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COMMENTS:
Badgedaniel_rahn[webnovel]:
Love the chapter, really enjoy how everyone is going crazy by Jaune ñ's move, also i cant wait to see jaune in beacon again, its time to officially start the harem, we have waited long enough 😆
Avip:
The harem is comming…
Wait, not like that-. I mean like that to, but later.
MattSparks0[wattpad]:
Well, done on this bothering question if you could change one thing in this, what would it (be besides the Harlem thing.)
Avip:
I would like to have written the conversation that Jaune had with Ren, who made him confess to her her feelings.
I think it would be a very touching and funny scene to write.
Tell me in the comments if you would like an Omake of that scene.
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[Ruby Rose]
At night, the halls of Beacon are silent, almost solemn. Only the echo of our footsteps breaks the silence.
Professor Glynda Goodwitch leads us, her expression serious, eyes fixed ahead. Behind her, teams RWBY and JNPR (minus Jaune) follow, all confused and apprehensive.
The tense atmosphere discourages us from asking the questions that trouble us, things like: Why were we called in the middle of the night? How did Jaune help the Faunus establish a nation? Why is he late? Can we install a mini forge on the balcony of our dorm rooms?
…
Maybe the last question is something only I care about, but it's still important.
"We're here," says the professor, pointing to the elevator ahead.
I stare at Professor Ozpin's private elevator for a moment. The machine I always thought only led to the headmaster's office. The doors open, revealing an elegant interior with polished wood panels and golden buttons.
"Follow me, students" Glynda encourages with a smile, but my confusion only grows.
I step inside, followed by the others. The doors close silently behind us. Glynda presses a button I've never seen before, marked with a strange symbol. The elevator begins to descend, and I feel a chill in my stomach.
"Where are we going?" Nora asks impatiently. Unlike me, she seems more bored than anxious.
Glynda smiles but doesn't answer. The elevator continues its descent, and the silence becomes unbearable. I glance at Yang, who shrugs, just as lost as I am. Weiss places a hand on her waist, trying to maintain composure, while Blake observes everything with her keen yellow eyes.
Pyrrha and Ren seem to be handling it well, both leaning against the elevator wall, waiting patiently as we descend several floors... Nora taps her foot as if the action is holding her back from exploding.
After minutes that feel like hours, the elevator stops. The doors open, revealing a long, dark hallway lit only by faint lights along the walls. Professor Goodwitch steps out first to guide us down the corridor, her footsteps echoing on the stone floor.
"Everything will be explained soon," she says without turning around.
We continue forward, the air growing colder with each step. As we reach a large, heavy door with ancient symbols carved into the wood, Glynda pushes it open with a creak, revealing a vast circular room with a high ceiling.
'It looks bigger than the Vital Festival combat arena.' I think silently, remembering when I saw the last one with my father and Yang.
When I focus on the center of the room, I notice Professor Ozpin waiting for us, standing tall. His eyes lock onto us with an almost supernatural intensity, as if he's ruminating on memories from his entire life.
"Welcome," the headmaster says in a formal tone I haven't heard since initiation day. "Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Yang Xiao Long, Blake Belladonna, Lie Ren, Nora Valkyrie, and Pyrrha Nikos."
All of us find it strange that Professor Ozpin called each of us by name, it's as if he's making it clear he wants our undivided attention.
"What's going on here?" Yang tries to whisper, but her voice echoes through the vast room.
"Please, come closer," Ozpin gestures for us to join him at the center.
I exchange glances with Weiss, who looks just as confused as I am. We step forward, our footsteps echoing in the silence. Ozpin watches us with a serious expression, his eyes gleaming behind his glasses.
"I know you have many questions…" he begins in a melancholic tone, "and I promise they will all be answered in time. But let's start from the beginning."
"From the beginning?" Blake repeats, confused.
"Yes, Miss Belladonna," the professor says before anyone else can ask.
Ozpin continues, his voice echoing through the vast, silent room.
"Each of you came to Beacon to become Huntsmen or Huntresses. To fight the Grimm and everything that threatens humanity."
