The Multiple Lives of Jaune Arc by The FatallyObsessed

In a wide white room, six figures stood, four younger more hopeful souls looked to the fifth who smiled to them. It filled him with joy to see them there a team again and knowing they would come together outside of this dream. They had been forced to endure so much, too much, a fate they hadn't deserved and a loss they could have never been prepared for. But looking to them he could see it, the will to continue.

The fifth who had these thoughts was older, worn of mind and heart. The man smiled to them, it was not one of joy but nor was it of complete sorrow. There was a slight urge in him to try to spend more time among them, but he knew better. He looked to the final inhabitant of the room who was neither faunus nor human, in his younger years he was sure her bare form would have inspired a blush but not anymore.

He'd experienced a woman's touch in his years before the final battle, besides he was far to use to her bare form, it may actually feel more perverse if she was robed. The giant woman looked back at him shaking her head confirming that this was the end of this session between these six souls, that saddened him as it always did. However, he was used to this pain, of departing from those he treasured so he looked to them and smiled.

"With that it's done, I wish I could show you more but unfortunately I don't get to decide that…" the four younger souls looked to the veteran, in their eyes a mix of emotions were conveyed. However, in response, the man chuckled.

"Come on guys, you don't need to be so down in the dumps, you've all gotten really lucky, after all usually this place doesn't give out so much useful information." That was a lie and it sickened him to do such yet sadly it had become all too easy for him, in truth this must have been one of the most unfair sessions. To have intercepted a world so late in the timeline, after not only the Fall but even after they had already fought in Haven.

"Besides now you've seen how to use that little gift of yours right?" To that, the leader blushed.

"Y-Yeah… Ja-"

"And besides now you know not to worry so much about Penny too, after all in a few months she'll be back. I mean it'll be in a different body but still." It might be true, after all sometimes doctor Polendina figured out how to bring the artificial life he created and saw as a daughter back, he wished he could bring the old timer in here, but that wasn't how it worked, he hadn't met the man till far later in life.

"But!" A hand patted her head and he flashed her a smile.

"You don't need to worry about me." She looked to him and he could see the tears begin to form in her eyes. Knowing what she wanted to say he rustled her hair with 'his' hand.

"Come on, I'll be fine after all this isn't my first-time saying goodbye to you lot…" It wasn't, he'd done it countless times, and each left a hole all the same. However, the longer he stalled, the more likely it was that the information they'd managed to gather would go to waste and be forgotten here. Something he could not allow.

"You have to leave, the longer you stay the more you risk forgetting." She looked up to him, tears forming in the silver pools of her eyes.

"Ensure 'your' present, instead of worrying over my future." Slowly she gathered herself and nodded but not before hugging him tightly. It was hard, but he managed to resist returning her embrace. After that, she withdrew a sober smile on her face.

"I'll make sure this time doesn't go to waste…and." She looked to him forcing herself to smile.

"I'll make sure to make you happy there." He smiled at that before nodding.

"Heh, hell I really am one lucky idiot aren't I, after all you've fallen for me twice now." He wouldn't tell her how many times those words had left her mouth and how many times he'd use that same dull line of his. Slowly she turned away and begun to fade, sure she would never return. Not 'that' her at least but then there was always the next one, it was funny really no matter how many times he'd done this, no matter how many or few appeared she was always here, his first friend…

"Alright then next to go has to be our resident Snow Angel." Turning he was met by the sight of the woman he had once covenanted. However, instead of looking to him with her usual annoyance there was a stern but concerned glare directed upon him.

"Come on Snow Angel I know you hate the name but it's our last time seeing each other so just let me have this." Without thinking he bowed slightly and gave up on his request.

"Sorry, Weiss." Instead of calming her this only seemed to piss her off more and no sooner than when he said it the heiress marched right up to him and slapped him across the face.

"You idiot! That's not what I'm angry about!" Oh, great there he went upsetting her again, seriously why was he so good at this.

"You…. You Dunce!" Honestly, he was torn, on one hand, she was crying, the sight breaking his heart yet, on the other hand, it had been so long since he had heard her call him that… before he could speak his lips were sealed by her own. His mind went blank from the warmth just long enough for her to pull away. With tear-filled eyes she turned away leaving him utterly befuddled.

"Wha… wait, what!" She kissed him, Weiss Schnee actually kissed him, now given it had happened before but the girl before him was so, so Weiss. She was too much like his own had been…

Snapping from his stupor he looked to her but before he could talk, she vanished. In hindsight perhaps, it was better off that way. I mean in the end what could've been said., he didn't notice how the woman floating above them rolled her eyes a tinge of annoyance present.

"Man, look at ol Weisscream. Never thought I'd see the day she kissed you of all people." From behind two figures stepped up. Next to speak was surprising the quieter of the two who looked to him her amber eyes staring into his dulling azure.

"I'm sorry…" He didn't need her to say why it was as obvious as it was stupid. Without warning or reason, he gave a harsh chop to her head surprising her.

"None of that, the Fall wasn't your fault, it was Salem's and by lesser extent Adam's hate group."

"But because of it… Because of what my father created, and Adam twisted The Fall occurred and Pyrrha, Pyrrha di-"

'Thump' Blake grabbed the spot he hit again.

"Idiot, I've never once blamed you and I promise the me there doesn't either." Before she could respond she felt a hand on her head and looked up to see him smiling to her.

"The only thing I was ever mad at you for was leaving, but you came back. Please don't abandon any of them again… they need you." She looked to him, he could see the regret but also the resolve, he was sure she'd make it a point to actually talk to him.

"Understood…" Slowly she began to fade from the room but surprising the two blondes she hugged him.

"The same way, you know our you doesn't blame me, I know we never regretted it… we never blamed you either." She looked to him and he could see it, the certainty in her eyes. To that, he returned her hug.

"Thank you…" No matter how many times he heard it, it always helped to hear, even if he could never truly believe it. In but a few moments she to faded away leaving him with only his fellow blonde. She looked at him a huge grin on her face.

"Heh, first Weisscream kisses you and now Blakey goes and actually hugs you, well, well you do know that me calling you loverboy was supposed to be ironic right?" That earned a laugh, kinda funny when you considered the one time she made him do such didn't involve those horrible puns.

"Tell me about it, last time I can remember us talking she confused me for Sun… frankly, I don't know whether I should take that as a compliment or insult." The buxom brawler tapped his shoulder.

"Take it as a sign that you've gotten closer… hey." Abruptly the brawler's atmosphere shifted as she looked to him.

"Thank you… I can't imagine this is easy to endure…" To her words he smiled, it was funny really, how much the most reckless of them reminded him of his sisters, especially Jean, he tapped her shoulder.

"I'm sure you'd do the same thing if you were in my shoes… Besides, this time I actually got to see you guys take out Adam. Trust me that more than made up for this. Besides, with this, I can help you guys… Oum knows I'm a burden right now." To that her expression soured and her eyes narrowed.

"That's not true… Sure you're not as tough, but you stuck with sis even when I didn't… if not for you she'd have gone to Mistral all by herself." She clenched her fist.

"I was so hung up on my partner leaving I couldn't even notice the one who actually lost someone, who had a better reason to lose themselves was having to fill in for me." A finger flicked her head and she looked to him pouting in response to his smile. He shook his head a somber chuckle left his mouth.

