1,490"I just had the weirdest acid trip of a lucid dream." Jaune announced the moment he woke up. Much to the dismay of a sleep derived Pyrrha who burrowed deeper under her covers.
Ren had no such luxuries, however. Always a morning person, not to mention how living and traveling alone with Nora had made him used to random outbursts of energy and spontaneity. Together with all the times Nora had narrated her 'Supper duper grimm slaying adventured on the quest of becoming God Queen of Pancakeia.'
"Go on." Ren said calmly as he expertly manoeuvres out from Nora's crushing grasp. Something he had gotten all so used to over the years on the trail. Stretching the kinks out of his back as Jaune started to narrate his dream.
"Well it all started when I woke up in this weird gothic Victorian era Vale cemetery area." Jaune said as he started to narrate his dream.
Having long since mastered the art of listening while doing something else. Ren started on his morning rituals, going on the toilet, brushing his teeth and other grooming rituals as he absentmindedly listened to Jaune narrate his dream.
Humming along as he listened.
"Maybe you are just stressed." Ren said softly when Jaune had finished. Looking as Jaune absentmindedly ran a hand over his neck. Almost like he was looking for something. "This is a new environment, initiation was more than a little stressful, then not to mention that you might react to sleeping somewhere you aren't used to. Small things can add up."
Jaune give him a long look before sighing out. Giving a soft smile as he let his tensed shoulders relax. "Thanks. I needed that. After having a crazed lunatic give me advice in my dream, I was really starting to question my sanity. But while we haven't properly gotten to know one another yet, I'm glad to be on a team with you."
Letting out another sigh, Jaune gave a soft smile as he got up and headed to the bathroom. Relived that it was just a dream. Smiling brightly he closed the bathroom door after himself with nary a sound. Turning on the tap, Jaune let the tension leave him as he washed his face.
Feeling refreshed Jaune looked up in the mirror. Freezing in shock as blood red letters made themselves known. A soft fearful whine escaped Jaune's mouth as he came to a startling realisation. Hand coming up to anxiously scratch an invisible itch on his neck.
"It was real." Jaune whispered softly as everything in the dream came crashing into him like a train. The 'Hunters Dream', Yharnam, Gehrman, the messengers, the beast, his death. It was all real. For how else would the haunting red letters come and show themselves to him?
Shakingly bringing his right hand up, he willed the red letters up. Letting out a croak of despair as he took in the bloody letters shining over his hand. Looking exactly like how they had in the dream. Exactly the same value as well. He woke up after almost directly after killing that 'Scourge Beast', his mind whispered.
On shaking legs he turned to the mirror and the blood letters that taunted him. Seeing his pale face and bloodshot eyes in his reflection. Letting out another croak of fear as he did his best to push it down. Even if he wanted nothing more than to break down and cry. Instead he forced himself to read the taunting blood red letters.
Name: Jaune 'Of' Arc
Gender: Male
Level:10
Blood Echoes: 235
Vitality:20
Endurance:12
Strength:18
Skill:4
Bloodtinge:4
Arcane:2
As Jaune looked at any 'stat' it was almost like knowledge he had buried and forgotten came to the forefront of his mind. Instinctively knowing how Vitality determined his health. Knowing that if he ever were to invest any more blood echoes into the stat his body would become more durable, he would heal faster, and become less susceptible to ailment and disease.
How he knew, he didn't know. Neither did he know what Blood echoes were, but he guessed it had something to do with him slaying that beast. It was like a twisted loop, slay beast, get stronger, slay worse beast. Rinse and repeat.
Likewise Endurance would let him to notice an increase in overall endurance. Allowing him to run further, and make any attacks or dodges take less energy. All in all, more stamina would allow him to stay active in a fight longer. And something that was sorely needed. He would also be able to use semblance-based abilities longer without tiring.
Strength was different. Strength was a representation of his physical power, something that seemed ridiculously high for someone who had no training whatsoever. Should he increase his strength, any strike would become more devastating and allowing him to wield heavier weapons. But all the strength in the world was unnecessary if he didn't know how to properly wield a blade.
