Chapter 7 - Master of the Keep

Jaune was in his ready stance eyeing up his opponent. Keeping track of the breathing, the armor, and the weapon the foe wielded. The boss of this dungeon was tough looking, and looking tougher as he continued to analyze him.

The boss had a name over him called: Iron Shield of the Keep. But no other info aside from that name. He looked the boss over carefully. He saw full plate armor designed similar to his in a silver gold aesthetic with a large shield that is around 10ft tall. The shield is like a surfboard, wide enough to cover most of your body but thin enough to not be too cumbersome. And the one using it was around 9ft tall and also wielding a giant hammer in his hand, while also looking like he has a back up weapon in the form of a great sword at his hip. His helmet covers most of his face as a large helm covers him well that goes all the way around his face and covers his eyes, and mouth fully. Giving him an almost draconian look with his his full plate is designed like a large humanoid dragons scales. His hammer is daunting being around 8ft tall as well and the hammer head being large enough to be wider and taller than Jaunes torso.

His examination finished Jaune readies himself and charges himself full of aura to boost his stats. As soon as he does Iron roars out and does the same to himself. Shocked at the same skill being used against him Jaune preps himself right as Iron disappears from his sight making his eyes go wide. Jaune looks to his right only to see a hammer head come crashing into the side of his body cracking his sword arm.

Jaune gasps out in a silent scream of pain as the crack does register but the breath was literally crushed out of his ribs as they groan in protest to the large and heavy hit across them. Jaune manages to flip onto his feet mid flight and get breath and feeling back into his arm and chest. But right as he does Iron is suddenly right in front of him again, flinching at the sudden appearance Jaune brings his shield around and is flung back shield and all to crash into the side of the viewing dome they are fighting inside of. Cracks spiderweb out from Jaunes crash site as he falls to the ground and his shield skitters away from him as he lands on the floor with a thud.

His vision slowly recovers as Iron begins to walk towards him slowly while dragging his hammer along the ground behind him. A subtle growl is heard as Iron gets closer to Jaune, he scrambles to his feet while he tries to formulate some kind of plan against this boss, but as he looks around he sees his sword on the ground behind Iron, having fallen from his grip in that opening blow. And then his shield only 3ft away from him as he checks Iron once more to see he is indeed progressing much slower than his initial two moves.

Dashing for his shield Jaune tracks Iron and sees a spark come off his body as he disappears from view once more. Knowing the pattern Jaune quickly pivots on his heel and dashes to the side away from the shield and towards his sword. Hearing a deafening smash come from behind him. Iron roars out and Jaune hears the spark this time as he keeps his sense stat pushed to the limit to track where Iron is. The boss appears in front of him this time, and as it goes to swing Jaune simply does what most would consider crazy and sprints faster towards the Knight. This makes the boss try and adjust his swing mid strike but Jaune was waiting for this chance.

As the swing slows and falters its momentum for a minute Jaune comes in close and kicks off of Irons knee, then his chest, then finally his head as he leaps up and over the knight monster. With a final kick off from its head he flips midair and twirls into a full mid air tuck and roll with a hammer kick hitting the back of Irons helmet. The resounding clang manages to stun Iron from shock and slight pain as he stumbles forward from the blow. Jaune manages to keep his tuck and roll up and rolls safely along the ground until he can roll to his feet and grab his sword as he dashes further from the boss.

Turning with a two handed grip ready on his blade Jaune looks to Iron and sees he has recovered and is slowly turning back towards him. Now Jaune has a few precious moments to plan his next move and analyze the movements, patterns, and abilities of this boss.

Jaunes mind goes full speed as his high Int stat is being pushed to the limit to buy him even just one more second of thinking time against this opponent that has been practically playing with Jaune the way a martial arts master plays around with a cocky newcomer whos only experience in fights until that moment has been with brawlers.

Jaune thinks deeply, Alright he obviously has me beat in stats, experience, and with his skills he can match me all day long. But there is one thing he has that is both a boon and a curse it seems. His semblance from when he was fully alive! This guy seems to disappear and reappear at will twice in a row. But after that he seems to suffer some sort of slow condition. So if I can survive both surprise teleport skills then I should have a good chance to deal a lasting blow against him. He isn't so durable that he is immune to my attacks, heck even by attack on his helm did damage. But I should be careful. Based on my understandings of video game bosses this is still his first phase as it were. If I manage to deal enough damage to him he might have a second phase pattern that will make him more dangerous or even just more powerful but while keeping th esame pattern. But he does have that sword… It feels like I should know that blade somehow but right now I am out of time to think further. For now save the thoughts for future and focus on bringing down his health to half and activating his second phase. Otherwise I'll die from exhaustion if I keep up the react and dodge only strategy I have been keeping with so far. Let's see how far I can go.

