~000~

Chapter Eleven: Intensity

~000~

""""

"Wow." -Speech

'Wow!' -Thoughts

[Game Announcement]

""""

Jaune glanced at the blue box over his sparring opponent's head on stage.

Dew Gayl "Beautiful Storm Bringer" - LV 23

Jaune took a second as he fixed his armor and saw how pretty she was. 'Yeah no kidding.' He rolled his neck and bounced on the balls of his feet keeping his shield up. 'I got this.'

"Begin!" Glynda said.

Jaune and Dew charged towards each other and swung, their weapons connecting for a second, slightly staggering Dew back from Jaune's |STR|. Jaune dodged a spear thrust to the face by dipping his head rightward and counter slashing.

A loud whisking sound was made when Dew narrowly avoided his attack and spun into three spinning attacks toward Jaune. His defense was sharply honed, the blonde turning left and right with his shield to absorb each blow, rushing forward and catching Dew off guard with a |Shield Bash|.

Even though she held her spear out to stop him, Jaune blew her back across the stage from the |SPD| of the attack. Dew waited to stop sliding backward to launch off her feet into the air and hurl her spear at Jaune.

It bounced cleanly off his shield and she caught it mid-air, flying downwards into a spinning attack and ringing Jaune's shield like a bell. Despite his strength, Jaune was forced to lower his stance to properly withstand the attack.

Dew landed back onto the ground as Jaune didn't let up for a second, pivoting off his feet and using |Double Slash| twice. Being rocked in her boots, Dew quickly realized taking his attacks head on to counter in return might result in her being knocked off the stage from how strong Jaune had executed his swings.

Now playing defensively, Dew was chased around the stage by Jaune with |Aura Attacks|, white glows echoing loudly across the training hall in Glynda's Sparring Classroom as Dew had to block his attacks with swings of her own or dodge.

Glynda raised an eyebrow. 'I know he improved, but could he ever use this much aura?'

Jaune raised his shield and crouched to block a swing at his head before counter thrusting which Dew evaded. Not wasting a second, Dew kicked up dust storms across the stage to stall Jaune who was crafty enough to stick his sword into the stage and grip it to avoid being carried away.

Jaune bit his lip. 'She's quick. I have to be faster!'

Jaune willed himself and charged up his |Aura|, building up a super thrust by concentrating and flying across the stage in a |Super Thrust|. If Dew hadn't dodged she'd have lost the match from a single strike.

Glynda's eyes widened. 'This is surely him being able to use more stamina. Right? He's using more aura than he had before! I'm noticing these sorts of attacks are barely draining him!'

As Jaune kept releasing very fast attacks into Dew's defense, Glynda checked her Scroll-Pad, seeing Jaune had barely dipped into his Aura reserves and was still in the green gauge. She looked up to see Jaune push Dew past her limits, the girl trying as hard as she could to strike Jaune's legs and chin to no avail.

His reflexes were simply too well attuned to fighting after so much training. The same rhythm repeated in his head as if he was fighting a Grimm, despite the intense speed difference between a person and a Grimm, Jaune's reflexes could still account for it. It would claw at him.

'Block.'

Dew swung her spear and Jaune parried it off his shield.

'Roll.'

Jaune did a somersault under the follow up attack Dew sent just as if he was rolling under another claw slash.

'Strike.'

Jaune cut Dew's Aura in half by slashing cleanly across her torso with a pivot, making her lavender colored aura glow in the hall for a moment. A couple boys watching wolf-whistled and laughed seeing Dew's stomach bared when Jaune tore it off accidentally with his sword, his blade not penetrating her skin as her aura protected it.

She gasped when she staggered back from the attack and Jaune stopped crouching from his swing. Dew noticed her dress was ruined and glared at Jaune. "Sorry." Jaune laughed embarrassedly with a grin and shrugged. "That's why you wear armor I guess."

Not appreciating the sentiment at all Dew flew into a spinning jump kick and tried to strike Jaune three times in a row with her spear. Decided to take all the attacks head on and keeping his stance lowered to absorb them, Jaune |Aura Parried| the last thrust to his chest and made an opening as Dew staggered back leaving her spear in no position to defend having knocked it aside.

He finished the match by taking a note from Pyrrha and unlocking |Flying Knee Strike| by jumping into her chin and knocking her back again. Jaune temporarily stunned her after doing this and knocked her into the ground with a slash across her chest.

Having already lowered her Aura into the red from how effective his strikes were, Jaune added flair to his win by clearing Dew's spear from protecting her face and pointing the tip of Crocea Mors toward her nose.

"Stop!" Glynda walked out with her high heels and closed her scroll. "The match is over. Mr. Arc wins."

The some students watching applauded lightly while some others hooted and were off their feet.

"Good technique, great speed." Dew got off her feet with help from planting the flat bottom of her spear into the ground. "Where'd you learn how to fight like that?"

"A video game." joked Jaune who turned to Pyrrha and Yang who were smiling and showing their approval with a thumbs up. "But a couple friends taught me too."

