, revealing him just a split second too soon.
Hazel lunged, his massive hand pinning Ren to the floor. "Got you," he said coldly.
Ren struggled, his semblance flickering as he tried to slip free, but Hazel's grip was like iron. The giant raised his other fist, now crackling with electricity, and brought it down with devastating force.
Ren cried out in pain, his aura visibly shattering under the relentless assault. Hazel didn't let up, his fists pounding down again and again, each strike accompanied by a surge of electricity that left Ren writhing.
The counter ticked upward.
99.5%.
Cinder, undeterred by Nora's interference, unleashed a barrage of fireballs, forcing Nora to retreat. She advanced on the pod again, her blade poised to strike.
Ozpin's cries of pain echoed through the vault as the Hounds tore into him, their claws and teeth ripping through his defenses. His cane clattered to the floor, and he fell to his knees, blood pooling beneath him.
"Professor!" I shouted again, but I couldn't move. I couldn't stop.
The counter hit 100%.
part 1 end
I groaned, wiping at my face with a trembling hand to clear my vision. As the world came into focus, I saw the figure addressing me: an Atlesian droid, its pristine white chassis smeared with dust and grime. Around us, other droids moved with mechanical precision, pulling survivors from the wreckage. The air was thick with smoke and chaos, and in the distance, I could hear gunfire and see dark plumes rising into the sky.
"What... what happened?" I croaked, my voice barely audible over the cacophony.
The droid paused for a moment, its head tilting slightly as if accessing its internal database. Then, in its mechanical voice, it responded, "Geographic designation: Vale. Status: under attack by terrorist organization White Fang. Explosions detected in the arena machinery. Incident utilized as a diversion. Enemy forces have breached Valean defenses using a vehicle—designation: locomotive—carrying operatives and designation: Grimm. Event occurred moments ago, per Atlesian Battlenet reports."
The words hit me like a freight train, and my stomach twisted into knots. I forced myself to sit up, wincing as pain shot through my body. My armor was scuffed and dented, and I could feel my aura struggling to mend my injuries. Around me, the devastation was overwhelming—collapsed structures, scattered debris, and the cries of the injured blending with the distant sounds of battle.
I took a shaky breath, trying to process the droid's report. The arena was a diversion. The White Fang and Grimm were inside the city. Vale was under siege.
Staggering to my feet, leaning on the droid for support as the weight of the situation bore down on me. My head throbbed, but I pushed the pain aside. "Where's my team?" I asked, my voice hoarse but steady.
The droid's head tilted again. "Your team is located at a temporary triage center established outside the arena. Status: injured but stable."
Relief flooded through me, but it was fleeting. Injured or not, we had to regroup and figure out our next move. "Take me to them," I said, gripping my sword tightly as I followed the droid through the rubble-strewn streets.
The triage center was a mess of chaos and desperation. Makeshift tents were hastily set up on the cracked pavement, the air thick with the mingling scents of antiseptic, smoke, and blood. Medics rushed between patients, their faces strained with exhaustion, while Atlesian droids worked tirelessly to assist. My heart twisted as I spotted my team among the injured.
Pyrrha sat on a cot, her armor battered and her crimson hair streaked with dirt and blood. She was holding her side, where a deep bruise marred her otherwise flawless body. Ren sat next to her, his normally calm expression tight with pain as he cradled his left arm, which hung limp in a makeshift sling. Nora was on another cot, her leg wrapped in thick bandages at its front and back, though she gave a faint smile when she saw me approach.
"Guys," I called out, relief and worry colliding in my chest as I rushed to their side. Pyrrha looked up, her emerald eyes lighting up despite the exhaustion that dulled their usual shine.
"Jaune," she said softly, her voice a mixture of relief and concern. "You're okay."
"Yeah," I said, kneeling beside her. "More or less. But you're hurt."
"We were still stuck in the locker room when the explosion started," she explained, but I was already channeling my aura. My hand glowed with golden light as I placed it over her bruised side. Slowly, the discoloration faded, her breathing evening out as the pain subsided.
Moving next to Ren. His arm was badly sprained, the muscles swollen and inflamed. As the golden light of my healing magic spread, the tension in his shoulders eased, and he gave me a small nod of gratitude.
"Thanks," he said simply.
Finally, I turned to Nora, who gave me a weak grin. "About time, fearless leader. My leg's not gonna fix itself, you know."
I chuckled, placing my hands over her bandaged leg. The light worked its way through the injuries, knitting torn muscles and mending fractured bones. As her aura replenished, she flexed her foot experimentally and gave me a thumbs-up.
"Good as new," she said, her usual energy returning, though it was tempered by the weight of the situation.
I stood and looked around at the rest of the triage center. Dozens of wounded civilians and huntsmen lay on cots or the ground, some groaning in pain, others unconscious. My aura reserves were low but quickly refilling, I couldn't leave them like this.
I moved through the center, healing anyone I could reach. Cuts closed, bruises faded, and broken bones mended under the golden glow of my aura. Each person I helped left me more drained, but I didn't stop. I wouldn't stop until everyone here had a fighting chance.
When I finally finished, I swayed on my feet, my vision swimming from exhaustion. Pyrrha was at my side in an instant, steadying me.
"That's enough, Jaune," she said gently, though her voice carried a note of firm resolve.
I nodded, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "We need to move," I said. "Beacon's the best place to regroup. Professor Ozpin will know what's going on and what to do next."
Ren helped Nora to her feet, and she leaned on him for support, though her aura was already beginning to recover.
"Heading back to Beacon sounds like a plan," Ren said, his calm voice cutting through the chaos around us.
"Yeah," Nora added, her usual enthusiasm returning. "Let's find Ozpin and figure out how to stop all this."
With a final glance at the triage center, now emptied of the worst injuries, we turned toward the academy. Smoke and chaos filled the streets.
Blocking the streets were a squad of atlesian droids not letting anyone leave.
The Atlesian droids stood in rigid formation, their monotone voices echoing through the chaos.
"Halt, citizen. This area has been closed by order of the Atlesian military," one droid stated, raising its arm in a mechanical gesture of authority. "Atlesian squads are engaging hostiles three blocks down. The enemy vehicle remains active and moving. This area has been cordoned off according to Atlesian military doctrine."
I clenched my fists, glancing at my team. "Damn," I muttered under my breath. The bullhead terminal was on the other side of that blockade, and we couldn't afford to waste time. My mind raced until an idea clicked into place.
Pulling out my scroll, I activated my team leader override.
It took a few tense minutes, the sound of distant gunfire and roaring Grimm filling the air as we waited. Civilians and fellow students cast us wary glances, some whispering amongst themselves. Finally, two rocket lockers came streaking down from the sky, landing with a loud thunk in front of us.
The lockers were empty—our usual gear was already on us—but that didn't matter. Turning to my team, I let a grin spread across my face.
"Alright, team," I said, my voice carrying a note of excitement. "Prepare for tactical deep strike, Type 20."
Nora's eyes lit up, and she let out an adorable squeal, practically bouncing with excitement as she climbed into one of the lockers.
Ren, on the other hand, sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping in resignation. "Why do I let you talk me into these things?" he muttered before stepping into the second locker.
Pyrrha and I exchanged a glance, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Ready?" I asked.
She nodded, stepping up to her locker and gripping the sides. "Always."
As civilians and students looked on, some confused, others curious, I couldn't resist the urge to add a little flair. With a grin, I turned to the crowd and raised my voice.
"We are Team JNPR, and we call this maneuver..." I paused dramatically, locking in the coordinates and activating my gravity sorcery to stick to the locker's surface. Pyrrha mirrored my movements, her feet firmly planted on the metal.
"...STEEL RAIN!" I shouted, slamming the activation button.
The rocket motors roared to life, and with a deafening whoosh, we shot into the sky. The ground fell away beneath us as we rocketed upward, the wind tearing at our hair and clothes. Nora's delighted squeals echoed through the comms, and even I couldn't help but laugh.
We soared above the chaos, the city of Vale sprawling beneath us like a battlefield torn apart. Smoke rose in plumes, marking the sites of destruction, and the cacophony of war reached us even at this height.
The Atlesian fleet was a flurry of activity, its airships swarming like bees around a hive. Bullheads zipped up and down, ferrying troops and supplies, while the fleet's anti-aircraft guns barked relentlessly.
Explosions dotted the sky as flak and missiles targeted attacking Nevermores, tearing them apart mid-flight.
But not all of the fleet was operational. On one side of the city, airships hung silent and battered, fires raging from their hulls. It was clear they'd been overwhelmed, leaving that sector of the city vulnerable.
From our vantage point, the streets of Vale painted a grim picture. The White Fang's train barreled through the city, somehow modified to travel the urban landscape with ease. It must have been carrying ten cargo cars behind it, each one bristling with turrets that returned fire at the Atlesian forces. The train moved like a relentless juggernaut, its path of destruction clear.
Then we saw it—the breach.
In the heart of Vale, a gaping hole in the ground spewed Grimm into the city like a black tide. Beowolves, Creeps, and worse poured out in numbers that defied belief, an unending swarm that spread chaos and death wherever it went.
The Atlesian fleet bombarded the breach, their missiles and artillery slamming into the ground with thunderous explosions. But the Grimm kept coming. The fleet's attention was divided—too many threats demanded their firepower at once. The breach, the train, the Nevermores in the sky... It was chaos, pure and simple.
On the ground, hastily assembled squads of soldiers and hunters fought valiantly to contain the Grimm. Makeshift barricades and defensive lines were barely holding, their defenders pushed to their limits.
The scale of the attack was staggering. Vale was under siege, and it was clear the city's defenders were struggling to hold the line.
I clenched my fists as we rocketed toward Beacon. The battle below was desperate, but we had to trust the people on the ground to hold their own. Our mission was clear: reach the academy, find Professor Ozpin, and do whatever we could to turn the tide.
"Professor, where are you?" I asked into my scroll as we ran through the shattered halls of Beacon. Our landing had been rough—we'd overshot our mark and slammed into the gardens instead of the locker room. Around us, chaos reigned. Rocket lockers were launching one after another, their engines screaming as they ferried students gear into the fray.
Thankfully, Ozpin answered almost immediately.
"I'm in the vault," he said, his voice calm but edged with urgency. "Bring your team and meet me there. We are going to perform the procedure immediately."
I nearly stumbled as his words sank in. The vault. The maiden.