Jaune immediately shifts out of high speed thinking and goes to full sensory tracking mode hyper focusing on every breath he takes, every muscle shift of the literal walking tank in the room, and every little sound he can manage to hear. Soon he hears it a small spark, then Iron is gone as if he was a projection someone shut off. Jaune not knowing the direction he is coming from goes the one direction that has the least likely chance that the boss would appear. He leaps straight up, dodging a shocked bosses hammer swing that shoots up a cloud of dust, turning mid air Jaune looks at the dust cloud and perks his senses up again, this time he hears the spark and sees the dust cloud dissipate in one area that seems to suck up the dust around it.

Jaune widens his eyes as he turns due to a shadow covering his arms, he turns to look behind and finds Iron mid air and mid swing as his hammer begins to descend. Jaune decides to pull a Nora level crazy move, hardening his aura around his legs and feet he tucks his legs to his chest and waits for the hammer to swing. Once it does he kicks against it with both feet and uses that momentum to shoot to the ground and with a crash he manages to use his armored back to resist the damage of the landing.

Sprinting out of his landing spot he makes an arc as Iron lands close to where he crashed and slowly begins to rise back into his original combat stance from the beginning of their fight. Jaune picks up more speed and activates his aura and his warriors battle cry at the same time right as he is 10ft from Irons back. Iron slowly turns to try and counter with his own skills, but the speed burst from Jaunes reinforcement skill and the debuff from his battle cry skill make up a good chunk of difference for Jaune to use.

As he comes in and lands a solid blow something unexpected happens, his sword actually cuts deeply into the body of Iron. It takes a moment as Jaune cuts right through and runs past the boss with his sword now on the other side of his body, but Iron looks down to see the large gash in his side right before it glows with a deep soul flame blue and heals over, even his armor is repaired. Iron then looks up to Jaune and seems to give him a nod of respect, Jaune pauses in shock from that action having not expected it, right before Iron charges up his aura to surround him once again. With a loud roar he unleashes something from deep inside. His hammer head seems to glow with aura as well and is lit with a deep blue flame around it now. His shield also seems to change shape slightly growing another foot and widening by half a foot. With his armor now gaining spikes all over it Iron looks to Jaune and readies a shield charge.

Jaune turns to prepare to run, only to hear the spark again, and his eyes widen at suddenly seeing a literal wall of steel and blue in front of him as Iron appears before Jaune mid charge and crashes into him sending him flying with a fresh set of ribs creaking from the strain and his muscles forming bruises along his legs and chest.

He crashes down and slides along the ground a good 20 ft before he manages to stop himself as he loses momentum. As he gets up with a cough and a bit of blood escaping his mouth from the internal injuries He looks to see Iron is already gone and notices a shadow appearing over him. He looks skyward to see Iron behind him already bringing his hammer downward, but with a quicker pace than before. Jaunes only reaction in the time allowed is to bring his shield up to block the blow. And he does indeed block, but his arm also creaks so much that he feels his bones in his arm and shoulder crack from the pressure as he is indented into the floor by a good 4ft deep. The air escapes him along with a small gout of blood from his mouth as he feels his abs and chest muscles become crushed from the force he endures.

Iron seems to spark and disappear again only this time there is no follow up move. Using his healing skill Jaunes bones begin to knit themselves back together bit by bit as his muscles heal. He reaches to the shop to pull out a potion only for him to see a notification open up.

~Warning! Due to close proximity to the boss the dungeon has shut down the shop option window! Be careful player Jaune! I can't help you much here!~

Jaune curses under his breath as he sees this then quickly locates Iron who is by the throne again, almost as if there is someone there who is invisible, or it could be just muscle memory at this point.