His words resonate within me, bringing back memories of the battles we've faced, the losses in my family, and the victories we've achieved. I look around at my friends' faces, each reflecting the same determination I feel in my heart.
"Yes, Professor," Pyrrha says, her voice firm and resolute. "We know it's a dangerous life, but we're ready to fight."
The others nod in agreement, the tension in the air slowly dissipating as we unite in our shared purpose. Ozpin watches us for a moment, a glint of pride and melancholy in his eyes before he continues.
"You don't know the full story," his voice echoes, each word carrying a weight I can't fully comprehend. "You don't know you've been recruited for a millennia-old war, far more dangerous than you realize."
A shiver runs down my spine.
"Millennia?" I whisper astonished.
I look at the others and see the same confusion and apprehension on their faces. Yang furrows her brow, Weiss presses her lips together, Blake keeps her eyes fixed on Ozpin, and Pyrrha hesitates for a moment.
"Millennia-old war?" I repeat, my voice barely a whisper. "Against what?"
Ozpin stares at us, his eyes reflecting ancient wisdom and deep sorrow.
"You'll know everything today, why the four academies were created, the truth about the Maidens, and my greatest secret…" The professor pauses, breathing heavily. Goodwitch steps behind him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Let's start with the story of the girl in the tower."
[Adam Taurus]
I am trapped in a world of pain.
"WRRAAAAAAGH!"
On my knees, I feel the cold black marble seeping into my skin. The pain... is indescribable. My new arm, a profane fusion of technology and Grimm throbs with an agony that goes beyond physical or mental. It's as if every pulse of pain stabs directly into my soul.
"What did you do to me?" I mutter through clenched teeth.
The arm... is an abomination. Black veins pulse beneath the skin, as if something alive is struggling to break free from my bones. The technology, cold and metallic, intertwines with living flesh, creating a sensation of revulsion and fascination.
But what consumes me is the pain... the pain is unbearable.
"RAARGH!" I scream again, punching the ground in a futile attempt to disperse the agony.
BOOOM!
All I manage is to create a massive crater in the floor.
"Why is this happening to me…" I lament in a whisper, sweating cold. "How did I get to this point?"
Instead of an answer, I'm met with a laugh dripping with disdain.
"Are you seriously going to cry now?"
I turn toward the voice and lock eyes with Cinder Fall, the half-Maiden.
She approaches, the heels of her boots echoing on the marble floor. She points at the crater, a cruel smile on her lips.
"You finally have the power to achieve everything you wanted. But instead of focusing on mastering it, you're whining about the crumbs you lost."
She circles me, her amber eyes gleaming with an intensity that makes my stomach churn.
"How pathetic. An iconic faunus, reduced to tears and lamentations. Do you really think this will bring back what you lost?"
Cinder stops right in front of me, her face inches from mine. I smell her sweet, poisonous perfume, mixed with the metallic scent of blood and technology.
"You lost everything, Adam. Your lover, your allies, your cause, your honor, even your own flesh. But now, with this arm, you have a chance to reclaim it all…and more. And yet, there you are, crying like a lost child."
She steps back, chuckling softly.
"Crying won't bring the Belladonna girl back. Lamenting won't resurrect the dead. And sorrow... sorrow won't undo the fact that a human brought peace and prosperity to the faunus. Something you were never strong enough to achieve."
Every fiber of my being screams in agony, but it's nothing compared to the emotions burning inside me.
I stand, muscles tense, body trembling. The pain in my arm becomes a distant echo, drowned out by the fury consuming me. I glare at Cinder, her eyes shining with cruel satisfaction. She knows she's got me, that she's pushed me into the abyss. And I... I'm ready to dive.
"You're right," I say, my voice hoarse, laden with dark determination. "There's no point dwelling on the past, mourning what can't be changed. But this…"
I raise the arm, the abomination of flesh and metal. The black veins pulse, the technology humming with sinister energy, as if responding to my emotions.
"This will bring me, my vengeance."
Rage boils inside me, a cauldron of resentment. Every memory of Blake, every moment of weakness, every defeat... it all fuels the fire consuming me.
