24 Heavy Metal

<Avip: I am looking for beta readers to help me with this story. < p>

I have noticed lately that some terms and expressions that make sense in Brazilian Portuguese are strange in English, for example:

'Little bird that eats stone knows what kind of ass it has.'>

"Dialogue"

{Scroll}

Even sitting in the cockpit of my new jet, the Blackbird, I need to be cautious as the open sea of Remnant is a place full of dangers.

The biggest of these dangers are the aquatic Grimms of the Leviathan class, ancient and powerful creatures that inhabit the depths. Just the sighting of one of them is enough to make a city declare a state of calamity.

These creatures are not only large in size but also in power, capable of sinking entire ships with a single blow, making unprepared armies and Huntsmen retreat fearing for their lives.

Creatures like Monstra and the Leviathan itself, which gives its name to the category, have been shown in the series as walking catastrophes with the power to destroy civilizations.

It's crucial that I remain vigilant, aware of everything happening around me. The slightest lapse in attention could be fatal in this unforgiving environment.

…

But instead, I was humming along to a badass 90s superhero cartoon theme song.

"Tu-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru. Tu-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru. Tu-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru. Turu!"

{{We'll arrive in 30 minutes, wouldn't it be better if you stopped singing and got ready?}}

"Tu-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru. Tu-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru. Tu-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru. Turu!"

{{You've been listening to this song on loop for 2 hours straight.}}

"Tu-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru. Tu-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru. Tu-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru. Turu!"

"Tu-. Hey!" I complain as the music was cut.

{{Okay, X-Men from the 90s is the second-best superhero series, but you can go fuck yourself with a barbed dick if you think I'm going to listen to one more second of your shitty singing!}}

After Church's rant/monologue, I could swear his hologram was panting on top of the Black Bird's panel. And while he was right, something else caught my attention.

"Who's first?"

{{What?}} He asked in an irritated and surprised tone.

"If 90s X-Men is in second place, who's first?"

The AI stared at me in disbelief, but nevertheless responded promptly.

{{Batman TAS.}} He replied in a serious and dry tone.

"Hmmm." I murmur, reflecting on the answer. "You're right."

{{Bitch please! I'm always right.}} Church grumbled, looking to the left as another holographic figure materialized beside him. {{Assume the controls, Delta, the fearless leader is about to depart.}}

{{Affirmative.}} A new Green AI responds in a neutral, robotic tone.

I got up from the pilot's chair and walked towards Church in the cargo area of the plane.

"How did you create more artificial intelligence?" I cautiously ask, I couldn't hide the apprehension I was feeling. "Or is he a fragment?"

The last thing I need is my main support going rampant.

{{No.}} Chuck replies in a serious tone. {{He's not a fragment, much less a true AI. This Delta is more of a virtual assistant.}}

"Like Siri or Alexa?"

Jokes aside, this idea is brilliant. Initially, Church planned to divide his attention. Part would go with me and the other would stay on the Black Bird. But despite the Dragon Ball Scouter giving us a global signal range, we could still have problems with jammers or buildings made of material that blocks the signal.

The loss of the signal could have grave consequences for Church if he is split, but he said it was fine and that I shouldn't worry. But I annoyed and pestered him until he came up with the idea of creating these virtual assistants.

I think I'll call them VA.

{{Let's review your creations since the healing of our sleeping stowaway.}}

"Why?"

{{In Menagerie, you might have opportunities to help the people there, and judging by your previous action, you won't think before acting, much less plan how to spend your MP. So it's interesting for you to know the totality of your resources before spending MP indiscriminately.}}

"Wow!" I exclaimed, surprised by the AI's reasoning. "It really paid off the points I spent on you."

{{So let's start with me then.}} The AI added proudly.

A holographic table was projected from my watch using the same technology as Tony Stark's in the Iron Man movies, the same one Church uses when he wants to give a face-to-face sermon.

{

Artificial intelligence without a chance of betrayal 60.000 MP

Black Bird (No weapons) 50.000 MP

Arc reactor (On Blackbird) 50.000 MP

ND1 Nomad 10.000 MP

Hello Kitty Scouter (Only works with Ozpin) 2.000 MP

StarkTech Holographic Watch (Comic) 2.000 MP

X10 Arc Knights 20.000 MP

Bag of holding 4 (Limit = 1,500 lbs/680 kg) 2.000 MP

Decanter of Endless Water 2.000 MP

X8 Elemental Gem (2 of each type Kind) 4.000 MP

Weeb Staff 10.000 MP

Weeb Sword 20.000 MP

Image Inducer 2.000 MP

Extremis Virus (2.0 T.S.C. Version) 50.000 MP

Total = 283.000 MP

}

"Dang, I spent a lot yesterday and today." I commented, not mentioning the disrespect for the weapons I had made.

{{The beating you took from your sister opened your eyes, but for some reason, you're taking none of it with you.}}

"My disguise is as a human tourist on the island, after all, we came to help the Belladonna family and if we have time, help all the Faunus on Menagerie. If I come armed with all this, It'll raise suspicions."

{{A noble cause.}} Church commends, surprised. {{How are you going to help them? Do you have any plan?}}

"None." I reply with a sheepish smile.

{{Yet another reason to know what resources are at your disposal.}} Church mentions, showing a holographic projection of my Hunter equipment along with my new items. {{If things go south, I'll send your stuff on one of those lockers you copied from Beacon or the sleeping stowaway.}}

"Agreed, just be careful not to hit civilians."

{{No problem, and according to my calculations, you still have 61,454 MP left.}}

"M.C.S. on!"

Multiverse Crafting System

What would you like to make?

Magic: 61.404 Points

Aura: 100%

"You missed by 50."

{{Of course I am-. What?!}} Church bellows, cutting off the audio of the watch where his voice was projected. {{It's impossible for me to be wrong.}}

"Relax, it's normal for people to make mistakes once in a while."