Something his Skill stat perfectly encapsulated. It was a stat that reflected his skills in combat, and it was abysmal. Only boiled down to stab opponent with pointy part and don't get hit. His kill of the beast had been a fluke. Should he invest in the stat, something he would do, if he figured out how to do so. It would increase his timing, skill, finesse, and overall combat ability.
It would allow him to make us of his natural strength to the best of his ability. To actually connect devastating strikes that tore through flesh and bone.
Bloodtinge was an interesting stat. It represented his proficiency with firearms and blood-based weaponry, whatever that meant. Should the stat go up, he would see his aim becoming deadlier, and making any blood-based attack stronger.
He was interested in increasing, but it wasn't as urgent as Skill. If he hadn't experienced how powerful a well-placed shot had been in the Dream he would never considered it. 'What if he had hit the head?' His mind taunted him as he pushed down the bile that rose. Maybe he wouldn't have died.
Shaking that thought out of his mind, he instead looked at the last stat, Arcane. A stat that governed his aptitude and natural talent for magic and elemental spells. Should he choose to increase the stat his spells would get stronger, and he would be able to utilize semblance-based abilities with greater potency and versatility.
While the potential of magic and the supernatural whispered to him like a teenagers wet dream. Jaune noticed something else. The word, Semblance. Why his 'knowledge' or whatever other magic mumbo jumbo that allowed him to know what his stats was about, it mentions the thing. But not what it was. Leaving Jaune more than a little miffed.
*Kncok! Kncock!kNCOKCOC!*
Insistent bagging rang on the door, followed by the piercing vail of Nora.
"Jaune-Jaune, are you finished soon? Others have to go as well!"
Tearing him out of his thoughts. 'Maybe I can find out what a semblance is later? I'm at a combat school after all. It should be around somewhere.'
"Soon done Nora." Jaune shouted back as he hurried to finish the rest of his morning rituals. All thoughts of doom and gloom pushed to the back of his mind. Hurriedly jumping into his uniform and coming walking out with his tie a mess. "Sorry for the delay Nora, my tie isn't really tying it!"
The suffering groans from both Pyrrha and Ren was balm for his aching mind. Jaune didn't know a lot, being someone who coasted by with only putting in half the work needed. But he did know one thing. He would find answers withing the dream. Even if he dreaded the idea of going back.
Even if his death had been a short and temporary thing. He dreaded what other monsters he would find. Idly scratching his neck at the mere thought of returning.
"Having trouble with the tie?" Pyrrha asked sweetly. "I can tie it if you are struggling. I did tie Ren's after all. Even if Nora said she wanted to do it herself."
At Pyrrha's reminder, Ren looked like a man who had just starved of an execution.
"Really? Thank you." Jaune smiled sweetly, his day brightening slightly. As Pyrrha deftly tied the tie Jaune looked around the room. It was barren and spartan. With some few items here and there that had seemingly escaped their bags.
"I was thinking of maybe spending the rest of the day after our classes to get to know one another a bit better and decorating our dorm room. Maybe setting some other ground rules that we all can follow. Any ideas?" Jaune asked as he fiddled with the tie. Not liking how it sat so tight around his neck.
"That sounds grand." Pyrrha said sweetly as she hurried into the bathroom.
"Sounds good." Ren said patiently with a nod of his head. As Nora swished over around the room. Before turning to them both with a frightening zeal in her eyes. "Bunk beds. We need bunk beds!"
"Nora, bunk beds would be…"
"All right." Jaune said, before he could stop his mouth. Having fallen back into 'big brother' mode as his younger sisters liked to call it. "But only if you can find a way to make it safely, and without tearing a hole in our teams stipend."
"You can count on me fearless leader." Nora exclaimed with glee as she vibrated in place. All the while Ren gave Jaune an soft smile.
"And done." Pyrrha smiled sweetly as she stepped out of the bathroom, looking around at the hyper Nora that kept bouncing from place to place. Wondering what she had missed.
###
"Where are Ruby and the others?" Jaune curiously asked. Looking around the classroom to see if he could see his friend and her team. Not having seen her during breakfast either.
"Do you think it has something to do with the construction noises from their room?" Pyrrha asked sweetly. Curious to why or where they managed to get their hands on a jackhammer of all things. Not the slightest bit sour that she was woken up by a piercing whistle. No sirie, not the slightest bit sour.