My team and I exchanged tense glances. We all knew what was down there. Ozpin had trusted us with that secret a month ago. If everything went correctly, which we still had no idea about what would happen in practice, Pyrrha was walking out of there as a maiden, one hell of a trial by fire.
"Understood, Professor," I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing in my chest.
I closed the scroll and turned to my team. "We're heading to the vault. Ozpin's calling for us. You all know what that means."
Pyrrha nodded, her expression as sharp as her spear. Ren and Nora followed suit, their usual banter replaced by grim determination.
The halls of Beacon buzzed with tension, every moment feeling like the calm before a storm. Outside, the distant rumble of explosions shook the air, while inside, the roar of rocket lockers launching from the dorms echoed through the corridors. Each locker carried the gear of students rushing to arm themselves, preparing to join the chaos engulfing Vale. The acrid tang of smoke and the faint hum of the academy's automated systems filled the air.
We moved quickly through the school, navigating the eerie silence of the upper levels. By the time we reached Ozpin's office, the contrast between the quiet here and the distant chaos outside was almost unnerving. I reached under his desk, flicking the hidden button that revealed the elevator. The doors slid open with a soft hiss, and we stepped inside, descending into the depths of the academy.
The corridor leading to the vault was just as foreboding as I remembered. Dim lights cast long, flickering shadows that seemed to shift with our movements. The sound of our footsteps echoed hollowly, a stark reminder of how isolated this place was from the world above.
At the end of the corridor stood the vault door, its imposing surface a barrier between us and Amber's sarcophagus. I tried the handle, but it was locked. Without hesitation, we threw ourselves against it, the weight of our team rattling the heavy door.
"Professor, it's us!" I shouted, my voice reverberating down the hallway.
For a moment, there was no response. Then came the sound of heavy objects scraping and clattering on the other side. The door creaked open just enough for us to slip through before a sudden force pulled us inside.
Professor Goodwitch stood by the door, her expression sharp and focused. The moment we crossed the threshold, she began moving debris and furniture back into place with her telekinesis, reinforcing the door with a makeshift barricade that grew thicker with each item added.
Ozpin stood in the center of the room, his posture tense but composed. Behind him loomed Amber's sarcophagus, its cold, metallic surface an unyielding reminder of the task at hand.
"Thank you for coming," he said, his voice low and steady. "There's no time to waste."
With brisk efficiency, Ozpin directed everyone into position. Nora and Ren moved to the door, taking up defensive stances alongside Professor Goodwitch, who kept her riding crop at the ready, her sharp eyes scanning for any sign of trouble. The tension in the room was palpable, the muffled sounds of chaos aboveground a constant reminder of the stakes.
Pyrrha stepped toward the pod, her movements steady despite the weight of what was about to happen. She must have been prepared for this moment during her private sessions with Ozpin, her demeanor calm and resolute. She climbed into the pod, lying back as the machinery adjusted around her, sealing her in place.
Ozpin turned to me, his expression more serious than I'd ever seen it. He guided me to the side of Amber's sarcophagus, where a small, sealed airlock protruded from the side.
"Jaune," he said, his voice low and firm, "place your hand in the airlock."
I hesitated for only a moment before doing as instructed. The metal was cold, and the mechanism hissed as it adjusted to my touch. Ozpin leaned in closer, his piercing gaze locking onto mine.
"Whatever happens, do not stop healing her," he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt or argument. "No matter what you see, no matter what you feel—do not let her die. I will tell you when you can stop."
His words sent a chill through me, but I nodded, determination settling in my chest.
Satisfied, he stepped away, heading toward the control desk. The hum of the machinery around us grew louder, and the lights in the room dimmed slightly as the systems powered up.
I took a deep breath, channeling my aura into my hand, the familiar warmth of healing magic pooling at my fingertips. The moment my power connected with Amber, I felt it—her life force, faint and flickering, like a candle struggling against a storm.
"Here we go," Ozpin announced from the console, his voice calm but edged with tension. "Hold steady, Jaune."
And with that, the procedure began.
Amber's pod emitted a series of rapid beeps, rising in urgency. Suddenly, a sharp metallic spike shot out from the cushioned interior, piercing directly into her head. I flinched, my instincts screaming to pull back, but I held firm, my hand still pressed into the airlock.
Inside the pod, I could see thin, writhing tendrils—no, cables—emerging from the spike and wrapping themselves around Amber's skull, burrowing deeper. Her eyes snapped open, wide and unseeing, her mouth parting in a silent scream before sound erupted—a raw, guttural cry of agony that tore through the room.
My aura surged instinctively, pouring into her through the connection I held. The warmth of my healing magic collided with the cold, searing damage ripping through her body. It felt like trying to extinguish a fire with a trickle of water—every bit of healing I offered was consumed in an instant, barely holding back the tide of destruction.
It was like trying to save a burning length of rope by adding more rope to it. The fire wasn't stopping; all I could do was buy her more time.
"Jaune, hold steady!" Ozpin's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "You're doing exactly what's needed. Don't waver!"
Amber's body convulsed within the pod, her limbs twitching as the cables dug deeper, their movements almost organic. Her scream faltered, breaking into ragged gasps, and my heart clenched. The strain on my aura was immense, each passing second draining more and more of my reserves.
"Pyrrha, prepare yourself," Ozpin said, his voice heavy with urgency. "The transfer is beginning."
I couldn't look away from Amber, couldn't afford to. My focus was locked entirely on keeping her alive, even as the burning sensation in my chest grew stronger. Whatever this process was, it was tearing her apart from the inside.
"Jesus Christ," I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible over the hum of the machinery. My grip tightened as I forced myself to hold steady, even as every fiber of my being screamed at me to do something—anything—to stop this madness.
Then Pyrrha let out a cry, sharp and pained. My heart sank, the sound cutting through me like a blade. I glanced her way for a fraction of a second, seeing her tense in the pod, her body trembling as the transfer began to affect her. But I couldn't waver. Amber still lay motionless in her pod, her body glowing faintly now, a soft golden light radiating from her skin.
The machinery around us groaned and hummed, the lights on the consoles growing brighter with each passing moment. Whatever arcane and scientific process was at work here, it was escalating, the air in the room becoming heavy with energy.
"Good, Jaune," Professor Ozpin's voice cut through the tension, calm but firm. "Just a little more. Stay focused."
I risked a glance at the monitor beside him. A progress bar glowed on the display, inching forward steadily. It was already at 25 percent, but the gap between now and completion felt insurmountable.
Amber's glow intensified, the golden aura flickering like a flame caught in a storm. My aura surged harder, instinctively responding to the growing strain on her body. The process was relentless, tearing her apart and piecing her back together at the same time.
"Come on, come on," I whispered, pouring everything I had into her. My arms ached, my chest burned, but I couldn't stop. Not now.
The procedure seemed to be progressing smoothly. Amber's glow pulsed brighter with each passing second, the hum of the machinery growing louder as the transfer continued. I could feel my aura draining steadily, the strain mounting as I worked to keep Amber alive.
The bar on the monitor climbed to 75%. Pyrrha let out another pained cry from her pod, and my heart twisted, but I stayed steady.
Then, without warning, the vault shook violently. A deep rumble echoed through the chamber, and the floor trembled beneath us.
"What was that?" I asked, glancing toward the others.
Before anyone could respond, a deafening crash shattered the tense silence. The far wall exploded inward, metal and stone twisting and groaning as a massive Grimm burst through. Its serpentine body writhed, its eyeless head snapping back and forth as it let out a bone-chilling screech.
"Blind Worms!" Nora shouted, hefting her hammer. "These things are from Vacuo, not Vale!"
The creature lunged toward us, but Professor Goodwitch acted instantly. With a sharp flick of her riding crop, debris from the vault's shattered wall surged forward, slamming into the Grimm and driving it back.
"Ren, Nora, with me!" she commanded, her voice sharp and unwavering.
Through the gaping hole in the wall, I caught a glimpse of the chaos outside. A massive Grimm dragon loomed in the sky, its jagged black form illuminated by the flashing lights of Atlesian airships. The ships swarmed around it, their cannons tearing into its flesh, but for every wound they inflicted, more flying Grimm poured out, spawned from the creature itself.
"That thing's spawning Grimm!" I said, unable to look away from the horrifying sight.
"Focus, Jaune!" Nora shouted as another Blind Worm burst through the wall, widening the breach.
The second worm was followed by a third, their massive forms writhing as they tore through the vault's defenses. The hole grew larger, and then I saw them.
Two figures emerged from the shadows of the breach. One was a towering man with a hulking frame and a grim expression, someone I didn't recognize. But the other...
"Cinder," I said, my voice low and tense.
She stepped forward with a confident, almost predatory smile, her golden eye gleaming with malice.
"Hello, Jaune," she said, her voice smooth and mocking. "Long time no see."
My grip on Crocea Mors tightened. "Cinder... What are you doing here? Did you actually ally with the Grimm?"
She chuckled, the sound cold and cruel. "Oh, Jaune. You still don't understand, do you? This is so much bigger than you."
The hulking man beside her stepped forward, silent but menacing. I didn't know who he was, but he radiated danger.
"Stay focused!" Professor Ozpin's voice cut through the tension from the console. "The procedure isn't finished yet!"
The monitor read 78%. We were so close, but now the vault was under siege, and the enemy was standing right in front of us.
The battle erupted into chaos, a maelstrom of fire, steel, and sheer determination. Ren and Nora charged forward alongside Professor Goodwitch, each moving with the precision and resolve of seasoned warriors.
Ren was a blur, his semblance with the aid of the dagger and cloak rendering him invisible as he darted in and out of sight. His strikes were surgical, aimed at weak points in the towering man's defenses—pressure points, joints, and unprotected areas.
Yet, the massive figure barely flinched. His skin, or perhaps his aura, absorbed the blows like stone, and his counterattacks were devastatingly swift for someone of his size. Ren ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding a bone-crushing fist that smashed into the wall behind him, leaving a crater.
Nora, in stark contrast, was a force of nature. She barreled into the fray with Magnhild raised high, her war cries echoing through the vault. Each swing of her hammer was a thunderclap, sparks flying as she clashed with Cinder's fiery attacks. The air between them crackled with energy, orange flames meeting electric blue with every exchange. Nora grinned despite the chaos, the thrill of battle lighting up her face even as she was forced to dodge a searing wave of fire.
