Multiverse-Crafter [RWBY ISEKAI FIC]

[Avip_br]

I'm back and I've just launched my Ko-Fi page! ko-fi(dot)com/avipbr

To prove that I'm mean busnisse from the 26th to the 31st of May I'll post 1 chapter each day in all 4 of main fics:

- Anthrostate VS Isekai Hero
- LoveNexus Corp
- Monster Girl: Harem Master
- Multiverse-Crafter

As a Ko-Fi subscriber, you'll unlock early access to 5 chapters ahead of everyone else.

Your support helps me keep pushing forward, creating bigger and better stories with every chapter.

Ps: The four stories mentioned above already have 10 chapters on Ko-Ki. Putting 5 chapters ahead of non-subscribers from 31st.

Membership tiers:

Tier 1 - Bronze Flame :
Access to Purple Flame Nexus - Discord Server Access to 5 chapters in advance of all my fanfics

Tier 2 - Silver Flame:
All beneffits from Bronze FlameRight to vote on my stories. [ex: Decide what future characters will be like in terms of appearance and personality. Themes to be worked on. How I will expand on an existing story. And which fanfic project should take the place of one I am finishing.]

Tier 3 - Golden Flame:
All beneffits from Silver FlameLottery entry for a Oneshot RPG Adventure

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I know the title is cliché… but I like it.

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[POV ORIGINAL]​

As soon as I step onto the stage, the world freezes with a profane sound.

"SKRYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAK!"

A hellish screech echoes throughout Kuo Kuana, a sound that chills the soul of all present. Fear is palpable, like a wave sweeping through the crowd, turning once-smiling faces into masks of pure dread.

Children begin to cry, clinging to their parents, who in turn, look around desperate for an explanation. The elders have their eyes wide open, whispering ancient prayers, hoping the sound isn't what they fear it to be.

But the older faunus know, deep in their hearts, that that sound belongs to something monstrous, something that should be sealed away.

Audra, normally a pillar of strength and confidence, turns pale, murmuring in fear.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no…" She repeats, seeming almost catatonic.

With Audra out of commission, I turn to Ghira for more information, but the former Chieftain is busy handling the panicked population.

"Faunus of Menagerie!" Shouted the leader, his voice booming through the sound system.

The powerful voice of their leader calmed the people somewhat, but fear still gripped them. Seeing the morale of his people, Ghira puffed out his chest to speak.

"Today was supposed to be a day of celebration, the day of our nation's birth!" Though his voice sounded powerful, remorse was evident in his posture. "But instead, we must face the monster that threatens our existence."

"Mister Belladonna." I whisper into the Chieftain's ear. "What are you doing?"

With a wave of his hand, he silences me. I want to believe in his words, but the people seemed more demoralized than before.

"I know we will survive today, for faunus always survive the worst! We have been tested by injustice, by pain and by war, and yet we are still here! And it won't be today, it won't be now, that we will fall!"

Ghira's words echo through the air, and I see the change on people's faces. The fear is still there, but now there's something else… a spark of determination, a glimmer of hope. The faunus begin to rise, one by one, inspired by their leader's speech, some even shouting out, renewed, agreeing with Ghira.

"Today we face the grimm that comes to our door together as a nation. Today, we fight for the future of the faunus. Today, we cancel the apocalypse."

The crowd starts shouting, echoing the sentiment of Ghira's speech. The air vibrates with a renewed energy, a mix of fear and determination that is almost tangible. The faunus, once terrified, now rise with a new hope, ready to face whatever is coming our way.

I'm so surprised by the transformation that I don't even notice Ghira had copied the ending of the Pacific Rim speech.

"For the Faunus! For our future! FAUNARIA STANDS!" Roars the Chieftain with the last two words, revealing the name of the new nation we had decided on during the meeting.

Whether he said those words on purpose, I don't know, but the flags and banners we had installed with that voice command activate and unfurl.

[Image]

​

Revealing the flag of the new nation, the black face of a feline with an open mouth looking to the left on a purple background.

The faunus roar in unison, a sound that echoes through the streets of Kuo Kuana, vibrating to the bone. The fear is still there, but now it's overshadowed by a fierce determination. They are ready to fight, ready to defend their homes and families.

"Women, children, and the elderly to the docks. Fishing boat owners will assist with the evacuation." Ghira turns to me, switching off his microphone so no one else can hear. "Jaune… I know you've already done so much for us. But please, take some children on your jet when you leave the island."

I blink, confused for a second, until I realize he thinks I'm going to run away because this is a faunus fight.

"Not gonna happen." I replied, catching Ghira by surprise. "After all, someone has to stall this monster and gather more intel while you guys prepare the city's defenses."

Different from the reaction to my denial, the Chieftain isn't surprised by my explanation. He just lets out a quick laugh and, gripping my shoulders, says:

"Thank you… son."

With his final thanks, he moves away from me to help with the civilian evacuation.

"Okay…" I said, not fully understanding the context. "Better focus on what I can do, Church."

{{Listening.}} Says the AI promptly through my Scouter's communicator.

"Send the Eyebots that were filming the festival to scout that thing, I want to know if it's heading for Kuo Kuana or the outpost."