"I'll show them all," I snarl, teeth clenched. "I'll show Blake, the humans, everyone who underestimated me. I'll show them what it means to be truly feared."
Cinder steps closer, her voice low, seductive.
"That's right, Adam. Focus on those emotions. Feed the Grimm fused to your flesh."
Resentment burns away uncertainty. Fury drowns the remnants of sorrow lodged in my heart. There's no more room for weakness, for lamentations.
Now, I am nothing but hatred and pain.
The black flesh on my arm pulses, throbbing with a life of its own. A chill runs down my spine as I watch, horrified and fascinated, as the transformation takes place. White bones, sharp as blades, emerge from the skin, forming a grotesque armor resembling a Death Stalker's carapace. The pain is intense, but it's different now… it's a pain that seems to strengthen me, to fuel me.
"What is this?" I murmur, my voice trembling. The armor spreads across my arm, covering it completely, down to the fingers, which are now sharp claws.
Cinder steps closer, her eyes gleaming with a mix of satisfaction and curiosity.
"This, Adam…" she says, her voice soft, almost sweet, "Is Salem's gift to you. It's the power you must learn to wield."
I stare at the armored arm, feeling the dark energy radiating from it. It's as if something alive is connected to me, an extension of my very being.
"But... how?" I ask, still trying to process what's happening.
Cinder smiles, a smile that doesn't reach her eyes.
"Salem is the Queen of the Grimm, Adam. And now, she's given you a piece of that power. This armor is a manifestation of Grimm's essence, fused directly to your body."
I flex the arm, feeling the brutal strength it now possesses. The armor is light, but I know it can withstand devastating blows. It's a weapon, a tool of destruction.
"And now," Cinder continues, "You must become one with it, let it guide you. Only then will you achieve the vengeance you crave."
[Ruby Rose]
The tension is palpable.
Everyone's faces present reflect shock and disbelief. Professor Ozpin's words still echo in my mind, each revelation more disturbing than the last. The origin of the Grimm, the shadow war, the Maidens, the relics in the four academies... it's too much to process at once.
Yang steps forward, her eyes blazing with a mix of disbelief and defiance.
"That was too much, you know? I mean… magic? The Queen of the Grimm? You can't just dump all this on us and expect us to believe it immediately."
Ozpin remains calm, his eyes fixed on Yang. He isn't fazed by her reaction, which only heightens the tension.
"I understand your skepticism. But the truth is often stranger than fiction. Salem's existence and magic are facts we cannot ignore."
Now it's Pyrrha who steps forward, her voice steady but calm.
"I'm with Yang. But I also know Professor Ozpin would have no reason to lie to us." She pauses, glancing at Ozpin before continuing. "But without concrete proof, it's hard to accept all of this at once. And, to be honest, I'd like to know why he waited until now to tell us all."
The professor sighs wearily, but before he can respond, someone arrives from another elevator.
From the back I see one woman I've never met before. She look like Huntresses carrying a dust-powered staff…
I want to analyze her weapon, but the figure in front steals my attention.
A giant over two meters(6.5 f) tall, clad in sleek white armor with a glowing blue circle on his chest, is pulling a cart laden with boxes and a large covered cage.
The armored figure turns toward us, he stares locked onto us for some reason. The silence in the room is almost palpable, all of us frozen, trying to comprehend what's happening.
"Hi guys," the giant's voice booms from the mask's speaker.
A shiver runs down my spine. How does he know us? Who is he? Yang steps forward, placing herself between me and the giant.
"Mind telling me why a giant creep knows who we are?" Yang demands, her eyes already red.
"This 'giant creep', as Miss Xiao Long so eloquently put it…" Ozpin begins, gesturing to the armored visitor, "Is the reason I told you everything today."
Slowly, the armored figure raises a hand to his helmet, the sound of metal against metal echoing through the room. All eyes are fixed on him, the tension unbearable.
With a click, the helmet detaches, and he removes it, revealing...
"JAUNE!" I shriek, launching myself at him.
THUD!
I collide with Jaune's body, my arms trying to wrap around him, but he's too wide at the waist. The relief and joy of seeing him again are overwhelming.
