42 – Evernight Castle Raid
Avip_br
Not too sore, are you?
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[#] I'd like to ask new readers who've been binging my stories here: do you think I've improved over time? Do I still write the same, or have I gotten worse? Let me know in the comments!
[#] I just posted the first chapter of my new fic 'RWBY NOT!'. More details about it at the end of the chapter.
[#] If you enjoy my writing, you can subscribe to my Ko-fi for just $1! You'll get access to five advance chapters across four different fics, plus entry to my Discord, where you'll have the chance to directly influence future story arcs.
COMMENTS:
Badgedaniel_rahn[webnovel]:
Love the chapter and development, i also hope he explain more about his semblance orhis "prophecies" the whole concept of "i will change the grimm future and save everyone" will only boost Jaune's charisma once everyone realized why he did the things he did.
Maybe also talk about his Rust knight future to earn sympathy? Anyway, keep the good work bro
Avip:
As for where Jaune's initial information came from, I plan to start developing that soon. A shout-out to the Rusted Knight could be interesting, but I'm not making any promises about touching that… yet.
{All systems are green, kid.} The AI informs in the recording being displayed. {You'll be able to share the video, if you survive this stupid idea.}
On a large screen, a recording from Mister Arc's helmet is projected; he walks silently through the corridors of a large building in the Land of Darkness, a place I once called home.
{Thanks, Church.} Jaune replies in a serious tone despite the small insult thrown his way. {Any reason why you're speaking through my helmet's speaker and not the implants?}
{Giving context for whoever watches this later.}
{Good idea.} Jaune praises in a more jovial tone. {It's no wonder you were the producer of an entertainment company.}
{Hardy-Ha! Fuck you!} The AI replies in an irritated tone.
Using his semblance, Jaune created a projector and armchairs for us to watch his raid on Evernight Castle, Salem's fortress.
MUNCH! MUNCH! CRUNCH!
Personally, I think the creation of popcorn and soda is
an unnecessary distraction.
SLUUUUUUUURP!
"Nora please, make less noise."
"Sorry, Renny."
At her partner's request, Miss Valkyrie fell silent, a fortunate thing since in the recording Jaune had just been discovered.
{Who are you and how did you find this place?} A familiar male voice questions.
I contemplate the image on the screen with a heavy heart, for it shows the imposing Hazel Rainart. The tall and powerful middle-aged man who blames me with every fiber of his being for causing the death of his sister, Gretchen.
I understand that the pain of loss is a heavy burden, one I have carried for eons. But he refuses to understand that his sister chose the path that led to her tragedy.
Rainart's eyes, even in the recording, seem to pierce my soul.
'Hazel was already a great fighter when young. Now, with years of experience serving as a combatant for Salem, he must be even more formidable.' I think, curious about Jaune's actions in the recording. 'How did Mister Arc handle him?'
{Strength Enhancement, Church!} Jaune commands, lunging towards his opponent.
Hazel tries to grab Jaune, who, using the armor, is taller. With movements faster than Salem's servant, Jaune quickly moves behind his opponent and grabs him by the collar of his shirt and jacket with his right hand.
{But what-!} Hazel tries to protest, but is cut off by Jaune, who lifts him off the ground as if he weighed nothing.
The camera begins to spin, suggesting that Jaune was doing the same, rotating the body with ease.
{So long, Rainart!} Jaune declares, stopping abruptly and throwing the large man out the window. {Nice. He'll take a few hours running to get here, if the Grimms don't eat him first.}
"Why did you do that?" Ruby questions, looking at the present Jaune. "You defeated a Leviathan, couldn't you handle this guy?"
Shrugging, Jaune replies:
"I could defeat him, yes. But that was the easiest and fastest way to deal with him."
Following his path in the recording, Jaune crosses dark corridors, the dim light of red torches on the walls illuminating his passage. Suddenly, a roar echoes through the castle, and a huge creature emerges from a hallway, an Elder Beowolf. Its lupine body towering even higher than Jaune using his modern armor, red eyes gleam with an ancient malevolence, staring at what could be its prey.
"Be careful, Jaune!" Miss Valkyrie shouts, worried about her leader, despite this being a recording and the real one is sited by her side.
With aberrant strength, Jaune presses the Grimm against the wall, cracking the ancient concrete in several places. Taking advantage of the monster being stunned, Jaune moves like a blur, drawing his vibro-knife and then stabbing the Elder Beowolf three times in the chest, five in the throat, and at least nine times in gaps in the bone armor on the creature's skull.