Jaune shakes his head to clear it from all the pain and shock he has dealt with in the last 5 minutes as his body continues to heal from the damage. After cracking his neck and back free from any lingering pain or injury he looks to Iron with a new look. "I know you can speak but I also know you are a powerful adversary. You have earned my best. I have fought you with the idea that I may just simply win. But I now know that this battle isn't to win… It's to survive. Just like you and all your soldiers had to survive in this place until it fell to the Grimm… I see part of your history here. And the lord, or general, or just your commander was in that throne until he had to retreat in the end, but you stayed… defending him even in death. Well, let me give you the ultimate final fight so that you may die a full fledged knight of the Keep. How does that sound!? Master of the Keep! The Great Knight Iron!"

Jaune readies his stance once more and explodes with his aura covering every inch of himself and even his shield and sword. Gritting his teeth he awaits Irons response.

Iron seems to have his eyes widen a bit beneath his visor as the glow from the lines of the visor seems to increase slightly before they narrow again, a deep ethereal voice is heard chuckling as Iron answers Jaunes challenge, "Heheheheh! Very good young Knight! That is a proper challenge! Let us settle this like the knights of old! To the finish! I will smite you like the invader you are! Earn your right to defeat me! For I Will Not FALL! Have at thee!"

Iron and Jaune charge at the same time and their shields meet and create sparks as they clang together against each other. Their weapons begin to meet in a flurry of sparks as at first it seems pretty basic for their speed and skill. Then they begin to speed up and soon each clang becomes close to each other, then as they speed up more the clangs become hard to separate into different sounds, and soon they are a constant ring of clangs against each other. Soon they are going so fast that both combatants arms are a blur with sparks decorating their deadly dance like rain drops all around.

With a final blow where blade meets hammer head they blast apart from the force. Iron quickly recovers and disappears while Jaune is already turning behind him to meet the blow, Iron is shocked as his hammer is blocked by a not flying Jaune with his shield, looking down at a loud crack Iron smirks beneath his helm at seeing Jaune has embedded his feet a few inches into the ground to help keep him stalwart against the blow. As he refocuses on Jaune he sees Jaune has gathered his strength and pushed back against his hammer and flings it to the side making Iron open his torso to attack, Jaune swings in a flurry landing about 12 strikes before he is shield bashed away.

Jaune manages to tumble mid air and land on his feet skidding along the ground right as he hears the spark again. He turns his mind off and goes full high speed hunter mind mode he used in the dungeon to react just in time. Ducking and turning to the right he manages to make the hammer miss his entire head as he swings hard and pivot to add extra force and land a devastating slash against Irons metal knee joint. The slash actually tears through the knee and cuts cleanly through it. Jaune would celebrate but Iron suddenly sparks for a third time in a row. Jaunes eyes widen as his heightened senses allow him to fight through the shock and roll while sprinting forward to avoid the full stomping body slam Iron did by teleporting above him.

Jaune looks back and pays hard attention as Iron is now moving much slower than before. Smirking to himself he launches himself off of the wall of the dome and comes flying at Iron to land a glancing slash. The slash lands and causes Iron to recoil slowly in pain, as Jaune lands again and leaps off the wall to land another blow, then another, and another, and once more. On and on he goes doing a pinball effect similar to what he did to the Arma Gigas knights below. Only this time Iron was at the center instead of being one of the leaping points. Meaning he is enduring at least 15 slashes until his eyes glow a deep purple.

Jaune goes for another hit hoping for his 16th only to be grabbed by Iron on his neck mid flight, causing Jaune to choke and gag as his body flings itself forward while his neck and head stay back. Making his body jerk to a stop and stay slightly limp as his sensations are all now trying to catch up at once to realizing that yes he is stopped, and yes he is being held by a now purple glowing Iron who is looking at him with an aura that is blazing.

Jaune gulps despite the armored hand on his throat and his eyes widen as Iron suddenly drops his hammer and shield and draws the sword at his hip. Jaune gasps in shock at the blades design and decorations. It looks like another version of Crocea mors. Only this blade is a simple 6ft long claymore with the twin arc symbols of his family right above the hilt. The blade itself is pitch black and pulsing with energy.

Iron swings it against Jaune causing his armor to dent and his ribs to crack and fracture painfully form the blow. Jaune gags and begins to desperately cut off the hand and arm holding himself. He does so after a third swing to cut off the hand. But not before enduring 5 swings to his torso, denting his armor a lot and also making it to where he is now suffering from all his ribs being fractured and/or broken in some places.