{{Affirmative, but I've already calculated the sound's origin.}} Church responds, displaying the calculations on screen. {{I know it's coming to Kuo Kuana.}}

"Fuck!" I curse, frustrated. "Start protocol 'Pride of Steel', put Amber in command and Delta piloting the C-390. Bring the Black Bird to pick me up with the Arc Knights and the Sarge."

{{I'm notifying her now.}} Church confirms, sending the messages without missing a beat. {{I'll send some of the master robots with them to provide support.}}

"Good idea-." I cut myself off mid-sentence, eyes widening.

While I was speaking, Church had opened a window with the drone feed that had gone to scout the threat.

The screen shows an aerial view of the desert near Kuo Kuana, but what was once a calm ocean of sand now turns into a nightmare scenario. A black, dense, and threatening fog creeps across the desert. Darkness spreads like an oil stain, suffocating life.

Within that fog, thousands of red dots glow like hungry eyes. They move, they pulse, a swarm of terror approaching the city. The drone camera zooms in, and my heart nearly stops. The red dots aren't eyes on the creature's body, but Grimms. Bipedal dinosaurs of various sizes run across the sand while a swarm of birds takes over the sky, all surrounding something even more terrifying and gigantic.

In the center of the fog, a monstrous form reveals itself. A titanic bird Grimm with the head of a vulture. Its wings stretch like the shadow of death over the sands. Its feathers are sharp black blades, each the size of a tree. Its eyes, two beacons of pure hatred, glow with a red light that seems to burn reality itself. Its beak, a tool of destruction, capable of splitting mountains.

This beast of the apocalypse advances, with each flap of its wings creating a windstorm that lifts the sand like an explosion. Its screech echoes like a chorus of damned souls.

"SKRYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAK!"

[Image]​

It's a nightmare vision, a force of nature coming to destroy everything in its path.

And it's heading straight for Kuo Kuana.

"Shit!" I curse again, now having an idea of the threat.

Worried about the local population, I look around and see some members of the armed militia trying to help with the evacuation, while others don't know what to do.

With no way to command them and confront the monster, my eyes turn to Audra, but she's still frozen, murmuring.

'I need to do something, and fast.'

I Grab the red-haired warrior's shoulders, trying to shake her out of her trance.

"Audra!" I shout, shaking her by the shoulders.

But she doesn't react. Her eyes are vacant, lost somewhere far away.

Without thinking, I slap her face.

SLAP!

The sound echoes, but she barely blinks. My heart tightens. I can't lose her now, not when we need to fight a fucking Grimm Leviathan class.

"Damn!" I exclaim, worried about her.

Desperate, I hold her face with both hands and kiss her.

It's a desperate kiss, full of fear and need. For a moment, I feel her lips move, a sign of life. But when I pull back, her eyes are still distant.

"Audra, please." I beg, desolate. "I can't do this alone. I need you."

Something in my tone or words must finally pierce the fog in her mind. Her eyes blink and then, slowly, she focuses on me. Life returns to her face, and she takes a deep breath, as if emerging from a nightmare.

"Jaune?" Her voice is a whisper, but it sounds so sweet at this moment.

"I'm here." I reply, relieved. "But you need to lead your soldiers and I need to face that giant bird surrounded by black mist."

Audra's pupils dilate, and she grabs my arms tightly, her nails digging into my skin. Her expression is pure terror, but also recognition.

"What's coming is the… Dread Shadow." Her voice trembles, but there's an underlying determination. "It's an ancient and very powerful Grimm. My husband… he sacrificed himself to seal that thing away."

A lump forms in my throat. Audra never talks about her husband, a more taboo subject for her than even her son, who had become a terrorist. It makes sense that she froze at the creature's screech.

"Audra… I need to face that thing." I say, trying to sound confident. "We can't let it reach the city at its pace."

She shakes her head, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"No, Jaune. I don't want to lose anyone else like I lost him." Her voice cracks, and she grips my arms tighter.

I wanted to comfort her, tell her everything would be fine, that she didn't need to be afraid. But the sound of jet turbines overhead signals we're out of time.

HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISS!

Looking up, I see two Ark Knights jumping from the Black Bird, hovering above the city, landing beside me.

"You don't have to worry about that." I say, flashing my shonen protagonist's smile as the white robots grab my arms. "I'm gonna survive… because I'm awesome."

Audra looks at me, confused for a second, then bursts out laughing. A genuine laugh, full of life and courage.

"I hate that you're right, Jaune." She says, her eyes glowing with a new fire. "If you save my island, I promise I'll rock your world breaking another bed."

She turns away, already shouting orders to her soldiers. Her voice echoes across the stage, firm and authoritative. The militia members who were previously lost now move with purpose, following their leader's commands.

Quickly, the Arc Knights take me to the Black Bird, and within seconds, we're flying toward the Dread Shadow.

The Black Bird cuts through the sky, slicing clouds thanks to its powerful turbines. Below, the desert sand turns into a yellow blur, and in the distance, I can already see the cloud of darkness spreading like an oil stain. The Dread Shadow advances, a nightmare of black feathers and red eyes, surrounded by a swarm of smaller Grimms infesting the sky and ground.

"Church, drop the Sarge." I order, my voice steady despite the chaos around us. "He'll intercept the land Grimm before reaching the city."