"You've always had her back, since your mother died… Nobody can possibly fault you for going through what you did… Those are Ruby's words, not mine."

"Which? 'yours' or 'ours'?"

"Both… it's just a matter of time." Slowly her form to begun to vanish noticing it she looked to him once more concern clear in her eyes.

"Will you really be okay?"

"You don't need to worry about me… after all, I was one of the Miraculous Eight…" He rose 'Her' right arm to her and in turn, nervously so did she and the two-fist bumped creating a small spark. She smiled from the clash of metal.

"'heh' You hit like a girl." In response, he smiled.

"Only with my strong hand though." She looked to his fist and then back to him.

"What?" She shook her head.

"Nothing, just thinking how a few of those make sense now… after all, falling for a guy like you… certainly, a girl could do worse." As the final remnants of her form faded, she placed her right arm against his chest looking him in the eyes.

"See you later…Jaune." With those final words and her smile, she faded as well leaving him in that world with only the larger woman to keep him company.

"'heh' I think that's the first time you've called me by name." He looked to the room around him and then turned to the other inhabitant of it. Laying on her back in the air the being sent him an annoyed stare, he sighed.

"Sorry, I know you're not exactly a fan of them going the extra mile when we part like that." She huffed turning away from him.

"Do as you will, after all it isn't the first time I've been forced to endure such sights."

"Seriously I really am sorry." Her face became more serious.

"You don't have many more times… I can endure a few displays like that, but still, I do find them… unpleasant." He looked to her clearly seeing her melancholy, it was rather fortunate she wasn't erratic at the mention of his nearing fate as per usual. Perhaps she'd finally accepted it, he could only hope she wasn't playing it off for his benefit.

"So… the next one." Slowly she turned to look to him a somber smile present.

"Are you that eager… to meet your end." He was sure if she'd been capable of it, she'd be crying but she couldn't and that made it easier for him to be honest with her.

"No… I'm eager to give them a chance." She looked to him silently for a long moment before she exhaled.

"There's truly no point is there… Trying to convince you to preserve yourself as much as possible." He shook his head and stepped towards her, seeing him do so she unconsciously floated down to him.

"We both know it can't be changed… I cannot be saved, but they can." His placed his hands on her cheeks looking deep into her eyes. She was beautiful, an inhuman beauty, or perhaps divine was more fitting, regardless he found it easy to be lost in her oceanic orbs. Her tails were subtle, sure she could blush, but she rarely did so instead he looked to how her breath caught, and her eyes averted the tiniest bit down. honestly, it was odd to him that it was from eye contact rather than from seeing her naked that earned such earnest and maiden like reactions but to each their own he supposed.

"So with that knowledge I wish to spend what time I can making a difference, something I can only do because of you." Her eyes grew somber and she finally nodded as she placed her large yet feminine hands over his. He then manifested his aura and allowed it to seep into her, to connect them.

'Crack'

Her lips tensed as she heard the cracks like one would hear on a vase struck by a pebble, they were small and subtle, but she knew they were spreading. Yet he did not give the pain his priority as he felt the multiverse expand before him, as she gazed upon it and chose their next participants. Slowly she let go of his hands, he could see the signs of disappointment as the warmth of his light faded from her. He then asked as he always did.

"How many, four, five or am I lucky and managed a six." She looked back at him with a mirthful smirk, and he felt as though she was about to give an abysmal two or three or dare he even think it one. However, what he'd not expected was her answer.

"Eight."

Chapter 1 Encounter

Ruby walked alongside her sister who subtly looked her over checking for any damage to her.

"Yang I'm fine." The petite reaper wailed starting to get a little annoyed, Yang however just shrugged.

"Hey I'm your big sister I'm allowed to worry." Ruby groaned but conceited none the less, it was Weiss who decided to ask next.

"What do you suppose their aims were." Blake shrugged.

"If I had to guess information, why else would someone hack the CCT." Yang thought out loud.

"Maybe it was our student roster, after all with the Vytal Festival coming up I'm sure there's tons of lien to be made with gambling over the tournament." Weiss readied to speak before thinking better of it, after all, it was as good a guess as any.

"I suppose that makes a decent deal of sense, Vale isn't as strict as Atlas so surely such activities occur even outside of the licensed betting stations." Yang chuckled as a certain club owner came to mind.

"Eh, even without it there are tons of people who'd pay top dollar on just knowing up and coming hunters." She looked to Ruby who appeared down, however knowing whatever it was Ruby wouldn't tell her she decided to change topics to something more pleasant.

"So…Weisscream." Weiss sighed at the name but didn't bother telling her to stop calling her that.

"What Xiao-Long?"

"You seemed to be having a good time after Vasilias got a clue and made his way over to you. I could practically see your heart melt." This earned a blush from the heiress.

"What! Shut it Xiao-Long!" However contrary to her order Yang's grin widened.

"Oh come on, don't be shy Weisscream, it was adorable. Seeing you two nerdlings chat up one another in the corner" The heiress shook in embarrassment earning a laugh from the blonde brawler. Blake smiled slightly as well and decided to give her two cents.

"It was a tad surprising since he rejected you from what Sun said." Yang chuckled.

"Yeah not gonna lie I figured you were gonna be mopey all night, me and Rubes were worried if Vomitboy would ask you to dance you'd lose it." They expected an immediate response from the heiress, the usual referring of their doofus knight as a dolt followed by something of the like of how never in a million years. What they received was said heiress nearly tripping as upon hearing Jaune's nickname. Ruby was quick to help her partner not fall despite the annoyance of her heels.

"Whoa ice queen careful now, what's with the odd reaction." Weiss quickly righted herself.

"N-Nothing 'cough' let's head to our room after all Ruby has to report to the headmaster's office first thing in the morning." Yang caught the scent of something juicy and seized upon it rushing in front of Weiss.

"Hold up, there's a story here isn't there."

"What, no!"

"I think the heiress pretest too much, come on spill. What did Vomitboy do?"

"Nothing! Jaune didn't do anything, anything at all." The three girls looked to Weiss awestruck.

"What?" Blake was the first to speak.

"Did, did you just call Jaune by name?"

"I knew it! Something did happen didn't it!?"

"Weiss please tell me you weren't mean to Jaune if he asked you to dance."

"What? No! Jaune didn't ask me to dance."

"Holy crap she called him Jaune again!" A light bulb came to the brawler's mind and she smiled smugly, before crossing her arms under her ample chest as she began her little investigation.

"Did Vomitboy in a dress do it for you or something Weisscream?"

"What!" Yang snickered at the heiress's flustered face.

"Chill, it's cool, hell even I admit his dancing caught my attention."

"It was rather impressive." Weiss's cheeks burned at the dumb brawler's absurd suggestions.

"No! It's nothing like that! Jaune just helped me is all." The four stopped and looked to Weiss curiously.

"Waddya mean Weisscream, Vomitboy never even got close to you tonight, you said so yourself." Weiss exhaled.

"Jaune helped convince Neptune to come and talk to me, apparently he rejected me because he couldn't dance." Yang deadpanned.

"Seriously, mister suave can't bust a move?" Blake rolled her eyes

"I think the bigger issue is that he said no due to something so…" She paused to find the right word.

"Insignificant." Ruby who seemed to have forgotten her earlier worries knitted her brow angrily but failed to be intimidating.

"That so stupid, you were super sad when he said no before and all because he couldn't dance." Yang and Blake nodded in agreement, however, Blake decided to speak up once again.