With a painful cough he looks up only to see Iron already reared back for a huge doubled handed swing just like Jaune remembers seeing his father practice when he was a child. He brings up his sword and shield together hoping to stem the damage or even nullify it. But his hopes are dashed right out the window as he is instead sent flying away. He crashes into the ground causing his ribs to finish breaking and his mouth become a hot spot for blood as he practically pukes up a whole pint of blood. He is starting to feel dizzy from the blood loss as he feels blood beginning to seep out of the cracks in his armor. Trying to rise to his feet Jaune gets up only to hear the spark again, and immediately feeling 3 slashes across his chest, all three of them managing to get through his chest plate and cut his skin and muscles beneath. Causing him to scream out in pain.

He flies back from the force of the blows and crashes into the throne. He falls and slumps with his shield now sitting up in front of him as a new chest plate, while his sword falls into his lap across his knees barely still held in his limp grip.

Iron begins to slowly walk forward while prepping his blade for a final slash to behead this invader. It was a shame after all he was skilled and even made him go down to where he needed to draw his main service weapon. But he can always wait for the next inheritor of the light to come for this test. He readies his blade with a hesitant heart as he does respect Jaune for his combat skills and tenacity so far. But is still disappointed that Jaune was missing that key competent that made previous inheritors so powerful.

Jaune is twitching in the throne with the world around him fading in and out as he barely registers the approaching boss monster. He is too stunned from all the damage and even how his health is down low along with his aura.

Level 54

Exp: 27%

HP: 1,150/26,300

AP: 2,500/13,500

Fatigue: 67/100%

Jaune smiles to himself despite the situation, So even when I fought full power, and did what I could, I still wasn't worthy. I'm sorry everyone… I guess I am still so weak that I am not worth being your friend… or even what might have been with Velvet, Yang, Weiss, and … Pyrrha. I won't be able to stand next to Ruby when we finish her weapon upgrades. I won't be there for Ren anymore for us to be brothers in all but blood. I won't be there to help make Nora her pancakes. I won't be there for Yatsuhashi, learning more two handed sword arts from him and meditating with him. I won't be there for Fox who was helping me with aura arts, I was beginning to like him a lot for that. I won't be there for Coco, I'll miss her teasing about me and Velvet. I won't be there for Yang and her puns and friendship. I won't be there for Velvet, and how close we were getting as we studied dust together. I won't be there for Weiss and our dances practice together anymore. And I won't be there for Pyrrha, my first friend… and my initial crush… I won't be there for any of them. Or worthy of their friendship. I was always...

Right as Jaune remembers his most important friends and the individuals who mean the most to his heart right now his mind quickly flashes back to what they were saying to him before he left for this quest. And how it would squash the negative thoughts plaguing his mind at this time due to his weakness.

– Flash back to earlier that day before leaving for the quest –

Jaunes friends were all on the bullhead platform wishing him well and looking forward to when he would be back either that night or first thing in the morning. Nora was trying to sneak on board in the cargo hold, while Ren held her back. Ruby and Yang were both helping him with his backpack full of clothes for a possible emergency overnight stay, and Weiss was making sure his hoodie and jeans were clean for meeitng his family members.

Pyrrha was making sure she went over his plan for meeting up with his sister and to make sure he called them when he got the chance. And he also saw Coco and her team there watching as Velvet was helping Ruby and Yang with packing some snacks and motion sickness medicine for Jaune for the long ride to Clandale. Once it was packed Jaune faced his friends for one last goodbye for the day.

Pyrrha began, "We know it will only be for two days at most but we will miss you Jaune. Remember that if anything happens you have us waiting for you okay? You will always be a part of our family here, with all of us. So please don't be tempted to stay with your sister and Uncle longer than that okay?"

Yang follows up, "You better remember Jaune! I want stories! I want action! I want Cuteness! But most of all I want you to have fun!"

Ruby chimes in next, "Yeah! Have fun with your sister and Uncle, Jaune! But know we will be waiting for you! You are irreplaceable here! And we still need to finish making you a long range weapon some time soon!"

Ren simply nods his head with a smile at Jaune and that by itself said close to a whole speech of how much he means to Ren. Nora follows up with a "Boop!" to his nose and a bear hug that threatens to break ribs.