"We aren't late!" Ruby's voice rang out in the classroom as team RWBY burst trough the door in a flurry of rose petals and heavy panting.
"Ah, right on time ladies. I was just about to get class started." Professor Port chuckled good naturally as he turned to take in the class. Mustache twitching in excitement as he clapped his hands together and started.
"Grimm. Monster. Plague. Hunter of men and faunus alike. But above all else. Prey." With that introduction, Professor Port started on a long-winded tirade of a story. It wasn't long before most of the students had lost interest.
That first spark of interest ruthlessly crushed under Professor Port's seemingly never-ending story. While interesting, and captivating, there were only so long one could pay attention to a man who seemed to vomit words and phrases. Maybe there were some gems of knowledge hidden within, but it was buried under a mountain of empty words.
Pyrrha and Weiss both were running on pure discipline as they furiously scribbled notes. Blake having long since fished out a book to immerse herself in, as Ruby furiously worked on weapon upgrades or ideas to Crescent Rose instead of paying attention. Yang and Nora had long since been lulled to sleep, soundly sleeping on the desk without a care in the world. Ren following in their footsteps, only sleeping with his eyes open.
Jaune looked at the sleeping forms of Yang and Nora with envy before shaking it out of himself. Turning to Port with renewed resolve. Had it been any other day he wouldn't have hesitated to join them. However, Jaune had experienced the Dream. And he didn't know if that living nightmare was a one time thing, or something that would happen multiple times.
But Jaune knew he was an unlucky son of a bitch. And unless he didn't wake up in the Dream tonight, he was willing to bet that he would. Jaune didn't want to die, Jaune also hated pain. Fuelled by burning desire to not die, Jaune powered through the entire class. Falling into a soft reminiscing mood as it was almost like he was back to listening to his grandfathers stories.
With a soft smile, Jaune coasted trough the class. Nodding along as Professor Port took them on a wild ride through story land. All focused around how he had faced and fought some type of grimm called Boarbatusk.
A grimm that was a type of charger, preferring to run its prey trough and stamping over them. Hit like a truck. Could tear trough walls and cars with ease. But also had a weak underbelly.
*Clap*
With a mighty clap of his hands, everyone was startled awake. As many students rubbed the sleep out of their eyes, Professor Port turned to them with a mighty chuckle. "Now, who of you think they have the skill needed to take on a Boarbatusk?"
Pulling the curtain from the cage, gasps rang out as the snarling visage of a Boarbatusk glared malevolently at them. Hoofs tearing into the steel of the cage as it snorted as it took in the students.
Weiss shoot her hand up but was ignored as Professor Port instead pointed a finger towards Jaune who looked frozen. "How about you!? The only one who managed to properly follow along."
As Jaune sat frozen, Port continued to give his class a scrutinising look while laughing. "Surprisingly, I do see who follow along and who don't. I will not fault those who fall asleep. As I know my magnificence can be startling. All I will say is that your eventual grades will tell you everything."
"Come on Fearless Leader, show them!" Nora squealed in delight as she pushed Jaune forward. Only flinching slightly as Weiss sent him a terrifyingly cold glare. Far from the apathic glare of Gehrman, but having his crush look at him like he was in the way made him flinch slightly.
"Ok, ok. I will fight. But only because you asked so kindly." Jaune said to Nora as he stomped towards the changing room. Heart thundering in his ears as he sent a last fearful look towards the Boarbatusk before he dived toward his locker.
Swiftly changing into his combat attire and taking a long look at Crocea Mors. It didn't show any signs of use. But Jaune swore he could still see the bloodstained blade after he pulled it out of the scourge beast. Glancing in the mirror on the way out, he saw how the familiar blood red letters seemed to bleed from the glass.
"If my 'stats' are right, I'm strong and healthy with the skill of an untrained child." Jaune whispered to himself as his mind ran a thousand miles a second. "Just repeat what you did in the dream. Take the blow, shield bash, stab."
"You alright Pyrrha?" Ren asked gently to his team member, who gave him a smile that must have been practiced a thousand times. It looked natural, but it seemed to never quite reach her eyes, especially given how her eyes seemed to sparkle with clear worry.