"Wow!" Miss Belladonna exclaims breathlessly. "Are you an ex-convict?"
Nora and Ruby stare confusedly at the faunus of the group, while Weiss and Pyrrha fake cough, trying to hide their discomfort.
Jaune's brutality and speed were so abnormal that the creature didn't even have time to roar in pain, as it was already disintegrating.
"We're sooo gonna spar after this." Miss Xiao Long comments, impressed by Jaune's performance.
The recording continues, and the more Jaune walked, the more rare and powerful Grimms appeared. It seemed that Salem took the most powerful Grimms that could fit in her castle and employed them as bodyguards.
Beringel, Geist, Ravager, Razorwing, Teryx, and even a variation of Elder Sabyr that I've never seen before. All powerful Grimms that represent a serious threat to groups of veteran Huntsmen… and yet Jaune killed them all with minimal noise, quickly, with just a knife.
A few seconds of the recording without me paying attention, as I was rubbing my eyes to make sure I wasn't dreaming about what I was seeing.
{The throne room is close.} The AI informs in the recording, grabbing my attention again.
Jaune in the recording opens the large decorated doors, and the vision that unfolds before us is both impressive and terrifying.
The throne room is a spectacle of gothic opulence, every detail screaming tyranny and arrogance. The floor is of black marble, polished to the point of reflecting the dim light of the torches flickering on the walls. Immense columns, carved with grotesque figures of monstrous creatures, support a vaulted ceiling, where somber frescoes depict scenes of ancient battles and macabre triumphs.
The throne, in the center of the room, is a macabre work of art. Made of intertwined bones and dark metal, it rises like a monument to cruelty. And sitting on this captivating abomination sits the wicked witch of the west, also known as Salem, the Queen of Grimm.
{Who dares to enter unannounced into my court?} Her voice, though cold, was drenched in hatred and contempt for Jaune. {Judging by your attire, I imagine you're one of Watts' little toys?}
He stops for a second, but doesn't answer her. Instead, he draws a large two-handed sword, the sound of metal sliding against metal echoing through the throne room.
Her eyes widen as she recognizes the blade. The expression of surprise quickly turns into a malicious smile, which carries the weight of centuries of hatred and contempt.
{Well, well, well. If it isn't Ozma's new knight.} She rises from the throne, her long black dress dragging across the marble floor. {I suppose I must thank you, for sparing me the inconvenience of hunting you down myself. Now, do be so kind as to perish like the writhing little worm you've always been.}
As if in response to her words, a shadow falls from the ceiling towards Jaune.
{DIE HERETIC!} An insane voice shouts, attacking Jaune.
For a second, we see a blur of what looked like a crazy eyed faunus with a scorpion tail and blades on his hands. But we can't see more because Jaune dodges the first attack with ease and with a blow of his sword cuts his opponent in the chest, breaking his Aura.
{Argh!} The insane faunus shouts with a gash in his chest.
Looking at the ground, we can better see the appearance of the scorpion-tailed faunus who was knocked out with a single blow.
{This crazy bitch is dangerous.} Jaune says, cutting off the scorpion tail of his unconscious adversary.
Salem, clearly disturbed by the demonstration of strength, stares at Jaune with a mixture of surprise and anger. Her black eyes with red irises glow with an intensity that resembles the day our daughters died.
{You weren't this formidable, boy.} She comments, her voice laden with disdain.
Laughing, Jaune replies with a tranquility bordering on arrogance:
{Clothes make the man.} He says taking a step forward, the sword still firm in his hands.
The throne room, already tense, seems to vibrate with the tension. Salem, furious, takes a step forward, her hands arching with purple energy and green lightning.
{And what, pray tell, did you hope to accomplish by coming here?} She asks, her voice filled with disdain as magical energy crackles and arches around her.
Jaune replies in a confident tone:
{I came here to personally test if my sword is capable of killing you. After all, it was capable of killing a goddess.}
I frown seriously at Jaunes' remark as Salem shoots rays of purple and green energy in his direction. The rays cut through the air, leaving a trail of light that illuminates the throne room with a sinister clarity.
Jaune, however, is unfazed, dodging the spell with ease. The large sword in his hands seems to dance weightlessly, without bothering the young man.
Realizing that his attacks weren't landing, Salem summons a black smoke that spreads across the floor of the throne room. From the smoke, a swarm of Grimm tentacles and claws emerges, advancing against Jaune with inhuman ferocity. The creatures, made of shadows and hatred, move with terrifying agility, trying to grab and tear Jaune apart.