Professor Goodwitch was the eye of the storm, her movements precise and calculated. She wielded her telekinetic power with mastery, debris swirling around her like a shield. With a flick of her riding crop, she sent jagged pieces of metal and stone hurtling toward Cinder, forcing the fiery woman to leap and twist to avoid them. At the same time, she created barriers to deflect the massive man's relentless strikes, her focus unwavering despite the overwhelming odds.
I stood by the pod, pouring every ounce of my aura into Amber. The counter climbed steadily—80%. 85%. The glow of the machinery reflected in the sweat dripping down my face, my heart pounding as the battle raged around me. Every scream, every clash of weapons, every explosion of fire and lightning made it harder to focus, but I couldn't stop.
Not now.
Cinder was relentless, her flames flaring brighter and hotter with every attack. She moved with deadly grace, her golden eye locked onto her targets as she danced through the chaos.
A fiery spear formed in her hand, and she hurled it toward Ren, who barely managed to dodge in time. The spear exploded on impact, sending shrapnel flying and forcing Nora to shield herself with her hammer.
The massive man—Hazel, though I didn't know his name—fought like an unstoppable force. His punches shattered the ground, his kicks sent shockwaves through the air, and every time Ren or Nora landed a hit, he shrugged it off as if it were nothing. He was a juggernaut, and it was taking everything they had just to keep him occupied.
Then it happened.
Cinder's flames surged, blindingly bright, and for a moment, the entire vault was bathed in fiery light. She moved with inhuman speed, a streak of orange and gold as she closed the distance to Professor Goodwitch.
"Professor!" I shouted, but the words barely left my lips before it was too late.
Cinder's blade, wreathed in flame, plunged into Goodwitch's stomach. The fiery weapon pierced through her body, the tip emerging from her side. Goodwitch gasped, her knees buckling as Cinder twisted the blade with a cruel smile.
"No!" Nora screamed, her voice raw with anguish. She surged forward, but Hazel intercepted her, his massive arm swinging like a battering ram. The blow sent her flying across the vault, her hammer slipping from her grasp as she crashed into a pile of debris.
Cinder glanced at the monitor, her golden eye narrowing as she saw the counter climb past 90%. Her expression twisted with fury, and she pulled her blade free from Goodwitch, letting the professor collapse to the ground.
"Bring the Hounds!" Cinder cried, her voice echoing through the vault like a death knell.
From the gaping hole in the wall, three Beowolves leaped into the chamber. But these weren't ordinary Grimm. Their bodies were grotesquely elongated, their limbs twisted and unnatural. Glowing red eyes burned with intelligence, and something about them sent a shiver down my spine.
Then they stood up.
On two legs.
Their movements were disturbingly human-like as they stalked forward, their claws gleaming in the vault's harsh light.
"What the hell are those?" I muttered, gripping Crocea Mors tightly.
"Focus, Jaune!" Ozpin's voice snapped me back to reality. "The procedure is almost complete. You cannot stop now!"
I clenched my teeth, my aura flaring as I forced myself to keep healing Amber. But my eyes kept darting to the twisted Beowolves as they advanced, their every step reminding me of that old earth legend, the wendigo.
The counter ticked upward. 94%. 95%.
The air in the vault was electric with tension, every second stretching into an eternity.
The Hounds charged, their twisted forms bounding forward with terrifying speed. Their glowing red eyes locked onto us, and their snarls reverberated through the chamber like a death knell. At their forefront was Cinder, her eyes blazing with malevolent fire. She led the charge with chilling grace, her bloodstained blade catching the light as she wiped it clean against the folds of her crimson dress.
Behind her, Hazel remained locked in combat with Ren and Nora. Ren darted around him like a wraith, his semblance allowing him to vanish and reappear in bursts of motion, his strikes quick and precise. Yet Hazel's brute strength made him an unyielding opponent. He swung his massive arms like wrecking balls, forcing Ren to stay on the defensive.
Nora, meanwhile, was relentless. Her hammer crackled with electricity as she brought it down in devastating arcs, each strike aimed to shatter Hazel's defenses. But the man was a juggernaut. He absorbed the blows with a grim determination, his hulking form unshaken even as sparks flew and the floor cracked beneath him.
"Nora, watch out!" Ren shouted as Hazel feinted with one arm, then swung the other in a wide arc. Nora barely managed to sidestep, her hammer coming up just in time to deflect the blow.
"I'm fine!" she yelled back, her voice fierce despite the strain in it. "Focus on wearing him down!"
The battle raged behind me, but my attention was fixed on Amber's pod. My aura flared brighter as I poured everything I had into healing her, the glow of the transfer intensifying as the counter climbed to 96%.
Professor Ozpin, standing by the console, pressed something on the controls before stepping away. The machinery hissed and hummed louder, the pod glowing like a beacon in the dim vault.
Ozpin gripped his cane tightly, his expression calm but his stance one of quiet resolve. "Don't stop, Jaune," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Not until it's complete. No matter what happens."
I nodded, though my hands were trembling. My heart pounded as the Hounds closed in, their claws scraping against the floor with an eerie, deliberate rhythm.
Ozpin stepped forward, positioning himself between the console and the charging enemies. The glow of the vault lights caught the intricate carvings on his cane, and for a moment, he looked like a lone sentinel, standing against the tide.
Cinder's smirk widened as she advanced, the Hounds flanking her in perfect unison. Behind her, Hazel roared as he swung at Ren, narrowly missing as the nimble fighter darted away. Nora seized the opening, driving her hammer into Hazel's side with a crackling explosion of force. He staggered but didn't fall, his focus unbroken as he retaliated with a crushing blow that Nora barely managed to block.
I gritted my teeth, my heart hammering in my chest. The pod glowed brighter, Amber's body trembling as the transfer neared completion.
Professor Ozpin fought with a level of precision and power that seemed almost supernatural. His cane moved in a blur, striking at the Hounds with a crack of energy that sent shockwaves through the vault. But these creatures—these monstrosities—were unlike anything I had ever seen.
The Hounds didn't dissolve when struck. Instead, they absorbed the damage, their black, sinewy forms twisting and growing tougher with every blow. One leapt at Ozpin, its claws aiming for his throat. He sidestepped and brought his cane down on its back with a sharp crack, the force of the strike driving it into the ground.
But the Hound didn't stay down. It twisted its body unnaturally, its limbs bending at impossible angles as it rose again. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Ozpin, and it snarled, more determined than before.
"They're adapting," Ozpin muttered, his tone grim.
Cinder smirked as she advanced, her fiery blade burning brighter. "They're not like your average Grimm, are they? They're designed to break you, Ozpin. And it looks like they're doing a fine job."
Ozpin didn't respond. He moved to intercept her, his cane swinging in wide arcs to keep her at bay. But the Hounds were relentless. One lunged at his legs while another circled around to strike from behind.
He managed to deflect the first, sending it sprawling, but the second slammed into him with a bone-rattling force. Ozpin staggered, his aura flickering as the creature's claws raked across his side.
Meanwhile, Ren and Nora were locked in a desperate battle against Hazel.
The towering man was a juggernaut, his every movement precise and deliberate. Ren darted around him, his semblance flickering as he struck at Hazel's joints and ribs. But Hazel barely seemed to notice the blows.
"You're quick," Hazel said, his deep voice calm despite the chaos. "But speed alone won't stop me."
Nora charged in, her hammer raised high. She swung with all her might, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the vault as it connected with Hazel's side.
Hazel grunted but didn't falter. Instead, he reached into a pouch at his side and pulled out a jagged chunk of Dust. Without hesitation, he slammed it into his arm, the crystalline shard embedding itself into his flesh.
The reaction was immediate. Lightning crackled along his veins, his muscles bulging as raw power surged through him. His eyes glowed faintly, and his movements became even more ferocious.
Hazel roared, the sound reverberating through the vault as he swung at Ren with newfound speed and strength. Ren barely managed to dodge, the force of the blow sending cracks spidering through the wall behind him.
"Nora, fall back!" Ren called, his tone urgent as he struggled to keep up with Hazel's onslaught.
"Not a chance!" Nora replied, charging forward with a defiant cry.
The counter on the pod ticked upward. 96%. 97%.
I poured more of my aura into Amber, my hands trembling as I tried to keep up with the damage the transfer was doing to her. The pod hummed louder, the glow from the machinery casting flickering shadows across the walls, across me Pyrrha started screaming, a painful cry that bit into my heart, but I couldn't stop
Ozpin was losing ground. The Hounds had adapted to his fighting style, their movements more fluid and coordinated. One of them lunged at his legs, and when he moved to block, another leapt for his shoulder.
He managed to deflect the first, but the second sank its claws into his side, tearing through his aura. Ozpin grunted in pain, slamming his cane into the creature's ribs. It let go, but only for a moment.
Cinder watched the scene unfold with a cruel smile, her golden eye gleaming. "You're out of your depth, Ozpin. This is where it ends."
The counter ticked to 98%.
And then Hazel roared again, his electrified fist slamming into the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked Ren and Nora off their feet. The Hounds, sensing an opening, surged forward toward Ozpin.
Professor Ozpin, despite his skill and power, was being overwhelmed. All three Hounds charged him simultaneously, their twisted forms moving with unnatural speed and coordination. He managed to block one with his cane, deflecting its claws, but the second slammed into his side, and the third leapt onto his back.
Ozpin staggered under their combined weight, his aura flickering dangerously low. The Hounds snarled and tore at him, their claws raking through his robes and into his flesh. Blood spattered the floor as they hacked at him, relentless and merciless.
"Professor!" I shouted, my voice cracking, but there was nothing I could do. My hands were locked in place, pouring healing aura into Amber as the counter climbed. 99%.
Cinder, seeing her opportunity, darted past the chaos. Her fiery blade ignited with an intense glow as she charged toward Pyrrha's pod.
"You're not stopping this!" she yelled, her voice filled with rage. She raised her weapon, aiming to strike at the machinery.
"Nora!" I screamed, desperation in my voice.
Nora, despite being dazed from Hazel's earlier attack, saw the threat and hurled herself forward. Her hammer swung in a wide arc, forcing Cinder to jump back, but the pod now bore scorch marks from where Cinder's blade had nearly connected.
Meanwhile, Hazel was a storm of fury. Ren had turned invisible, darting around him and striking at weak points, but Hazel's enhanced strength and speed made him nearly impossible to evade.
"You can't hide forever," Hazel growled, his eyes scanning the area. Then, with a sudden motion, he slammed his electrified fist into the ground. The shockwave disrupted Ren's invisibility, revealing him just a split second too soon.