"Still its curious Jaune of all people would go and speak to him on your behalf." Yang nodded sagely.

"Seriously, that's like completely shooting himself in the foot, if he had asked you out then he could've at least been the rebound dude of a night." Ruby turned on her sister her hands on her hips and a proud smile on her face.

"Jaune would never do that, he's really nice." Yang rose her hands in mock surrender.

"Hey, you not gonna hear any arguments from me Rubes, after what some guys have done to their pals to get my attention, I give him full marks." Blake smirked.

"It would seem he has good character, especially considering how you treated him." Once more the three were shocked when Weiss didn't retort Blake and instead looked legitimately regretful.

"I-I know, I was rather unfair to him." All three stopped in place looking to the girl wide eyed.

"What?" Ruby stepped up putting a hand on her partner's forehead an iota of concern present, Yang seemed a tad concern herself suggested.

"Are you feeling okay."

"Maybe somebody spiked the punch bowl?"

"I suppose it's possible." Weiss swiped Ruby's hand away.

"Quit that!" She then fixed a stern glare on the three.

"Is it really so hard to believe I could feel bad about how I've acted towards Arc?" the three didn't waste a moment's hesitation.

"Yes." Weiss slapped her hand on her forehead and let out a long exhale.

"Look, I just feel… Conflicted." Her demeanor became uncomfortable.

"It shouldn't be any secret I'm indifferent to Arc." Yang snorted.

"Indifferent? Weiss you left him in a tree during initiation." Blake rose a brow.

"You've also said he wasn't worth Pyrrha's time on numerous occasions, Albeit in roundabout ways." Ruby even shyly commented.

"You also kinda made fun of him before you even met when I tried to apologize before Ozpin's speech."

"My point!... is that I've never considered myself particularly close to him, yet despite that, he confronted Neptune for me. I suppose I never really thought him the kind to do such, especially when it would be counterintuitive to his own desires." Ruby shot up again.

"Jaune doesn't care about that stuff though, he just wanted to see you stop looking so down, when I told him you were rejected, he got mad." Weiss's demeanor faltered even more than before.

"That's exactly it when I think of when Neptune said no, I was utterly embarrassed, I felt like a fool and that was in private with him trying to be as gentle as possible." Blake knew where this was going.

"And that got you thinking of how you've responded to Jaune." Weiss's head slumped down.

"Precisely, I figured he was no more than some hormonal brat or a sycophant, gods I even thought he was just some heir to an insignificant house hoping to use my name. He certainly spoke of his family name enough, however, I never even considered that he could be sincere, let allow that he considers us friends even after my multiple and frankly demeaning rejections." Yang shook her head.

"Seriously Weisscream, I mean don't take it wrong or anything you have the right to say no but when has Vomitboy ever given that impression. Heck, I was planning on doing him a solid and dancing with him at the end of it all once you rejected him for the umptenth time until he and his team stole the show like that."

"I know, I get that I was rather immature and callous with how I handled his confessions when I think how I'd feel if Neptune had treated my feelings in the same regard and in public no less..." She didn't notice how her partner reached for Crescent rose or how Yang's eyes lightly tinged crimson.

"I realize should've treated Jaune's honest feelings with the respect and professionalism I'd want from Neptune." Ruby smiled.

"Then just apologize, Jaune's nice so he'll just say it's all right." The Heiress looked to her partner before sighing.

"Your right, I owe him a proper apology and an honest rejection." The three others smiled at their prissy teammate's decision secretly relieved that Nora's death glares over her fearless leader's broken heart would stop. Sleep came rather easily to them as each nodded off to the land of dreams unaware of the bright white light that begun to manifest over the four of them.

Slowly Ruby's eyes begun to flutter open as she woke however, something was off when instead of her room she was met by the sight of a plain white expanse.

Huh?

She rubbed her eyes and when she looked again to see that her eyes hadn't been playing tricks on her she switched into emergency mode, quickly scanning around her she looked for the others. It didn't take long for her to spot the members of her team alongside (J)NPR, not wasting a second Ruby rushed over to her partner and begun to shake the heiress from her sleep.

"Ugh, Ruby… stop."

"Weiss, Weiss get up! Come on everyone get up!" As the heiress's eyes begun to flutter open the other begun to wake as well.

"Ugh, Rubes turn off the lights." Yang quickly sat up her hair a mess and not soon after Blake followed stretching her limbs. Pyrrha was the first to wake among her team and for a moment the spartan was dazed but quickly shook it off. Seeing her surroundings, she just as quickly nudged Nora only to receive a loud snore, until she leaned in close and whispered.

"Baby sloths."

"Where!" The Valkyrie launched up quickly looking left from right while Ren got up from the commotion and looked around.

"Where are we?"

"Welcome." The seven looked behind them finally noticing a man they didn't recognize; the figure was cloaked sitting upon a throne of sorts. While the majority focused on the man Ruby's attention was on the blade stabbed into the ground before him. It looked familiar but at the same time completely different from any weapon she'd seen before.

The sword hardly looked like such, it appeared more like an exceptionally long and thick bulging baton-shaped like a sword, it was a pristine white accented with gold. However, the extending sharp edges on either side of it gave it the impression of a very unorthodox and heavy blade. The hilt of the unusual blade had a dust barrel like Weiss's Myrtenaster, at the butt of the hilt a black ribbon was tied unto its end connecting to his right wrist.

The others looked to the individual, he wore a long tanned jacket/ duster with orange lining and gold edging that ran all the way down the two-long gold-trimmed rectangular tails. the left sleeves had been ripped off so as to not obstruct the white and gold spaulder.

The jacket and it had clearly been altered and adjusted to fit him as the right sleeve was longer reaching his wrist. The chest was left open giving an easy view to the white chest plate that was lined with gold beneath under it was a black hoodie that obstructed them from seeing his face. While his left hand had a white and gold gauntlet his right wore a simple tanned glove that the ribbon was tied around. Around his waist was a red sash. He had black jeans and dark brown laced boots with still ends. Yang grinned trying to listen to the current uncertainty.

"So who's the dude with the awesome threads?" Blake spared her partner a glance before rolling her eyes and pulling out Gambol Shroud surprised to see it was on her person despite being in just her black kimono.

"Yang think, we're in a strange place and he's the only one here." The seven looked at the man guardedly and despite Weiss's and Ren's glares he didn't seem to breathe any hostility, on the contrary, his disposition gave off a rather pleased air. Weiss, however, didn't waist a moment directing Myrtenaster the mysterious man's way and spoke a chill in her tone.

"Who are you, where are we and what do you want." The man began to chuckle lightly at the seven who had their weapons ready at the ready. With so much as a hint of fear or caution, he smiled at the heiress before speaking with a somewhat familiar voice.

"Could you please put down your weapons, so I can explain?"

"Give us even one good reason why we should do anything you say?" He shrugged.

"Fair enough, how about because you have no idea where you are while I do." Yang snorted.

"We could always just capture you, and beat the answers out."

"'Chuckle' It amazes me how funny you are when you're not cracking puns Yang, now how about we stop joking around." Yang's eyes reddened at his clear dismissal of her.

"What'd you say!" the man smiled in response to the brawler's clear anger. Pyrrha who looked around her person finally noticed something and looked to the men.

"Where Jaune?" The man faced her.