But even with the supernatural speed of his attackers, Jaune moves even faster; even with the large number of his attackers, Jaune dodges them all with calculated perfection.
"How do you do that?" Miss Nikos questions, drawing our attention away from the recording. "Even though you were faster than her you move like-."
{{He knows exactly what was going to happen next?}} The AI sugest, appearing between us as the recording is paused.
"Now that you've mentioned it, that happened throughout the entire recording," Pyrrha adds.
{{With Jaune's latest upgrade and his armor, I can assist him better during fights. My perception as an AI is much faster than yours.}}
"I imagine Jaune must have a powerful computer hidden in his armor," Miss Schnee adds in a didactic tone. "Otherwise, this type of processing must be impossible."
"I do have what could be called a 'powerful computer' in my armor," Jaune explains, holding the remote control in his hand. "But the really strong one is in my facility in Menagerie."
"You have a server farm in Menagerie for your AI assistant?" Blake questions, wide-eyed.
"Is more like a few underground floors of servers farms in Menagerie for my AI assistant."
{{I'm not an AI assistant, I'm a full AI-.}} Church tries to explain but is cut off by Nora taking the remote of Jaune's hands.
"Less talk, more action."
The recording continues, and now with the AI explanation, it becomes obvious that Jaune was indeed reacting as if he knew all of Salem's moves.
Dodging the magical rays and the claws of the Grimms that emerge from the black smoke. The sword in his hands dances, cutting through the air with inhuman dexterity.
Moving to create an opening in his opponent's advance, Jaune approaches Salem, his eyes fixed on hers, which glow with the intensity of a red inferno.
With a powerful blow, Jaune cuts deep into Salem.
{Argh!} Roars the Queen of Grimm in pain.
The blade enters her shoulder, sinking to her heart. Salem's face contorts in a mixture of pain and disbelief as the sword advances, cutting her in half.
I watch, incredulously, as the scene unfolds before my eyes. Jaune, with surgical precision and calculated coldness, continues to attack Salem. Each blow is fiercer than the last, each cut is deep, and each impact resonates through the throne room with a sinister echo.
Salem, the woman who for centuries has been a constant shadow over Remnant, screams in agony at each of the sword strikes. Her body, being destroyed and regenerated, contorts, dissolving and regenerating under the blade of Jaune's sword. The weapon, which he claims is capable of killing even a goddess, seems to be proving its worth making the most powerful being on the planet roar in agony like a wounded animal.
Salem's screams echo through the hall, but her flesh does not stop regenerating.
{Damn!} Jaune complains, watching Salem's body starting to regenerate. {Curses from creation gods are something else.}
{Wanna try making some dispel curse items?} Church questions in the recording.
{Let's retreat and evaluate better,} Jaune replies. {For a curse of this level, I need something more powerful than a wish spell.}
{Activating speed enhancement and camouflage.} Church says, activating what appeared to be powers of the armor.
The recording pauses as the image begins to blur.
Taking advantage of the silence that settles after the end of the film, I get up quickly, drawing everyone's attention. The young people's eyes turn to me, curious and anxious. The tension in the air is palpable, and I know I need to be direct and clear.
"What you have just seen," I begin, my voice echoing through the room. "was the most powerful and well-equipped Huntsman in the history of Remnant invading the castle of the Queen of the Grimm, destroying all the enemies he encountered along the way, even defeating Salem in combat."
Smiles break out on the young people's faces, congratulating Jaune, who does not share their enthusiasm, as he knows where I want to go with this topic.
"And yet he was not able to destroy her," I comment, tapping my cane on the floor for emphasis. "Mister Arc already expected not to be able to kill Salem, even with his powerful sword and incredible abilities. What do you think you are capable of doing?"
The students' eyes widened in apprehension at my warning.
"Right now, Salem is plotting her revenge against Jaune and against me," I inform, pointing my cane at everyone. "Do you want to be placed in the sights of her machinations?"
They exchange silent glances, the weight of my words still echoing in the air. Jaune, with a serious expression, stands up to speak.
"I understand that this is a lot to process," Jaune begins, his voice firm but gentle. "It would be a great honor for me to have you all by my side in this war. But you need to think carefully before joining."
I see the faces of the young people, each of them reflecting a range of emotions: determination, fear, confusion.
Glynda, ever practical, stands up to speak amidst the chaos.
"My dear students," Glynda says, her voice clear and authoritative. "I ask that you at least think for a day before making any decision, but no later than the end of the week we would like to hear it. I want you to know that you can continue your lives as normal Huntsmen and Huntresses, protecting humanity, without participating in this Shadow War."