"Well I'm off to get this fixed." Dew sighed downward towards her torn dress. "Thanks."

"Not the first dress I cut up, don't take it personally." Jaune remembered his match with Weiss.

"It's fine, I saw what happened." Dew walked off stage with her spear.

Glynda fixed her glasses. "Jaune can you come with me please?"

Not used to being addressed by his first name with her, the boy was caught off guard. "Um, yeah."

~000~

The elevator ride up to Ozpin's office was tough, especially on Jaune's eyes that tended to be drawn towards Glynda's exquisite bosom.

"I uh-" Jaune cleared his throat when he tore his eyes off her magnificent breasts. "I forget to use that ointment sometimes. I stretch before training now."

"That's good." the woman said.

"Am I erm?" Jaune pursed his lips.

"You're not in trouble," Glynda answered flatly.

"Then why am I going to Professor Ozpin's office?" Jaune asked.

Glynda spoke clearly. "I believe that your aura has the ability to expand, which is nearly unheard of. I've seen you grow more agile and less tired when sparring yes, but this is different. I've seen students fight for years, even very talented ones. But there's something different about you Jaune."

"You seem to know a lot about auras."

Glynda turned her gaze toward Jaune. "I've studied fighting for years, your body and your aura are growing unnaturally fast, even for someone as driven as you."

"You think I'm driven?" Jaune smiled slightly.

"Of course I do," Glynda noted professionally.

He snickered. "Wow. For some reason, I wouldn't guess your job would be in combat Ms. Glynda."

"And why not?"

"You're not exactly fragile. The inspiring way you teach. It's elegant, it's," Jaune gulped as Glynda eyed him like a hawk. "Beautiful."

"O-Oh." Glynda kept her cool and gripped her riding crop. "Why thank you Jaune."

[You have gained +15 Affection points with |Glynda|!]

Glynda sighed seeing Jaune smile brightly at her. "As much as I appreciate the sentiment, this is a very serious matter." Jaune's expression changed seeing his teacher frown and change her tone. "The entire tournament might as well have served as a distraction until now, I am afraid the Headmaster will open your eyes."

Feeling emptier, Jaune turned his head to see Ozpin's office when the elevator doors slid open. "Hello Jaune."

"Hey Professor." he said to Ozpin.

Somehow, Jaune could tell this was related to why Pyrrha was pulled out of class.

"Jaune has Aura Growth," Glynda said outright when Jaune took a seat. "It's unlike anything I've ever seen, it has expanded it ways I thought impossible."

Ozpin put his cup of tea down, seeing Jaune's confusion. "I-I'm sorry. I get my aura is weird and all, but why am I up here for that?"

"Because unfortunately," said Ozpin. "You might be able to save a life. Tell me Jaune, what would you be willing to do to help your friend and partner Pyrrha Nikos."

"Anything," Jaune answered instantly. "She's like family, just like Ren and Nora."

"Would you be willing to put your life in danger?" Ozpin asked cooly.

Jaune nodded without hesitation.

He saw the look in Ozpin's eyes, feeling a chill grow in his stomach. "Oh. I-I mean yeah, of course."

"If what Ms. Goodwitch says is true." Ozpin eyed his employee before turning back to the blonde boy sitting in front of him. "Then you can help us, but unfortunately it might cost you your life."

"Wh-What is it?" stuttered Jaune.

Ozpin sighed. "I am not just your ordinary Headmaster. I can use Magic. And not just the ability to move objects or create fire and such." he referenced Glynda's and Weiss' semblances. "I can manifest abilities no other living being can. Or well I used to."

Jaune did not interrupt. "I gave my powers to four extraordinary young women, the four Maidens. The powers were given in the form of the four seasons, and for a time they brought peace and harmony to the world. Until I forgot that at the end of the day, people are still people. They can be manipulated, swayed, and most of all...attacked."

Jaune nodded with a gulp, not having heard his headmaster ever speak like this.

"Jaune, there is currently one of these Maidens resting underneath Beacon Academy, still scarred from her assailant. It is paramount that we keep the power safe, especially now."

"Wh-Why?" he asked.

Ozpin replied calmly. "We believe that there is an impending threat to Vale. And that the only way to stop it is to either transfer the power to Ms. Nikos or." he cleared his throat. "Revive the Maiden."

"How." Jaune said, knowing he wouldn't like the answer very much.

"Well because your aura is expanding due to how intensely you are using it. In combat or otherwise." Ozpin looked to Glynda who nodded. "To infuse yours into hers. Assuming the process doesn't kill you, we would need you to protect Amber until after she recovers and is able to use her powers."

"Amber?" Jaune said.

"The Fall Maiden," said Glynda to him as she walked to stand behind Ozpin. "If you would be able to expand your aura enough to give more than enough to revive her, you would eventually be able to replenish it. Which is why it is critical we begin to do this now if you choose to. I've been able to notice it now because of the drastic change in how much Aura you've been able to use in combat."

"Not to mention your remarkable improvement in your fighting abilities," added Ozpin. "However, the alternative is still there. But it would most likely change your partner Pyrrha forever."