Hazel lunged, his massive hand pinning Ren to the floor. "Got you," he said coldly.
Ren struggled, his semblance flickering as he tried to slip free, but Hazel's grip was like iron. The giant raised his other fist, now crackling with electricity, and brought it down with devastating force.
Ren cried out in pain, his aura visibly shattering under the relentless assault. Hazel didn't let up, his fists pounding down again and again, each strike accompanied by a surge of electricity that left Ren writhing.
The counter ticked upward.
99.5%.
Cinder, undeterred by Nora's interference, unleashed a barrage of fireballs, forcing Nora to retreat. She advanced on the pod again, her blade poised to strike.
Ozpin's cries of pain echoed through the vault as the Hounds tore into him, their claws and teeth ripping through his defenses. His cane clattered to the floor, and he fell to his knees, blood pooling beneath him.
"Professor!" I shouted again, but I couldn't move. I couldn't stop.
The counter hit 100%.
part 1 end
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- Location
- England
It already was 98% a bunch of paragraphs earlier.
- Location
- Florida
- Pronouns
- He
Nice catch thanks
- Location
- Florida
- Pronouns
- He
Yeah, kinda did that, tho it less jarring with the "complete" chapter instead of there with the cut off point (ie in the middle of the chapter instead of the end … it it was kinda getting too big, so it got looped off into three parts)
Nah, it's just one of those progress bars that sticks at various percentages. I wouldn't be surprised if it were stuck on 99% percent for 15 minutes. Or just jumped straight to 100% and started a reboot.
Did it slow down, or is jaune just reading us the value more frequently with lots of action in between? If nothing interesting happened between number 10 and 50, he would have said something like "I pushed aura into the pod, the numbers ticking slowly upwards 10,20,30,40,50.". That does not mean it was fast but nothing narratively interesting happened at that time.
- Pronouns
- Niris
I really, really wonder and want to know how will Salem react if she learns she has a magic using descendants, yes for now it could be just Jaune but that could be credited to magic just hibernating for all those generations and just now waking up...
Having entire clan of her daughter running around being defenders and protectors while her people kills them...
Having entire clan of her daughter running around being defenders and protectors while her people kills them...
- Location
- Puerto Rico
Awesome chapter.
That and with all the energy he has been pumping into Amber/Pyrrha, the following happens:
Portion of Maiden Energy + Jaune Energy = Full Maiden Power
aka Jaune just created a new Maiden.
Also (remembers an old fanfic) is there a chance that unknown to Jaune's team and those around him, what they are doing is being streamed live to the rest of Remnant?
I really hope you give Jaune a boatload of points due to all the bad things you had made him suffer in such a short time.
That and with all the energy he has been pumping into Amber/Pyrrha, the following happens:
Portion of Maiden Energy + Jaune Energy = Full Maiden Power
aka Jaune just created a new Maiden.
Also (remembers an old fanfic) is there a chance that unknown to Jaune's team and those around him, what they are doing is being streamed live to the rest of Remnant?
- Location
- Florida
- Pronouns
- He
Oh don't worry, it can get worse … tho a bit of a spoilers, he gets 2k after everything is done … and let just say that he spends it wisely
No that was Thor going to gift Jaune his hammer but since he already has his sword he decided to wait for another which will probably be Nora
Ars Longinus
Starlit Saint of the Spear
Well, I wasn't sure if Oscar was going to be a factor. Still not sure yet, but feeling like it's becoming more and more likely considering they way you described Oz going down.
- Location
- Florida
- Pronouns
- He
Well… you're going to be pleasantly surprised, I have other plans for Oscar.
Chapter 26 Part 2
New
- Location
- Florida
- Pronouns
- He
A deafening chime rang out as the pod's machinery surged with power. Amber's body glowed with a radiant light, and the air around her shimmered with energy.
Cinder froze, her eyes widening in shock and fury. "No!" she screamed, turning her attention back to the pod.
Hazel hesitated for a fraction of a second, glancing at the pod's glow, but his grip on Ren didn't loosen.
Pyrrha stirred inside the second pod, her eyes fluttering open as the radiant energy surrounded her.
The pod door flung open with a deafening hiss, the force of its release creating a whirlwind that sent papers, debris, and even some of the lighter equipment flying across the vault. Pyrrha stepped out, her eyes blazing with the same brilliant light that burned within Cinder's. Her armor seemed to gleam with an otherworldly sheen, and the sheer power radiating from her made the air hum with tension.
Amber's pod behind me went silent, the steady beep of her vitals monitor flatlining. I withdrew my hand, my efforts completely useless, and offered a silent prayer for her sacrifice. My heart ached, but there was no time to mourn. My team needed me.
Gripping Crocea Mors tightly, I stepped forward to stand beside Pyrrha. She gave me a glance, her expression unreadable but determined.
The Hounds, their blood-soaked maws dripping with gore, sniffed the air. Their glowing eyes locked onto us, and they let out a bone-chilling howl that echoed through the vault. Without hesitation, they charged, their monstrous forms barreling toward us with terrifying speed.
Before they could reach us, Nora's war cry rang out, and Magnhild came crashing down with earth-shaking force. The impact wasn't aimed at the Hounds, though—it was directed at Cinder, who had been preparing another attack on the pod.
The hammer caught Cinder squarely in the head, sending her sprawling to the ground. She rolled with the impact, her flames sputtering as she tried to regain her footing.
"You're not taking her!" Nora shouted, her voice filled with defiance as she advanced on Cinder.
Cinder snarled, wiping spit from her mouth, and summoned a blazing spear in her hand. She lunged at Nora, their weapons clashing in a shower of sparks and fire.
Meanwhile, the Hounds reached us. Pyrrha moved with the grace of a predator, her spear spinning in a blur as she intercepted the first Hound. Its claws slashed at her, but she deflected them effortlessly, her shield smashing into its face with a resounding crack.
I faced the second Hound, barely managing to parry its snapping jaws with my shield. Its strength was immense, and each blow sent shockwaves through my arms.
The third Hound hung back for a moment, its eyes flicking between us, calculating its next move.
In the background, Ren was still locked in a brutal struggle with Hazel. Hazel's fists, now crackling with electricity, rained down on Ren like a relentless storm. Ren's attempts to dodge and counter were growing slower, his aura flickering dangerously low.
"You're weak," Hazel growled, slamming Ren into the ground again. "You should've stayed down."
Ren, bloodied but resolute, managed to slip free for a moment, his semblance flickering as he darted behind Hazel. He struck at Hazel's exposed back, but the giant barely flinched, his muscles absorbing the blow like stone. Hazel turned with a roar, his massive hand swinging in a wide arc that caught Ren and sent him crashing into the wall.
Back at the center of the vault, Nora and Cinder's battle raged on. Nora's strikes were wild and powerful, each swing of Magnhild forcing Cinder to stay on the defensive. But Cinder's precision and speed began to show.
In a swift move, Cinder caught Magnhild's head in her hand, her fiery aura flaring as she used her semblance to heat the hammer's metal.
Nora gritted her teeth, trying to pull her weapon free, but the heat was intense.
"You rely too much on brute force," Cinder sneered, her grip tightening.
But Nora's eyes widened as she realized something. The heat wasn't just affecting the hammer—it was also igniting the ammunition stored in Magnhild's head.
A muffled boom erupted from the hammer, the force of the explosion sending both Nora and Cinder flying in opposite directions. Smoke and sparks filled the air as Nora hit the ground hard, groaning in pain but alive.
Cinder, however, was left coughing and disoriented, her once-pristine dress now scorched and tattered.
The hounds were upon us. Pyrrha thrust Milo into one of them, but their bodies defied logic, their flesh a thick, viscous tar that clung to her spear and slithered back into place no matter how much she tore away. Each stab left behind smears of writhing black ooze that pulsed unnaturally, and as if adapting to her attacks, pale bone-like plates began forming where her strikes landed. She unleashed bursts of fire, her newfound power crackling chaotically, momentarily forcing the creatures back. But they recovered quickly, their resilience unnerving.
The one attacking me was worse—a nightmare made flesh. Crocea Mors hacked and slashed, but it was like trying to carve through living sludge.
The putrid, tar-like substance spilled out with every strike, yet it only seemed to grow stronger, its grotesque body reinforcing itself with rippling scales and jagged bone plating. I managed to sever one of its arms, but to my horror, two more sprouted in its place. One regrew from the stump, while the other grotesquely erupted from its stomach, ending in a wicked, scythe-like blade.
Frustration clawed at me, but I couldn't give in. My grip tightened on Crocea Mors as I poured the last dregs of my Aura into the blade. The Smite began to glow with golden light, its divine energy cutting through the suffocating darkness around me. With a desperate roar, I struck, the blade sinking into the creature's tar-like body up to the hilt. A heartbeat later, the Smite detonated, golden flames erupting from within. The upper portion of the Grimm imploded, torn apart by the holy light.
Relief flooded me for a fleeting moment—until I saw it.
As the tar receded from the creature's chest, something human was revealed beneath. Strands of black hair with crimson highlights clung to pale, veined skin. A single grey eye glared at me with twisted, hate-filled malice, its gaze burning into my soul.
"No… no, no, no," I stammered, my breath hitching.
The creature's scream shattered the air, a discordant symphony of agony and rage that sent a chill down my spine. It wasn't just a scream—it was a chorus, like a hundred voices crying out in torment. My stomach churned, and my grip on Crocea Mors faltered. That eye… there was no intelligence behind it, no recognition. Only black veins spreading outward, seeping tar and malevolence. Only hate.
I moved on instinct, my body acting before my mind could catch up. Crocea Mors arced downward, aiming for the creature's chest. But the strike didn't land as I expected. Instead of the yielding flesh of Grimm, my blade stopped short with a metallic clang.
Aura. The creature had Aura.
I froze, disbelief washing over me. Grimm didn't have Aura. They couldn't. It was impossible. And yet, a faint shimmer of a barrier rippled where my blade had struck, glowing with a distorted, sickly light.
The creature's grey eye locked onto me, and I felt a chill unlike anything I'd ever experienced.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha's voice rang out, sharp and desperate. She was still fending off the other hounds, her spear spinning in a blur of precision and power. Flames erupted from Milo again, engulfing one of the beasts, but they were relentless. She glanced at me, her expression a mixture of confusion and fear. "What's wrong? Finish it!"