"That's not important right now, just knows he's alive and well." Ren's eyes narrowed on the man while Nora's face sneered.

"Did you kidnap him?"

"Well, actually I kidnapped all of you."

"Where's Jaune-Jaune!"

"He's fine, not conscious but fine… That came out wrong." Ruby and the members of (J)NPR didn't waste second rushing forward at the man who regarded the four aspiring huntsmen with a tired sigh.

"Neo help me out here." From seemingly nowhere the form of a petite girl manifested into existence between Ren and Nora the two turned to her striking only for the diminutive killer to leap up and strike the pair with a split kick to both their faces. Pyrrha turned just as Nora who shrugged off the blow swung Magnhild towards Neo who backflipped out of its way, Nora then proceeded to chase the ice-cream themed hit-girl while doing her best impression of a certain plumber from one of Jaunes old games as she continually slammed Magnhild down where Neo previously was.

Focused completely on her mark Nora hadn't noticed as the pint-size killer lead her to her still disoriented Partner. Just as Nora swung down Neo low sweep kicked the still dazed Ren and proceeded to grab the Mistralian boy by the collar of his pajamas and slam him hard against the floor as she jumped back in time to avoid Nora's blow while ensuring Ren received it in whole. Nora froze as a small crater formed where she hit her partner who was groaning and looked to Neo in pure hate.

However, it wasn't that particular pair of eyes that Neo found herself concerned with but instead the fiery pair of orbs that launched forward at her from behind. Neo spun to the side just in time to avoid Yang's blow upon turning towards her Neo grabbed Yang by the shoulder and lifted herself up doing a handstand on her right side. Yang looked up to Neo who smiled and winked before shifting her body to sweep both her legs into Yang head knocking her away and propelling herself just in time to avoid another swing of the enraged ginger.

Just as she was about to land a form fell behind her and slashing forward at a speed she hadn't expected. Neo's aura took a blow despite her maneuvering out of the wave to fully receive it and was sent skidding, she looked to her shoulder to find her coat cut and glared back at the individual her eyes both shifting white as she did.

Blake stared her down recognizing the small criminal as the bitch who helped Roman escape when she and Sun had crashed a White Fangs Meeting. Apparently, Yang remembered the girl upon actually getting a half decent look at her now that she'd stopped zipping around the place like some kind of psychotic acrobat.

"She's Roman's underling!" Blake readied herself to attack assuming a position.

"Well, at least now we know that man works for Roman." Said man groaned.

"Oh Come on!" Nora stomped forward her face unsettlingly serious.

"Let's break her everything…"

Meanwhile, the man quickly pulled his blade from the earth just in time to clash with Crescent Rose's blade creating a small crater when it did. The two weapons screeched as sparks flew However Ruby's eyes widened in shock when white aura seeped into the blade and it began to tear into Crescent Roses edge. Without a moment's hesitation she fired off at him propelling herself and her weapon away but when she looked up he looked none the worse for it as instead of seeing him fall back from the large caliber blast a blinding white light invaded her retinas.

"Ruby watch out!" Ruby heard the sound of metal colliding with metal once more and when vision finally returned she was greeted by the sight of Pyrrha standing in front of her parrying the blade with Akoúo, however, the weight of his blow made the spartan lose balance and with a strength surprising them both her swung the blade horizontally and from it a blade of aura spewed out hitting them both away.

Before either could hit the ground though multiple white glyph appeared each slowly their propelled forms until they righted themselves. Weiss dashed forward her speed increased by her glyphs as she closed in on the man who regarded her and pressed a button on his blade, the barrel spun and upon stopping the sharp edges glowed a bright red.

He let his aura infuse itself into the blade again, the white light invaded the red glow seemingly multiplying its force until raging flames spewed forth. Weiss looked to it positively stunned but prepared herself Myrtenaster glowing a pale blue as ice began to manifest. The man swung at her and Weiss leapt up with a grace spinning like a ballerina before thrusting Myrtenaster's end into him multiple times in a single second with the aid of her time dilation.

However, instead of the expected result, each blow was greeted by a bright shine of his aura defending him. Followed by several golden glyphs manifesting with the same space as her own and cancelling out her time dilation with their own. Weiss went wide-eyed as he rose his hand right hand up and caught Myrtenaster end and pulled it back.

"H-How." No sooner did multiple black glyphs appear over the two of them and bring down a great force that sent the heiress to the ground while the man stood seemingly unimpeded.

"I forgot that you use to be so predictable, amazing how much just lacking summoning makes you. Also, did you think that attack was meant for you." Registering her words Weiss looked back to see the raging flames surge forth towards Ruby and Pyrrha, Pyrrha rose her shield while Ruby rushed behind her and endured the flames blast. A small pillar of flames bloomed upon making contact however from the flames a spiral of red petal lunged forward toward the man.

With a grunt, he began to run forward as well allowing a new glyph to form over Weiss and summoned a very decrepit and lanky humanoid like Grimm who was shades of gold and white with shining blues eyes instead of the usual hellish red. The Single Grimm leaned in close and wailed invoking a great fatigue within the heiress alongside a sapping of her will.

The man's blade glowed once more the barrel landing on gravity dust increasing the blade weight and force and invoking a purple hue. He swung horizontally but the collection of petals split apart avoiding the swipe entirely while not far behind Pyrrha ran forward sliding beneath the streak of force. Once inches apart Ruby form manifested once more and she swung Crescent Rose down just in time for the man to switch his blade to his left hand and raise his right arm to shield himself. The blade's edge tore into the fabric of the man's sleeve but sparked upon hitting his arm beneath.

Without warning, he stomped down on Ruby's foot eliciting a yelp from her and while distracted he reached out and gripped her wrist with his right hand and squeezed with a crushing level of force. Ruby's hand flinched, and she let go of her baby the man grabbed the scythe by its blade and swung it as far as he could. Ruby went wide-eyed and broke into a mob of petals to chase it.

The man smirked before his form glowed again and he soon broke apart into a similar collection but instead of her bloody red he was a pristine gold that parted to avoid Miló's javelin mode as it pieced where he previously stood. Rushing forward the golden collection speed past the Ruby before manifesting as the man again and from his hood, a mass of silver light flooded forth enveloping the girl and disturbing her aura making her lose focus and turn back into herself as she tumbled forward not prepared for it. A foot came down on her pinning the little rose and when Ruby looked up she saw the man over her.

"Seriously Rosebud, I can't believe you were ever this slow." He rose his blade and swung it down upon her, but just before it could make contact it halted as a black hue seethed forth. Suddenly Miló shot forth stabbing into the man making him jump back grabbing Crescent Rose as he did. Pyrrha rushed past throwing Akoúo his way a while using polarity to bring Miló back into her hands. The man swung his heavy blade in time to hit Akoúo away before the black hue forced his blade down.

Raising Crescent Rose he shifted it to its war scythe mode and threw it at the spartan, who responded by casting Polarity over it to stop the blade. The man smirked as his aura manifested again over his blade and a gold hue replaced the black of Pyrrha's semblance. She went wide-eyed as he rose his blade to level with her pointing it her way, the realization her polarity had been rendered neutral by his own.

The blade made a clicking sound before it separated from the hilt and launched forward like a rocked. Still stunned the propelled blade only failed to hit its mark by virtue of Ruby intercepting it and grabbing Pyrrha up within her semblance. The blade struck the earth burying halfway into it, Ruby ceased and Pyrrha shook her head coming out of her daze.