Coco, Yatsuhashi, and Fox all give him handshakes and goodbyes while Coco whispers in Jaunes ear, "Better hurry back lover boy, other wise Velvet will be sad without you for too long!"

With a wink she walks off with a slightly blushing Jaune being called out like that by Coco. Blake gives him a small hug and a smile as she rejoins her team, then Weiss walks up and hugs him with a peck on the cheek shocking him and a few of their friends who weren't expecting a small act of PDA from Weiss of all people.

She whispers in his ear, "I won't lie Jaune, when we met you were annoying and insufferable. But over time you earned my respect, and recently you have earned my affection, its a decent size, I know you'll only be gone for a bit but it still means something to me when you aren't around to be there for us. And I also don't want you to fall too far behind in your training alright?"

With a smirk as she backs up she sees a slightly blushing Jaune nod his head with a smile at her, with a smile herself she backs up and with a small curtsy she turns and with a sway to her hips she rejoins Ruby who is gushing at the affection she showed Jaune.

Velvet comes up next and as Jaune looks at her he notices her face begin a crimson mess. As her ears are bent in a cute way as she fidgets with her index fingers together in a cute nervous way. Jaune goes to ask what is wrong only for Velvet to leap into his arms and lay a kiss right on his lips. Jaune is so shocked that he almost forgets to keep his feet under himself and almost falls from her leap. But manages to right himself and keep both himself and Velvet upright. He kisses her back and even holds her close with one hand going around her hips and the other to the back of her head while both of her arms have wrapped around his neck, he accidentally slips his hand on her head upwards and taps the backs of her ears. They perk up but then begin to wilt in pleasure as he begins to scratch the base of them. Velvet is about to actually moan as Jaune keeps the scratching up before she pulls away completely beet faced.

She pulls away fully and tells Jaune, "I'm looking forward to when you return, you are important to me and all of our friends… Never forget that and never think that we don't want you around. So don't let bullies tell you that you are weak. Or that you are worthless. To me and the others… you are our priceless friend. Okay?"

With a tucking of her long hair behind her human ears she turns quickly and runs to hide behind Yatsu, who in return chuckles at her using him for cover. Coco grins evilly planning to tease the heck out of Velvet. Pyrrha, Weiss and Yang are all shocked that Velvet would be that bold with her affections on Jaune with this many people to witness them, but they all nod and agree non verbally to support her through the actions she took and help her talk it out about why she did it so publicly. After all knowing Velvet she did it with her heart and not her head. Which was a perfect time to think that as her mind has caught up by now and steam is rising from behind Yatsu as Velvet has mentally caught up to her heart and her actions, which are hitting her full force and as that all catches up together, there is a small squeal growing in volume coming from her direction.

Jaune finally reboots after a good minute and shakes his head to refocus and turns to the bullhead with a completely red face before nodding, "Thanks everyone. Thanks Velvet. I will remember that and come back to you guys with a better attitude. I think this trip will help me with that, I have been avoiding this long enough. I have avoided family for too long… So believe and trust me when I'm back I'll come back a better man and a better friend than before. I'll see you all as soon as I can!"

He then heads to the bullhead while missing all his friends giving him waving good byes as he loads up and heads out.

– Flashback end –

Jaunes mind snaps back as the blade of Iron rears back and begins to drop. Jaune has his eyes widen in anger and determination, then an inhuman roar flows out of him as he yells out, "I WILL RETURN TO MY FRIENDS! I WILL BE WORTHY! YOU! WON'T! STOP! ME!"

He raises his shield and blocks the sword as a wave of energy explodes outwards from the energy displaced from the block. Iron's eyes widen beneath his helm as he stares at this shocking development. Jaunes aura seems to coat him but instead of the white glow he usually has, he now has a rainbow of colors coating him. His eyes are glowing pure white from the power flowing through him now, as he seems to be looking at Iron in a cold and calculating manner, yet also with a quiet respect and sense of duty to him.

Iron is flung back as Jaune cuts across him leaving a deep slash in Irons chest plate that is slow to heal as the aura that was coating Jaunes sword seems to be remaining within the slash slowing the regeneration he had up until this moment. Iron lands and skids on his feet for a few more feet before managing to stop himself. He looks up and realizes that Jaune is literally glowing with a rainbow of aura coating him as he stands powerful and tall in front of the throne he was guarding so zealously since this castles fall.