{{I'm more than just a person, I'm the most powerful AI in this world.}}

"Hey! Don't forget about Penny."

{{I can calculate routes through Slipspace in seconds, command fleets of starships in combat, coordinate space stations with populations larger than that of this planet, translate unknown languages with just 10 sentences, provide medical assistance, facilitate neural interface between humans and weapons, and if you make a decent server, I can reach 500 TFLOPS. Don't compare me to that redheaded Pinocchio, who still struggles with handshakes and hugs!}}

An uncomfortable silence fell over the environment. I had a stern look on my face in response to Church's unkind words to the ginger robot girl.

"Listen here, Alpha!" I said, pointing a finger at the hologram. "You're a copy of Doctor Leonard Church."

My statement, combined with my serious tone, caught the AI off guard.

"You had a shortcut to your humanity. Penny is climbing each step until she reaches hers. I don't think you're any less for it, but Penny certainly deserves your respect."

The holographic projection looked down, avoiding my gaze. Even though his image was covered by a complete combat armor, it was still evident from his body language that he was ashamed.

"You understood your mistake, so it's all right."

I need to make sure that every time he throws a tantrum like this, the watch mutes.

Snapping my fingers as soon as I realize what's missing from the whiny AI's list.

"I think it was the steaks."

"Before leaving, I made dinner with picanha steaks."

"THEY WERE PICANHA STEAKS, YOU FUCKING IGNORANT GRINGO WHO THINKS HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS ARE BARBECUE MEAT!"

{{Approaching Menagerie.}} Announces Delta's voice through the internal speaker of the aircraft.

I look angrily at Church and take a deep breath to calm myself; I knew it wasn't worth fighting over this.

"Look, sorry I didn't tell you about those 50 points. You're helping me organize my life, something I'm grateful for, and I know with your help, we will save this planet." My sincere tone disarms him, but I hadn't finished speaking. "But I would still have spent the points on my colleagues, not just because it's good food, but to relax and say goodbye to them."

{{I understand...}} Church replies, sounding tired.

I increasingly wonder if AIs need to breathe.

"No problem, you're famous for being an asshole."

{{Fuck off.}} He replies irritably. {{You still have time to change your clothes, you don't need to go dressed like that.}} The AI complained, pointing at my body.

Before I could respond, the cargo compartment door opened, revealing a beach of white sand 25 meters below. Some people were pointing at the aircraft curiously, but from afar, I could already see a militia coming towards us.

"Hakuna Matata!" I shout, jumping out of the plane without a parachute.

{{You crazy motherfucker.}} Church shouts from the watch.

The wind whipped against my face as I dove towards the ground. The sound of the wind echoed in my ears, drowning out all other sounds around me. I felt like I was flying, even though I knew I was in free fall towards the ground.

The feeling of falling is indescribable, a mixture of excitement and fear that makes me feel alive like never before.

In a matter of moments, I was dangerously close to the ground, I twisted my body to try to land on my feet.

POOF!

The impact was stronger than I had thought. I felt my feet hit the sand of the beach with my right fist. Inadvertently, I had made a superhero landing.

"Deadpool was right... this thing fucks up the knees."

Despite the pain, I stood up with a relieved smile spreading across my face as I realized I was unharmed, thanks to the combination of the super soldier serum coursing through my veins with Aura.

A group of faunus fishermen looked at me in astonishment. Which wasn't surprising, since a human had jumped out of a military jet onto their island, where they were supposed to be safe from the rest of the world's pursuits.

But that's why I'm wearing a light blue Hawaiian shirt with pink flowers and matching shorts, the sunglasses were just to complete the look.

"Good morning, Menagerie." I said in a friendly tone, greeting the curious onlookers from afar.

But everyone kept their distance, looking at me suspiciously, suspecting that I had nefarious intentions on this island.

"What's going on?" I commented, walking slowly, my feet protected from the hot sands of the beach by my flip-flops. "I just came here to enjoy my vacation."

"STOP RIGHT THERE, HUMAN!" shouted a powerful voice from behind the fishermen.

In response, the crowd of faunus began to make way for a group of soldiers.

'The militia I had seen from afar?' I think to myself.

Their equipment seemed simple, despite being uniformed they weren't wearing armor or weapons dependent on dust, just spears, bows, and arrows.

"I come in peace." I comment, raising my hands in surrender.

[Image]

"Peace?" Says the same voice that had shouted orders earlier. "You come to the island with the most Grimms in the fucking world for peace, are you retard?"

Now that they were closer, I could make out who was leading.

"Actuallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…"

I had stopped at the letter 'y' before the beautiful creature in front of me.

A sun-kissed, red-haired war goddess emerged as the soldiers made way for her. Dazzling and powerful, crossing the beach sands with enchanting grandeur. Her short, blood-red hair danced in the wind, highlighting her attractive and powerful figure.

Her eyes, like shining sapphires, met mine for a brief moment, and it was as if time stood still. I found myself completely mesmerized by her presence, unable to look away. I felt my heart beat faster in my chest, as if I was trying to escape to find her.

Her intimidating gaze radiated confidence and aggression as a feeling of heat spread throughout my body. She seemed to possess a power and grace that took my breath away. Instantly, I realized that this red-haired woman completely enthralled me, with her intoxicating beauty and dominating presence.

'And she has the biggest pair of boobs I've ever seen in my life.' I thought to myself. 'This woman makes Yang and Goodwitch look as anemic as Weiss did in the first season.'

[Image]

What I wouldn't give to stick my face in the middle of those perfect mountains.

"Did I stutter? Spit it out brat!" Shouts the red-haired Barbarian Goddess, pointing a giant ax in my direction.

And of course, I responded in the most eloquent way my super soldier serum-enhanced brain could respond at the time.