Ruby's eyes gleam with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Weiss, ever calculating, seems lost in thought, her fingers drumming nervously on her knees. Mister Lien stares with intensity. Nora and Yang exchange determined glances, while Pyrrha and Blake maintain a more reserved but equally thoughtful expression.
Jaune nods, his eyes meeting mine for a brief moment. There is a mutual understanding, a silent respect between us. He knows that this decision is not easy, and that each of them needs to find their own way on this journey.
"I understand that this is a lot to process," Jaune repeats, his voice softer now. "But I want you to know that, regardless of your decision, I will not judge you or think less of you."
The young people exchange apprehensive glances, whispering among themselves, but soon fall silent when Miss Nikos stands up. Her eyes, normally so gentle, now shine with a fierce determination. She takes a deep breath, as if preparing for an internal battle.
"Will you keep fighting?" Pyrrha questions, looking at Jaune. "Even though your attack against her was uneffective."
Frowning seriously, Jaune nods in silence.
"But you could die," Pyrrha says worriedly.
Without hesitation, Jaune replies confidently:
"Then I will die fighting."
Jaune's simple but determined answer takes Pyrrha and the others by surprise. The young woman's eyes widen, but she soon relaxes, smiling as if she should have expected a simple and determined answer.
Taking a few steps forward, the champion of Mistral approaches Jaune, who bows slightly to look Miss Nikos directly in her eyes.
"Out of respect for Professor Goodwitch, I will wait 24 hours to say my decision," says the champion of Mistral, looking at her partner. "But it has already been made."
Jaune's eyes widened for a second, worried about his partner.
"Wait, Pyrrha, maybe-."
Any complaint that young Mister Arc was going to make was cut off by Miss Nikos, who pulled him by the neck and gave him a deep kiss in front of everyone.
"Ooooooh!" Most of the youngsters exclaimed in surprise.
After a few seconds of a kiss that stupefied Mister Arc, Pyrrha separates, looking him in the eyes before speaking:
"No matter what you're going to do, Jaune. I will always be by your side."
Blinking his eyes, Jaune focuses on his partner with a tender look and pulls her into a hug, reciprocating her feelings.
Shocked, everyone present, young and old, stares at the scene with their jaws dropped in silence, until Miss Valkyrie stands up, shouting:
"Finally!" Said the little redhead, clapping her hands. "Fucking finally!"
Despite the broken silence, some were still shocked by Miss Nikos' bold action.
"Wait!" exclaims Miss Xiao Long, standing up. "Besides jumping the gun, did the cereal girl just propose to Jaune?"
"She didn't mean like-." Jaune tries to say, but is cut off by the redhead in his arms.
"Yes!" Says the champion of Mistral, all smiles in her leader's arms. "And he accepted."
"Inconceivable!" Shouts Miss Schnee, standing up frustrated. "We had agreed that I would marry Jaune and you would be his concubines."
"We never agreed to that, Schnee," says Pyrrha, releasing Jaune and glaring at Weiss furiously.
"You guys made plans to marry me?" Jaune questions, startled.
"You didn't include me?" Ruby questions, shocked.
"Sorry, sis, but you're too young," says Yang, dismissing Ruby with a wave of her hand.
"What's the maximum number of concubines?" Questions Miss Belladonna, raising a notepad.
"Shut up, Blake," her teammates and Pyrrha reply in unison.
The chaotic moment unfolds into more discussion among the young people, focusing attention on Mister Arc while.
Adjusting her glasses, Glynda sighs wearily before speaking:
"The guardians of humanity and faunuskind, almost killing each other over teenage romance."
A small laugh escapes my lips, making the professor look at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Let them be, Glynda," I affirm, waving my hand. "Their lives are only going to get more complicated from now on."
As their squabbles hits a crescendo the subject of their discussion gets a little out of hand.
"You guys need to organize this harem better." Miss Belladona comments, smiling.
"Can't a guy go and found a nation without having a harem made for him behind his back?" Complains Jaune
"Among Royals it's more common than you think." Mr. Lie says in a monotone.
E ai gurizada…
[#] "The harem is real, and I plan to bring it more into the spotlight. It won't be handled as a time skip or anything like that. Still, if you'd prefer I skip the harem shenanigans, let me know in the comments."
[#] About my new fic 'RWBY NOT!', Synopsis:
My name is Ash and I was isekai'd into the world of RWBY. After spending 17 years as an orphan in Vale, I'm finally ready to join Beacon Academy alongside the rest of the Volume 1 cast.