"Would it kill her?" Jaune wondered.

Ozpin shook his head. "It would simply mean Pyrrha would not be, Pyrrha anymore. She would be a living shell filled by Amber."

Jaune understood what Pyrrha meant the night before now. Pyrrha's dream was to be Huntress, after the transfer, Pyrrha wouldn't even have any autonomy as a person anymore, much less be a person. He couldn't imagine such a risk for someone he respected so much, knowing how talented she was.

"I know it's a lot to think about-"

"No." Jaune interrupted his Headmaster shaking his head and looking up from the ground. "No, I've made my choice. I'll train to become strong enough to heal her."

Ozpin looked at Glynda in surprise for a moment who looked back the same way. "C-Considering the circumstances." Ozpin cleared his throat and fixed his glasses, leaning onto the desk. "You understand this very well may be so painful you may die?"

"If it means Pyrrha can still be a person, then yes," said Jaune proudly.

Ozpin stood up and nodded. "Well then follow me."

~000~

The elevator ride downward was completely silent. Jaune was just wondering to himself just who this girl was that he had just volunteered his life to save. 'It can't be any different right? It's just like that kid from the village, or any other civilian I'd be protecting in a Grimm attack.'

The elevator doors slid open.

'Nevermind. It's different all right.'

Jaune blinked, seeing Amber rest in her chamber. "Needless to say this of course, but you can't tell anyone else about this except for Ms. Nikos," said Ozpin.

"Right," Jaune responded affirmatively.

Ozpin pinched the bridge of his nose. "As much as I'd like to tell you everything, I'm afraid we have more pressing issues. First, in order to ensure you have enough aura to survive the transfer and to protect Amber while she recovers, we will have to put you through intense physical training prior. More importantly, since you and Ms. Nikos are now going to be very important in protecting the school and the city should it come under attack, I am allowing both of you to train under Ms. Goodwitch and Qrow full time, and I will arrange with all of your professors to temporarily suspend your classes."

"Won't everyone else notice? Especially Ren and Nora?" Jaune asked.

"They will be told that you and Ms. Nikos are being allowed to train more for the tournament. Meanwhile, this weekend, Qrow will take you and her toward Mountain Glenn to be trained. When you return we can begin testing to see if you are fit for the transfer." Ozpin saw the way Jaune stared at Amber. "I know you must have questions, especially about why I am taking so much effort in making sure you are ready but-"

"I know why." Jaune turned. "She's important. And Pyrrha and I have to do everything we can to help."

The chamber beeped quietly as Ozpin nodded. "Amber is of the utmost importance. If she is killed, we find it likely her power will transfer to whoever tried to attack her and steal it. Both you and Ms. Nikos will be trained professionally, you won't just be in shape to fight in the tournament, you will be aptly trained for the highest levels of fighting. In other words." Jaune looked at him as he pushed his glasses back up his nose. "You will become Beacon's Star Students."

"B-But we're freshmen." the knight said.

"I know." sighed Ozpin. "But we're running out of time Jaune. Danger is looming, and you and your partner must be ready for what's coming. I don't wish to give you the exact details, but there is a great evil I am quite familiar with that is approaching. When it strikes, annihilation is inevitable if we don't prepare."

Jaune noticed the way Ozpin was speaking to him. 'So wait, because I can generate more Aura, he wants to use me to heal this girl and then protect her? And because she's so important, he wants to train me to become some sort of Super Soldier because there's something really really bad coming.'

Ozpin pulled his scroll from his pocket. "Go meet Qrow in Forever Fall for your first lesson. Pyrrha will be there as well to begin."

Jaune nodded as Glynda showed him the way back to the elevator.

On the ride up, the |System| notified him.

[Quest Alert! |Becoming the Ultimate Hero|: The end of the world might or might not be coming and it's time for you to lead the charge against it!

Objectives:

-Undergo the most intense training imaginable to get you and your Aura in shape to revive and protect the Fall Maiden.

-Defend Vale when it inevitably comes under attack.

-Don't let Amber or too many citizens die.

Completion Award: +50,000 EXP points, and the |Nesting Doll Semblance| perk, as well as the |Shattered Moon Armor| route.

Failure: +0 EXP points, also you miss out on your dream of becoming a hero.

Accept: Y/N

Note: This quest is an |Umbrella Quest| meaning smaller quests offering their own objectives and awards are available when needed.]

Jaune hit |Yes| as Ozpin spoke to Glynda below in the hall where Amber was in a coma.

"That dust shard in his sword, he got it just around the time he started improving quicker than his entire class correct?" Ozpin looked to Glynda.

"Am I right in assuming-"

"Perhaps." Ozpin cut her off. "It likely gave him the ability to increase the amount of Aura he could use. And yes, I know what this means."

Jaune tapped on the white crystal in his hilt and scrolled through his |Info| to read up on |Perks| namely the one that was brought to his attention.

The Vigorous Perk: The |Crystal of Duality| has |Synthesized| with your |Semblance| to generate additional |Aura| to increase your Aura pool.