The creature screeched again, its clawed arm swinging toward me with blinding speed. I barely raised my shield in time, the impact sending a jarring shock through my entire body. The force drove me to one knee, the weight of its hatred pressing down on me like a physical force.
"Pyrrha, it's… it's human!" I choked out, my voice cracking.
"What?" Her confusion was palpable, but there was no time to explain.
The creature turned its attention to her now, its movements jerky and unnatural, like a marionette with tangled strings. It let out another screech, and the hounds surrounding her hesitated, their heads snapping toward the hybrid monstrosity. They began to circle it, their movements cautious, almost… reverent.
I took the opening, charging forward with Crocea Mors raised high. My blade struck true, slashing across the creature's back. It howled in pain, the tar-like flesh splitting open to reveal more of that pale, veined skin beneath. But as quickly as the wound appeared, the black ooze surged back into place, sealing it shut.
"Jaune, get back!" Pyrrha shouted, hurling her shield with pinpoint accuracy. It struck the creature in the side, knocking it off balance. She was at my side in an instant, Milo raised defensively. Her eyes flicked to me, searching for answers. "What do you mean, it's human?"
"I saw—" My words caught in my throat. How could I explain what I'd seen? "It has Ruby's hair. Her eyes. But it's not her, Pyrrha. It can't be."
Her expression hardened, but doubt flickered in her eyes. "Whatever it is, we can't let it kill us. Breath Jaune."
The creature recovered quickly, its movements growing more erratic. The hounds began to howl again, their voices harmonizing into a dreadful cacophony. The ground beneath us trembled, and I realized too late what was happening.
"They're calling for reinforcements," Pyrrha said grimly, her knuckles white as she gripped her spear.
"We need to end this now," I said, forcing myself to focus. My Aura flared around me as I prepared another Smite. The divine light began to gather along Crocea Mors, the blade glowing with golden energy.
The creature shrieked and lunged, its scythe-like arm slicing through the air. Pyrrha intercepted it with her shield, the impact sending sparks flying. She held her ground, but the sheer force of the attack pushed her back.
I took my chance, rushing forward with everything I had. My Smite-infused blade arced downward, aimed for the creature's chest. The golden light flared as it connected, sinking deep into the tar-like flesh. For a moment, the creature froze, its body trembling violently.
The light exploded outward, golden flames consuming the creature's upper body. For a brief moment, I thought it was over.
But the flames were snuffed out, devoured by a surge of black energy. The creature staggered but didn't fall. Its body began to reform, the tar-like substance flowing faster now, almost as if it were feeding on the light.
"No," I whispered, my heart sinking.
The grey eye locked onto me again, and this time, I thought I saw something different. A flicker of recognition? A glimmer of… pain?
"Jaune…" Pyrrha's voice was soft, almost hesitant. "What if… what if she's still in there?"
I didn't know how to respond. Could this thing be saved? Or was it already too late?
"Then we have to end its suffering," I replied, my voice trembling.
Pyrrha and I continued our battle against the hounds. Every strike felt like an eternity, but we were making progress. Little by little, the layers of Grimm tar were stripped away, revealing more of the twisted cores beneath. Pyrrha's opponent, now more exposed, had the unmistakable features of a bull faunus. Its silver eyes burned with an unnatural light, but thankfully, it hadn't yet developed an Aura like mine had. Her strikes, though precise and powerful, were met with increasing resistance as the creature adapted, its tar-like flesh hardening into grotesque armor.
Across the battlefield, chaos reigned. Nora and Cinder's clash was a brutal spectacle. Without her hammer, Nora was at a severe disadvantage. She swung with raw strength, trying to block Cinder's blade with her fists, but it was a losing battle. Slashes and cuts adorned her body, her Aura flickering dangerously low. Burn marks marred her skin where Cinder's fiery blade had struck true. Her breathing was ragged, but her spirit was unbroken.
Ren fared no better. His invisibility gave him fleeting moments of reprieve, but Hazel was relentless. The giant's fists, infused with lightning dust, crackled with power as they struck the air. Occasionally, he landed a hit, and every time he did, it was devastating. Ren would stagger, barely managing to recover before Hazel pressed the attack. The monstrous man was a juggernaut, his raw strength augmented by the lightning coursing through his blows.
Hazel roared, his hand smashing into the ground where Ren had been moments before. But this time, luck wasn't on Ren's side. Hazel's foot came down, pinning Ren beneath it. A cruel grin spread across Hazel's face as he raised his fists, electricity sparking wildly. He brought them down in a series of devastating punches, each one aimed directly at Ren's head. The impact was thunderous, the ground beneath them cracking with each blow.
"Ren!" I screamed, my voice raw with desperation. I drew deeply into the Wind of Fire, channeling its power to break the deadlock.
Nora, too, saw what was happening. With a cry of fury, she pushed past her pain and sprinted toward Ren, her only thought to save her partner. But Cinder was faster. In a blur of motion, she intercepted Nora, her hand snapping out like a viper.
Cinder's fingers closed around the back of Nora's neck, and her semblance flared to life. Heat radiated from her palm, and Nora screamed in agony as the searing pain tore through her.
"Nora!" Pyrrha shouted, her voice filled with anguish, but she couldn't abandon her fight. The hound before her lunged, its claws raking through the air, forcing her to focus.
I felt my heart pound in my chest as I tried to reach them. The battlefield was chaos, every moment dragging us closer to disaster. If I didn't act now, I knew we wouldn't survive this.
Then two things happened.
With the Wind of Fire surging through me, I cast the most powerful spell I knew. Floating lazily in the air beside me appeared a flaming key, its edges glowing white-hot, its shape fluid and ever-shifting like molten metal. Without hesitation, I reached out and grasped it. The moment my fingers closed around the key, the spell was complete.
Embodiment of Aqshy.
The power coursed through me, a torrent of fire and fury that transcended anything I'd ever felt. I wasn't just channeling the Wind of Fire—I was the Wind of Fire. My senses expanded beyond the physical, into realms I couldn't comprehend, I could taste gravity, smell purple and hear emotions, yet it all felt natural, as if I'd been born for this moment.
My hair ignited, but it did not burn. Living fire erupted from my armor, licking at the air like a roaring inferno. The flames weren't destructive—they were alive, coiling and shifting as if they had a will of their own. The candles in the vault flickered wildly, their flames bending unnaturally. The larger part of the flames rose to a sharp point, while the base thinned and twisted downward, as if reality itself was warping under the spell's influence.
And then I heard it. A sound like a distant whizzing, faint at first but growing louder with terrifying speed. Something was coming—something fast. I turned my gaze toward the gaping hole in the wall, and my breath caught in my throat.
Across the stormy sky above Vale, a trail of clouds parted in a perfect, straight line. The once-clear heavens were now dark and churning, a localized lightning storm raging directly above us. The air crackled with tension, and the scent of ozone filled my nostrils.
Nora's scream pierced the chaos, her voice raw with desperation. She reached out, her hand trembling as she strained to reach Ren, pinned beneath Hazel's relentless assault. But her partner was too far away, and her cries seemed destined to go unanswered.
Until something happened.
A flash of light streaked across the sky, so fast it was almost imperceptible. It shot toward Nora's outstretched hand, and for a split second, the world seemed to hold its breath. Her fingers closed around the object—something small, metallic, and glowing—and then the heavens unleashed their fury.
The mightiest lightning bolt I had ever seen tore through the storm, a blinding column of raw energy that split the sky in two. It descended with terrifying precision, striking the ground with an earth-shaking roar. The bolt didn't just hit—it pierced, ripping through the academy grounds, burrowing through layers of stone and dirt, and engulfing everything in its path with blinding light.
When the light faded, Nora was no longer the same.
She stood tall, her body clad in gleaming silver armor that shimmered with an otherworldly light. Her chest plate bore intricate patterns of swirling storms, and circular plates adorned her front, glowing faintly with residual energy. A red cape flowed behind her, crackling faintly with electricity. In her hand was a weapon I recognized instantly—Mjolnir, the legendary hammer of Thor. Its surface gleamed with runes that pulsed with raw power, and arcs of lightning danced along its edges, eager to be unleashed.
Hazel raised his fist, prepared to strike Ren again, but Nora's voice rang out, firm and commanding.
"HEY!" she shouted, her voice echoing like thunder. "Get away from him."
Hazel turned, his eyes narrowing as he registered her transformation. He didn't get the chance to react further. With a single motion, Nora raised Mjolnir and hurled it with all her might. The hammer shot forward like a meteor, lightning trailing behind it.
It struck Hazel square in the chest with a deafening boom. The force of the impact lifted him off the ground, and he was sent hurtling backward, crashing through the far wall of the vault and soaring into the sky. His massive frame became a dot on the horizon, arcing almost perfectly straight into the distance before vanishing entirely.
For a moment, the battlefield was silent, everyone frozen in stunned disbelief. Then, Nora extended her hand, her fingers curling as if gripping an invisible handle.
Mjolnir answered her call.
The hammer reversed its path, streaking back toward her with the same blinding speed. She caught it effortlessly, spinning it once before resting it on her shoulder. Her eyes turned toward Cinder, who was still reeling from the lightning strike that had burned her hand.
"Your turn," Nora said, her voice cold as ice.
Cinder snarled, summoning her flames, but Nora was already moving. She closed the distance in an instant, Mjolnir swinging in a wide arc. The hammer connected with Cinder's side, and the force of the blow sent her skidding across the ground. Lightning crackled from the impact, arcing out in jagged lines and scorching the floor.
Nora didn't let up. She advanced on Cinder, each swing of Mjolnir accompanied by a thunderous crash. Sparks flew with every strike, and bolts of lightning spilled out in all directions, illuminating the vault in flashes of blinding light. Cinder tried to fight back, her blade clashing against the hammer, but each collision sent her reeling, her flames dimming with every blow.
"You think you're strong?" Nora growled, her voice rising with each strike. "You think you can hurt my friends and get away with it?"
Mjolnir came down again, this time striking Cinder's shoulder. The force drove her to her knees, and the flames around her sputtered weakly.
"I've got news for you," Nora said, raising the hammer high. Lightning surged along its length, gathering at the head in a brilliant display of power. "You're not the strongest one here."
She brought Mjolnir down with a final, devastating blow against Cinder's head. The lightning erupted in a massive shockwave, engulfing Cinder and sending her sprawling. When the light faded, Cinder lay motionless and headless, her body scorched and smoking, her weapon shattered beside her.