"I'm good, just wondering how Jaune will handle that." 'Given that I unlocked his aura yesterday' went unsaid as Pyrrha looked towards Jaune who looked nervous, even if he put up a brave front. But he seemed to have a semblance of plan in mind and was looking cautiously toward his foe.
Pyrrha did her best not to visibly cringe as she saw his stance. It was bad, really bad. She had seen nine-year-olds with better stances. And she couldn't count the number of flaws. However he at least knew how to properly hold both his sword and shield. He was also laser focused as he hid behind his shield and braced. So had had a semblance of a grasp on the basics.
"Now lad, keep a cool head and remember trust your training." With those final words, Port let the Boarbatusk loose. It took one long look at the students before glaring bloody murder at Jaune. Then charging at him with wild abandon.
"You can do it Jaune!"
"Show him how strong you are Fearless leader!"
'He's dead.' Was all that rang inside Pyrrha's mind. While she would love nothing more than to be proven wrong. Jaune had only had his aura unlocked for less than a whole 24 hours. And unless he was some sort of prodigy, he was about to be blood splatter on the ground.
Yet Pyrrha wasn't able to avert her eyes. Looking on in fear as the Boarbatusk rushed at Jaune like an angry black car made out bone and plate.
*CLANG!*
A loud clang echoed out in the lecture hall as unmovable object met unstoppable force. But something had to give. And that something was Jaune. Who was pushed backwards until he was smashed into the desk. With gritted teeth Jaune took the pain and kept his shield up as he took a deep breath and lashed out with his shield.
Managed to push the Boarbatusk slightly away, before smashing his shield to its face with a mighty shield bash. It didn't do much, but it gave him a second of breathing room as the Boarbatusk shock away the dizziness. Giving Jaune an opportunity.
Jaune flung himself to the side before tearing into the Grimm. Laying all his weight and strength behind a single trust into the side of its neck. Not trusting himself not to fumble should he go for its belly instead.
Crocea Mors bit deep, buried all the way to the guard. The Boarbatusk turn into ashes, dust and grimm slop without a single sound. Leaving Jaune standing the lone victor. Staring down on where his opponent had been in mute shock as his plan actually had worked.
"Well done lad! Mighty well done!" Professor Port thundered as he clapped his hand in glee. "Mighty fine example of that sometimes the basic is best. The basic haven't stayed the same trough centuries due to being bad after all. But go get cleaned up. Class dismissed."
With that Jaune stumbled back into the shower. Gleeful smile and pumping hearth. 'I did it.' Giggling like a young girl in love. As he skipped towards his locker, he absentmindedly looked towards the mirror. Freezing midstep as he looked at his stats in the window. Everything was the same, expect one little thing.
Blood Echoes: 585
As he focused more on the stat, or counter really. His mind whispering what it meant, a process that made him feel more than a little freaked out. Blood Echoes were echoes of life and experience, echoes of knowledge and memories and simple existence. Proof that you had lived and loved. They were currency, he could use them to shop with the bath messengers. They were power incarnate, able to increase his stats.
Something that would make him go from a fool who earned his place through trickery, into someone who deserved his spot.
However they weren't without risk. Should he ever die again, in Yharnam, his blood echoes would be left behind. And should he not be able to retrieve them, or gods forbid, a monster absorbed them. Well, tough luck.
"And the line between who is what is blurry."
Gehrman's voice rang out in his mind. Making Jaune shiver at where his thoughts were leading him. He had been almost eager to return to the dream. Eager to hunt. That wasn't him.
"Maybe a quick cold shower will do me good." Jaune whispered hoarsely to himself fearfully as his throat ran dry. Quickly deciding to heed his own advice.
A quick shower and getting dressed in his uniform, forgoing his tie. He steps back into the classroom just to hear the melodious voice of Weiss, his crush.
"And that's why I think it would be better for me to be team leader."
Jaune didn't know what to think. On one hand his crush, 'Snow Angel' as he had dubbed her in his mind was here. And he was in no shape or form ready to talk to her properly. On the other she was going straight behind Ruby's back. And Jaune simply didn't know what to think.
Should he step forward and confront her, or should he stay hidden and listen to what Professor Port had to say?
But indecision was its own form of decision, and before Jaune knew what had happened. The bathroom door slammed shut behind him. Echoing loudly in the quiet auditorium as he jumped up in surprise. Stepping fully into view.