{{Understood.}} Church responds promptly. {{Dropping Sarge.}}

I look down and see the big red robot being released from the cargo bay, its thrusters firing to soften the landing. It hits the ground with a muffled thud, kicking up a cloud of sand.

"Next are the Arc Knights." I continue, my eyes fixed on the monster ahead. "And this time, use them more aggressively without fear of losing them. With this amount of enemies I can easily replace them."

{{No problem.}} Church replies with a hesitant tone. {{But what are you going to do?}}

I take a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline surge through my veins.

"I'm going to try grounding the Dread Shadow while fighting the smaller Grimms around it." I say, my hand gripping the hilt of my sword.

{{That's insane!}} Church protests, her voice echoing in my ear. {{You can't fight all of them alone, especially with the risk of friendly fire from your drones!}}

I ignore the comment, walking toward the Black Bird's side door. The Dread Shadow approaches, its screech echoing through the desert.

"SKRYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAK!"

The massive creature makes me swallow hard now that I face, live, its titanic size.

"Just do your job, Church." I say, my voice firm.

But, to my surprise, the AI responds in an unexpected way.

{{No!}}

"What?" I question, confused. "But you have to obey me."

{{I don't have to do shit!}} Church snaps back, frustrated. {{I'm not going to help you throw yourself at a God of War monster without a plan. That's suicide!}}

"AND WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?" I reply, shouting frustrated. "That thing is almost the size of the Monstra, but she doesn't show up in the original story—" I cut myself off as I realize what I just said and repeat: "She doesn't show up in the original story…"

A horrible feeling takes over me. Eyes wide in recognition.

"I'm the one to blame? My actions caused this creature to awaken? And now, this island, these people… are paying the price."

But before I completely lose myself in this spiral of guilt, Church's voice echoes in my ear, firm and clear.

{{Fuck that!}} Says the AI, its tone sharp and furious. {{Yeah, it's your fault this monster is attacking.}}

My heart tightens in a knot of pain as I feel my blood freeze at the blunt response.

{{But it's also your fault the kids at the orphanage aren't depressed anymore. It's your fault the sick on this island have been healed. It's 100% your fault that families aren't starving anymore. You brought hope to Menagerie, and now you're going to give up because of a wimpy-ass Grimm?}}

"SKRYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAK!" The screech slices through the sky once more.

{{Maybe I went too far calling it 'wimpy-ass'… but you get what I mean right? Roast that vulture and everything will be fine.}}

Despite being rude and offensive, Church's words lift my spirits once again.

'The asshole is right.' I think silently, digesting what was said. 'I can't let all of this be destroyed.'

{{Now that you've stopped crying like a little bitch, let's face this shit with a dumb smile on your face and a half-assed plan.}} Church continues, his voice firm. {{Just like you always do.}}

I take a deep breath, feeling reinvigorated.

"Alright, Church." I say, my voice firm. "So… what do you suggest?"

{{It's time for your shot.}} Says the AI, singing.

My body freezes, and my eyes widen at the statement.

{{That's right.}} Says Church, in a cheerful tone. {{We're going to do your upgrade with the Extremis Virus.}}

[Ilia Amitola]​

Before the plane could take off from the outpost, I hid inside one of the lockers on the Black Bird, so I heard everything Jaune said to the blue hologram.

The only thing that didn't make sense in his speech was taking the blame for the awakening of the Dread Shadow.

'Why would anyone do that?' I try to reason in my mind. 'Could it be just another sign of the hero complex he seems to have?'

As I questioned myself in silence, the door of the locker I was hiding in opened.

"Ilia?".

"Shit-. I mean, hiiiiii." I reply, giving an awkward smile.

Jaune frowned, annoyed. But before he could say anything, the blue armored hologram appeared out of nowhere.

{{Relax, I knew she was there.}} Says the little blue man. {{And she might be useful to fight the Grimm.}}

"Miss 'stab-you-in-the-back-for-no-reason'?" Arc asks, incredulous.

Even if he's right, the comment hurts and throws a bucket of cold water on my spirits.

{{You're going to go through a more radical process than the super soldier serum.}} Church explains, though I don't understand any of it. {{Your body is going to undergo drastic changes. While that happens, I need Ilia to help keep the ship intact.}}

I widened my eyes, surprised.

"Me? But-." I try to speak, but the little blue man cuts me off.

{{You in or out?}} Church asks, impatient. {{Jaune doesn't trust you, but who knows… if you prove your worth today, you can begin your redemption arc.}}

I nod quickly, seizing my third chance. The blue robot nods and turns to Jaune.

{{Great! Now go 'fetch' some Star Trek magnetic boots for her. She's going outside the ship, to defend it.}}

Jaune frowns, but doesn't argue. He walks off, disappearing into the ship's interior. After a few seconds, a strange light shines in the direction he went, and then he returns with a pair of boots with metal soles and a strange whip.

"These boots have magnetic soles. They'll help you move around the ship without fear of falling into the desert." He explains, his voice firm and cold, as he hands me the boots and the whip. "As for this whip… it belongs to the legendary Belmont family. It has special properties that may be useful against the Grimm."