"Thank you Ruby." The Reaper stared at the man never taking her eyes off him.

"Anytime, can you get me back, Crescent Rose." Pyrrha nodded stretching out her hand to the abandoned hybrid weapon and bring it to them and into Ruby's capable hands. Ruby looked back to the large blade buried in the earth while thinking it was rather foolish to use a trump card like that and lose his weapon only to go wide-eyed as she noticed that it was no blade at all but a sheath. She looked back to see the silent man charging their way in his left hand was a beautiful blade.

It shone shades of white and silver while its edges were patterns of black and gold, she recognized the dust between to edges of it as it glowed an almost holy white. If not for facing the man wielding it, she'd be entranced instead of terrified.

The three Huntresses in training surrounding Neo who took a relaxed posture and looked between the three. Blake was shocked, no matter where she looked, she couldn't see a single opening in the girls form despite having both Yang and Nora on her side her instincts told her they were a best equally matched. But the way she looked at them as if this was merely amusing told her otherwise, however, this was also a huge opportunity and seeing as how free-spirited Roman assistant seemed she dared to try and gain information.

"Hey, your Romans subordinate right?" The girl spared Blake a shake of her head before stomping her foot a pout on her face. She to the looked to the assassin for a moment confused why she acts like that instead of merely answering.

"Then what are you, his lover, his boss, his partner what?" The girl paused raising a brow before tapping her index against her chin in thought. She then rose her hand alongside one finger and shook her head, two fingers and she did a so and so gesture with her other hand and finally nodded when she rose three fingers. Blake stared at the girl for a moment before it clicked that she was answering and then another realization came to her.

"Can… Can you not speak?" The girl deadpanned, and Blake wanted to tear her hair out.

"We finally have someone cornered who would have information and she can't even tell us it…" Neo began to silently giggle before it turned into full out inaudible laughter. Nora grip on Magnhild tightened while Yang narrowed her eyes.

"The hells so funny half pint." Neo shot the blonde a glare before she couldn't help it and begun to silently chuckle again and then point to each of the three and then to herself and shake her head. Nora aura flared.

"You think that was a joke?" Neo shrugged a smirk on her face before she gave a thumbs down, sticking out her tongue.

"That's it!" Nora leapt forward Magnhild raised and ready.

"This is for making me hurt Renny!" the Warhammer slammed down into the girl however, instead of the expected result, the tiny vixen shattered apart only to reappear behind Yang. Without warning, she swept the blonde brawler making her fall back into Neo who grabbed Yang by the shoulders and placed her heel to her back and pushed sending the girl flying back. Neo then rolled from her position just in time to avoid Gambol Shroud's fire as black emptied round after round trying to hit her.

However Neo was faster than anyone she'd ever seen without a speed semblance, Neo then opened her parasol which shielded against her low calibre rounds, Finally Blake stopped firing and Neo pulled the parasol away to see Nora bring Magnhild down on her but just before it could make contact she gave kicked off the ground narrowly avoiding the blow. The shockwave, however, sent her flying away opening her parasol she begun to float down.

Blake rushed forward Gambol shroud in its blade form and leapt towards her, Neo kicked out towards Blake's head only for her foot to pass through her as she broke down into shadows and reappear beside her thrusting her blade into her but upon making contact the girl shattered again.

"Dammit!" Neo then appeared again and made a dash at Nora who swung Magnhild at her only for the girl to somersault over the hammer and give an axe-kick straight to the Valkyrie's head. Not wasting her momentary daze Neo quickly landed on her hand and pushed herself up locking the pink bombers head with her legs and flipped her over with a scissor takedown. Tightening her grip she readied to suffocate the girl only for a force to slam against her side and send her flying.

When she righted herself and looked up she saw Yang jump forward and shifted to her side to avoid the blonde's punch only to receive a slash from behind via Blake. When she spared a glance, she saw Ren helping up Nora before the two looked to her and then each other and nodded before rushing her way. Yang threw punch after punch with Neo managing top avoid each of them but not the bullets pelleting her from behind.

Usually, she'd called opening fire when your partner was in range of it, a poor decision but she knew the blonde's semblance. Every bullet she took made those fists a little more destructive making it her priority to avoid them. Finally, Yang threw a very readable punch and she gripped her wrist ready to twist it, however, Yang grinned as instead, she gripped Neo by the wrist surprising her.

Just as she readied to throw an easy blow Neo's showed her flexibility as she shifted her balance and turned to do a near vertical kick that hit Yang square in the jaw. Yang's body was lifted ion the air but before Neo could capitalize on her attack Black slashed forward into her sending her skidding away. She looked up to see Blake rushing her giving one blow after another and Neo to her credit managed to avoid every one of them not noticing how the faunus was isolating them, finally, she smirked and yelled.

"Nora!"

"You got it!" Magnhild transformed into its grenade launcher and fired at her Neo seeing this went wide eyed before looking to Blake who smiled.

"My semblance can help me avoid the initial damage, what about you?" She then embraced the petite assassin close in a bearhug. Neo headbutted her hoping to trigger her semblance but Blake took the hit and headbutted her back while ignoring her knees to her waist. Neo struggled and writhed until the moment of impact feeling as Blake vanished as the explosion struck her.

Blake may have ignored the initial blow of the bombs but the moment she manifested the force of blast struck her and sent her flying away into the ground her aura shattered and her form heavily injured. Yang rushed to her partner lowering to her knees and looking her over.

"Blake! Are you okay?" She pushed her side until Blake finally begun to cough through gritted teeth.

"Y-yeah, a few broken bone probably but I'll live." Yang sighed relieved before helping her up to her feet, as Nora and Ren made their way to them. Blake looked over to the still smoking crater Yang hesitantly asked as realization begun to settle.

"Did we… Kill her?" Blake looked to her partner reluctant to answer after all Yang for all her faults was certainly no killer nor had ever been responsible for somebody's death like she. Hesitantly she began.

"Yang…I'm sor-" However she was then cut off as a bright radiance cut through the pink smoke, She and the others stared in shock as the light began to shift from a pristine white to a pale pink. The sound of heels greeted their ears as from the crater Neo stepped forward looking none the worse for wear a smile on her face.

"H-how?" Neo brushed off some dust before looking to them her smile growing for it and directed her thumb leftwards. Ren looked towards the direction and froze when he saw the man somehow managing to parry Pyrrha and Ruby alike had his arm stretched out to Neo, him palm glowing a bright white. Apparently, Ruby and Pyrrha had seen this and looked absolutely horrified to see he could afford to do such while facing them. Finally, Blake spoke up a tremble in her tone.

"Who is that guy?" Neo shrugged before assuming position and rushing them scooping up her parasol but now her focus was clearly on Ren and Nora seemingly indifferent to not Yang but the heavily injured Blake she supported. If that hadn't confused them enough soon a bright white begun to surround Blake healing her form surprising her and Yang.

"Is he…"

"…Yeah, but why?" Blake and Yang looked to the man fighting off Ruby and Pyrrha with a beautiful and yet unsettling blade. Ren noticed something just before Neo attacked, Weiss was pinned down by some odd being, a Grimm of an odd hue almost like a summon.