And… is that BLEISS?!
[#] I just posted the first chapter of my new fic 'RWBY NOT!'. More details about it at the end of the chapter.
[#] If you enjoy my writing, you can subscribe to my Ko-fi for just $1! You'll get access to five advance chapters across four different fics, plus entry to my Discord, where you'll have the chance to directly influence future story arcs.
COMMENTS:
Badgedaniel_rahn[webnovel]:
Love the chapter and development, i also hope he explain more about his semblance orhis "prophecies" the whole concept of "i will change the grimm future and save everyone" will only boost Jaune's charisma once everyone realized why he did the things he did.
Maybe also talk about his Rust knight future to earn sympathy? Anyway, keep the good work bro
Avip:
As for where Jaune's initial information came from, I plan to start developing that soon. A shout-out to the Rusted Knight could be interesting, but I'm not making any promises about touching that… yet.
[Ozpin]
{All systems are green, kid.} The AI informs in the recording being displayed. {You'll be able to share the video, if you survive this stupid idea.}
On a large screen, a recording from Mister Arc's helmet is projected; he walks silently through the corridors of a large building in the Land of Darkness, a place I once called home.
{Thanks, Church.} Jaune replies in a serious tone despite the small insult thrown his way. {Any reason why you're speaking through my helmet's speaker and not the implants?}
{Giving context for whoever watches this later.}
{Good idea.} Jaune praises in a more jovial tone. {It's no wonder you were the producer of an entertainment company.}
{Hardy-Ha! Fuck you!} The AI replies in an irritated tone.
Using his semblance, Jaune created a projector and armchairs for us to watch his raid on Evernight Castle, Salem's fortress.
MUNCH! MUNCH! CRUNCH!
Personally, I think the creation of popcorn and soda is
an unnecessary distraction.
SLUUUUUUUURP!
"Nora please, make less noise."
"Sorry, Renny."
At her partner's request, Miss Valkyrie fell silent, a fortunate thing since in the recording Jaune had just been discovered.
{Who are you and how did you find this place?} A familiar male voice questions.
I contemplate the image on the screen with a heavy heart, for it shows the imposing Hazel Rainart. The tall and powerful middle-aged man who blames me with every fiber of his being for causing the death of his sister, Gretchen.
I understand that the pain of loss is a heavy burden, one I have carried for eons. But he refuses to understand that his sister chose the path that led to her tragedy.
Rainart's eyes, even in the recording, seem to pierce my soul.
'Hazel was already a great fighter when young. Now, with years of experience serving as a combatant for Salem, he must be even more formidable.' I think, curious about Jaune's actions in the recording. 'How did Mister Arc handle him?'
{Strength Enhancement, Church!} Jaune commands, lunging towards his opponent.
Hazel tries to grab Jaune, who, using the armor, is taller. With movements faster than Salem's servant, Jaune quickly moves behind his opponent and grabs him by the collar of his shirt and jacket with his right hand.
{But what-!} Hazel tries to protest, but is cut off by Jaune, who lifts him off the ground as if he weighed nothing.
The camera begins to spin, suggesting that Jaune was doing the same, rotating the body with ease.
{So long, Rainart!} Jaune declares, stopping abruptly and throwing the large man out the window. {Nice. He'll take a few hours running to get here, if the Grimms don't eat him first.}
"Why did you do that?" Ruby questions, looking at the present Jaune. "You defeated a Leviathan, couldn't you handle this guy?"
Shrugging, Jaune replies:
"I could defeat him, yes. But that was the easiest and fastest way to deal with him."
Following his path in the recording, Jaune crosses dark corridors, the dim light of red torches on the walls illuminating his passage. Suddenly, a roar echoes through the castle, and a huge creature emerges from a hallway, an Elder Beowolf. Its lupine body towering even higher than Jaune using his modern armor, red eyes gleam with an ancient malevolence, staring at what could be its prey.
"Be careful, Jaune!" Miss Valkyrie shouts, worried about her leader, despite this being a recording and the real one is sited by her side.
With aberrant strength, Jaune presses the Grimm against the wall, cracking the ancient concrete in several places. Taking advantage of the monster being stunned, Jaune moves like a blur, drawing his vibro-knife and then stabbing the Elder Beowolf three times in the chest, five in the throat, and at least nine times in gaps in the bone armor on the creature's skull.
"Wow!" Miss Belladonna exclaims breathlessly. "Are you an ex-convict?"
Nora and Ruby stare confusedly at the faunus of the group, while Weiss and Pyrrha fake cough, trying to hide their discomfort.