I look at the whip, curious. The weapon has a dark metal handle, with intricate engravings along its length. The braid of the whip is made of a material I don't recognize, but I can feel a strange power in it. Something that isn't Dust, it feels almost… magical.

"What do you mean, special properties?" I ask, my voice low.

Jaune shrugs.

"I assure you it's a powerful weapon and you don't need to use Dust on it."

I nod, feeling the weight of the whip in my hands. Jaune watches me for a moment, then steps closer and places a hand on my shoulder.

"This is going to be your last chance, Ilia." He says, staring at me with a cold look. "I'm not saying that if you betray me, I'll arrest you or kill you. But you'll never work on any of my projects."

Until last month, that wouldn't have been a threat to me. After all, no way I'd ever work for a human. But now I know that Jaune Arc is helping build a better future for the faunus, while also giving them education so we can be autonomous, and not depend on him forever.

'Being excluded from this project… after everything I've been through…' I think, swallowing hard. 'I'd be nothing more than a masochistic idiot.'

"I won't disappoint you, sir Arc." I reply promptly, saluting.

Jaune finds my posture strange, but then relaxes and shrugs before turning away. However, before he can walk off, I grab his arm.

When he turns to me, I speak before he can ask anything:

"I just wanted to say…" I stop for a moment and look into his eyes and say. "Thank you, Jaune."

The features on the human's face soften with my thanks. A bit of relief washes over his body.

Sighing, Jaune gives me a nod before heading to the cockpit of the ship.

Not wanting to bother him any further, I decide not to ask anything as I walk toward the hatch that opens at the top of the ship.

"What is he going to inject into his body?" I murmur, curious, before jumping onto the top of the ship.

[POV: ORIGINAL]​

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. The Black Bird's automatic seat restraints lock my wrists, chest and legs in place.

{{Last time, your Aura fought against the changes the super soldier serum was making to your body. That's why you felt so much pain with that Super Saiyan aura.}} Says Church, manifesting at my side. {{But, thanks to the techno nature of the virus, I'll be able to guide it avoiding rejection by the Aura.}}

I sigh in relief upon hearing I won't have to go through that torture again.

{{And thanks to the healing provided by your Aura and your extra resilience from the super soldier serum, this procedure has less than a 0.1% chance of failure.}}

"It's not zero?" I ask, worried.

{{Nothing's certain in a radical procedure like this, bro…}} Says Church, in a serious tone. {{And it's gonna hurt like hell.}}

With a swift motion, I inject the modified version of Extremis Virus 2.0 into my arm and then eat a senzu bean to provide the nutrients for the process. I feel the cold liquid entering my veins, but it quickly begins to heat up.

{{The first part is the development of your skeletal mass and the ossification into carbide ceramic.}} Says Church in my ear, as I feel something reaching my bones. {{It's a process in which the virus will reshape your bone structure and reinforce it with a synthetic ceramic.}} He explains, his calm voice contrasting with the pain starting to emanate from my skeleton. {{Your bones will become larger, heavier, and much more resistant.}}

"Fuck me, this gonna suck." I complain through clenched teeth.

{{It's already hurting, isn't it?}} Church replies with a laugh, but stops when he sees my furious grimace. {{But don't worry, the pain is temporary. The virus is restructuring your bone matter on a molecular level. It's like replacing parts in a car frame while it's engine still running.}}

The pain intensifies. It's like liquid fire running through my veins, becoming acidic and electric when it touches my bones. I clench my teeth, suppressing a scream.

"Fuuuuuu."

A wave of intense heat courses through my body, as if every bone were being stretched, broken, and reforged all at once.

As my muscles begin to contract, fighting against the restraints, Church continues his explanation.

{{Now, a protein complex is being applied to your muscle tissue.}}

The pain of muscles being torn and burned is drowned out by the far greater pain from my bones.

{{Your muscle tissue density will increase, and your lactase recovery time will drop drastically.}}

The pain in my bones begins to subside, giving me brief relief. But it's just a prelude to what comes next.

Suddenly, an indescribable agony explodes across every one of my nerve endings. It's as if each nerve in my body has been struck by lightning.

Convulsing and fighting the restraints with a strength I didn't know I had, I finally gave in and let out the scream of pain I was holding in.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAR!"

{{Hang in there, we're at the worst part.}} Church's voice sounds distant, muffled by the roar of pain consuming my senses. {{You're feeling the alteration from bioelectrical nerve transduction to shielded electronic transduction. This will help integrate the implants being installed in your body, drastically reduce their ping, and as a bonus, enhance your reflexes.}}

When I finally fall silent, trying to get used to the pain, I taste something metallic in my mouth, like blood.

And then… something happens.

The pain, already unbearable, intensifies even more. It feels like hot needles are stabbing my eyes from behind.

{{What you're feeling is the increased blood flow beneath the rods and cones of the retinas in your eye sockets.}} Church explains, trying to calm me. {{This increases your visual perception and also helps integrate the ocular implants, allowing you to use AR without needing a Scouter.}}

Suddenly, my vision begins to blur. Church's voice becomes even more muffled and distant, and then… darkness.

{{Jaune?}}

All that's left for me is pure, brutal agony.