He grits his teeth and recovers his stance and prepares to charge in to test Jaune once more, only to see that Jaune is gone from in front of the throne and has only left a pair of imprints in the ground. Jaune is now in front of him in a crouched stance where his sword is being drawn from his sheath for a drawing slash. Iron manages to summon his shield to his side once more but it is cut to deeply that it groans and creaks from the hit, even folding into a 90 degree angle from the blow.

Iron summons his hammer back and rears it back to hit Jaune with a one two hit combo. Jaune sees it and with his aura still in rainbow mode he actually catches the hammer head with his free hand and cuts right through the hammer with one movement of his sword wielding hand.

Iron uses his semblance to retreat across the room only to see Jaune right in front of him again, Jaune swings and Iron blocks, only to retreat again, where Jaune follows and slashes once more, then this pattern repeats twice more before Iron feels his whole body become sluggish.

He slows to the speed of a turtle as he turns to try and locate where Jaune went. He finally turns to see Jaunes eyes are no longer glowing pure white, and his body is no longer covered in rainbow aura, but his eyes look like a true knight, where they are hardened to steel with a determination to uphold his beliefs and defend that which he holds dear.

Jaune unleashes his blade and begins a dance of swordsmanship, a never ending combination of cuts, slashes, and gashes all across Iron. It chips away as each cut lands cleanly on Irons body, chipping away at his armor and his remaining physical being.

Eventually after the 50th cut Jaune finally runs out of steam as he wobbles and falls to his knees while his shield falls from his numb fingers. But despite his body feeling like jello he keeps his grip on his sword. Panting hard from the exertion he put himself through he sees Iron, or rather what is left of him. Iron is now in many pieces, many flecks of iron are all around, pieces that look to have been ripped off are scattered everywhere, and Iron lies there now on his back, with only his torso armor, some bits of his shoulders and thighs left, and his helm cracked in more places than Jaune can see. His face is revealed though, a blue soul colored human face looks at Jaune with pure white eyes that seem to see nothing yet everything at the same time.

Jaune manages to get up to his shaky knees and looks between Iron and the throne, his eyes lingering on the throne, and the incredible power boost he experienced. He takes a step forward before his mind flashes back to his friends, and how they would treat him after a hard fight against Grimm, or after a hard spar, or even after training.

Iron awaits his end to come as he awaits the new inheritor to sit in the throne he guarded, fully expecting to disappear soon once the new leader of the light is chosen and accepted, right before he feels his body being lifted. Shocked he opens his recently closed eyes only to see Jaune lifting him up from behind, gripping him under what is left of his shoulders, Jaune manages to lift Iron into a sitting position before sitting beside him with a huge exhale of exhaustion. "Phew, and this is after you lost so much weight? Good gravy! You certainly earned your title of Iron the master of this keep for a reason! You are heavy my good man! Hahahah!"

Iron is still staring wide eyed at Jaune while he continues to laugh, slowly Jaune finishes his laughter and looks to Iron with a small smile of respect. Iron finally decides to ask, "Why? Why help me? The enemy you were fighting not a minute ago? I was trying to kill you?"

Jaune leans back and thinks to the end of the fight, "Well true, we were trying to kill each other, and I was so tempted to just claim the throne, but then I realized one thing… That's not me."

Iron can't help but look at Jaune in shock and ask, "How do you mean?"

Jaune thinks again with a head tilt and a hum of thought, "Well I mean what I said, a throne isn't what I want. If I wanted to rule I would try to make an army, and take out the Grimm. But knowing what I know of my life and of the Grimm now and how I was raised, and who I know in this life and what they mean to me… I don't think that is the path I want to take. After all what is the point of gaining power if you are the only one who gets it? My friends have taught me through their actions towards me these last few months, that when you are hurt, you need help to get up. When you are weak, having a trainer or a friend to cheer you on can help you grow faster and more efficiently. And when you can't move, let others help bear the load and carry you through the challenge. You can still contribute even if it is just to speak your ideas or mind on the matter. This makes me realize that anyone can be a king if they try, but to become someone who can lead without wanting to control everything? That is the kind of man I want to be, a man who can be there for his friends, loved ones, and troops under his command. Someone who can be relied on no matter the situation. A true leader who can be their light and guide in the darkest times. Does that make sense? It sounds a bit corny but those are my honest feelings."