Jaune's brutality and speed were so abnormal that the creature didn't even have time to roar in pain, as it was already disintegrating.
"We're sooo gonna spar after this." Miss Xiao Long comments, impressed by Jaune's performance.
The recording continues, and the more Jaune walked, the more rare and powerful Grimms appeared. It seemed that Salem took the most powerful Grimms that could fit in her castle and employed them as bodyguards.
Beringel, Geist, Ravager, Razorwing, Teryx, and even a variation of Elder Sabyr that I've never seen before. All powerful Grimms that represent a serious threat to groups of veteran Huntsmen… and yet Jaune killed them all with minimal noise, quickly, with just a knife.
A few seconds of the recording without me paying attention, as I was rubbing my eyes to make sure I wasn't dreaming about what I was seeing.
{The throne room is close.} The AI informs in the recording, grabbing my attention again.
Jaune in the recording opens the large decorated doors, and the vision that unfolds before us is both impressive and terrifying.
The throne room is a spectacle of gothic opulence, every detail screaming tyranny and arrogance. The floor is of black marble, polished to the point of reflecting the dim light of the torches flickering on the walls. Immense columns, carved with grotesque figures of monstrous creatures, support a vaulted ceiling, where somber frescoes depict scenes of ancient battles and macabre triumphs.
The throne, in the center of the room, is a macabre work of art. Made of intertwined bones and dark metal, it rises like a monument to cruelty. And sitting on this captivating abomination sits the wicked witch of the west, also known as Salem, the Queen of Grimm.
{Who dares to enter unannounced into my court?} Her voice, though cold, was drenched in hatred and contempt for Jaune. {Judging by your attire, I imagine you're one of Watts' little toys?}
He stops for a second, but doesn't answer her. Instead, he draws a large two-handed sword, the sound of metal sliding against metal echoing through the throne room.
Her eyes widen as she recognizes the blade. The expression of surprise quickly turns into a malicious smile, which carries the weight of centuries of hatred and contempt.
{Well, well, well. If it isn't Ozma's new knight.} She rises from the throne, her long black dress dragging across the marble floor. {I suppose I must thank you, for sparing me the inconvenience of hunting you down myself. Now, do be so kind as to perish like the writhing little worm you've always been.}
As if in response to her words, a shadow falls from the ceiling towards Jaune.
{DIE HERETIC!} An insane voice shouts, attacking Jaune.
For a second, we see a blur of what looked like a crazy eyed faunus with a scorpion tail and blades on his hands. But we can't see more because Jaune dodges the first attack with ease and with a blow of his sword cuts his opponent in the chest, breaking his Aura.
{Argh!} The insane faunus shouts with a gash in his chest.
Looking at the ground, we can better see the appearance of the scorpion-tailed faunus who was knocked out with a single blow.
{This crazy bitch is dangerous.} Jaune says, cutting off the scorpion tail of his unconscious adversary.
Salem, clearly disturbed by the demonstration of strength, stares at Jaune with a mixture of surprise and anger. Her black eyes with red irises glow with an intensity that resembles the day our daughters died.
{You weren't this formidable, boy.} She comments, her voice laden with disdain.
Laughing, Jaune replies with a tranquility bordering on arrogance:
{Clothes make the man.} He says taking a step forward, the sword still firm in his hands.
The throne room, already tense, seems to vibrate with the tension. Salem, furious, takes a step forward, her hands arching with purple energy and green lightning.
{And what, pray tell, did you hope to accomplish by coming here?} She asks, her voice filled with disdain as magical energy crackles and arches around her.
Jaune replies in a confident tone:
{I came here to personally test if my sword is capable of killing you. After all, it was capable of killing a goddess.}
I frown seriously at Jaunes' remark as Salem shoots rays of purple and green energy in his direction. The rays cut through the air, leaving a trail of light that illuminates the throne room with a sinister clarity.
Jaune, however, is unfazed, dodging the spell with ease. The large sword in his hands seems to dance weightlessly, without bothering the young man.
Realizing that his attacks weren't landing, Salem summons a black smoke that spreads across the floor of the throne room. From the smoke, a swarm of Grimm tentacles and claws emerges, advancing against Jaune with inhuman ferocity. The creatures, made of shadows and hatred, move with terrifying agility, trying to grab and tear Jaune apart.
But even with the supernatural speed of his attackers, Jaune moves even faster; even with the large number of his attackers, Jaune dodges them all with calculated perfection.
"How do you do that?" Miss Nikos questions, drawing our attention away from the recording. "Even though you were faster than her you move like-."