Jaune's eyes widened. 'I did not pay that much attention when I first got this because this is groundbreaking stuff. I can use even more aura now than before, not just more stamina. This perk is really good that now I'm reading it.'

~000~

Qrow saw Jaune approach as the man was leaning on a tree in a grove in the Forever Fall forest. "First things first kid. You know this isn't some stupid assignment right? You're going to be training to be the best, so you gotta give me the best."

Jaune nodded. "I know."

Seeing the look Jaune was giving him, Qrow smiled and leaned off the tree. "Good. Now, I noticed there was something strange about your sword from the second I first saw it." Jaune looked down at Crocea Mors. "Mostly its blade. And that weird crystal you got forged into it. Oz may or may not have explained this to you, but some material is naturally stronger than others, mostly when it comes into contact with things that are, not necessarily of this world anymore."

"I'm sorry?" Jaune scratched his head.

Qrow chuckled quietly and crossed his arms. "What I'm trying to say is that your sword has potential, it's made out of very special steel. I'll explain better later, but when you're in a fight, for instance the one earlier today with that girl from Shade."

Jaune opened his mouth but Qrow nodded. "Yes I saw that. You tore right through her dress with your sword, however your sword was easily sharp enough to cut through her skin right? The thing is, just how you were holding back enough in a spar, the sword's power was held back too. And when you need it most, odds are if its made out of what I think it is, it will respond too."

"B-But what is it made out of?"

"Well I could explain better later, but I think, according to Oz, when the moon shattered, pieces of it fell to Remnant. If you could forge it into an alloy, it could make for good metal if it really did have special properties."

Jaune raised an eyebrow. "I thought my sword was just really well forged."

"It is," Qrow nodded to the blade at Jaune's hip. "But it isn't unheard of for some weapons to be part meteorite-too. Ah here we are." Qrow saw Pyrrha approach as she entered the grove. "Let's begin shall we."

Qrow gestured to their weapons as he drew his own. "First off, I already said this to Jaune, but I'll say it again. You two have been handpicked, every hour of every day from now until I can't anymore, you are going to receive training from me instead of going to your regular classes. You can still go about your regular routines otherwise. Still, even though the tournament is still important, this." Qrow looked around the grove. "This where your training is going to be."

Jaune and Pyrrha kept listening with their weapons drawn.

Jaune looked at the box above Qrow's head.

Qrow Branwen "The Steel-Huntsman" - LV 68

"I am going to be training you two in a variety of high-intensity scenarios. Both sword and shield, only sword, no swords and no shields, but above all I'm making it my job to be pushing you two past your physical limits. Especially for you." Qrow looked at Jaune. "That's how we'll really train your Aura to grow."

Pyrrha looked like she wanted to ask a question about this but Qrow lifted a hand. "Now, a shield is a good tool, but what if you lose it in a fight?"

Pyrrha and Jaune looked at each other. "We never lose our shields when fighting," said Pyrrha.

"Yeah we never do," added Jaune as he tried to say the same time she did.

Qrow smiled and threw a hand toward himself. "All right then. Let's see."

Jaune felt strange seeing an adult Huntsman challenging him to a fight. 'He's here to teach you how to be a hero!' a voice in Jaune's head said. 'Go! It's time!'

He and his partner charged in and struck, before Qrow separated both teens from their weapons. Qrow did a backflip over Pyrrha's swing and did a crescent kick so powerfully he knocked it out of her hand.

Qrow parried Jaune's follow up swing aside and tore Jaune's shield off his hand while twisting and elbowing him in the jaw.

Although slightly dazed from being struck so accurately, both Jaune and Pyrrha stood stunned at how quickly Qrow had moved despite their prowess.

Qrow showed them how much he knew about fighting, all three moving together with just a blade. Qrow dove in and out, striking Jaune and Pyrrha about with his sword.

Pyrrha was driven back when Qrow swung and knocked her across the grove on her heels. Jaune dove in as she was blown back and swung twice, charging up his attacks with aura and using |Double Slash| which Qrow blocked even though they were both very powerful swings.

Jaune's attacks were so strong Qrow's blade rung like a bell across the entire forest from how hard Jaune started striking it. Every time Jaune thought he had made an opening Qrow moved to avoid or parry.

Catching Jaune mid-swing, Qrow parried Jaune's sword hand with a grab and threw a right cross into his mouth.

Jaune shook his head seeing the |System| let him know how badly he was being beaten.

[HP: 521/600

AP: 594/670]

'He only hit me twice and he's doing this much damage to my aura! He's somehow better than I thought!'

Qrow looked like he was barely breaking a sweat dispatching Pyrrha again. She dove into a quick flurry of knee strikes, swings, and thrusts as Qrow evaded or parried them as if anticipating them a split second before even though she was one of the top of her class in speed and finesse.

Pyrrha barely registered how quickly she was struck, Qrow launching off his sword that he planted into the ground behind him to jump kick her into the nose before landing back on the ground and twisting into a slash.