"...yyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…"

I admit it wasn't my finest hour.

[Ghira Belladonna]

"Your tea, my love." Says a melancholic female voice.

"Thank you, Kali." I reply, trying to sound optimistic.

"You're welcome, dear." she smiles at me, but the weariness in her voice was evident.

Sitting at the breakfast table, I watch my wife as she moves around the kitchen. A sense of heaviness hangs over us, weighing on our shoulders like an unbearable burden. I try to maintain my composure, hiding my feelings behind a mask of calm and control, but I know Kali can see through me as well.

She seems so fragile today, her shoulders slumped under the weight of the sadness that surrounds us. Her eyes, normally full of warmth and vitality, are now dull, reflecting the pain she tries so desperately to hide.

I should be the rock, the strength she can lean on in tough times. But today, I feel as powerless as she does, unable to offer comfort or solutions to our problems.

As we sit at the table, the heavy silence between us is unbearable. Every movement, every glance exchanged, is laden with the weight of our worries. I wish I can find the right words to soothe her broken heart, but for now, all I can offer is my silent presence, my hand extended in solidarity, as we navigate this storm of sadness and uncertainty together.

As the silence persists, it's impossible to ignore the reason behind our shared sorrow. The absence of our daughter hangs over us like a constant shadow, filling every space in our hearts with overwhelming anguish. Each day that passes without news of her feels like an eternity of agony and uncertainty.

Kali and I constantly wonder where she is, if she's safe, if she's happy. Concern for her well-being consumes our thoughts, keeping us awake during the long nights of insomnia.

As we sit at the breakfast table, surrounded by the echo of our sadness, I hear a powerful female voice shouting in the distance.

"Chieftain!" Announces a familiar voice in the distance. "I've brought you a prisoner."

"A prisoner?" Kali asks curiously. "What is she talking about, Ghira?"

"That's what I intend to find out," I reply, rising from the table.

Accompanied by my wife, we hurriedly walked to the gate. When I open it, we are greeted by the sight of the commander of the militia accompanied by a young blond human wearing sunglasses and a floral shirt, with his hands and neck tied by a thick rope in the hands of the commander.

"Good morning, Chieftain Belladonna," she said in a loud and formal tone.

"Good morning, Commander Taurus."

"Taurus?" the young man asks, looking at the commander. "Are you Adam Taurus's sister? Because your brothers a massive cun-ack"

The commander turned, grabbing the young man by the throat before he could finish his sentence.

"Audra!" I exclaim the commander's name aloud, trying to stop her.

The commander sighs tiredly, but let go of the young man on the ground. Adam was a delicate subject for her, something she didn't like to discuss, especially with strangers.

"He said he's a friend of the Belladonna family," says the commander, pulling the young man roughly by the rope, but he didn't seem to mind being mistreated by her. "Other than the clothes on his back, sunglasses, scroll, and a watch, he has nothing else on him."

"Then he possesses no weapons or Dust?" the woman affirms, nodding. "Despite appearing harmless, I believe I've never seen this young man in my life. Do you know him, Kali?" I asked, turning to my wife.

Kali stepped out from behind me and looked curiously at the young man, but shook her head in denial.

"Hmpf." Snorts the commander, a wicked smile spreading across her face. "Well, well. You said you come in peace, but ultimately, you're a liar with vile intentions." Says the commander, grabbing the boy's arm.

Despite her having awakened Aura and being a powerful fighter, the boy showed no reaction to the commander's titanic grip on his arm because he also had Aura that reacted by lighting up where the grip was.

'A Huntsman?' I questioned myself mentally.

"I'm not lying." Explains the boy to the commander. "It's just that this is the first time I've met Blake's parents."

"Blake?" Kali asks, leaving my side to approach the stranger. "When was the last time you saw my daughter? How is she?"

Desperation and hope boiled inside Kali at the prospect of news of our daughter.

"The last time I saw her was yesterday, she was researching recipes to prepare fish with syrup she harvested in Forever Fall."

My wife's feline ears twitched upon hearing the boy's report and although the discretion seems to be our daughter's, we need more proof to be sure.

"I would rather not offend you by doubting your words, young man. But I lived a public life dealing with politics when I was leader of the White Fang, so it's not difficult to get superficial information about my family." I commented in a serious tone, trying to maintain a formal stance on this delicate subject. "Would you be able to prove that you really know our daughter?"

The boy looked in my direction, but remained silent for a few seconds, thinking about what to say.

"She doesn't like to socialize, and she's always reading books."

"Ha! You're going to have to do better than that, kid." Said the commander. "Anyone who has heard of Blake Belladonna can tell you that."

"Hmmmm." mutters the young man who had returned to thinking. "She doesn't mind reading filthy books in public."

Tears of relief began to stream from Kali's eyes.

"Our daughter is alive," says Kali, hugging me.

I returned the embrace as overwhelming relief flooded my heart. It was as if an unknown burden had been lifted from me, allowing me to finally breathe.

Knowing our daughter was safe was a balm to my torn soul. And all thanks to this young man, whose fixed gaze on the commander's cleavage while drooling explained why he didn't complain about being mistreated by her.

[Kali Belladonna]

While I prepare breakfast, I feel a bubbling joy within me. Every movement is light and fluid, while a smile adorns my lips. It's as if I'm emerging from a dark phase of my life and stepping into a sunny day. The feeling of no longer being sunk in depression and hopelessness is incredibly liberating.

Every step in the kitchen is a small victory, a reminder that I am gaining my well-being and happiness. Despite being a luxury in Menagerie, I brew a pot of coffee as the fresh aroma fills the air.

Thanks to that friendly young man, Jaune Arc, I know that my daughter, besides being alive and healthy, Blake was also regretful of having abandoned us and the way she treated us. She realized the point of no return that Adam was heading towards, and violence wouldn't bring peace and equality between Faunus and Humans.