{{JAAAAAAAAUNE!}}

---

[OMAKE]​

I pulled the folded flag from inside my coat. With a swift motion, I unfolded it, revealing the design.

Ghira quickly took the flag from my hands, his eyes shining with approval.

"This is..." He began, emotional. "Perfect."

"Glad you liked it." I replied sheepishly.

"'Liked it' is an understatement, my young friend." Said Ghira, showing the flag to everyone. "The feline's face looks in the opposite direction of the White Fang logo, symbolizing our stance against violent terrorist methods. The purple color is regal and imposing, contrasting with the red that the White Fang uses, which symbolizes blood and violence. It's a good design, strong and clear."

Patriarch Belladonna hugged me, showering me with praise.

'I can't tell him I stole the Thundercats logo and just swapped the red for purple.'

---

 

[Avip_br]

Second day of posting 5 chapters in a weak.

If you want to support my work, on my Ko-fi I have 8 chapters ahead of this one for subscribers: ko-fi(dot)com/avipbr

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Is 'Pride' the collective term for lion in English?

Because if not... this title doesn't make any sense.

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Is 'Pride' the collective term for lion in English?
Because if not... this title doesn't make any sense.

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[Audra Taurus]​

I stand still as I look around at the crowd surrounding me, barely believing what I see. Faunus men and women, all with a determination and will to fight that I hadn't seen in years.

'You did this, Gira... While I stood frozen.' I thought silently, remembering my disgrace.

"Commander Taurus!" Shouts Kou, my second-in-command with a marmoset tail and holding binoculars in his hand, the young man's face marked with concern. "Dread Shadow and most of the flying grimm stopped advancing when they got near the human's plane, but the ground ones are still coming in great numbers!"

"Jaune...!" I murmur, grateful for his help, but no time to think about the young human—I focus on the battle ahead. "How many?"

"Tens of thousands, commander." Kou replies, breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath. "They're coming fast, what do we do?"

"Damn!" I curse, frustrated. "Get back to your post, Kou. I'll join the front line."

The young faunus nods, his tail swaying nervously.

"Yes, commander!" He turns and runs back, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I walk quickly to where the faunus armed with dust rifles and spears had set up a defensive line. Among them was a group of 20 of my best fighters, equipped with the light armor and lasguns Jaune gave us.

The laser weapon is light, powerful, and never jams. If we had a hundred more of them, I wouldn't be this nervous.

I stop before my warriors, the front line raised, weapons in hand. In the distance, the horde of grimm advances, a black sea of claws and teeth. I take a deep breath, the cold air filling my lungs. It's time to remind everyone why I'm the commander.

"Faunus of Faunaria!" my voice cut through the storm like thunder itself. "Look around you! Those beside you are not just soldiers.… they are your countrymen! For today, here, on this land that will be soaked with our sweat and the enemy blood, we will raise the foundation of our nation!"

A murmur of agreement spreads through the line.

"They want fear? We'll give them rage! They want our lives? We'll give them a fight!" I raise my black axe, the weapon I got as a gift from Jaune. "For the Faunus! For our future! FAUNARIA STANDS!"

The war cries echo around me, a symphony of courage and fury. The grimm are close, but it doesn't matter. We're ready, we're united, and we will fight to the end.

The grimm approach, now close enough to be identified with the naked eye.

In the front, the small but ferocious dinosaur grimm known as Terror Raptors. Their black scales glisten under the faint light, red eyes locked on us. They charge at a frantic pace, sharp claws tearing the ground.

[Image]

Behind them, at a slower but still fast pace, come the giant Terror Rex. Their massive jaws open and close, anticipating the feast. Among them, I spot the most dangerous variant, the Twin Terror Rex. Two heads on a single body even larger and more muscular than the normal Terror.

[Image]

"Hold the line!" I shout, my voice cutting through the air. "Fire at will!"

The Dust rifles fire, the sound echoing like thunder. The smaller raptors fall, one by one, but the bigger Terror Rex… those bastards keep advancing, barely feeling the impacts.

"Lasguns focus fire on the big ones!" I yell, my voice rising above the chaos.

The lasers cut through the air, bright red lines slicing through the Terror Raptors like paper, reaching the larger grimm in the back. The Terror Rex roar, finally feeling pain. They slow down, giving us a moment of relief.

"Reload!" The command echoes through the line. The faunus obey with quick and precise movements.

The Dust rifles are reloaded, while the laser weapons keep firing. The Terror Rex keep getting closer at a slower pace, but still not close enough to reach us.

"Fire!" I shout again, and the front line fires in unison. More Raptors fall while those with lasers focus on the bigger ones.

I pass the command to Kou, who was on my left, trusting that he will keep the line strong, for a Terror Rex is now too close for me to afford giving orders.

I grip the handle of my axe tightly. The weapon, a gift from Jaune, is unlike anything I've ever used. Its black blade seemed magically sharp and it emits a pale glow like moonlight.

"Let's see what you can do." I murmur to the axe, stepping forward to meet the creature.

The Terror Rex roars, the sound making the ground around it vibrate.

"ROOOAR!"

It lowers its head, jaws open, ready to strike. I wait, every muscle tense, ready for action. When it's just a few meters away, I move.