Pyrrha was sent spinning into a tree that split as Jaune held back for a second. His blue eyes tried to follow the Huntsman as he dashed from side to side keeping his head and body bobbing and weaving constantly. The moment Jaune saw an opportunity to dive in to thrust, Qrow parried the blade by pushing it down with his hand despite the fact that Jaune was using an Aura-charged |Melee Skill| |Super Thrust|, and rocked Jaune with two consecutive hooks to the face.

Jaune and Pyrrha could've easily been struck as they took more than a second to recover before diving in together, Qrow being patient in teaching his new students how to use only their swords in combat.

Jaune and Pyrrha waited and struck together, Qrow dodging one blade to parry another simultaneously. After they left themselves exposed recovering from failing to strike, Qrow dashed forward between them and knocked them away, round kicking Jaune into another tree and smacking Pyrrha away with the flat side of his blade.

[HP: 501/600

AP: 503/670]

'Damn he's strong. And it looks like he's not even trying!'

Pyrrha was pushed to using her Semblance and trying to Augment Qrow's blade to her will as suddenly the man moved so quickly he dashed into a jab that interrupted it.

Jaune caught this as Pyrrha was knocked away again. 'Wait, I got it! Just use your hands or fists when your sword can't be used! Pyrrha bent Qrow's sword so he couldn't use it, and he instantly decided to use a punch!'

Learning the lesson quicker, Jaune rushed forward with an awkward front kick which surprised Qrow. The man still blocked it strongly using a downward elbow strike, following up by clearing Jaune's sword with a hand and using the opening to snap a punch into Jaune's face.

Jaune grit his teeth and swung, knowing Qrow would catch it on his sword and follow up with a hook punch to Qrow's ribs. After it connected but did little damage, Qrow smiled. 'Nice.'

Pyrrha appeared and Qrow was actually starting to be kept on his toes. He dodged a slash from Pyrrha as he swept Jaune's leg and jumped up to use his sword as leverage to kick Pyrrha in the face.

Jaune used his sword to shield on the ground his chest from a downward attack from Qrow's blade as he avoided a thrust from Pyrrha. He jumped back up onto his feet and swung with Pyrrha, both of them making Qrow dodge and block again before he unfurled his scythe outward and spun around to knock away them both.

Qrow saw both of them sweat and dive back in from being struck again wiping the sweat off their faces with a smile.

Qrow spun his scythe around to sweep Pyrrha off her feet and placed it on the ground to back kick Jaune in the chin as he lunged in to deliver a missed |Super Thrust|. Both teens got back up faster onto their feet to make metal swing.

Qrow started parrying attacks by turning into a tornado with his scythe, being so quick both blades were little more than nuisances from how effective he could swing it. Jaune caught onto the rhythm and crouched to dodge a random swing at his head from Qrow's weapon, launching off his heels and pivoting, catching Qrow off guard.

The slash caught him on the arm, damaging his aura and his shirt.

Despite it being the only strike Jaune landed in the whole spar, Qrow nodded in approval.

Jaune dashed forward with his sword raised poised to strike, but Qrow hooked his scythe in a backward strike to knock Pyrrha's strike away behind him and then spun downward to avoid the slash and make Jaune jump over the attempt at a leg sweep.

Qrow did a front flip spinning in mid air as both Pyrrha and Jaune missed their swings. Before they could follow up with a thrust, Qrow was fast enough to strike both of them.

This time when they got up from being knocked down, Qrow placed the blade of his scythe in front of Jaune's eyes and the back of his shoe in front of Pyrrha's. "See? You're not keeping your swords up at all times, we're gonna change that. This was just a warm up."

Amazed at how Qrow knocking them about for five minutes was a warm up, Jaune and Pyrrha looked in awe of him at each other.

They stood in the grove holding only their blades again as Qrow barked at them. "One!"

They slashed, making leaves fly about from their speed. Qrow adjusted the height of Jaune's blade with his scythe as it was dipped too low.

"Two!"

They twisted and slashed in the opposite direction.

"Three!"

Jaune and Pyrrha went for a thrust followed by a block.

"Bad form you two, especially you Jaune. It's a simple movement, no need to waste all this aura needlessly." Qrow transformed his scythe into a sword. "Watch."

Qrow did the same movement, Pyrrha and Jaune watching intently. He slashed, this time making the movement look much smoother from how he focused only on striking the one point where his blade would connect. He slashed in the opposite direction turning his wrist outward and twisting his whole body into the perfect thrust and block.

Leaves rose up in the air as Qrow dashed forward so fast he almost blurred, stunning Pyrrha and Jaune from his speed and refined technique.

Taking it step by step, Jaune and Pyrrha broke down the steps of the attacks. Qrow helped Jaune by eliminating movements that wasted energy, such as driving his elbow back too much before a thrust and raising his arm too high to block.

They moved on to very hard drills.

Sprinting around the grove at top speed, Pyrrha and Jaune panted as Qrow drank liquor from his flask and watched them from a tree stump. "Pick it up!"

They kept running, the |System| letting a winded Jaune know that he had indeed pushed himself far.