Now she is a Huntress apprentice at Beacon Academy, where she intends to be an example that Faunus and Humans can not only coexist peacefully but also work together for a better future.

Although I feel sad thinking that our daughter is afraid to meet us in person, ashamed of her past actions. My chest swells with hope that one day we can reunite.

With coffee ready and some cookies on a plate, I take everything to the table, where Ghira and Jaune are sitting on cushions on the floor tea table while chatting. As I approach the two, I catch the tail end of their conversation.

"Then, on the second attempt, I managed to get her out of the tree," Jaune says with a smiling face.

"All this without a shirt because she tore it on the first attempt?" Ghira asks.

"Yes!" Jaune exclaims, rising arms in an exaggerated gesture. "That's a Blake thing, or Faunus have some inherent behaviors linked to the animal trait they exhibit?"

"No one has the exact answer about Faunus genetics," Ghira comments, reflecting on the young man's question. "But in this case, it was due to trauma. Blake was chased by dogs when she was 7 years old, and since then, she has feared them."

"Did they hurt her?" The young man asks in a concerned tone.

"No, they just wanted to grab the fried fish she was eating."

The boy burst into hearty laughter as he served the coffee and cookies.

"Thank you, Mrs. Belladonna." Says the polite young man, helping himself.

"Eat as much as you want." I reply, patting the blonde-haired, smiling human's head.

'I bet a young man as polite as him would be a great father.' I thought to myself. 'I would love to have grandchildren with golden cat ears like his hair.'

As I dreamed about future little gifts from heaven, Ghira continued to question the boy.

"Despite being grateful for the news and whereabouts of my daughter," Ghira said in a serious tone, shifting the focus of the conversation. "I still need to know what your intentions are in Menagerie."

I knew it, my husband still suspects this human. As for me, I can't help but like the young man who took advantage of his suspension to help his friend reconnect with her family.

"And I would like to reiterate once again, Mr. Arc, for you not to take offense at your person. I am the Leader of Menagerie, not its owner. And as much as I want you to feel welcome on my beloved island and home, I need to consider the possible risks that your presence may bring. Risks for my people, my family, and for yourself."

Ghira's heavy voice carries the authority of a Chieftain, but his sentence was crafted to make clear his intentions while seeking not to offend our guest. All these years leading the White Fang and now the island of our people have given him political skills that few leaders in councils can rival.

The boy, caught off guard by my husband's tone and phrase, blinked his eyes in surprise at the situation he found himself in. He adjusted on the cushion, reflecting on how to respond to the question.

It's understandable to pause to think about a response, although this seems like a casual visit, this boy got involved in an important political stage for Faunus from the entire island.

"She helped me, so I'm helping her." The boy replies, grabbing another cookie.

…

"What?" Ghira and I ask.

The boy stared at us as if we had asked the most obvious thing in the world.

"Like... I'm her friend, and a few days ago she saved me when I was in danger, so I came here to help her," Jaune says, reaching for another cookie.

Ghira was as surprised as I was by the boy's simplicity and honesty.

"You traveled halfway around the world just for that?" Ghira asks in disbelief.

Jaune, with his mouth full, replied with a shrug.

I laughed at the boy's laid-back demeanor, while Ghira sighed tiredly. Despite finding humor in my husband's frustration, I understand his exhaustion from mentally preparing for a serious discussion with Jaune, and he responded as if it were nothing for him to have crossed a sea infested with Grimms to try to mend his friend's ties with her family.

"You still seem suspicious to me, boy." My husband says in a melancholic tone.

It was evident that Ghira wished it were that simple, that he just needed to accept this boy's help and that he could reconnect with our daughter. But Ghira is too cynical and not easily convinced, years of political career do that to an individual regardless of being human or Faunus.

"Would it put you more at ease if you did something for me?"

"Surely would raise fewer suspicions," Ghira grumbles to the boy.

Jaune raised his right arm, revealing a strange but modern digital watch.

"Are you listening, Church?"

{{Affirmative.}} Echoed the voice from the small device.

"Impossible!" Ghira exclaims. "We are too far from the CTT network, how can you communicate?"

"A network of my own connected to the jet that brought me here," Jaune replied once again as if it were nothing. "Are you capable of using the Black Bird to map Menagerie?"

I and Ghira looked at each other, not understanding the boy's plans.

{{Yes, but it will take time. Despite the speed of the jet, Menagerie is a large island.}}

Jaune paused to think, eating another cookie. After taking a sip of coffee to wash it off, he kept talking through the watch.

"And most of the territory is infested with Grimms." Jaune comments. "If you use the Arc Knights, how much time would it accelerate the process?"

{{Let me see...}} Said the slightly irritated voice from the watch. {{Around two hours, but I'll avoid using them around the city outskirts, we don't want the population to freak out thinking Atlas is attacking.}}

"Please let me know as soon as you finish."

Ghira stared at the boy open-mouthed.

"Why are you going to provide us with a map of the island? We should be doing something for you."

Jaune looked at Ghira, surprised by his question, as if he hadn't planned to give the map.

"If you'd like, I can give you the map, but I was thinking of something else, actually," Jaune says, getting up and stretching his arms upward. "I need to train, and coincidentally, I'm in the most Grimm-infested place outside the Land of Darkness."

[Audra Taurus]

Since I met that human brat dressed as one of Atlas's Central Intelligence Agents on the beach, I didn't like him.

He simply jumped out of a plane onto our island, the island of all Faunus, not his, as if he owned all Menagerie.

The boy didn't help his situation by staring at me the whole time, probably with disgust and wounded pride for having a faunus like me holding him and immobilizing him, only to then bind him on a tightrope like a common criminal.

My opinion of him only worsened when Chieftain Belladonna explained that the boy was heir to a wealthy family, which brought in various resources to help Menagerie. In return, the boy would spend a few days training against Grimms with an escort from our forces ensuring his safety.