{{He knows exactly what was going to happen next?}} The AI sugest, appearing between us as the recording is paused.
"Now that you've mentioned it, that happened throughout the entire recording," Pyrrha adds.
{{With Jaune's latest upgrade and his armor, I can assist him better during fights. My perception as an AI is much faster than yours.}}
"I imagine Jaune must have a powerful computer hidden in his armor," Miss Schnee adds in a didactic tone. "Otherwise, this type of processing must be impossible."
"I do have what could be called a 'powerful computer' in my armor," Jaune explains, holding the remote control in his hand. "But the really strong one is in my facility in Menagerie."
"You have a server farm in Menagerie for your AI assistant?" Blake questions, wide-eyed.
"Is more like a few underground floors of servers farms in Menagerie for my AI assistant."
{{I'm not an AI assistant, I'm a full AI-.}} Church tries to explain but is cut off by Nora taking the remote of Jaune's hands.
"Less talk, more action."
The recording continues, and now with the AI explanation, it becomes obvious that Jaune was indeed reacting as if he knew all of Salem's moves.
Dodging the magical rays and the claws of the Grimms that emerge from the black smoke. The sword in his hands dances, cutting through the air with inhuman dexterity.
Moving to create an opening in his opponent's advance, Jaune approaches Salem, his eyes fixed on hers, which glow with the intensity of a red inferno.
With a powerful blow, Jaune cuts deep into Salem.
{Argh!} Roars the Queen of Grimm in pain.
The blade enters her shoulder, sinking to her heart. Salem's face contorts in a mixture of pain and disbelief as the sword advances, cutting her in half.
I watch, incredulously, as the scene unfolds before my eyes. Jaune, with surgical precision and calculated coldness, continues to attack Salem. Each blow is fiercer than the last, each cut is deep, and each impact resonates through the throne room with a sinister echo.
Salem, the woman who for centuries has been a constant shadow over Remnant, screams in agony at each of the sword strikes. Her body, being destroyed and regenerated, contorts, dissolving and regenerating under the blade of Jaune's sword. The weapon, which he claims is capable of killing even a goddess, seems to be proving its worth making the most powerful being on the planet roar in agony like a wounded animal.
Salem's screams echo through the hall, but her flesh does not stop regenerating.
{Damn!} Jaune complains, watching Salem's body starting to regenerate. {Curses from creation gods are something else.}
{Wanna try making some dispel curse items?} Church questions in the recording.
{Let's retreat and evaluate better,} Jaune replies. {For a curse of this level, I need something more powerful than a wish spell.}
{Activating speed enhancement and camouflage.} Church says, activating what appeared to be powers of the armor.
The recording pauses as the image begins to blur.
Taking advantage of the silence that settles after the end of the film, I get up quickly, drawing everyone's attention. The young people's eyes turn to me, curious and anxious. The tension in the air is palpable, and I know I need to be direct and clear.
"What you have just seen," I begin, my voice echoing through the room. "was the most powerful and well-equipped Huntsman in the history of Remnant invading the castle of the Queen of the Grimm, destroying all the enemies he encountered along the way, even defeating Salem in combat."
Smiles break out on the young people's faces, congratulating Jaune, who does not share their enthusiasm, as he knows where I want to go with this topic.
"And yet he was not able to destroy her," I comment, tapping my cane on the floor for emphasis. "Mister Arc already expected not to be able to kill Salem, even with his powerful sword and incredible abilities. What do you think you are capable of doing?"
The students' eyes widened in apprehension at my warning.
"Right now, Salem is plotting her revenge against Jaune and against me," I inform, pointing my cane at everyone. "Do you want to be placed in the sights of her machinations?"
They exchange silent glances, the weight of my words still echoing in the air. Jaune, with a serious expression, stands up to speak.
"I understand that this is a lot to process," Jaune begins, his voice firm but gentle. "It would be a great honor for me to have you all by my side in this war. But you need to think carefully before joining."
I see the faces of the young people, each of them reflecting a range of emotions: determination, fear, confusion.
Glynda, ever practical, stands up to speak amidst the chaos.
"My dear students," Glynda says, her voice clear and authoritative. "I ask that you at least think for a day before making any decision, but no later than the end of the week we would like to hear it. I want you to know that you can continue your lives as normal Huntsmen and Huntresses, protecting humanity, without participating in this Shadow War."