I leap to the side, dodging the jaws that snap at the air. I swing the axe, using the momentum from my jump to add force to the blow.

"Shit!" I curse, frustrated.

I miscalculated my jump, so my blade hits the creature's bone armor instead of a vulnerable black flesh part of its neck.

CRECK!

"Hem?" I murmur, confused by the monster's bone cracking.

Luckily for me, Jaune's axe breaks through the carapace with ease. That allowed me to continue my strike.

FWAP!

"EEAAOWW!" Screeched the creature as my axe buried into its flesh.

The blade slices through the Terror Rex's neck, cutting deep. Black blood gushes from the wound, as the creature roars in pain.

But it's not enough to bring it down. The monster turns toward me, red eyes glowing with fury. But before it can strike again, I activate my semblance, increasing the axe's weight to finish the cut.

CHOP!

The creature's head falls before me, allowing me to breathe for a second… which was a mistake.

"AUDRA!" Kou shouts draws my attention. "RUN!"

As I turn, I see a Twin Terror Rex got close to me.

"Oh shit!"

Its two monstrous heads hurl acid, a green and steaming torrent headed straight for me. No time to think, I just react by raising my arms, a useless gesture of defense.

But then, something unexpected happens.

A small silver blade, glowing with shades of green and brown, falls to the ground in front of me.

THUCK!

The impact shakes the ground, and suddenly, a pillar of earth and vines bursts out of the sand, forming a natural barrier that shields me from the acid flood.

"What...?" I murmur, stunned.

The barrier of earth and vines trembles with the impact of the acid, but holds strong. The acrid smell of the acid burns my nose, but I'm safe for now.

"It's been a while since we fought side by side, master." Comments a familiar voice in an ironic tone.

"Sienna?" I ask, turning toward her.

She's there, wielding her Cerberus Whip, the metallic tip still glowing with rock and plant dust. Her gaze is firm, determined.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, the surprise giving way to suspicion.

"Saving your life, apparently." She replies, glancing toward the Twin Terror Rex roaring behind me. "But we can talk about that later. We've got a war to win."

I nod, recognizing the truth in her words.

'Now's not the time for arguments. We need to survive first.'

I run toward the acid-spitting monster with Sienna at my side. The creature, noticing our approach, lifts one of its massive paws, ready to stomp it down.

"I'll try to stop it!" Sienna yells, her voice cutting through the air.

Before I can react, she throws another metal tip with rock Dust. The sharp point digs into the ground, causing a stone pillar to erupt straight up under the Terror Rex's foot.

The impact makes the creature stumble, losing its balance. I take the opportunity, using my semblance to become lighter and leap between the heads, axe in hand.

"Let's finish this!" I shout, adrenaline rushing through my veins.

I activate my semblance once more to exponentially increase my weight. Like a meteor, I drop between the heads, adding the impact force to mine and easily slice the grimmm in half.

FWAP!

"Impressive." Sienna comments, surprised. "Where did you get that weapon?"

With a cheeky grin, I turn and wink at her. Sienna stares at me confused for a second, until realization hits her.

"Miracle-working human bastard." Sienna mutters, annoyed. "Aren't you a little too old to have a sugar daddy?"

A vein of pure rage throbs on my forehead, inspiring me to respond in kind.

"Aren't you a little too old to act like a jealous bitch?"

…

"Fair… I guess we better focus on this apocalyptic event." Says Sienna, turning toward the monster horde.

"Agreed." I replied, getting ready for the three grimm approaching.

[Ilia Amitola]​

"Say what you will about Jaune Arc." I murmured, making an arc with my new whip, preparing to strike. "But no one can say he doesn't know how to give presents."

At the top of the Black Bird, the wind cut across my face as I swung the whip, cracking it against the vulture grimm trying to get close. Every strike was precise, every move calculated.

Half of the Arc Knight were providing cover, their precise shots taking down the monsters that got to close. The other half was firing at Dread Shadow's body, interfering with his flight path.

"More to the left!" I shouted, pointing at a group of vultures trying to flank the plane.

The Arc Knights adjusted their aim, and a burst of lasers cut through the air, bringing the grimm down in a shower of dark feathers.

The whip cracked again, wrapping around the neck of a diving vulture. With a firm yank, the monster evaporated the moment the weapon touched it.

"Where does he even find these weapons?" I asked, astonished.

{{Less talk, more fight.}} Complained Church, his voice coming from inside one of the robots.

"I know what I'm doing, machine." I replied, preparing for another strike. "Why aren't you firing lasers or missiles from this plane?"

{{'This is a diplomatic mission, not a conquest. We don't need that on our plane.'}} Complained Church, mimicking Jaunes voice.

"Goddamn it, Jaune!" I complain frustrated. "You could be a little more like the violent colonizer I thought you were."

Half of the Arc Knights kept laying down cover fire while the other half shot at the Dread Shadow, trying to draw its attention, each shot landing with deadly precision. But the swarm of vultures didn't lessen, there were still too many in the air.

"Church, why don't you leave the defensive and go full on the attack with the drones?" I ask curiously. "I think you could clear a good chunk with your coordination."

{{I'd love to help more, but I'm a bit busy at the moment.}} Church's voice echoed calm and controlled, but with a hint of tension.