All members of the guard protested against the idea, my men shouted that our honor and pride were not for sale. They said our dignity was our most precious possession, and that we wouldn't give it up for handouts.

Well... at least that's what they said before they saw the "handouts."

20 Laser Weapons, 100 power packs of ammunition, 20 lightweight armors.

A few years ago, Chieftain Belladonna would have refused this offer, offended by someone providing weapons of war in an attempt to gain favor from him. But the truth is, with each passing day, we receive more refugees, and these weapons would be a great help in expanding into territory now controlled by Grimms.

As a gesture of goodwill, the boy gave 25% of the resources as an advance and explained to us how to use them.

The armors initially seemed not worth it, although they were good protection against long-distance attacks from Grimms like a Nevermore's feathers, blows from larger Grimms destroy this type of protection easily. But as soon as we tested them against swords and hammers, we noticed great resistance to cuts and bruises as well. This, along with the fact that they were very lightweight, had some of my men fighting over them.

Although the armors were a pleasant surprise, it was the laser weapons, called "Lasguns," that surprised us.

{

Lasgun

Weight: 2.3kg

Length: 900 millimeters

Ammunition: Lasgun Power Pack (recharges in the sun for 2 hours)

Magazine Capacity: 150 shots

Type of Fire: Single shot or fully automatic

Full auto Rate of Fire: 220 shots per minute

}

According to the data the boy showed on his scroll, the lasgun is quite lightweight for an assault rifle, the recoil was non-existent, 150 shots are incredible as capacity of one magazine, and its full-auto mode was quite fast. But what caught my attention the most was the fact that the power packs recharge in the sun.

The boy explained that the batteries used "solar energy," a new energy matrix that was still being researched by him.

20 Weapons and armors may seem like little, but with them, I can train small elite troops to make reconnaissance incursions.

The only warning from the boy was that the weapons don't work outside of Menagerie or with active members of the White Fang. When asked how this was possible, the boy just smiled maliciously in response.

That was very suspicious, a human genius inventor heir to a wealthy family, crossed the sea just to train and help the family of a Beacon colleague? According to the Chieftain, he wasn't a partner or teammate of Blake's?

"Come at me, rat!"

My reflection is interrupted by the young Arc's provocation.

"SQUEEEEEK!" squeals the rodent Grimm, charging toward the blond.

As soon as the creature jumped, Jaune stepped forward, dodging the larger-than-a-Pitbull Grimm and hammering it with a precise punch from top to bottom on its head.

POW!

The Grimm dissolved instantly as the punch connected.

"Suck it, bitch!"

Obscenities aside, the boy was remarkable, not because he destroyed a Grimm with just one punch, but because he destroyed a small horde of 20 Capybara Grimms without using semblance, Aura, or weapons.

The fact that he managed to fight wearing flip-flops was also notable for a rich family playboy.

[Image]

Despite being small, when compared to most of the Grimms on the island, these bastards are fast when they attack, they even remind Boarbatusk because of how fast they charge.

As Jaune walked towards me, I couldn't help but think about how his touristy appearance tricked me into thinking he was just a stupid human. I'm not happy being his babysitter, the blonde handpicked me to accompany him and prohibited the involvement of any active member of the White Fang during his visit.

'What do you have against Fang?' I thought to myself. 'I'm not a fan of them, but why avoid their involvement?'

After the Chieftain left the White Fang, it took me a short time to leave as well. The group's new philosophy was terrible for Adam, who had his dark side brought out, and that bitch Sienna Khan who seemed to nurture his violent tendencies also pissed me off to the extreme.

I need to take advantage of my position now, around this boy I can confirm his intentions and see if Jaune Arc is a manipulation genius or just a reckless fool.

"I think I got the hang of my strength and speed after this warm-up."

Warm-up? Is fighting in the sun with so many Grimms warming up? And now that he's gotten close to me, I can see he's not sweating.

"You only have 1 more hour of sunlight, if we leave now and walk to another Grimms hot spot, it will be too late and dangerous to return to Kuo Kuana."

"True." The boy replied, raising his arm. "Did you hear her?" Jaune asked for his watch.

"Who are you with-."

{{Positive, delta is already descending to drop the vehicle and its equipment.}} Said an irritated voice from his watch. {{By the way, our sleeping stowaway has woken up.}}

"Ha!" Laughs Jaune in a sarcastic tone. "Tell her to get equipped and go down with everything."

I approached the boy to demand some answers, but a crash followed by a roar cut off my train of thought and made me pull out my axe.

ROOOOOOAR!

"Where did that come from?" I asked with the axe ready as my heart beat faster.

"That was fast." Said Jaune smiling at the sky.

I wondered if the boy was crazy, but when I looked in the same direction as him, I noticed that the air was distorted, cloudy as if a shape made of water was descending from the heavens.

"A camouflaged Grimm?" I muttered to myself.

As the shape approached, it became larger. Bigger than any Elder Nevermore I've killed. Big as a…

"Dread Shadow?" I whisper, wide-eyed while a shiver runs down my spine.

"Hmm?" The young man murmured, looking in my direction.

Terrified, I ignored the boy's attention. My body shook, my hands gripped the ax so hard that it felt like the weapon was going to break in half.

"Good to know that stealth mode works well." Jaune commented.

Confused, I look at the boy for a second and then up and see the strange blurred shape turn black revealing the shape of a huge black jet.

Mouth agape at the situation, instead of landing, the jet opens a gate and another, less powerful engine, roars, accelerating and a 6-wheeled car jumps out of the plane, falling in front of us.

POOOF!

The dull thud was muffled by the sand and suspension of the strange car in front of us.

[Image]

"Let's go." Jaune says, walking towards the vehicle.

It was a large land vehicle, made for all terrain. The driver's door opens, revealing a red-haired girl dressed in leather for exploration.