[HP: 547/600

AP: 450/670]

Qrow stood on Jaune's back as he did pushups. "You gotta carry Remnant on your back kid! You gotta at least carry me!"

Jaune kept doing pushups grunting loudly from how much weight Qrow was plus his sword, eventually falling flat from how far he pushed his arm muscles.

Qrow stepped off him and barked. "Keep going!"

The two climbed up the tall trees in the Forever Fall forest using their swords as climbing spikes, gripping tree branches as they climbed.

"Wh-Whoa!" Jaune slipped from how tired he was and made his white aura glimmer when he struck the ground.

He looked up and instantly closed his eyes knowing he could see up Pyrrha's skirt and not wanting to be disrespectful to his partner.

"Get up come on!" Qrow helped Jaune onto his feet as he clambered up onto the tree again.

Jaune dug his sword into the tree bark and gripped a branch, pushing himself upward again, grunting and wincing as he sweat.

[HP: 501/600

AP: 390/670]

When he reached the top of the tree where Pyrrha was already waiting for him, the descent was much easier.

They did pushups on tree stumps, learned forms as they had done prior in steps albeit without their swords or shields, and became more in tune with their bodies and weapons.

Pyrrha and Jaune spun around with a downward push as if they were blocking an invisible sword thrust delivering a quick punch and dashing forward with their other hand. Qrow shook his head and stepped in, showing them how they had to make the pressing block more of a snapping motion, then showing them the proper way to punch.

They returned to jogging around the grove and then doing sword forms again.

Jaune ignored the sweat soaked yellow locks that matted his forehead as Qrow corrected his form during the swings. He was astounded how anyone could make such a simple movement look so elegant and efficient.

Not knowing what separated the sheer speed and power difference between them, Jaune simply assumed it was the years and years of practice that had allowed Qrow to perfect his strikes.

Jaune and Pyrrha stood on either side of Qrow waiting in their stances holding their swords and shields as he stood silently holding his sword.

Without warning they struck and Qrow did a backflip so both of them wouldn't connect, he dove right back in to give Jaune a low kick and knock Pyrrha away with the flat side of his sword.

Seeing how Pyrrha was tumbling all over the forest floor and getting leaves and mud all over herself as well Jaune, he sighed getting an idea. "We should have done this in the first place."

Qrow taught them with wooden variants of their weapons so sparring wouldn't be so painful for them. The effect worked, after only a few minutes Pyrrha especially caught on quicker.

She went for a thrust with her wooden blade as Jaune swung and Qrow kicked Jaune back but not away when he caught it on his chestplate. Pyrrha had her sword hand caught but slipped a punch and did a front kick that connected and staggered Qrow.

Qrow shook his head and stayed on his toes again, dodging Jaune's downward hack and breaking his stance with a low kick to the calf as he held Jaune's sword hand in the air. Qrow tried to shove Jaune toward Pyrrha but she ran around him and leaped into a jump thrust which Qrow easily slapped aside.

Both teens failed to strike the elusive Qrow, but improved their technique all the same, not wasting any movements slowly but surely, and only putting energy on having their sticks only connect where needed.

During another drill, Qrow did one handed push ups with both of them, switching hands after each one. Jaune fought through the pain, ignoring how much his chest and arms ached.

[HP: 501/600

AP: 320/670]

He groaned in pain but pushed through, wincing as he did another drill with Pyrrha by doing sit ups as their legs rested on a tree branch and Qrow counted. "Fifteen! Sixteen! Seventeen!"

Jaune yelled through the pain with her with his hands behind his head and thought. 'You hate the pain? Well that's what a true hero's gotta go through! Keep going Arc!'

They both did jumping jacks as they ran around the grove with Qrow watching, nodding as even though they were both soaked in sweat and tired from hours of training they could still push through and keep training.

As they both ran past him on his tree stump, he decided to finish the training session by doing forms.

All three of them did kicks, punches, and blocks in steps before they finished their form and Qrow turned to see how they both were after an entire day of training with him.

Both Jaune and Pyrrha had mud and leaves covering their combat outfits from being knocked down and around all day by him, and were sweat soaked from Qrow pushing them past exhaustion.

"You did better than I thought for your first day." admitted Qrow.

"Th-Thanks." Pyrrha panted as Jaune nodded, too tired to speak.

"It's getting late, you two can go back and take a shower and get some dinner. I need a drink." Qrow sighed when he emptied his flask.

[Congratulations! You have improved greatly in |Melee Basics| and |Melee Skills| from intense practice!]

[You have gained |EXP| from |Aura Training|! +1000 EXP from increasing your |Aura Pool|!]

[After training past your limits, you have gained +2 to |STA|, |STR|, and |SPD.]

[Perk Ability |Vigorous|: Your |Aura Pool| has increased by +30 |AP|]

After checking his |Info| Jaune saw that he was only a few hundred |EXP| away from LV 22.

Qrow was right, both him and Pyrrha definitely needed a shower and dinner.

~000~

"That's absolutely ridiculous." Weiss said as she cut her steak. "If they get extra training for the tournament why can't we? It's just unfair."