Iron slowly nods as he thinks of it, before thinking back to his previous master, who stood in front of the throne more than sat on the throne, the master who fought on the front lines with his troops, until he had to retreat with the wounded and only when the keep was beyond recovery. The same master who wouldn't leave him and stayed until Iron stuffed him into an escape capsule to let him live. A tear of nostalgia comes out as he looks to the throne then to the young man beside him, "Yes it makes sense, it had been so long but I now remember this feeling, this understanding between two knights, fellow shield brothers, and comrades in arms. You are worthy of the light you have earned. For that I will return everything I have blocked from you, grow strong warrior, and I look forward to serving you."

Jaune stops him right as Iron is reforming his arm slowly, "Wait wait wait! … Serve me? Why?"

Iron chuckles as he reforms his arm and grabs Jaunes head gently, "Well my new master, every commander needs an army don't they?"

~Ban on exp, level ups, title and class gaining, and shop functions have been restored! Congratulations my player! You have beaten Iron the Shield of the Keep! Now his shield is ready to be used by you instead of the keep! New class gained! New class skills gained! Skills have merged into class specific skills!

Leveled up 27 times!

Initial class, Knight! Over level 80! Class evolution to Great Knight! Dungeon master recognition gained class evolution to Master of Knights!

Level 81

Exp: 0%

HP: 62,700/62,700

AP: 28,350/28,350

Fatigue: 0/100%

Class: Master of Knights

Stats:

STR: 115 (+35)

AGI: 110 (+3)

VIT:110 (+25)

INT: 110

SENSE: 110 (+5)

Points available: 10

Physical dmg reduction: +27%

Skills:

-???- : ?????

Inheritor: Access to system, over level 20 access to shop

Knight Master: +1 to all stats per ally under users command

Standing army: Gain ability to summon an army of knights under the users command, points available 110/110, basic unit 0 (5 pts per), commander units 0 (30 pts per), heroic unit 0 (100 pts per)

Arc Bloodline: +250 to AP

Advanced sword arts lvl 9: 7.7 times dmg with swords

Unarmed Combat advanced lvl 9: times 7.7 dmg with unarmed blows

True Warriors Aura lvl 1: +30 to Str, Agi, and Vit for however long this aura is active, heals 700 HP per minute, cost: 500 for activation, additional 50 per minute used.

Knights Rallying call lvl 1: +10 to all stats of every person you recognize as an ally within 100ft of user, Lower the physical abilities of foes by 10 points within the area of effect. Costs 500 AP, lasts 5 minutes.

White Knight Body Armor:

+10 str

+10 vit

+7% physical dmg reduction

White Knight Gauntlets:

+5 str

+5% physical dmg reduction

White Knight Sabatons:

+5 vit

+5% physical dmg reduction

White Knight Basic Helm:

+5 sense

+3 agi

Next seal unlocked for weapon Crocea Mors!

Weapon equipped! Rank A Crocea Mors (Seal level 5)

Bonuses: +160 to dmg

+20 str when equipped

+10 vit when equipped

+10% reduction to physical dmg when equipped

Jaune was gaping at how his stats had shot up and suddenly his body now felt the most lean it had ever been before. And as he looked at Iron, he began to smile widely at the knight who helped him make this all possible. "Thank you my friend. I appreciate this."

Iron nods at him with happiness but also sadness in his eyes as Jaune noticed Irons expression he sees some blue fire flakes fly by his eye sight. He looks around only to see Irons pieces of his body and armor seem to be breaking down and flaking away. He looks back to Iron in a panic and sees Iron breaking apart as well, "WAIT! What is going on! Why are you fading?"

Iron looks down to his arm and sees his fingers beginning to flake away as it reaches his wrist after barely a minute, with a hum of resignation he looks to Jaune, "Well it looks like my time in this place is up. I have fulfilled my duty to pass on the gifts of the class of the master to you. Your grandfather would be proud of you my friend."

Jaune widens his eyes as he processes this while using his int stat to try and think of a solution, "Wait so the master you served, and the previous inheritor, was my grandfather? This was the great war he fought in? A war against the Grimm? And you served him! But you said you would serve me next based on how you called me your new master! Why aren't you staying?"