[Image]

"Sorry for the delay," the girl said, giving a mischievous smile. "Took me a while to find a parking spot."

...

"Boooooo!" Jaune booed the red-haired girl. "Weak! Booooo!"

Irritated with Arc, she simply flipped him off and then tossed a backpack to Jaune, who, after catching it, went behind the car to change.

As I approached, the young woman turned towards me, surprised by my presence, which was normal. I'm quite tall at 2.20 meters. Few people reach my height, even fewer when it comes to women.

"Greetings, young human," I say in a formal tone, extending my right hand towards her. "I am Audra Taurus, commander of the Menagerie guard."

The girl blinked confused, surprised by my formal tone.

"Um... Nice to meet you," she paused suspiciously, as if trying to remember her own name. "I'm Boudicca Nikos."

We shook hands, and from her grip, I could tell she wasn't a dainty girl but a warrior. Probably with an awakened aura.

The boy, when he arrived at the island, said he came as an unprepared tourist, but he has a jet at his disposal with more vehicles inside and someone with an awakened aura to support him? That's too suspicious... I need more information.

"The Arc over there said he came to Menagerie to help the Belladonna family, and now he wants to train fighting Grimms," I comment, looking at the vehicle and then back at her. "And you?"

The girl paused again to think, and despite still having doubts, she answered.

"I think I came as Jaune's security," she replied uncertainly.

Answering a question with "I think" isn't a good sign, but it's easy to see that this girl isn't hiding anything nefarious, which leads to my next question.

"Are you his girlfriend?"

"Huh?!" exclaimed the girl, widening her eyes. "W-Why do you ask?" She stammered. "Did he say something to you?"

She clearly has a crush on the boy, but it doesn't seem like she's dating him. Bringing extra security to such a remote and Grimm-filled place like our island isn't a bad idea.

"I'm ready," says Jaune, emerging from behind the vehicle.

He looked like a different person now. The young blonde Huntsman impressed me with his appearance. When he arrived at the island, Jaune wore that idiotic human tourist outfit that made him look like a fool, but now his style is so distinct, he looked like someone ready to fight against anything and anyone.

His attire reveals a harmony between functionality and elegance, something many fighters usually overlook. The black fabric armor he wears seems molded to his body, highlighting his toned physique. The white armor plates add a touch of grandeur and protection, contrasting perfectly with the dark background.

The strange visor over his eye breaks the modern white knight theme a bit, but the sword on his waist and circular shield on his back bring it back... until he turns around, and I see that he's colorful with a white star in the middle.

Huntsmen and Huntresses, especially from Vale, value their flashy outfits, but within a theme so they can stand out. Jaune seemed inclined towards the aesthetic of a modern white knight, but the visor and strange shield break the theme.

This proves that he doesn't care what others think of him. Which is uncommon for someone from a traditional Vale family.

We set off for the location I suggested, Dire Death Valley, where Terror Raptors of the Grimm species live. They are a bit smaller than a Beowulf and lighter, but just as strong and faster.

The redhead girl paled at my suggestion, while Jaune raised his arms to the sky in celebration.

The vehicle inside was comfortable and as futuristic as its exterior. I told you to sit in the front seat, to be ready for danger. Jaune protested, saying that was his spot. I didn't want to question his decision since I was just an attendant, so I sat in the back seat while the redhead girl took the wheel, and Jaune next to her opened a holographic console as soon as he sat down.

Given the limited view of what was ahead, I decided to pay attention to what Arc was doing.

The hologram in front of him showed the surrounding terrain, by the size it seemed to be about 100 meters.

"Weird," I thought to myself. "The chieftain informed me that he has a detailed map of the entire island."

If he has a map of Menagerie, he would be able to see a plateau near Dire Death Valley. The ideal place to land that jet at his disposal.

"Can I ask something?" I inquire aloud.

The boy stopped fiddling with the map and smiling, turned to me.

"You can ask anything, Miss Taurus," he replied cheerfully.

'Miss? How quaint,' I thought mockingly. 'It's been at least 20 years since I've been called that.'

It took some time to formulate my question, which was enough for Arc's eyes to stare intensely at me.

'I knew it,' I thought to myself. 'He can be polite and make those fake smiles. But he can't help but look at me with disgust, can he? As if I'm a fascinating aberration. Or someone he can't trust and needs to keep an eye on.'

I swallowed my anger fueled by my thoughts and asked my question.

"Why didn't we go with your plane?"

"Good question," complains the girl next to him. "Not that I'm not having fun, but it would be faster flying in that jet of yours."

Jaune smiled tiredly, shaking his head negatively, but turned to face forward, changing the holographic map in front of him to the entire region.

"I want to train fighting Grimms, the jet consumes more fuel than the car having to land and take off all the time," he says, pressing a gauge on the console. "And if you're afraid of being overwhelmed by Grimms, you can relax. This is the ND1 Nomad exploration vehicle. Besides being able to cross any terrain, it comes equipped with thrusters, shields, radar, and life support."

I can't help but feel a little envy at the technologies developed by humans. We faunus could also create incredible things if we weren't persecuted everywhere on the planet.

After forty minutes of silent travel, we arrived at our destination.

The name alone hung heavily in the air. The white rocks of the canyons reflected light towards the center, making it obvious that it would be hotter than the open desert. As soon as I opened the door, the blast of dry heat slapped me in the face. Through the dust haze, I surveyed the scene. The irregular, skeletal ravine stretched out before us, a scar on the already devastated land.

"For training or a violent death," I say sarcastically. "This is one of the best places on the island for both."

"One of the best?" Asked Jaune, jumping out of the car. "You mean there are others?"

I stared at the boy, raising an eyebrow, disbelieving the statement that came out of his mouth.

"How about we explore this ravine, and if you survive with all limbs intact, we'll talk about going to another one," I said in a mischievous tone.