"I missed you!" I exclaim, my voice choked with emotion.
He smiles at me gently, the familiar expression that always reassures me. His large hand ruffles my hair, a simple gesture carrying so much affection.
"I missed you too-."
"LEADER!" Nora screams, leaping high onto Jaune.
My eyes widen in alarm as stares at Nora, now three meters(10 f.) in the air, plummets toward Jaune with outstretched arms. If I weren't clinging to his waist, maybe he could've stayed upright and caught her, but now it seems impossible.
Smiling, Jaune extends his left hand, intercepting Nora before she collides with his body. Gently, he slows her descent and holds her by the waist like a small sack of rice.
"Whoa… but how?" Nora asks, bewildered.
But before Jaune can answer, another voice shouts in his direction.
"MY TURN!" Yang yells, launching herself at him.
Unlike Nora, Yang propels herself low, using a shot from her weapon to lunge forward.
Yet, Jaune still catches her with his other free hand, holding her the same way he did Nora.
"Whoa!" Yang exclaims, surprised. "I've never been manhandled before."
"Did you like it?" Nora asks, wiggling her brows.
Eyes wide and face red with embarrassment, Yang crosses her arms and looks away without answering.
Still clinging to Jaune, I see Pyrrha and Weiss approaching.
"Jaune, what happened to you?" Pyrrha asks, her voice laced with concern. "You look so different… so big."
A tired yet satisfied smile graces his face. He gently sets Yang and Nora down before answering.
"It's a long story, Pyrrha. Let's just say I had to make some changes to handle future challenges."
Weiss, ever direct, cuts to the chase.
"And why are you so late? We were worried."
Jaune sighs, running a hand through his hair. He glances at Ozpin, who gives a slight nod, as if granting permission to explain.
"I had to deal with some issues in Mistral. Complicated but necessary things. And if you're all here, that means Ozpin's already told you about his secret war."
Blake steps closer, her golden eyes fixed on Jaune.
"Is it true?" she asks, her voice low but firm. "Everything Ozpin said about Salem, the war, magic... is it real?"
Jaune looks at Blake, his eyes reflecting a mix of seriousness and understanding. He opens his mouth to respond, but Ren cuts in.
"It must be," Ren says, his voice calm and controlled as always. "We're very complacent about the extent of what Jaune's Semblance is capable of, he made a nation."
"I'll explain later," Jaune interrupts, his voice carrying an authority I've never heard from him before. "For now, we need to focus on what you all gonna do."
The room falls silent for a moment. Feeling bold, I ask:
"What do you mean by 'what we gonna do'?"
Jaune looks at us, his expression turning serious. The room is silent, the tension thick. He takes a deep breath before continuing:
"Now that you understand what's happening, you need to make a choice." His voice is firm, unwavering. "Salem is a real and great threat. Ozpin and I are planning to end her once and for all. But I won't drag you into this fight without you knowing everything, and more importantly…"
He pauses, looking at each of us. A knot forms in my stomach as the gravity of the situation weighs on me. Jaune continues, his voice filled with conviction.
"You need to decide for yourselves if you want to join this fight. It's not an easy choice, and I don't expect an answer now. But you need to understand that if you choose to fight, you'll be facing an immortal monster with control over the creatures of Grimm."
My eyes widen not in fear, but in a mix of surprise and determination. I look at Yang, Weiss, Blake, Nora, Ren, and Pyrrha. We all share the same resolve. Pyrrha, his partner, steps forward.
"Jaune, we weren't alarmed by the danger. It was just a lot to take in at once. But we already chose this life to help people. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we won't sit out a fight that could decide humanity's future."
Her voice is steady, unwavering. I feel immense pride being part of this team. Yang crosses her arms, a confident smirk on her face.
"Exactly. If anyone can take on an immortal witch, it's us."
Jaune grins widely at us before saying:
"Good to know." He sounds relieved. "But I still want to show you guys, 'what' Salem is."
"How." I ask curiously.
The blond puffs out his chest proudly and smilingly responds:
"I just got back from a raid on her castle, and my helmet recorded the whole thing."
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