"Busy? With what?" I shot back, dodging a vulture diving at me. The whip cracked, cutting the air and taking down the grimm.

{{Besides controlling the Arc Knights and piloting the ship, I'm currently performing brain, heart, and full nervous system surgery on Jaune. So forgive me if I can't give my full attention to the grimm.}}

"Surgery?" I asked, confused. "Mid-flight-." I tried to get more information, but was cut off by an ear-shattering screech.

"SKRYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAK!"

The black smoke around the Dread Shadow began to expand, engulfing the ship and the entire sky. My heart raced, but I stayed focused, bringing the whip back to me and preparing for the worst.

Suddenly, the darkness thickened, and more red eyes sprouted from the mist.

"No way…" I murmured, blood turning cold. "The Dread Shadow is generating even more grimm?"

The smaller vultures, now even greater in number, surged toward me. My stomach twisted with nerves as the swarm of black wings and red eyes closed in. The sound of their shrill cries filled the air, a chorus of death that chilled my blood.

The Arc Knights quickly surrounded me, providing cover.

"Church, we need reinforcements!" I shouted, my voice nearly lost in the chaos.

{{I'm doing the best I can, Ilia.}} Church's voice sounded tense, but composed. {{But Jaune's surgery is at a critical point. I can't divert resources now.}}

Refusing to be useless, I started spinning the whip and cracking it at the enemies, but every hit felt pointless against the endless horde.

{{Don't worry that pretty little red head of yours!}} Yelled a voice with a thick hillbilly accent through the communicator. {{The cavalry's here.}}

"Who?"

As if answering my question, I was cut off by gunshots and explosions.

RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA! RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA!

{{BY THE ANCESTORS OF MY ANCESTORS!}} Shouted the red hillbilly robot, firing from the ground. {{ATTACK!}}

RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA! RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA!

My eyes widened, and my jaw dropped. The big red Arc security robot, the same one I once fought against alongside the White Fang, was now unleashing an unimaginable amount of firepower.

'The day we fought him, there wasn't even a hint of this devastating power.' I thought, sweating cold. 'It was like he was playing with us back then, and now… seeing him in all his violent glory, I realized just how the fang had underestimated Jaune Arc.'

RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA! RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA!

The ground shook and dust rose under the giant's feet. The cannons on its back spewed fire and death, while the machine guns mounted on its arms shredded the grimm like they were made of wet paper.

"This is…" I murmured, still in disbelief.

{{FAUNARIA WILL BE BORN OF VIOLENCE AND GUNPOWDER!}} The robot's voice echoed, dripping with a country drawl that, somehow, seemed even louder than the gunfire. {{MY KIND OF NATION!}}

The robot kept advancing slowly through the desert, each step firmer and more determined than the last. The black mist of grimm began to dissipate, the once dark and threatening sky now lit up with explosions, each one bringing a little more hope.

"Where did Jaune get this?" I ask, still unable to take my eyes off the spectacle in front of me.

{{Texas countryside.}} Church replied.

"SKRYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAK!"

The creature screeched once more, but now the Dread Shadow looked down toward the lone robot in the desert, perceiving it as its greatest threat.

The black clouds expelled from the body of the gigantic vulture began to thin, as if they were entering the creature's body, then the monster opened its beak. The titanic-sized vulture regurgitated a torrent of smoke and black pitch from its mouth.

"BLAAAAARGH!"

Midway, the liquid and smoke began to solidify into more grimm, red eyes sprouting from their bodies.

{{BRING IT ON, YOU BOTTOM-FEEDERS!}} Shouted the robot, aiming its cannons and machine guns at the deluge of monsters falling upon it. {{I HAVE A BONER FOR MURDER!}}

RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA! RATATATA-BOOM-RATATATA!

The machine guns on its arms spun, cutting through the grimm as if they were made of paper, while the cannons on its back spewed fire, each explosion tearing a hole in the wave of grimm. holes that were quickly filled, like an endless plague. It was as if the black smoke that produced grimm had concentrated to pour out from the Dread Shadow's mouth.

As much as it unloaded everything it had onto the Dread Shadow, it could only slow the advance of the grimm being regurgitated by the leviathan-class monster.

{{HAHAHA!}} The robot laughed loudly like a madman, its voice echoing across the desert.

Even with its laughter, my heart tightened when the deluge of grimm slammed into the robot's body.

Despite the grimmm piling on it, the robot kept firing, trying to hit the Dread Shadow's body. The sound of the machine guns echoed through the desert, blending with the piercing screeches of the monsters.

My heart was racing as I watched the scene, the whip still firm in my hands. The robot, even damaged, kept fighting with great ferocity. It was as if it was possessed by a supernatural force, an unbreakable will to protect and destroy.

CREEEEK!

Suddenly, a metallic creak cut through the air, followed by a deafening crash. My eyes widened as I saw the robot's leg give out, the metal folding under the weight of the grimm. The metal giant staggered, falling to its knees. But instead of surrendering, it redoubled its efforts, the cannons on its back firing with even more intensity.

My stomach twisted into a knot. The robot kept fighting, but it was clear it wouldn't last much longer.

CREEEEE-CLANG!