Weiss looked like a dear caught in headlight. Looking ashamed, embarrassed, and surprised at his appearance. But it was clear as day too see that it stemmed from anger at being caught with her pants down, than what she was doing. Stepping forward like a looming thunderstorm, Jaune saw all the sigs clear as day. She looked exactly like his sisters when he had accidentally wronged them.
However, before she could began laying into him. Professor Port came to the rescue, and instantly becoming Jaune's favourite teacher.
"Ah, Jaune. Finally done. You didn't sneak some girls into the locker room when we weren't looking?" Professor Port laughed good naturally. Causing Weiss to send him a harsh look while Jaune shook his head in denial.
"No, no, I was taking a shower. I felt I was feeling too large for my breachers after how easy the fight against the Boarbatusk seemed to go. So I took a cold shower to get rid of any ideas of grandeur." Jaune explained as his face ran hot and red from embarrassment.
"Good." Professor Port said, instantly going from the friendly grandpa to serious old veteran. Leaning on his desk as he took them both in with a hard look. "That might be the most important skill any huntsman can ever have."
Harsh eyes trailing from deep blue to ice blue eyes. "I have seen many like the two of you. Others fired up on idiotic notions such as honour and valour or blinded by dreams of greatness. And I have also seen many who come from more 'prestigious' families, either to escape their name or to want to pave their own future. And I have gone to just as many funerals."
Jaune cringed as Professor Port quickly dissected him, something Weiss also did while giving Port an affronted look. "Being a Huntsman, or Huntress, is not a glamorous job, but it's a needed one. You will come face to face with the worst Remnant have to offer day after day, even when you feel like breaking under guilt, fear and loss. You will need to push forward."
"A leader is not just they who shout orders, they are the 'light'. The glue who holds a team together even when everyone on the team is breaking, themselves including. It is also a leader's duty to decide who gets to live, and who dies. Because as Hunter's, the cruel truth is that you can't save everybody, you will need to choose who to save, and who to give up on." Port said calmy while staring Jaune dead in the eyes.
Jaune gave a slow nod as he did his best not to shiver.
"And that's why I'm proud that you were able to quell any ideas of grandeur. While I like to add in extra details and humour in my tales. The truth is that most would need counselling should I chose to remove the 'fluff' as you youngsters say." Port chuckled morosely as he turned to look at them.
"Scarlet didn't make it, did she?" Jaune asks grimly before he could stop himself. Earning a harsh, almost dismissive look from Weiss while Port gave him a harsh if soft look. Eventually Port took a deep breath before speaking hoarsely, tears welling in his eyes that he gently wiped away.
"No she didn't, she chose to take her own life after she couldn't take the lifestyle any longer." Port said before bellowing out a mighty laugh as he smiled and slapped his knee. "Jaune, lad. I have told that story to every first-year class since I started working here. Some might have figured out what I meant later down the road. But no one had figured it out straight away. You have a good head on your shoulder, you will do well if you keep using it."
Looking at the clock Port let out another chuckle as both Jaune and Weiss turned to look at the clock. Jaune letting out a mortified whisper when he saw what time it was.
"Oh no"
"Oh yes, lad. Better get going. While not the strictest, Professor Oobleck certainly knows how to give detentions!" Port didn't get to finish before Jaune and Weiss burst out of the door. Sprint down the hallway to get to the next class on time.
Idly sipping from his coffee thermos as he watched the pair race away. "Looks like Ozpin was right once again. Jaune will certainly find his place here, fraud or not. After all, how many can boast of stopping a changing Boarbatusk straight in its tracks? And without training even!"
###
"Yoo! Vomit-boy got game." Yang shouted out while grinning wildly after both Weiss and Jaune came bursting in through the door at the same time. Both red faced and panting from exertion.
"It's not what it looks like Xiao-Long!" Weiss snapped back, still red faced and panting.
"Yes, we got gold back with Professor Port." Jaune was quick to say while giving Weiss a stare that said, 'I won't tell, but I will support Ruby should it get down to it.'
Weiss huffed before giving him a glare of her own.