Nora shrugged. "It's just what Glynda told us."

"Ooh, what if they're training them to be super secret ninja people?" Ruby raised her eyebrows and smiled at the dinner table.

Blake flipped a page in her book. "-I'm sure that. What?" she looked at her team leader.

"I don't know, just thought it'd be cool." Ruby shrugged.

"I...just don't care." Yang said.

Pyrrha and Jaune took a seat all clean and in their Beacon uniforms after showering.

"And where have you two been?" Weiss crossed her arms.

"Weiss, just leave 'em alone. They look exhausted." said Yang seeing how droopy they looked.

"Well the tournament's going into the doubles round tomorrow, anyone excited for that?" Nora changed the subject quickly, not seeing how Jaune and Pyrrha were trying to finish their dinners rather quickly.

"It's gonna be a fun week." Ruby smiled.

Ren took a casual glance at Pyrrha's meal to see both her and Jaune were halfway done with their plate. 'I don't think I've ever seen them this hungry.'

Weiss took a breath and nodded. "Yeah, yeah it is. Sorry, I just really wanted to know where you guys were."

Yang smirked internally. 'No, you were just really jealous they got to spend extra time training for the tournament.' Her expression changed. 'Actually, that's really weird. Considering how much Jaune's improved and how Pyrrha's already really good, why do they even need it? Now that I think about it, that's very very strange.'

"Thanks for dinner guys, great talk." Jaune finished his plate as Pyrrha gave an, "Mhm." and left with him.

Ruby grew wide-eyed. "Wow, have you ever seen anyone eat so quickly?"

Blake remembered Nora on pancake day. "Yes."

~000~

In a small private corner of Beacon, Jaune took Pyrrha aside to explain. "I don't know if Ozpin already told you but-"

"He did. You're willing to risk your life for me." Pyrrha nodded. "It's fine, I know I would've done the same."

Jaune smiled. "Perfect. They told me it's because of my aura, I'm gonna make sure it can keep growing to help her."

"Well let's see how much it grew then shall we?" Pyrrha asked, and quickly Jaune remembered when she unlocked it for the first time in the Emerald Forest.

"Oh, do I have to close my eyes this time?" asked Jaune.

Pyrrha shook her head and reached out to cup Jaune's face. "No." her red aura hummed and glowed when she touched him. "By the grace of a guiding light, I seek to understand thee."

His white aura glimmered and Pyrrha smiled. "Yes, you already had a lot of it before. But now you have even more. I never noticed until now that your aura could expand."

"Cool." Jaune noticed how Pyrrha still wore a bit of makeup. She wore light green marks around her eyes that matched her eye color. While he did notice she was very pretty on the first day of class when she helped him learn about aura, it was different now. Now he felt different, and he actually started noticing that he was noticing her.

"Hey, thanks for appreciating what I'm willing to do for you." Jaune smiled and she smiled back. "I'm really glad to hear you would've done the same for me."

"My pleasure Jaune." the impact of what he felt struck true in her, deepening her understanding of their bond.

[You have gained +30 Affection points with |Pyrrha|!]

'Arc, you're looking at her in a different way and she is too. That's good! Or is it weird?'

He cleared his throat seeing the way Pyrrha was looking at him. "I'm feeling pretty sore after all that training, gonna have to use that ointment Glynda gave me."

"R-Right. Long day tomorrow." Pyrrha nodded and followed him back to their dorm.

Jaune assumed Nora and Ren were still at dinner or decided to study in the library at this time of night as they weren't there.

Jaune took off his school uniform and sat on his bed, as Pyrrha was lucky Jaune didn't see the expression on her face seeing how Jaune had become a lot more muscular since training with her and Yang, and now Qrow.

He withdrew the ointment from under his bed and started rubbing it all over his arms and chest to ease their aching. Qrow had achieved what he wanted, he had activated Jaune's leg muscles too with all the constant sprinting he put him through, and they ached now as well.

"Oh!" Jaune noticed Pyrrha was sitting on her bed looking at him. "Sorry, where are my manners? Do you need some?"

"Uh?" Pyrrha trailed looking at the ointment bottle.

'Offer to rub it on her. That'd be pretty hot.'

'No! Don't be a weirdo!'

The door opened to the dorm opened and Pyrrha and Jaune looked aside as the moment passed in Jaune's head. "Hey, guys!" Nora walked in with Ren. "Dang Jaune, looking good!" she complimented her leader on his muscles when she walked by and he continued to rub ointment on them.

Nora chatted with Ren for a moment when Jaune stood up and placed the ointment on Pyrrha's nightstand. "Here. In case you need it."

The sentiment hit home as it did earlier in the corridor.

[You have gained +10 Affection points with |Pyrrha|!]

"H-Hey Jaune?" Pyrrha smoothed her crimson hair as Jaune turned around and sat back down on his bed. "I wouldn't mind it if you wanted to." her eyes focused on his ointment covered upper body. "N-Nevermind."