Nora stood over her, Mjolnir still crackling with residual energy. She turned toward Ren, her eyes softening as she saw him struggling to rise.
"I've got you," Nora said, her voice steady and reassuring.
She ran to Ren's side, kneeling to help him to his feet, her hammer crackling with residual lightning. The storm outside began to calm, but the energy in the air lingered, charged with her newfound power.
While Nora and Ren regrouped, Pyrrha and I continued our battle against the Grimm. Fire surged from our hands, roaring streams of heat and light engulfing the monstrous creatures. Pyrrha's flames were overwhelming in their sheer volume, a relentless tide that consumed everything in its path. Mine, however, were alive—sentient, almost malevolent. The flames twisted and writhed, seeking out the Grimm with unerring precision, clinging to them like napalm and refusing to release their grip.
The Hound at the back of the group caught my attention, and I cast Boiling Blood with a mere flick of thought. What once required intense focus now came as naturally as breathing. The spell took hold, and the Grimm let out a hideous, guttural scream. Its body convulsed violently, steam rising from its blackened flesh as its internal fluids boiled. Moments later, it exploded from within, a grotesque mixture of steaming red blood and tar-like Grimm ichor splattering the ground.
The one in front of me—the one that bore the horrifying resemblance to Ruby—suffered even worse. I cast Raze, the fire manifesting as an all-consuming inferno that clung to its body like a second skin. The flames refused to be extinguished, burning with an intensity that seemed to defy nature itself. The creature fought back, slashing at me with skeletal claws and snapping with jaws that dripped with malice. But it was futile. The fire continued to devour it, stripping away flesh and tar until only a charred skeleton remained, its movements slowing until it collapsed into a heap of ash and bone.
I turned to check on Pyrrha, and what I saw was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
She was holding her ground against the second Hound, her spear Milo buried deep in its belly. The beast thrashed wildly, its tar-like flesh rippling where the Faunus elements fused with the Grimm. Pyrrha's expression was one of fierce determination, her eyes blazing with newfound power.
Then, from behind her, came the sound of a thunderous impact—Nora's hammer smashing into Cinder once more. The resulting shockwave seemed to ignite something within Pyrrha.
Her entire body erupted in light, her eyes glowing with an intense, fiery brilliance. With a graceful motion, she raised her hand, and Milo ignited, flames spiraling along the spear's length.
With a flick of her wrist, she severed the Hound cleanly in half. The creature screeched, its two halves writhing independently, but Pyrrha didn't relent. She moved with deadly precision, her spear a blur as she stabbed and burned, each strike punctuated by bursts of fire. The Hound's cries grew weaker and weaker until, finally, it fell silent, its body dissolving into blackened ash.
Breathing heavily, Pyrrha stepped back, the light in her eyes dimming slightly but her resolve unshaken. She glanced at me, her expression triumphant but tinged with a sad smile.
I scanned the battlefield, the grim reality of our losses settling over me. Professor Goodwitch lay lifeless on the ground, beyond even my strongest healing attempts. Headmaster Ozpin... there wasn't enough left of him to even try. The fight had taken so much from us already.
Then my eyes fell on Ren and Nora.
Pyrrha placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, her sad smile softening. "Let them have their moment," she said gently. "The battle still isn't over."
I nodded, watching as Ren and Nora stood by the jagged hole in the wall. They were locked in an intense, passionate kiss, oblivious to the chaos around them. It was almost comical how completely they'd tuned out the world.
Pyrrha and I waited, exchanging an amused glance as the minutes dragged on. Finally, I cleared my throat. The sound echoed in the tense air.
Ren froze, his face going crimson as he pulled away, stammering incoherent apologies. Nora, on the other hand, stood tall, utterly unapologetic and grinning ear to ear.
"Alright, lovebirds," I said, unable to hide a small smirk. "Time to focus."
With that, we began our climb out of the vault, following the path the blind worm had carved.
The tunnel was rough and uneven, but it led us upward, back to the surface.
When we emerged, the sight that greeted us stole the breath from my lungs.
It was a sea of Grimm. Thousands upon thousands of them, stretching as far as the eye could see. The dragon loomed over the horde, perched like a malevolent king surveying its domain. Its glowing red eyes locked onto us, and I felt the weight of its malice. The Grimm weren't attacking yet. They were waiting, drawn to this place like moths to a flame.
Above us, the Atlesian fleet rained fire down on the horde, but many of the ships were battered and smoking, their hulls scarred from the dragon's relentless assaults. Gunfire echoed faintly from the city below, but it was sporadic now, as though the fighting had been pushed back and contained.
"Dibs on the dorm room," Nora said suddenly, her eyes fixed on the approaching horde.
"In your dreams," I shot back, the banter an instinctive way to stave off the crushing tension.
"Most kills get the room," Pyrrha suggested, her tone light but her eyes sharp.
"Seems fair," Ren said, still slightly out of breath, though his face had regained some of its composure.
"Well then... To Valhalla!!" Nora screamed, lifting Mjolnir high. Lightning crackled around her as she hurled the hammer forward, gripping the handle as it launched her straight into the enemy ranks like a living thunderbolt. The impact sent a shockwave of electricity rippling through the Grimm, scattering the first wave in an explosion of light and force.
"Well, I guess I have to defend our honor," I said, giving Pyrrha a sidelong glance. The Embodiment of Aqshy spell had long since faded, but with a burst of Aura, my wings flared to life once more. With a powerful leap, I soared into the fray.
"Wait for us!" Ren called, vanishing from sight as he sprinted toward the horde.
Pyrrha chuckled softly, the sound warm and melodic despite the grim circumstances. Then her eyes glowed gold, and her feet left the ground as she began to float, her fiery power reigniting. With a determined smile, she surged forward, her spear blazing as she joined the battle.
End of Part 2
Perks revealed this part:
600cp: Mjølnir (Thor: Love and Thunder) [Making]
Whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor. This is the legendary hammer of Thor in all its glory. It has pulled itself together after its destruction at the hand of Hela and is ready to fight once more. The hammer has a leg up on Thunderbolt and Stormbreaker, as only the chosen may wield it - all others will find it an immensely weighty object that is completely immovable by the unworthy. Mjølnir, too, gives its wielder Thor's powers over electricity and the tempest, able to project terrific blasts of lighting from the hammer or the sky above, whip up hurricane-force winds, and allow the user to fly by spinning it at great speeds. It can now break into fragments that can be individually manipulated by its user, and like the other weapons, it returns to the hand of its wielder. Where the hammer truly shines is bestowing its holder with all the powers of Thor. As long as you are the master of this hammer, it will augment you physically. Not only do you have Thor's domain over thunder, but Mjølnir will grant you his physical abilities and skill. It'll empower you with the form of a Norse god(dess). Effectively, Mjølnir gives you the abilities of an Asgardian God of Thunder as well as I Got Naked, Which I Was Okay With. If you are sick, this hammer will not waylay any attempts at recovery, unlike the original.
Cinder froze, her eyes widening in shock and fury. "No!" she screamed, turning her attention back to the pod.
Hazel hesitated for a fraction of a second, glancing at the pod's glow, but his grip on Ren didn't loosen.
Pyrrha stirred inside the second pod, her eyes fluttering open as the radiant energy surrounded her.
The pod door flung open with a deafening hiss, the force of its release creating a whirlwind that sent papers, debris, and even some of the lighter equipment flying across the vault. Pyrrha stepped out, her eyes blazing with the same brilliant light that burned within Cinder's. Her armor seemed to gleam with an otherworldly sheen, and the sheer power radiating from her made the air hum with tension.
Amber's pod behind me went silent, the steady beep of her vitals monitor flatlining. I withdrew my hand, my efforts completely useless, and offered a silent prayer for her sacrifice. My heart ached, but there was no time to mourn. My team needed me.
Gripping Crocea Mors tightly, I stepped forward to stand beside Pyrrha. She gave me a glance, her expression unreadable but determined.
The Hounds, their blood-soaked maws dripping with gore, sniffed the air. Their glowing eyes locked onto us, and they let out a bone-chilling howl that echoed through the vault. Without hesitation, they charged, their monstrous forms barreling toward us with terrifying speed.
Before they could reach us, Nora's war cry rang out, and Magnhild came crashing down with earth-shaking force. The impact wasn't aimed at the Hounds, though—it was directed at Cinder, who had been preparing another attack on the pod.
The hammer caught Cinder squarely in the head, sending her sprawling to the ground. She rolled with the impact, her flames sputtering as she tried to regain her footing.
"You're not taking her!" Nora shouted, her voice filled with defiance as she advanced on Cinder.
Cinder snarled, wiping spit from her mouth, and summoned a blazing spear in her hand. She lunged at Nora, their weapons clashing in a shower of sparks and fire.
Meanwhile, the Hounds reached us. Pyrrha moved with the grace of a predator, her spear spinning in a blur as she intercepted the first Hound. Its claws slashed at her, but she deflected them effortlessly, her shield smashing into its face with a resounding crack.
I faced the second Hound, barely managing to parry its snapping jaws with my shield. Its strength was immense, and each blow sent shockwaves through my arms.
The third Hound hung back for a moment, its eyes flicking between us, calculating its next move.
In the background, Ren was still locked in a brutal struggle with Hazel. Hazel's fists, now crackling with electricity, rained down on Ren like a relentless storm. Ren's attempts to dodge and counter were growing slower, his aura flickering dangerously low.
"You're weak," Hazel growled, slamming Ren into the ground again. "You should've stayed down."
Ren, bloodied but resolute, managed to slip free for a moment, his semblance flickering as he darted behind Hazel. He struck at Hazel's exposed back, but the giant barely flinched, his muscles absorbing the blow like stone. Hazel turned with a roar, his massive hand swinging in a wide arc that caught Ren and sent him crashing into the wall.
Back at the center of the vault, Nora and Cinder's battle raged on. Nora's strikes were wild and powerful, each swing of Magnhild forcing Cinder to stay on the defensive. But Cinder's precision and speed began to show.
In a swift move, Cinder caught Magnhild's head in her hand, her fiery aura flaring as she used her semblance to heat the hammer's metal.
Nora gritted her teeth, trying to pull her weapon free, but the heat was intense.
"You rely too much on brute force," Cinder sneered, her grip tightening.
But Nora's eyes widened as she realized something. The heat wasn't just affecting the hammer—it was also igniting the ammunition stored in Magnhild's head.