Iron nods to him as his arm is half gone now, "Indeed. I did serve with him, and this was the great war mentioned in textbooks, but it looks like it was hidden to the back logs of history as a vague war. Instead of the fight of the light against the darkness. But still I am sorry that I made that misunderstanding of me being able to serve you next. It looks like I was too excited and greedy from your new found growth and worthiness. I was ready to fight alongside you and your friends, as a way to help you grow stronger. But I guess my time is up. I was ready to be there to see the next Master of knights grow into his own man. But alas, I am happy the next one is you young Jaune. Goodbye."

Iron is now down to just his torso and head left as he says this, Jaune is on the verge of tears at seeing this great warriors final moments ending like this, before he gets a light bulb idea to help him fix this. Looking at his skill once again he looks at Irons body then gathers his power hoping to channel it a certain way.

He opens his eyes as they glow with a faint white energy with wisps of them leaving his eyes like smoke. Iron freezes in place as he sees a pair of eyes he thought he would never see again. But there he is, the eyes of the Monarch of Warriors reborn. Still immature in this new vessel, but he was there none the less. Jaune raises his hands towards Iron and checks his skill once more before speaking, "Master of Knights invokes the skill, Standing Army on this brave soul! Reborn him under my command! Not as a basic unit, not even as a commander! But as a hero to be there as my shield! My comrade! And even my friend! I invoke this right! Now come forth and serve me Iron!"

The white energy shoots out of Jaunes hands and wraps around irons breaking body, before entering his cracking body and begins to fill him, replacing his blue soul color with white. Iron gasps in a big breath of air as his body is rebuilt and his energy feels more full and powerful than he remembers it being before. He feels like he did when he and Jaune began their duel to the death, before he took any damage. And within 2 minutes he crashes to the ground with his body restored, and his shield and weapons returned to him in their pristine condition. He looks to Jaune, his new master, while Jaune looks to Iron and seeing a new title above Iron with a new notification for his skill.

~Congratulations player Jaune! You have done it! You have made your first Heroic summon unit! Iron!

Unit Iron evolves to title holder: Iron the Shield of the Light

Standing army: Gain ability to summon an army of knights under the users command, points available 10/110, basic unit 0 (5 pts per), commander units 0 (30 pts per), heroic unit 1 (Iron) (100 pts per)

Would you like to summon two basic units or wait for a later time?~

Jaune thinks to himself while still smiling at Iron and tells the system, later let me and him enjoy this moment first.

Jaune smiles up to his heroic unit and new friend. "So Iron? How do you feel now?"

Iron flexes and stretches his new white soul glowing body left and right feeling the power flow into his entire being. His armor has become a metallic blue and silver making him look more like a paladin than a knight at this moment. He looks to his new master, and Iron smiles at him before falling to one knee and bowing his head to Jaune, "I, Iron, pledge my life and abilities to this new master of knights. I will fight by your side and help you defend the light with my weapons and shield until the day I fall in battle forever."

Jaune isn't sure where the words came from but he answers fluidly as if he knew just what to say, "I accept your vow of loyalty brave knight. I accept your shield and weapon to the fight against the darkness. So that the light of the soul may continue to glow brightly despite the negative emotions we battle in our every day lives. Rise Iron, The Shield of Light! And my first friend."

Iron rises and looks to Jaune with a huge smile and then looks at the throne. He swears that despite it having stood empty for so long he catches a glimpse of a grizzled blonde haired man standing beside it with glistening silver armor and a familiar shield and sword on his hip, smiling at him before waving to Iron and fading.

Iron releases a tear he didn't know he had before wiping it away and turning back to his new leader. Iron takes a seat cross legged on the ground, "I look forward to working with you my new master. And I believe there is something I must fill you in on before we leave this place, as it is protected by the systems remaining energy and my influence. I am unsure if there is a better time for me and the system to tell you this. If you are willing to listen."

Jaune copies Iron and leans in, "Tell me what? My grandfather? The previous inheritor?"

Iron nods and then looks to the side where Jaune perks up with shock at seeing a humanoid form has taken a seat next to them, a basic shape with no features, or discernible size. It simply is there like an outline of a human form. Then it speaks.

~Yes player Jaune. Iron and I shall tell you of the history of this place, why it fell, and of your grandfather. The previous Monarch of warriors.~