Jaune raised an eyebrow curiously before the thought hit him like a truck. 'Oh. She likes what she sees. She's hitting on me for sure, but she's being pretty respectful about it.'

Jaune noticed this particular thing about Pyrrha too. While Nora would casually remark how Jaune's muscles had grown as if it was nothing, Pyrrha was now slightly shier about being interested in him. Jaune wondered if the same hesitation that applied when he would speak to Yang or Weiss happened to Pyrrha too.

'Yeah, genius observation there Arc. Girls are awkward about dating and flirting too. Just like you, wow. Who knew people weren't all super smooth?'

Jaune had never slept better that night considering how tired he was from Qrow's level of training that was like nothing he had ever experienced.

~000~

~000~

~000~

Hey everyone, finally got this chapter finished. I got the idea for why Jaune's sword is so sharp in this book from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Sokka's sword was made out of a meteorite and thought it was a cool idea. I'm glad I was able to start making the plot really start because I love Volume 3.

Anyway, the next chapter should come soon because I have the time for it now. I've been trying to mix in more romance and humor into this because it is very easy for stories when Jaune gets powerful and more important to turn into an absolute edge-fest.

Jaune also only has 10 points on Weiss' route instead of 20 because I edited the first chapter.

Jaune's training under Qrow and the tournament will continue.

Thanks for reading y'all!

Stats and Routes:

LV 21/0 Skill Points

[HP: 600/600

AP: 700/700]

STR: 46/100

SPD: 34/100

DEX: 35/100

STA: 41/100

INT: 23/100

WIS: 26/100

LUK: 12/100

~0

Boost I: 57/100

~0

[Blake: 38/100 (Platonic Friends)]

[Ruby: 43/100 (Socially Awkward Team Leaders)]

[Pyrrha: (II) 53/100 (Ambiguously Romantic)]

[Weiss: 10/100 (Rejected Crush)]

[Yang: (II) 27/100 (More than Just Friends)]

[Glynda: 30/100 (Friendly Acquaintances)]

[Velvet: 22/100 (Simply Comrades)]

I am indefinitely putting Arc of Legend on Hiatus. I started writing this over two years ago and mostly didn't put much thought, editing, or planning into it. I know for a fact that no matter how much or little you write, after reading a review for Coeur's Relic of the Future, someone will eventually review saying they didn't like your story to some degree. However, I realize that I cared very little about reviews over the years that I wrote this, and about why I even started writing Arc of Legend in the first place.

People said they were reading because they didn't mind the OOC which is ironic, because I was writing the OOC because I didn't mind writing it either.

Shortly after I found RWBY for the first time I uploaded this fanfic based purely on what little experience I had with writing. I didn't care what I was writing, as long as I was writing what I wanted to.

I've found most fics that are indefinitely put on Hiatus either the author bothers to let the readers know or they don't. Because I don't hate you all, here's the sad truth:

I used to not care about what I was writing, but as time went on I realized I did care. A time came when I read a really OOC (and a very bad one at that) fanfic called Distortion. It was easily one of the worst fanfics I had ever read. I convinced myself that my fanfic was not just an RPG Hero version of it when I saw the same a few tropes reflected in both stories.

Instantly upgraded Jaune, rushed pairings, and so forth.

Also, I just wanted to start being honest more. In the review I left for Distortion I said that Phoenix should've just re-written it because of how terribly written it was when truly it was a bad story idea executed badly too. Sorry not sorry, Distortion sucked bro, it's emo, it's stupid, it's not fun. Oof.

Also, I expected more from someone who I've seen has written over 10 RWBY stories. It's fine if someone likes it, but I personally find it pretty bad.

I just wanted to be honest about that and what I plan to write, not trying to be rude.

I will repeat this, I will write the story I want to, but I will do it right. In the re-write.

The most basic part of storytelling is just introducing your characters and what they want, and I just failed to do that here at all. Jaune is in a library suddenly a Naruto OC with Gamer powers called 'Jaune.' Mostly because again, I didn't care.

I'm not trying to bash my own story here, but I've changed as a writer over the past two years. So I'll still be borrowing some ideas I used here and there like Jaune working for Tukson and having a sword made from Moon shards (maybe), along with some other story beats. Like I saw in the comments, don't like something in canon? Change it. I agree fully, but that doesn't mean I can't build up to it properly or develop it. I can still work for a few story beats here and there as long as they make sense.

I also realized that while there will always be criticism, I was doing something wrong if there was criticism after every single update. And that if I cared I could fix everything, or if I didn't care I could just move on. Either way, I feel like I am starting to hit a dead end with some fics, and I am hoping to do better in RWBY which is an anime I like a lot.

Which is where I will continue to write for RWBY, the re-write. As a reviewer 'sh4d' said, focusing on both stories would split ideas I have for RWBY. I will still leave this story up. After I feel enough people have read this I will put this at the end of the last chapter I wrote for this version of Arc of Legend and delete this one because this author's note is technically within violation of the site's rules.

I could continue to pump-out chapters I don't really care about, but I won't do that to myself and you guys. Thanks. It's been a journey these two years.