A muffled boom erupted from the hammer, the force of the explosion sending both Nora and Cinder flying in opposite directions. Smoke and sparks filled the air as Nora hit the ground hard, groaning in pain but alive.
Cinder, however, was left coughing and disoriented, her once-pristine dress now scorched and tattered.
The hounds were upon us. Pyrrha thrust Milo into one of them, but their bodies defied logic, their flesh a thick, viscous tar that clung to her spear and slithered back into place no matter how much she tore away. Each stab left behind smears of writhing black ooze that pulsed unnaturally, and as if adapting to her attacks, pale bone-like plates began forming where her strikes landed. She unleashed bursts of fire, her newfound power crackling chaotically, momentarily forcing the creatures back. But they recovered quickly, their resilience unnerving.
The one attacking me was worse—a nightmare made flesh. Crocea Mors hacked and slashed, but it was like trying to carve through living sludge.
The putrid, tar-like substance spilled out with every strike, yet it only seemed to grow stronger, its grotesque body reinforcing itself with rippling scales and jagged bone plating. I managed to sever one of its arms, but to my horror, two more sprouted in its place. One regrew from the stump, while the other grotesquely erupted from its stomach, ending in a wicked, scythe-like blade.
Frustration clawed at me, but I couldn't give in. My grip tightened on Crocea Mors as I poured the last dregs of my Aura into the blade. The Smite began to glow with golden light, its divine energy cutting through the suffocating darkness around me. With a desperate roar, I struck, the blade sinking into the creature's tar-like body up to the hilt. A heartbeat later, the Smite detonated, golden flames erupting from within. The upper portion of the Grimm imploded, torn apart by the holy light.
Relief flooded me for a fleeting moment—until I saw it.
As the tar receded from the creature's chest, something human was revealed beneath. Strands of black hair with crimson highlights clung to pale, veined skin. A single grey eye glared at me with twisted, hate-filled malice, its gaze burning into my soul.
"No… no, no, no," I stammered, my breath hitching.
The creature's scream shattered the air, a discordant symphony of agony and rage that sent a chill down my spine. It wasn't just a scream—it was a chorus, like a hundred voices crying out in torment. My stomach churned, and my grip on Crocea Mors faltered. That eye… there was no intelligence behind it, no recognition. Only black veins spreading outward, seeping tar and malevolence. Only hate.
I moved on instinct, my body acting before my mind could catch up. Crocea Mors arced downward, aiming for the creature's chest. But the strike didn't land as I expected. Instead of the yielding flesh of Grimm, my blade stopped short with a metallic clang.
Aura. The creature had Aura.
I froze, disbelief washing over me. Grimm didn't have Aura. They couldn't. It was impossible. And yet, a faint shimmer of a barrier rippled where my blade had struck, glowing with a distorted, sickly light.
The creature's grey eye locked onto me, and I felt a chill unlike anything I'd ever experienced.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha's voice rang out, sharp and desperate. She was still fending off the other hounds, her spear spinning in a blur of precision and power. Flames erupted from Milo again, engulfing one of the beasts, but they were relentless. She glanced at me, her expression a mixture of confusion and fear. "What's wrong? Finish it!"
The creature screeched again, its clawed arm swinging toward me with blinding speed. I barely raised my shield in time, the impact sending a jarring shock through my entire body. The force drove me to one knee, the weight of its hatred pressing down on me like a physical force.
"Pyrrha, it's… it's human!" I choked out, my voice cracking.
"What?" Her confusion was palpable, but there was no time to explain.
The creature turned its attention to her now, its movements jerky and unnatural, like a marionette with tangled strings. It let out another screech, and the hounds surrounding her hesitated, their heads snapping toward the hybrid monstrosity. They began to circle it, their movements cautious, almost… reverent.
I took the opening, charging forward with Crocea Mors raised high. My blade struck true, slashing across the creature's back. It howled in pain, the tar-like flesh splitting open to reveal more of that pale, veined skin beneath. But as quickly as the wound appeared, the black ooze surged back into place, sealing it shut.
"Jaune, get back!" Pyrrha shouted, hurling her shield with pinpoint accuracy. It struck the creature in the side, knocking it off balance. She was at my side in an instant, Milo raised defensively. Her eyes flicked to me, searching for answers. "What do you mean, it's human?"
"I saw—" My words caught in my throat. How could I explain what I'd seen? "It has Ruby's hair. Her eyes. But it's not her, Pyrrha. It can't be."
Her expression hardened, but doubt flickered in her eyes. "Whatever it is, we can't let it kill us. Breath Jaune."
The creature recovered quickly, its movements growing more erratic. The hounds began to howl again, their voices harmonizing into a dreadful cacophony. The ground beneath us trembled, and I realized too late what was happening.
"They're calling for reinforcements," Pyrrha said grimly, her knuckles white as she gripped her spear.
"We need to end this now," I said, forcing myself to focus. My Aura flared around me as I prepared another Smite. The divine light began to gather along Crocea Mors, the blade glowing with golden energy.
The creature shrieked and lunged, its scythe-like arm slicing through the air. Pyrrha intercepted it with her shield, the impact sending sparks flying. She held her ground, but the sheer force of the attack pushed her back.
I took my chance, rushing forward with everything I had. My Smite-infused blade arced downward, aimed for the creature's chest. The golden light flared as it connected, sinking deep into the tar-like flesh. For a moment, the creature froze, its body trembling violently.
The light exploded outward, golden flames consuming the creature's upper body. For a brief moment, I thought it was over.
But the flames were snuffed out, devoured by a surge of black energy. The creature staggered but didn't fall. Its body began to reform, the tar-like substance flowing faster now, almost as if it were feeding on the light.
"No," I whispered, my heart sinking.
The grey eye locked onto me again, and this time, I thought I saw something different. A flicker of recognition? A glimmer of… pain?
"Jaune…" Pyrrha's voice was soft, almost hesitant. "What if… what if she's still in there?"
I didn't know how to respond. Could this thing be saved? Or was it already too late?
"Then we have to end its suffering," I replied, my voice trembling.
Pyrrha and I continued our battle against the hounds. Every strike felt like an eternity, but we were making progress. Little by little, the layers of Grimm tar were stripped away, revealing more of the twisted cores beneath. Pyrrha's opponent, now more exposed, had the unmistakable features of a bull faunus. Its silver eyes burned with an unnatural light, but thankfully, it hadn't yet developed an Aura like mine had. Her strikes, though precise and powerful, were met with increasing resistance as the creature adapted, its tar-like flesh hardening into grotesque armor.
Across the battlefield, chaos reigned. Nora and Cinder's clash was a brutal spectacle. Without her hammer, Nora was at a severe disadvantage. She swung with raw strength, trying to block Cinder's blade with her fists, but it was a losing battle. Slashes and cuts adorned her body, her Aura flickering dangerously low. Burn marks marred her skin where Cinder's fiery blade had struck true. Her breathing was ragged, but her spirit was unbroken.
Ren fared no better. His invisibility gave him fleeting moments of reprieve, but Hazel was relentless. The giant's fists, infused with lightning dust, crackled with power as they struck the air. Occasionally, he landed a hit, and every time he did, it was devastating. Ren would stagger, barely managing to recover before Hazel pressed the attack. The monstrous man was a juggernaut, his raw strength augmented by the lightning coursing through his blows.
Hazel roared, his hand smashing into the ground where Ren had been moments before. But this time, luck wasn't on Ren's side. Hazel's foot came down, pinning Ren beneath it. A cruel grin spread across Hazel's face as he raised his fists, electricity sparking wildly. He brought them down in a series of devastating punches, each one aimed directly at Ren's head. The impact was thunderous, the ground beneath them cracking with each blow.
"Ren!" I screamed, my voice raw with desperation. I drew deeply into the Wind of Fire, channeling its power to break the deadlock.
Nora, too, saw what was happening. With a cry of fury, she pushed past her pain and sprinted toward Ren, her only thought to save her partner. But Cinder was faster. In a blur of motion, she intercepted Nora, her hand snapping out like a viper.
Cinder's fingers closed around the back of Nora's neck, and her semblance flared to life. Heat radiated from her palm, and Nora screamed in agony as the searing pain tore through her.
"Nora!" Pyrrha shouted, her voice filled with anguish, but she couldn't abandon her fight. The hound before her lunged, its claws raking through the air, forcing her to focus.
I felt my heart pound in my chest as I tried to reach them. The battlefield was chaos, every moment dragging us closer to disaster. If I didn't act now, I knew we wouldn't survive this.
Then two things happened.
With the Wind of Fire surging through me, I cast the most powerful spell I knew. Floating lazily in the air beside me appeared a flaming key, its edges glowing white-hot, its shape fluid and ever-shifting like molten metal. Without hesitation, I reached out and grasped it. The moment my fingers closed around the key, the spell was complete.
Embodiment of Aqshy.
The power coursed through me, a torrent of fire and fury that transcended anything I'd ever felt. I wasn't just channeling the Wind of Fire—I was the Wind of Fire. My senses expanded beyond the physical, into realms I couldn't comprehend, I could taste gravity, smell purple and hear emotions, yet it all felt natural, as if I'd been born for this moment.
My hair ignited, but it did not burn. Living fire erupted from my armor, licking at the air like a roaring inferno. The flames weren't destructive—they were alive, coiling and shifting as if they had a will of their own. The candles in the vault flickered wildly, their flames bending unnaturally. The larger part of the flames rose to a sharp point, while the base thinned and twisted downward, as if reality itself was warping under the spell's influence.
And then I heard it. A sound like a distant whizzing, faint at first but growing louder with terrifying speed. Something was coming—something fast. I turned my gaze toward the gaping hole in the wall, and my breath caught in my throat.
Across the stormy sky above Vale, a trail of clouds parted in a perfect, straight line. The once-clear heavens were now dark and churning, a localized lightning storm raging directly above us. The air crackled with tension, and the scent of ozone filled my nostrils.
Nora's scream pierced the chaos, her voice raw with desperation. She reached out, her hand trembling as she strained to reach Ren, pinned beneath Hazel's relentless assault. But her partner was too far away, and her cries seemed destined to go unanswered.
Until something happened.
A flash of light streaked across the sky, so fast it was almost imperceptible. It shot toward Nora's outstretched hand, and for a split second, the world seemed to hold its breath. Her fingers closed around the object—something small, metallic, and glowing—and then the heavens unleashed their fury.