Ren rose his hand to her beginning to invoke his semblance over the heiress, but Neo was faster and delivered a swift kick to his side. Before she could land another blow Nora swung at her and she backstepped, seeing a chance Ren pulled out one of Stomflower's guns and opened fire making her backtrack further while his other hand stretched out Weiss. He then looked to Blake and Yang surprised to see Blake seemingly healing by the same means as Neo had.

Could it be?

He looked at the man.

He needs us alive.

He then looked back to Blake and Yang deciding.

"Blake, Yang!" The two turned to him.

"Me and Nora will hold her off as long as we can, go help Ruby and Pyrrha!"

"But!"

"No buts, as long as he's able he can heal her, there's no point in that case, we need to take him out first." The two nodded and rushed the two redhead's way. Ren gritted his teeth as he finally locked unto Weiss and pushed his aura into her.

Weiss felt as her soul waned from exhaustion, her form incapable of getting up as it wasn't merely her body that was fatigue but her soul. Why had she been fighting, it was strange, she couldn't bring herself to remember it anymore all she could think of were the groans of the creature over her. A then something changed, her heart begun to calm, not in the same draining way it was as if her worry vanished.

Then the moaning stopped as the Grimm looked for her somehow unable to perceive the girl right before its eyes. Slowly without the chorus of its wails, she felt her lethargy begin to dilute until finally, it vanished. Weiss shook her head before looking up to the beast and recognizing it as a summon, had their opponent been a Schnee? His power was no different than hers dare she say even more advanced.

These thoughts, however, were soon cut from her attention as the sound of clashing steel ran through her ears and she looked up to see Ruby and Pyrrha fighting the man. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, the hooded figure expertly countered and parried each of Pyrrha's attacks as if he knew her move before she did. Even more shocking was what he did next as he seemingly broke down into a collection of petals like Ruby's semblance.

"Weiss!" The heiress flinched before looking Ren's way to see him with his arm stretched out to her, his aura projected her way.

"Go, Now! I can't cloak you much longer!" Weiss then looked to herself noting the grey and realizing this must be Lie's semblance. She nodded and quickly complied with him raising her hand and forcing a glyph under the Summon sending it flying back. Weiss looked over to the man who fought her leader and Pyrrha, even now she was awed by his strength but just as cautious of it. For a moment she hesitated upon recalling his summon, after all even she couldn't do that so surely he was her better. Could she even help it was then she heard something Pyrrha shouted, the same thing she'd been yelling.

"Where's Jaune!" Hearing her near pleading voice, the thought of Arc came to mind alongside her guilt. That's right they had taken him too and kept him somewhere else if her assumptions served. As she stood up, she pondered it, was she really about to fight a man so much more her better for Jaune of all people.

The blonde mop of hair had been the biggest disappointment of Beacon, he was a hopeless flirt, a near helpless combatant and a dolt at anything and everything involving Dust or aura. But most of all… He was her friend.

A line of Glyphs ran towards the three combatants, she soon rushed to them triggering the gravity dust in Myrtenaster from it four pale blue stars like constructs manifested and no sooner did she send them out. The small streaks of light zipped past Ruby and Pyrrha the man seeing them manifested a Glyph beneath propelling himself away from them. With a great swing a blade of aura lurched forth tearing apart two of the four streaks but the other two slammed into his right arm at the wrist and left leg. The man looked to his two obstructed limbs and smiled.

"Now see, that more like the Weiss I know." Ice begun to manifest around Myrtenaster blade as she closed in, Ruby seeing her looked to Pyrrha.

"We need to overwhelm him." Pyrrha nodded and no sooner did the three rush forward striking him from both sides with Weiss aiming to attack him from the front. The man looked to the glyphs that restrained leg and arm in place.

"Damn, can't even lift my blade, tactical as always huh Snow Angel." Weiss almost stumbled at that looking to the man, Ruby leapt forth with Crescent Rose but them man even restrained proved to be strong swing his arm out and hitting her scythes end countering it. Reaching out his hand a gold hue surrounded his shield and no sooner did it shot out of the ground towards him.

Catching it over his wrist he swung o blocking a heavy blow of Akoúo Pyrrha went wide-eyed as her armour turned the same hue and with a flip of his wrist she was sent flying away. Before he could take a moments respite Myrtenaster pierced his side and from where it struck a heavy chill begun as ice begun to form. The heiress smiled but was surprised when the golden hue overtook the barrel of her weapon and no sooner did the barrel open and each dust vial ejected.

While the others went in random directions exploding the lighting dust hit the man, a small explosion of lighting pushed back the heiress. When she looked up she saw him standing their white lightning crackling around his form, his muscles seemed to expand slightly while his aura flared.

"Ah!" He roared and swung his blade shattering the glyph that restrained it and quickly thrust the blade down into the second glyph on his leg breaking it as well. Before he could get back his wit another glyph formed beneath him that switched between colour before shining and striking him upward with a great force. He looked to Weiss and readied to descend upon her but a yell caught his attention and he rose his shield in time to block Yang's heavy blow but was sent flying.

Blake stepped beside Weiss who looked to her and nodded, before looking to the man, both she and Blake broke into a run towards him, while she may not have dust she still had her glyphs and time dilation. A flurry of red petal reached beside them and no sooner did Ruby take shape while the sound of shotgun fire alerted them to the blonde who landed beside their sprinting form.

"What's the plan sis?" Ruby looked to the man her eyes narrowed.

"We give him everything we got." The man looked to them smiling before looking over to see Neo who was now attacked from behind by Pyrrha while still combatting Nora and Ren.

"Neo! Just hold out for another two minutes!" The petite killed looked to him and nodded before returning to her fight, Jaune then looked to the members of RWBY and took a stance.

"Well then guys show me what you're made of." Ruby began giving commands.

"Blake Yang Bumblebee, Weiss." She dug into her pocket pulling out a throwing vial of ice dust her way.

"Ice flower, now!" The three nodded as Blake and Yang rushed forward Blake at the front while behind Ruby anchored Crescent Rose into the floor as Weiss formed glyphs along its barrel. The man looked to the nostalgic formations but shook his head remembering he still had to hold out a while longer to establish a link. Blake darted forward a spin in her leap as she gave a horizontal swing of Gambol Shroud only for the blow to be intercepted by the man's shield.

He swung forward in kind at the girl whose form was bisected and vanished the aura blade slammed into Yang who begun to glow with energy. Blake reformed above him and stabbed down on him running his head through but was surprised when his form paled and vanished. She then felt a hand grip the back of her head, the man fell to the earth slamming Blakes face against the floor with enough force for it to crack.

Yang roared and struck forth her blows much stronger if the sizzle of Ember Celica metal heating was any indication. His only fortune was that in her anger Yang's blow had become more telegraphed then what he was used to. Yang lunged towards the men who easily dodge her hits one after another before he kneed her but to his surprise, Yang took the hit and grabbed him attempting to restrain him as Blake leapt up from the ground and begun to swing down. The men didn't struggle instead choosing to place his right fist against Yang's abdomen. The roar of a shotgun rung out as Yang was sent back.

The man then rose his blade parrying Blake who glared back/

"Quit this." Blakes' eyes narrowed.

"Not until we see Arc." He sighed.

"That's not happening," She then smirked.

"Then we'll talk after your beaten." Before he could ask, she leapt back away from him just in time for him to remember Weiss and Ruby who opened fire on him. He rose his shield which took the first two rounds but found the weight of the ice to heavy to keep raising and quickly breathed fire dust back into it before sheathing his blade and letting it return to his heavy blade.