"Already communicating with only their eyes. How can you not be sleeping together?" Yang grinned as she watched the pair squirm. Taking extra delight in making little 'Ice Princess' huff and look ready to run her through. Who would have thought it would be so fun to tease the otherwise prim and proper girl?
"Ok class, settle down. And Miss Xiao Long, don't go casting baseless accusations." Professor Oobleck said, stopping his endless flow of words. "Miss Schnee and Mr Arc, please stay after class. Now where was I? Yes…"
Jaune smiled as he sat down beside Ruby, eyes almost popping out as he took in the detailed sketches regarding new upgrades for Crescent Rose. He knew she was a prodigy for getting in early, something that seemed to have slipped his mind as he hung around with Ruby. She was kind, funny, they shared interests, she was socially awkward to the nth degree.
Shaking his head he turned to take in their history lesson.
However compared to Professor Port's stories where he could easily follow along. That wasn't the same with Professor Oobleck. For Oobleck had a gatling gun for a mouth and Jaune was already lost by the time he managed to get his old trusty notebook out. Opening it and magically coming to a blank page.
'Arcane, governing his aptitude and talent for magic. A notebook that never seems to run out of pages, despite having been used since primary.' Eyes widening in surprises as he made the connection, Jaune sent his notebook a scrutinising glare. Cautiously and curiously Jaune started to flip through the pages. Old calculus equations, random history notes, some scribbles. Everything was bookmarked and grouped together.
Something they had never happened before.
Math with math, even if it was baby scrawl from when he first started learning mathematics with 1+1, to algebra, and calculus. All perfectly grouped together. It was the same with history and language as well. All his notes and old task work was perfectly grouped together so he could have an as smooth as possible read.
Even his old diary notes were grouped together. From embarrassing reads, of 'J+P Forever', 'Dear diary, today I woke up and noticed something weird. My boxers were all sticky after a weird dream.', to mortified moments such as 'My mother walked in on me naked!'. All embarrassment he had ever experienced neatly clustered together, should he ever wish to re-embark to memory land made up from his worst memories alive.
"Hey, Jaune. What are you reading? It's just nonsense." Jaune heard Ruby whisper by his side. Turning toward her in abject mortification, Jaune looked into big curious silver eyes. Fully prepared to throw himself out of the window should Ruby have read some of his more embarrassing moments.
"Wait, you can't read anything?" He probed carefully. Earning a confused and slow nod from Ruby. "Yes, that's why I asked you?"
Jaune felt tension leave his body in relief as he collapsed back into his seat. Turning to Ruby and doing what, unfortunately, what he did best. Lying. "Oh this? Just grandpas old notebook. Nothing special."
Ruby gave him an old scrutinising look before pouting with a huff and retuning to her sketches. Looking just like his twin Lily when he hid something from her. 'And what does it say about me when I keep comparing everyone I meet to my sister? How am I even going to get a girlfriend if I keep comparing them to my sisters?'
As horrifying revelations made themselves known to Jaune. Class quickly passed. And before long Ren shook him and startled him awake. "We will wait for the two of you outside."
With that NPR and RBY stepped out, and not before long it was just Professor Oobleck, Weiss and Jaune left. Professor Oobleck turned to them and let out a soft sight. "Now, I don't like giving out detention, so the only thing you will have to do, is to triple this week's history essay. But it needs to be written by hand. And don't go quoting entire books. Properly cite your sources and do it properly."
"Is it possible I can run laps around beacon until I collapse from exhaustion instead?" Jaune blurted out hastily. Dreading to think that he would need to write 15,000 words. By hand no less.
Looking to his side, he could see how Weiss also looked daunted by the sheer amount of work. Even if she also looked determined to see this trough.
"Ha. I'm afraid that's something Miss Goodwitch would have you do. No, I want my students to learn. The only way we can stop repeating mistakes of the past is to learn about them." Professor Oobleck chuckled as he took a sip of his coffee thermos. "Now, you don't really need to reach the exact word count. But I'm expecting it to be good, properly cited sources, clear writing and that the entire essay has a smooth flow."
"However, if you want to. You can write an extra-long essay about any relevant history. You will also need to hold a presentation for the entire class regarding said topic. Should it be sufficiently good enough, you will get extra credit, but that will require Academia level writing." Professor Oobleck said with a little smile as he watched them.