The mightiest lightning bolt I had ever seen tore through the storm, a blinding column of raw energy that split the sky in two. It descended with terrifying precision, striking the ground with an earth-shaking roar. The bolt didn't just hit—it pierced, ripping through the academy grounds, burrowing through layers of stone and dirt, and engulfing everything in its path with blinding light.
When the light faded, Nora was no longer the same.
She stood tall, her body clad in gleaming silver armor that shimmered with an otherworldly light. Her chest plate bore intricate patterns of swirling storms, and circular plates adorned her front, glowing faintly with residual energy. A red cape flowed behind her, crackling faintly with electricity. In her hand was a weapon I recognized instantly—Mjolnir, the legendary hammer of Thor. Its surface gleamed with runes that pulsed with raw power, and arcs of lightning danced along its edges, eager to be unleashed.
Hazel raised his fist, prepared to strike Ren again, but Nora's voice rang out, firm and commanding.
"HEY!" she shouted, her voice echoing like thunder. "Get away from him."
Hazel turned, his eyes narrowing as he registered her transformation. He didn't get the chance to react further. With a single motion, Nora raised Mjolnir and hurled it with all her might. The hammer shot forward like a meteor, lightning trailing behind it.
It struck Hazel square in the chest with a deafening boom. The force of the impact lifted him off the ground, and he was sent hurtling backward, crashing through the far wall of the vault and soaring into the sky. His massive frame became a dot on the horizon, arcing almost perfectly straight into the distance before vanishing entirely.
For a moment, the battlefield was silent, everyone frozen in stunned disbelief. Then, Nora extended her hand, her fingers curling as if gripping an invisible handle.
Mjolnir answered her call.
The hammer reversed its path, streaking back toward her with the same blinding speed. She caught it effortlessly, spinning it once before resting it on her shoulder. Her eyes turned toward Cinder, who was still reeling from the lightning strike that had burned her hand.
"Your turn," Nora said, her voice cold as ice.
Cinder snarled, summoning her flames, but Nora was already moving. She closed the distance in an instant, Mjolnir swinging in a wide arc. The hammer connected with Cinder's side, and the force of the blow sent her skidding across the ground. Lightning crackled from the impact, arcing out in jagged lines and scorching the floor.
Nora didn't let up. She advanced on Cinder, each swing of Mjolnir accompanied by a thunderous crash. Sparks flew with every strike, and bolts of lightning spilled out in all directions, illuminating the vault in flashes of blinding light. Cinder tried to fight back, her blade clashing against the hammer, but each collision sent her reeling, her flames dimming with every blow.
"You think you're strong?" Nora growled, her voice rising with each strike. "You think you can hurt my friends and get away with it?"
Mjolnir came down again, this time striking Cinder's shoulder. The force drove her to her knees, and the flames around her sputtered weakly.
"I've got news for you," Nora said, raising the hammer high. Lightning surged along its length, gathering at the head in a brilliant display of power. "You're not the strongest one here."
She brought Mjolnir down with a final, devastating blow against Cinder's head. The lightning erupted in a massive shockwave, engulfing Cinder and sending her sprawling. When the light faded, Cinder lay motionless and headless, her body scorched and smoking, her weapon shattered beside her.
Nora stood over her, Mjolnir still crackling with residual energy. She turned toward Ren, her eyes softening as she saw him struggling to rise.
"I've got you," Nora said, her voice steady and reassuring.
She ran to Ren's side, kneeling to help him to his feet, her hammer crackling with residual lightning. The storm outside began to calm, but the energy in the air lingered, charged with her newfound power.
While Nora and Ren regrouped, Pyrrha and I continued our battle against the Grimm. Fire surged from our hands, roaring streams of heat and light engulfing the monstrous creatures. Pyrrha's flames were overwhelming in their sheer volume, a relentless tide that consumed everything in its path. Mine, however, were alive—sentient, almost malevolent. The flames twisted and writhed, seeking out the Grimm with unerring precision, clinging to them like napalm and refusing to release their grip.
The Hound at the back of the group caught my attention, and I cast Boiling Blood with a mere flick of thought. What once required intense focus now came as naturally as breathing. The spell took hold, and the Grimm let out a hideous, guttural scream. Its body convulsed violently, steam rising from its blackened flesh as its internal fluids boiled. Moments later, it exploded from within, a grotesque mixture of steaming red blood and tar-like Grimm ichor splattering the ground.
The one in front of me—the one that bore the horrifying resemblance to Ruby—suffered even worse. I cast Raze, the fire manifesting as an all-consuming inferno that clung to its body like a second skin. The flames refused to be extinguished, burning with an intensity that seemed to defy nature itself. The creature fought back, slashing at me with skeletal claws and snapping with jaws that dripped with malice. But it was futile. The fire continued to devour it, stripping away flesh and tar until only a charred skeleton remained, its movements slowing until it collapsed into a heap of ash and bone.
I turned to check on Pyrrha, and what I saw was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
She was holding her ground against the second Hound, her spear Milo buried deep in its belly. The beast thrashed wildly, its tar-like flesh rippling where the Faunus elements fused with the Grimm. Pyrrha's expression was one of fierce determination, her eyes blazing with newfound power.
Then, from behind her, came the sound of a thunderous impact—Nora's hammer smashing into Cinder once more. The resulting shockwave seemed to ignite something within Pyrrha.
Her entire body erupted in light, her eyes glowing with an intense, fiery brilliance. With a graceful motion, she raised her hand, and Milo ignited, flames spiraling along the spear's length.
With a flick of her wrist, she severed the Hound cleanly in half. The creature screeched, its two halves writhing independently, but Pyrrha didn't relent. She moved with deadly precision, her spear a blur as she stabbed and burned, each strike punctuated by bursts of fire. The Hound's cries grew weaker and weaker until, finally, it fell silent, its body dissolving into blackened ash.
Breathing heavily, Pyrrha stepped back, the light in her eyes dimming slightly but her resolve unshaken. She glanced at me, her expression triumphant but tinged with a sad smile.
I scanned the battlefield, the grim reality of our losses settling over me. Professor Goodwitch lay lifeless on the ground, beyond even my strongest healing attempts. Headmaster Ozpin... there wasn't enough left of him to even try. The fight had taken so much from us already.
Then my eyes fell on Ren and Nora.
Pyrrha placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, her sad smile softening. "Let them have their moment," she said gently. "The battle still isn't over."
I nodded, watching as Ren and Nora stood by the jagged hole in the wall. They were locked in an intense, passionate kiss, oblivious to the chaos around them. It was almost comical how completely they'd tuned out the world.
Pyrrha and I waited, exchanging an amused glance as the minutes dragged on. Finally, I cleared my throat. The sound echoed in the tense air.
Ren froze, his face going crimson as he pulled away, stammering incoherent apologies. Nora, on the other hand, stood tall, utterly unapologetic and grinning ear to ear.
"Alright, lovebirds," I said, unable to hide a small smirk. "Time to focus."
With that, we began our climb out of the vault, following the path the blind worm had carved.
The tunnel was rough and uneven, but it led us upward, back to the surface.
When we emerged, the sight that greeted us stole the breath from my lungs.
It was a sea of Grimm. Thousands upon thousands of them, stretching as far as the eye could see. The dragon loomed over the horde, perched like a malevolent king surveying its domain. Its glowing red eyes locked onto us, and I felt the weight of its malice. The Grimm weren't attacking yet. They were waiting, drawn to this place like moths to a flame.
Above us, the Atlesian fleet rained fire down on the horde, but many of the ships were battered and smoking, their hulls scarred from the dragon's relentless assaults. Gunfire echoed faintly from the city below, but it was sporadic now, as though the fighting had been pushed back and contained.
"Dibs on the dorm room," Nora said suddenly, her eyes fixed on the approaching horde.
"In your dreams," I shot back, the banter an instinctive way to stave off the crushing tension.
"Most kills get the room," Pyrrha suggested, her tone light but her eyes sharp.
"Seems fair," Ren said, still slightly out of breath, though his face had regained some of its composure.
"Well then... To Valhalla!!" Nora screamed, lifting Mjolnir high. Lightning crackled around her as she hurled the hammer forward, gripping the handle as it launched her straight into the enemy ranks like a living thunderbolt. The impact sent a shockwave of electricity rippling through the Grimm, scattering the first wave in an explosion of light and force.
"Well, I guess I have to defend our honor," I said, giving Pyrrha a sidelong glance. The Embodiment of Aqshy spell had long since faded, but with a burst of Aura, my wings flared to life once more. With a powerful leap, I soared into the fray.
"Wait for us!" Ren called, vanishing from sight as he sprinted toward the horde.
Pyrrha chuckled softly, the sound warm and melodic despite the grim circumstances. Then her eyes glowed gold, and her feet left the ground as she began to float, her fiery power reigniting. With a determined smile, she surged forward, her spear blazing as she joined the battle.
End of Part 2
Perks revealed this part:
600cp: Mjølnir (Thor: Love and Thunder) [Making]
Whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor. This is the legendary hammer of Thor in all its glory. It has pulled itself together after its destruction at the hand of Hela and is ready to fight once more. The hammer has a leg up on Thunderbolt and Stormbreaker, as only the chosen may wield it - all others will find it an immensely weighty object that is completely immovable by the unworthy. Mjølnir, too, gives its wielder Thor's powers over electricity and the tempest, able to project terrific blasts of lighting from the hammer or the sky above, whip up hurricane-force winds, and allow the user to fly by spinning it at great speeds. It can now break into fragments that can be individually manipulated by its user, and like the other weapons, it returns to the hand of its wielder. Where the hammer truly shines is bestowing its holder with all the powers of Thor. As long as you are the master of this hammer, it will augment you physically. Not only do you have Thor's domain over thunder, but Mjølnir will grant you his physical abilities and skill. It'll empower you with the form of a Norse god(dess). Effectively, Mjølnir gives you the abilities of an Asgardian God of Thunder as well as I Got Naked, Which I Was Okay With. If you are sick, this hammer will not waylay any attempts at recovery, unlike the original.
- Location
- Puerto Rico
Awesome chapter.
And Nora has gotten her birthright at long last.
Did it go to Salem, around at random or did it go to Nora but due to using Thor's powers, she has not noticed them?
And Nora has gotten her birthright at long last.
Um, important question....what happened to the Maiden Energy Cinder had?
Did it go to Salem, around at random or did it go to Nora but due to using Thor's powers, she has not noticed them?
- Location
- Florida
- Pronouns
- He