He swung the blade bisecting a incoming dust round and on both sides ice flowers bloomed, he rushed forward at the two. Ruby, however, turned to Weiss.

"Go to Yang!" Weiss nodded before turning tail to her blonde pun maker while Ruby lunged forward towards the incoming man.

"Ladybug!" From behind Blake rushed forward opening fire splitting the man's attention between the two. Both darted forward swinging they're blade and hitting from both side but Ruby found her blade blocked by his while Blake felt his aura dense where she struck. The two continued their attacks managing to give him a few blows while avoiding his blade. Ruby caught sight of her sister and Weiss making way to them.

"Freezerburn!" Weiss exhaled and stabbed Myrtenaster into the ground soon the floor began to be covered by a thick sheet of ice. Yang launched into the air slamming down her fist letting her heat from her semblance melt it and creating a thick mist to cloak them.

"Burning Rose!" Ruby stormed forward breaking down into rose petals and snatching up Yang who broke down as well into a spiral of red and yellow. The man took a stance, his blade ready and his sense keen as he let loose a breath, his eyes darted open and he swung the out horizontally. However, Yang and Ruby manifested above and below the blade respectively avoiding his swing before both sisters rushed him. Dropping his sword he punched forward at Yang's fist but received the full of Ruby's blow and was sent skidding back rolling on the ground.

"Checkmate!" Weiss and Blake soared forward both covered with time dilation and begun unleashing a torrent of blows on the man. Each made him cringe and grit his teeth but he gave as good as he got as soon his hair his aura begun to brighten and his blows seemingly grew in power. Finally, he managed to strike Blake only for her to fade and received another of Weiss's blows. However, fighting the clearly more experienced combatant alone was not ideal and Weiss leapt back retreating into the steam while narrowly avoiding another of his strikes curious why he hadn't used his glyphs again. She didn't notice the blade flying back towards him.

"You think you're the only ones who can make a smoke screen?" From under his hood another torrent of silver light spewed forth engulfing the entire surroundings mist and all. The four covered their eyes but Blake heard it.

"Duck!" The two smaller members quickly complied but Yang still angry didn't register her words fast enough and was hit square on by the aura blade. Blake leapt up to avoid it but found a second one emerging to intercept her, she endured the hit her form fading again but upon reforming she found a third that struck her away. Ruby and Weiss looked to her panicked to find her breathing but her aura depleted.

From the mist and light, the man stepped out his blade ready and glowing with silver light, Before a word could pass he broke into a collection of petals just as Ruby had. The two collided and what formed was the man standing over the petite Reaper, Weiss launched forward and as she did the silver light faded from his blade. She thrusted Myrtenaster forward into him but was stopped when a white glyph formed in front of her and pushed her back.

She then watched as he rose his blade up and the barrel rolled before coating the blade in pale blue energy. He swung again and from it over a dozen star like streak emerged rushing her way, with the aid of her glyphs she managed to avoid several but eventually one caught her by her combat skirt. It expanded into a retraining glyph but the force was strong and Weiss skirt tore letting her go but her slow down was enough as soon several more hit her and a glyph formed on her right shoulder, left leg and waist.

The man sighed in relief at the sight but was quickly brought back to focused when an incredibly angry Yang struck forward slamming him in the chest and sending him rolling. The man righted himself just in time to counter Yang's blow with his sword, the brawler looked to his her eyes a deep scarlet while her hair glowed like the sun. Yet he seemed little disturbed and returned her attacks, parrying what he could and allowing the shallower blows to hit.

Ruby and Weiss looked up to him shocked to see the man trade strikes with Yang however it was Ruby who noticed it first.

"No way… is he, pushing back Yang?" To her surprise, the rage began to leave the brawlers eyes as she came to realize she was being overwhelmed. Each of his blows had become much heavier and powerful and with every blow she gave it felt like he returned with interest. Finally, he swung down with all he could sending Yang flying back, only for the hue to cover Ember Celica and the two gauntlets to bury themselves deep in the earth restraining her. He looked to the four capacitated members of RWBY and then back to Neo and her opposition.

Miló stabbed forward at the girl only Neo to swerve left of its end and leap into the air delivering a horizontal kick. Pyrrha rose Akoúo blocking her blow only to feel a sting in her chest when Neo's parasol stabbed her at her center. Pushing off the parasol's handle Neo jumped back before pulling a thin wire connected to her weapon. The moment it was in her hands she opened it left of her and blocked multiple rounds of dust. Ren gritted his teeth.

Neo moved her parasol and winked his way a mirthful grin plastered on her face, however that soon vanished when a distinct whistle could be heard. She looked up just in time to see several grenades round descend, not wishing to experience the feeling of being nearly blasted apart she aimed and swung her parasol allowing the sheathed portion to lunch off and collided with one of the rounds. No sooner did she raise the blade and threw it at another.

Jumping back she let an illusionary construct of herself form using the aura she'd received from the man. It turned back to her and gripped her wrist and proceeded to throw her as far as it could manage before the grenade hit and it shattered in the explosion. She looked on still surprised that her illusion were sturdier after receiving his aura, however her time to ponder was short lived as Nora fell upon her slamming Magnhild down.

Upon contact with her aura a bright white light shone blinding the two but when it dimmed Nora noted in shock how the end of her weapon was chipped and cracking. Neo looked to herself allowing her aura to manifest and saw the faint traces of white within.

Was this him?

abruptly Neo stumbled as a dust round slammed into her shoulder, and when she looked up she saw Pyrrha rushing her Miló at the ready as she fired another round knocking her back another step. Neo's eyes narrowed, and she rushed forward at the girl, she decided to see how far she could push her semblance with the man's boost. From her three illusionary constructs formed each rushing the Invincible girl.

Pyrrha rose Miló and speared it her way impaling on who stumbled for a moment and fell on her back before shattering. The moments where it hadn't broken apart, had looked like she'd impaled the girl were enough to bring Pyrrha back from her warrior state of mind. It was that moment of second-guessing herself that Neo took advantage of as two leapt both delivering a horizontal kick at her sending her back while the third leapt up above and axe kicked the champion.

He victory was short lived though as a storm of rounds unloaded into the three destroying the nearest construct who shattered like glass. Ren continued to open fire on the two remaining killers who glared his way as they ran from his aim. The two attempted to circle around him but the moment he stopped to reload when they rushed forward an explosion of pink slammed into the leftwards one while a javelin pierced the right shattering it.

Seeing this Pyrrha and Ren turn leftwards to see Neo standing up a notable limp in her step from apparently not having enough aura to fully protect herself from the blast. Nora darted forward swinging Magnhild in a horizontal swipe, Neo jumped back to avoid her initial hit but upon landing on her injured foot she stumbled wincing from the pain.

Ren who'd hadn't had to fight nearly as hard as Pyrrha manage to break ahead of her. However, he was worried about his partner's current state of anger so much so that he didn't notice the shadow that appeared above him.

"Ren!" Before he could register Pyrrha shout the bottom of a steel end boot slammed into the back of his head while another fell upon the center of his back and slammed him into the ground creating a small dust cloud. Before the cloud could even fully form a collection of dirtied gold petals surged forth like a swarm.

Neo looked up as Nora rose her cracked Magnhild up high ready to slam it down and brake the girl alongside her aura.