"I will take the extra-long essay." Jaune said with all the naivete of a person who just sold his soul without knowing it. Instead looking bright eyed at Oobleck like he had just been handed a lifeline. Not knowing it was tied to an anchor.
"No thank you, I will do the history-essay proper." Weiss said sweetly as she sent Jaune a pitying look. Clearly the blond doofus had no idea about what he was getting into. Instead he was about to have a large heaping of public humiliation instead.
"Then I will be expecting a topic and why you have chosen it on my desk coming Friday Mr Arc. I will also be expecting a full and proper research article on the given topic, and all that will entail. Remember to properly cite your sources, and Arc, for both our sakes. Please don't deliver any sloppy, hurriedly cobbled together work." With a long gulp of coffee Oobleck disappeared out the room in a flurry of speed.
Making poor Jaune have Gehrman flashbacks as he looked flabbergasted at the spot his teacher just disappeared from. Only being broken out from his oncoming panic attack by Weiss's melodious voice.
"Good luck Arc. You certainly will need it." A sweet vindictive smile briefly marred Weiss otherwise beautiful features before it was quickly squashed when she saw how pale Jaune looked. Almost like he had seen a ghost.
Gently shaking him, colour returned to his face as Jaune shook himself out of it. Giving her a pained expression and acting like the world was ending.
"I'm fucked, right?"
"Must you be so uncouth?" Weiss sighed before sending Jaune a harsh look as they walked out of the classroom. "But you have a mountain of work before you, yes. Good luck, you will need it."
A whimper escaped Jaune's mouth as he stepped out of the classroom.
#######
Note:
For everyone who is wondering for the 'Level' and stat growth, I have created a level tier system under. Hopefully it will lessen fear over this becoming a bog-standard gamer fic. For while stat's play a role, they are more in the background and to give Jaune a visual progress tracker.
They are also to help me not push Jaune to fast up in strength, there will be a strength curve, and he will become strong. But not after CH3, it will take time. And he will also experience trauma. Its Yharnam, trauma is an everyday happening.
Also note:
Some rare items, permanently increases stats. They are rare. Like, extremely rare. The Maidens also Increase stats permanently, as they are magical abilities.
Maiden = +25 Arcane
Half Maiden (Current Cinder) = +12 Arcane
T0 | Lv 1-10
Civilian
Eks: Shopkeeper, Saphron Cotta-Arc, Terra Cotta-Arc
T1 |Lv 5-30
Low Primary combat school level
Eks: Jaune Arc Season 1
Medium Primary combat school level
High Primary combat school level
T2|Lv 31-100
Aura makes it possible to reach these unnatural levels of strength.
As the activation of aura moves the limits of the human body in terms of bodily attributes, however there are still 'caps' and limits. They are just moved back.
Low Main combat school level (Huntsman-in-Training)
Medium Main combat school level (Huntsman-in-Training)
Eks: The rest of team JNPR, Team RWBY Season 1-3
High Main combat school level (Huntsman-in-Training)
Eks: Pyrrha Nikos(Who will reach somewhere between ca Lv 101~ 105 before the Festival)
T3 | Lv 101-200
Low Licensed Huntsman level
Eks: Team RWBY season 5-8
Medium Licensed Huntsman level
Eks: Winter Schnee, Ace Ops
Elite Licensed Hunter (Requires a Skill requirement of 50)
Eks: Qrow Branwen, Clover Ebi, Winter Schnee(Season 7-8)
T4| Lv 200 - 500
Low Mortal God
Eks: Relic Spirits (Arcane = 100+)
Hight Mortal God
Eks: Salem
T5| Lv 600 +
God of Darkness & God of Light
Oeden
The current stats for the rest of the members of Team JNPR looks like this:
Ren Lie
Level:65
Vitality:17
Endurance:18
Strength:18
Skill:22
Bloodtinge:20
Arcane:20
Sum:115
Nora
Level:65
Vitality:19
Endurance:21
Strength:27
Skill:18
Bloodtinge:15
Arcane:15
Sum:115
Pyrrha
Level:86
Vitality:24
Endurance:24
Strength:24
Skill:30
Bloodtinge:20
Arcane:14
Sum:136