"You're right," Jaune replied sincerely, without noticing the irony. "Thanks, Miss Taurus, you're an excellent guide."

"Finally, some action," adds Nikos, joining us with a red wooden staff in hand.

Okay... I guess this boy is less cunning and more clueless than I thought, but the intense glares he throws in my direction when he thinks I'm not noticing reinforce how much this boy despises me for being a Faunus.

Even as we descended into the canyon, it was easy to notice a stiff facial expression on Jaune, furrowed brows, widened eyes, and tight lips as he stared at me. He also seemed uncomfortable in his walk, as if he were trying to hide something in his pants pocket.

When he wasn't staring at me, Jaune was smiling, wielding his shield, but his smile disappeared within minutes as we descended further into the gorge.

"I thought this place would be full of Grimms," complains the Frustrated Blonde.

"Terror Raptors, when threatened, form large packs to attack," I explain, taking the lead. "If we walk quietly, we can catch some of them off guard and-."

BONG!

I was interrupted by a gong behind me.

I turned on my heels and stared at the culprit of the idiocy, and to no one's surprise, it was Jaune Arc, the offender. The foolish human had slammed the hilt of his sword against his shield.

"You idiot!" I exclaimed, keeping the volume of my voice low, as there was no reaction from the Grimms. "Do you want us to-."

BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG!

He hammered his shield as if his life depended on it, and as soon as he stopped, he looked around for Grimms.

"Man, what a bummer, I thought there- Urgh!" Whatever Arc was going to say was cut off when I grabbed his throat.

"You idiot!" I shout, squeezing his throat. "You've doomed us all."

Even with his throat caught in my hand, the human still stared at me with wide eyes, only this time with more intensity and looking down on me, avoiding my eyes.

"Listen here, you shithead-."

Before I could finish, I was cut off, not by an audible noise, but by a strange tremor that I started feeling with the soles of my feet.

The tremor started subtly, a low vibration that tickled the soles of my feet.

Nikos, the more perceptive of the two, was the first to realize that something was happening.

"Audra," she asks, her voice tense with urgency.

I turned to the humans and delivered my message bluntly.

"Grimms," I growl, the word laden with dread.

In the distance, a cloud of dust was heading our way.

"We don't have time to go back to the car," I shout frantically. "We'll have to try climbing the canyon."

I jumped on the rocks and started climbing. In a few seconds, from the top, I could see the herd of Grimms heading our way.

[Image]

"Terror Raptors." I murmur with concern.

It was a pretty big bunch, there must have been almost 1,000 of them, all because of all that noise Jaune made... speaking of Jaune, it's too quiet around here.

To my left I see Boudicca following my pace on the climb and to my right is… no one?

"Jaune?" I ask for the blond fool. "JAUNE!"

"I'm fucking here!" Shouts the white knight from the bottom of the canyon.

Had he not moved? In fact, he had a shield and his sword on fire raised in a fighting stance.

"After I destroy all the Grimms, you can come down."

"Is he insane?" I question shocked. "He has to go up to give the Grimms time to disperse, then you attack."

"Well…" Nikos says next to me. "He was never the sanest person in any group, but I guarantee he didn't go crazy."

"How can you be so sure?"

With a calm look, the redhead looks at Jaune tenderly before completing.

"Based on how little I spent time with him and what other people say about him. I'm sure of 2 things about Jaune arc." She comments smiling. "Common sense doesn't apply to him."

"And the second thing?"

The woman dressed as an explorer sighed, smiling even wider, before she turned to me and replied.

"He always kept his word, no matter how impossible it seemed."

[PV Original]

{{I know we even came to this shithole to fight these dinosaur chickens, but could you have thought of a better plan... or at least thought of a plan... or thought at all?}}

"Ha-ha!" I laugh in a sarcastic tone. "How about if instead of making jokes, you help me?"

Caught surprised by my serious attitude, Church dematerialized, activating the Scouter in my ear to provide information.

{{What do you need? Tactical data overlay, threat assessment, target tracking, weapons guidance, aura monitoring, or send in some Arc Knights?}}

I couldn't help but smile mischievously, Church seemed excited to help me with this fight. Almost making me regret what I'm about to say.

"Play 'Escape From the City'."

The image on my display shook like a glitch, and then I heard Church's crying voice.

{{Are you serious?}} He asks the discredited AI. {{From that Sonic game from Dream Quest?}}

"I actually played the Game Cube one."

{{NOT RELEVANT!}} Church shouts stressed.

Instead of answering, I decided to focus in front of me on the herd of dinosaur Grimms that were getting closer and closer.

With the shield and flaming sword in hand I was sad thinking I was going to fight without music until a familiar bass riff came on my watch and Scouter.

{Woooo!

Oh, yeah!}

"Thank you, Church!" I exclaim, running towards the Grimms.

{{I hate you.}} He replies with a mumble.

I threw the shield at the herd leader and jumped to intercept the shield in midair with my feet just as the lyrics began.

{Rolling around at the speed of sound

Got places to go

Gotta follow my rainbow}

I fell surfing on the shield, cutting Grimms left and right. When the shield lost its momentum, I stepped hard on the edge of it, making it rise to my eye level, only to kick it in midair towards a cluster of Terror Raptors.

{Can't stick around, have to keep movin' on

Guess what lies ahead

Only one way to find out}

The shield hits three heads and returns to my left arm, fitting perfectly.

"That super soldier serum really helps with calculating the angles." I comment, punching a Grimm in front of me.

The flaming Adamantine sword cuts through the Grimms as if they were made of butter. Thanks to the serum my stamina was also increased along with my strength, speed and mental capacity.

I.e…

"I can do this all day."

A shame that my joy was short-lived because after half an hour the fight started to get monotonous.

"Boring!" I exclaim, dodging a raptor's attack.