"Give our Fearless Leader back!" She slammed down her hammer with all the force she could muster Neo rose her hands in a vain attempt to shield herself. An explosion rang throughout the area followed by the shattering of aura and bone alike and a great yell. However, as a petal tickled her nose Neo opened her eyes and saw him. Standing over her was the man's broad back at his feet were the shattered remains of Magnhild and Nora holding a bleeding arm before him hate clear in her glare. The man spared her a glance and smiled making the petite killer heart skip a beat as what greeted her from beneath the hood a pair of different coloured eyes like her own.

"Don't worry, I'll handle it from her." A bright light flooded her, and she felt her body begin to mend alongside her aura which reached a point no different than if she'd never fought in the first place. He looked to Nora and rose his blade to level with her, but its golden edges retracted leaving it no different than a large sword shaped baton. He looked to her with a reluctant but determined air to him.

"Nora, please stand down…" He knew before he made the request that she wouldn't so when she charged him, he was not surprised and rose his blade only for it a black hue manifest around the sheath stilling it from his swing.

"Dammit, not quick enough." The hooded figure abruptly ducked down avoiding dust rounds from Miló no sooner did a glyph manifest under Neo sending them flying away from his immediate surroundings. Turning around he saw Miló launched his way, from beneath his hood streams of silver lights erupted forth repelling the spear The man quickly kicked away a shocked Nora from the area like he had Neo. As Pyrrha noted the faint streams of light manifesting around Nora she came to agree with Ren's earlier stamen about wanting them alive.

that was perfect and worked to her advantage, the man looked to her incoming form and smiled so genuinely as if the act of her incoming aggression was a precious gift. He unsheathed his blade as he stepped forward his pristine white aura coating it, in his left hand the sheath transforms into a shield.

'drip'

"How long has it been, since experiencing the simple joy of facing you." From beneath his hood, a trail of warm tears rolled down his right cheek as a single azure orb looked into her emerald eyes. Pyrrha found her chest tighten at his gaze and despite not seeing his face she felt unrealistically at peace with the presence before her despite all he'd done.

The two abruptly sped towards one another any previous hostility seemingly gone as Miló met the steel of his blade. Both blades let loose roars of steel and bronze, the white of his soul enveloped his blade as the black of her semblance overtook Miló.

Despite trying to use her semblance on his blade she found his aura disturbing her manipulation on the steel. For the first time in so long Pyrrha Nikos was struck as his strength and technique proved to be superior. He rushed her swinging the noble blade in an arc the force parting the air. However, she was no fool and leapt and maneuvered from each attack closing in as she did.

Shifting to its rifle mode she fired round after round on him, with a skill honed by years of fighting he perceived her dust rounds trajectory and slashed the ones that threatened to do greater damage to his aura while shielding himself from the others. Taking aim, she threw Akoúo at the man and to her surprise her caught it, it was not the action itself that shocked her nor the clinking her shield made when it hit his hand but that he'd used his hand.

From what she saw he had many means to avoid such a blow from polarity, his glyphs or even replacing himself with a white shadow. So why, why would he catch it, was it that his aura was running low, such thoughts died the moment she looked to his blade that still shone like that of a Beacon. So why, could he not, perhaps it was merely coping against his opponent, no, he used Ruby's semblance to reach Nora. So then, it was the final reason, the one most unlikely but that she was most confident in.

He wished to clash with her by only virtue of his own power, he wished for an honorable duel with her. It was that which disturbed her most, because if he was such a man then why, why kidnap them, why take Jaune and why side with Roman. The more she thought on it the more confused she became, and that uncertainty showed in her swordplay as he managed a swing into her form tearing aura. She leapt back in a jump and upon seeing it he grimaced.

"Stop holding back…" With tightening his hold his blade glow increased and he swung again unleashing an aura arc like none before.

"Stop holding back!" Pyrrha used her polarity to retract Akoúo from his grip and into hers before raising it to endure the blow and was unsurprisingly sent flying back from it. when Pyrrha opened her eyes she saw the form of the man over her his blade raised and seething white light. by reaction, she activated her semblance to push him back forgetting how his aura disturbed her control over his steel. And yet her aura did take hold of something pushing him back with a wince of pain evident on his face.

She looked shocked when he gripped his right arm just above the elbow, before pumping aura into the spot and visibly relaxing after a moment. He looked to her and gave the faintest smile.

"That's more like it." He then stood straight before her his expression became neutral but carrying an iota of disappointment, something she'd not experienced since childhood.

"You shouldn't hesitate to use your semblance." She blinked but he didn't give her time to continue as he stepped forward with determined steps.

"When your friends, the innocent or even you yourself are in peril hesitating to use something so natural to you as the unique power of your soul is nothing but foolishness and arrogance." His aura then flared, and he looked like a shiny star before her as he broke into a run.

"One day you will fail for such a stupid reason!"

'Crack'

The man gritted his teeth as if he'd suffered a terrible wound but never slowed his charge, Pyrrha felt panic as his words rung true and she thought of Jaune. If she'd used her semblance when he'd yet to see it and possibly copy it could she have won and they secured Jaune. That thought struck deep and with it, a thought occurred, a thought that ran against everything she been raised to do but she didn't hesitate as in that moment his words rung truer than any lesson or common sense of the tournament grounds.

"I really hope I'm right." Pyrrha rose her hand and a black aura surrounded the men's right arm surprising him, but before he could act the limb was suddenly torn from his form.

"AHHHHH!" Pyrrha flinched back in shock as she looked to the man who dropped his blade and fell to his knees screaming as he gripped the stump. Pyrrha rushed towards the man her face in absolute horror, perhaps she was wrong, perhaps he had merely had metal implants and her act had severed the limb. After all she had acted so quickly, she wasn't sure with tear-filled eyes and a racing heart she practically screamed.

"Oh, my Oum I'm so sorry!" She kneeled beside him her trembling hands reaching for the stump in concern as if their earlier bout had never happened. The man's shoulder drooped before he spin-kicked her, making her lose her balance. Without missing a beat, he grabbed her by the back of the head to stop her from hitting the ground.

"You're too gullible Pyrrha, that's just as dangerous." Looking up to the reprimanding voice Pyrrha expression changed from anger at being tricked to shock as a slight brush hit her face. The man then stood straight and helped Pyrrha do so as well. Seeing this the members of RWBY who were still conscious yelled the same sentiments.

"What are you doing?"

"Get him!"

"He has Jaune!" The man let out a sigh before taking off the hood.

"Like I said he's fine." The members of team RWBY and Nora went wide-eyed at the reveal of his face, while Neo silently purred at the sight. It was familiar and yet so different; his skin was a light beige but hand hints of sunburn telling of many years outdoors and betraying a certain maturity to him like that of a veteran huntsman still within his prime but no longer green as a rookie. His face was framed well with a strong chin and cheekbones a thick coat of long blonde stubble covered his face earning the attention of several of members of the opposite sex.

Streaks of golden messy shoulder length hair ran down his head hints of dirt remained giving the man a rough but reliable impression like that of an outdoorsman. Combined with his genuine smile that impression only grew that much more and yet the moment one looked just above his smile to his eyes all the other features paled by comparison.

Two bright orbs regarded the seven conscious individuals, one an inviting and warm azure while the other was a kind and almost… innocent silver. However, to the six who looked to him, they all recognized him despite the differences, Jaune Arc.

"Now will you let me explain?"