Ruby's eyes gleam with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Weiss, ever calculating, seems lost in thought, her fingers drumming nervously on her knees. Mister Lien stares with intensity. Nora and Yang exchange determined glances, while Pyrrha and Blake maintain a more reserved but equally thoughtful expression.
Jaune nods, his eyes meeting mine for a brief moment. There is a mutual understanding, a silent respect between us. He knows that this decision is not easy, and that each of them needs to find their own way on this journey.
"I understand that this is a lot to process," Jaune repeats, his voice softer now. "But I want you to know that, regardless of your decision, I will not judge you or think less of you."
The young people exchange apprehensive glances, whispering among themselves, but soon fall silent when Miss Nikos stands up. Her eyes, normally so gentle, now shine with a fierce determination. She takes a deep breath, as if preparing for an internal battle.
"Will you keep fighting?" Pyrrha questions, looking at Jaune. "Even though your attack against her was uneffective."
Frowning seriously, Jaune nods in silence.
"But you could die," Pyrrha says worriedly.
Without hesitation, Jaune replies confidently:
"Then I will die fighting."
Jaune's simple but determined answer takes Pyrrha and the others by surprise. The young woman's eyes widen, but she soon relaxes, smiling as if she should have expected a simple and determined answer.
Taking a few steps forward, the champion of Mistral approaches Jaune, who bows slightly to look Miss Nikos directly in her eyes.
"Out of respect for Professor Goodwitch, I will wait 24 hours to say my decision," says the champion of Mistral, looking at her partner. "But it has already been made."
Jaune's eyes widened for a second, worried about his partner.
"Wait, Pyrrha, maybe-."
Any complaint that young Mister Arc was going to make was cut off by Miss Nikos, who pulled him by the neck and gave him a deep kiss in front of everyone.
"Ooooooh!" Most of the youngsters exclaimed in surprise.
After a few seconds of a kiss that stupefied Mister Arc, Pyrrha separates, looking him in the eyes before speaking:
"No matter what you're going to do, Jaune. I will always be by your side."
Blinking his eyes, Jaune focuses on his partner with a tender look and pulls her into a hug, reciprocating her feelings.
Shocked, everyone present, young and old, stares at the scene with their jaws dropped in silence, until Miss Valkyrie stands up, shouting:
"Finally!" Said the little redhead, clapping her hands. "Fucking finally!"
Despite the broken silence, some were still shocked by Miss Nikos' bold action.
"Wait!" exclaims Miss Xiao Long, standing up. "Besides jumping the gun, did the cereal girl just propose to Jaune?"
"She didn't mean like-." Jaune tries to say, but is cut off by the redhead in his arms.
"Yes!" Says the champion of Mistral, all smiles in her leader's arms. "And he accepted."
"Inconceivable!" Shouts Miss Schnee, standing up frustrated. "We had agreed that I would marry Jaune and you would be his concubines."
"We never agreed to that, Schnee," says Pyrrha, releasing Jaune and glaring at Weiss furiously.
"You guys made plans to marry me?" Jaune questions, startled.
"You didn't include me?" Ruby questions, shocked.
"Sorry, sis, but you're too young," says Yang, dismissing Ruby with a wave of her hand.
"What's the maximum number of concubines?" Questions Miss Belladonna, raising a notepad.
"Shut up, Blake," her teammates and Pyrrha reply in unison.
The chaotic moment unfolds into more discussion among the young people, focusing attention on Mister Arc while.
Adjusting her glasses, Glynda sighs wearily before speaking:
"The guardians of humanity and faunuskind, almost killing each other over teenage romance."
A small laugh escapes my lips, making the professor look at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Let them be, Glynda," I affirm, waving my hand. "Their lives are only going to get more complicated from now on."
As their squabbles hits a crescendo the subject of their discussion gets a little out of hand.
"You guys need to organize this harem better." Miss Belladona comments, smiling.
"Can't a guy go and found a nation without having a harem made for him behind his back?" Complains Jaune
"Among Royals it's more common than you think." Mr. Lie says in a monotone.
E ai gurizada…
[#] "The harem is real, and I plan to bring it more into the spotlight. It won't be handled as a time skip or anything like that. Still, if you'd prefer I skip the harem shenanigans, let me know in the comments."
[#] About my new fic 'RWBY NOT!', Synopsis:
My name is Ash and I was isekai'd into the world of RWBY. After spending 17 years as an orphan in Vale, I'm finally ready to join Beacon Academy alongside the rest of the Volume 1 cast.
But… something has happened to the canon. Adam Taurus is here, and he is a kind, emotional guy eager for friendship with humans.And… is that BLEISS?!
[Image Cover]