I have to admit, this isn't exactly the Grimmpocalypse I was hoping for. Those things they call Terror Raptors? So more for Terror Chickens. Even though they are faster than a Beowolf, it wasn't a big deal for my enhanced reflexes.

One of them jumped towards me over the few remaining Grimms, but with a blow from the shield he flew against the canyon wall, dissolving on impact.

"Okay… this has gone from boring to sad." I grumbled out loud.

{{Be careful what you say, man.}} Church advises, cutting my tunes.

"Why?" I question cutting the last Terror Raptor.

At the Scouter Church he changed the display and focused on small rocks shaking on the ground.

"The fuck."

Without thinking, I ran to the opposite side as the tremors increased.

"WANT HELP?" Shouted Amber using her disguise from the top of the canyon.

"NO KS!" I responded by shouting.

CRACK!

In a deafening crack, the canyon wall was shattered as a monstrous creature pierced through it.

[Image]

My eyes widened as my mind struggles to process what I see.

"A T-Rex with two heads?" There's no other word to describe it.

The monster, over six meters (20 ft) tall, let out a roar in front of me.

"RRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAWWWWRRRRR!"

The creature's deafening roar echoed through the canyon, making me tremble. I feel small and insignificant in the face of its magnitude.

The creature's smoky black body stood out in the desert, and its red eyes seem to burn with supernatural intensity. The sharp fangs in its open mouth are like steel blades, ready to tear through anything in its path. And its face and chest are covered in a bone armor typical of older and more powerful Grimms.

As if being a damn T-rex with two heads wasn't enough to indicate power.

And even intimidated by the monster, which might be of the leviathan class, I start to tremble, but not out of fear but... anticipation for a good fight.

"Finally, a worthy opponent!" I exclaim, pointing my sword at the monster. "Our battle will be legendary."

{Are you crazy, kid?} Amber shouts in my ear.

"Huh? How are you talking to me?"

{Church connected me to convince you not to get yourself killed and to take this seriously.}

I furrow my brow, frustrated by the lack of faith my 'friends' have in my fighting ability.

"Let's do this: Church, send me 4 Arc Knights, 2 for support and 2 to film."

{{{Seriously?}}} Both judged me through the Scouter communicator.

"Of course," I commented as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "This is basically a heavy metal album cover in Grimm form. I want to boast about it later."

"GRRRRROOOOOW!" Both heads finally noticed me.

The monster took a step forward, cracking the ground as I ran towards a pile of rocks that formed steps.

"Play Victorious Dinogods, Church!"

{Can you mute the song for me?}

{Damn it.} Amber complained over the communication channel. {You know, sometimes you're an asshole.}

"Ha!" I laughed aloud, jumping from the highest rock towards the monster. "He's famous for being an asshole."

{Dinos arise! Stand up and fight!}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HUNTSMEN LOGS: ENTRY HEADMASTER OZPIN.

Name: Weiss Schnee

Alias: ICE QUEEN

Allegiance: Kingdom of Vale / SDC

Weapon: Myrtenaster

Semblance: Glyphs (allows her to create glyphs in a many ways)

STATS:

Strength: ★

Endurance: ★ ★ ★

Agility: ★ ★ ★ ★

Fighting Skill: ★ ★ ★

Mental: ★ ★ ★ ★

Aura: ★ ★ ★

Aura Skill: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ✪

Semblance: ★ ★ ★ ★

Weiss could have easily settled for a life of privilege, but she chose to fight and become a Huntress. Defending the world against the forces of darkness.

The SDC heir is an exemplary student, with notable skills in Dust and combat with her sword, Myrtenaster. She is a natural leader, although she sometimes needs to be reminded of the importance of teamwork and trust in her teammates.

I have great respect for Weiss Schnee and am confident that she will make her mark on the world, not as the heir to a corporate empire, but as a hero who rises against adversity with grace and power.

Regarding Weiss' abilities, Jaune asked the following question:

"I know she's not the best fighter among Beacon's students, that title belongs to people like Yang and Pyrrha. But for me… she is the best candidate to be a Maiden.

Her fighting style can easily adapt to magical powers and no one among the students would be more committed than her when training to master magical powers."

Once again I find myself forced to agree with young Arc, despite not admitting it out loud.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

E ai gurizada?

My original idea was to call this chapter "A new Arc", but I thought it was too obvious.

As I had already warned in the previous chapter, Multiverse-Crafter will now be updated once a month, but it will have more words than normal.

I would like to reiterate that I am looking for more Beta Readers, anyone interested just send me a DM.

And before going to the comments I would like to ask.

"Does anyone else think Weiss would be a better candidate for Maiden than Pyrrha?"

I know Pyrrha is the better fighter, but I think Weiss would be a more competent Maiden than the invincible girl.

—Chaosking24:

Isnt the rusted knight Jaune from a different universe

—Response= Jaune from this universe will not become the Rusted Knight. I'm thinking about disregarding the existence of Ever After and season 9, except for the evolution of Semblance that we had from Neo.

—Mikhail Sharon:

Someone already took his first time? Already. Can we expect the others to follow suit?

—Response= Yes, someone took his V-card and it wasn't from the main cast... and it wasn't Kali either because I'm not a fan of NTR.

—Arturwho:

How many point would cost for a kamen rider belt and items just asking for curiosity or how many point would cost for boboiboy power watch.

—Response= HELL YEAH! A question that separates the men from the weebs.

The cost is at least twice as much as the super soldier serum. The average Kamen rider has a punching power of 2.5 tones, which makes them overall 32.69 times stronger than an average adult human and 4.90 times stronger than an elite boxer.

—Blazingen1:

Nice new chapter. Did Qrow wonder why Church sounded like Taiyang?

—Response= …

EU SOU UM IDIOTA! COMO EU ESQUECI DISSO! AAAARGH!

Thanks Blazingen1 for reminding me of that detail.

Next chapter