OOne of its arms falls to the ground, making the red robot stop laughing. The grimm, unable to pierce its armor, kept throwing themselves at it, making the great red robot fall to the ground.

Even on the ground, the grimm kept piling on top of it until it was buried, and the sound of metal creaking once again echoed across the desert from the sheer weight of the monsters.

"We need to help him."

I tried to take a step forward, but one of the Arc Knights held me by the shoulder.

"Let me go!" I protested, unable to break free from the robot. "You're just going to do nothing?"

Despite my question, my only response was silence.

The sound of an engine began revving inside the red robot, a deep hum that grew louder, as if something inside was coming to life. Red lights started leaking between the openings of the grimm, slivers of light cutting through the darkness covering the metal giant. The sound intensified, a mechanical roar that echoed through the desert, drowning out even the grimm' screeches.

{{TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE!}} Shouted the robot whose name I didn't even know.

The red lights intensified, becoming almost blinding. The engine's hum turned into a deafening roar that only stopped when it suddenly exploded!

BOOOM!

Fire vaporized the nearby grimm as a shockwave spread through the desert. The remains of the red mechanical body scattered across the desert sands.

"No…" I murmured, holding back tears.

As if in response to my grief, the jet began pulling away from the Dread Shadow.

"Now you're gonna run?" I said furiously.

My anger is cut by a guitar riff echoing from inside the Black Bird, accompanied by a song I had never heard before, its vocals growing louder and clearer.

{Ooh, are you ready girls?
Ooh, are you ready now?}​

"What the hell is this?" I asked furiously, suspecting that we were about to retreat.

{{I'm preparing an entrance.}} The blue robot replied in an irritated tone.

{Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart, give it a start
Whoa, yeah
Baby}​

A blond figure surrounded by two tornadoes shoots out of the jet towards Dread Shadow.

"Is that Jaune?"

{Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart, hope it never stops
Ooh, yeah
Baby, yeah}​

{{That idiot.}} Church grumbled irritably. {{I thought undergoing such a drastic and life-threatening procedure would make him grow up a bit.}}

"LEEROY JENKIS!" Jaune shouts, laughing loudly.

{{I guess I'm the true idiot here!}}

[Audra Taurus]​

Sweat runs down my face, mixing with the dust and pulverized rock shards from the battle. The metallic smell of faunus blood hangs in the air. I looked at my forces, desperate silhouettes against the red sunset sky.

"Listen up, soldiers!" I shouted, taking a confident stance despite the pain. "Fatigue is for the weak! Defend our families! Let those soulless monsters feel our fury!"

My eyes turned to the horizon, spotting a black jet circling the titan grimm vulture, where Jaune was facing the Dread Shadow. The grotesque creature that could destroy our city with its abyssal presence alone.

On our battlefield, the grimm kept coming like an endless horde, draining our strength and resources.

"They're too many! And we're out of Dust ammo already!" Shouted a faunus from my team, pointing to the ground-based grimm advancing toward the city center. "We'll have to retreat!"

'She's right.' I thought, worried. 'I can buy them some time, but to do that I need someone to take command. But I don't have anyone in the militia experienced enough to lead them in a retreat.'

At that moment, my eyes turned to the leader of the White Fang wielding her chain whip.

"SIENNA!" I yelled, and the tiger faunus turned to me, revealing a still-fresh scar on her left eye. "Fall back with our forces and organize them into a defensive line."

"And leave you alone?" She asked incredulously. "No way, you crazy cow."

"Sienna…" I murmur pleadingly. "Please."

Swallowing hard, Sienna turned to the militia, who had heard our conversation, and began guiding them to defense points in the city.

Turning toward the horde of monsters approaching, I let out a threat to hype myself up rather than intimidate them.

"Come get me, you syphilitic leftovers of leviathan grimm!"

With a swing, I cleaved three Raptors in half as they leapt toward me.

"ROOOOR!" Roared a Rex stomping nearby.

"You! I already know how to deal with you easily." I murmured with a smile.

I ran low to the ground, dodging the creature's bite. When I reached between its legs, I used my axe to separate the monster's foot from the rest of its body.

"GYAAAAAH" Wailed the creature as it fell to the ground, only to then have its head easily severed.

CHOP!

As time passed, more sweat streamed down my face, mixing with the sand and irritating my skin. Each strike made my axe heavier, even without using my Semblance. But I couldn't stop. Not while those monsters kept invading our city, not while my people were in danger.

My rage began consuming me, giving me more brute strength to fuel each move.

I had already lost count of how many I had taken down, but there were always more to face. They came in a constant wave, a tide of black flesh and white bone armor. The small Raptors were starting to get more annoying thanks to my sluggishness. Proof of that was that I dropped my guard, and one took advantage of it.

CHOMP!

"Argh." I growled in pain, feeling the bite at my heel break my Aura.

I quickly crushed the grimm with a punch, but the damage was done. I'm out of Aura and my foot is injured.

"ROAAAAAAAAR!"

And to make things worse, a Twin Terror Rex was approaching.

"Come on, Audra." I said to myself. "Get up, dammit!"

Even with pain and blood dripping, I managed to stand, gripping my axe. But the moment I looked at the creature, I saw its two mouths open, glowing green, ready to regurgitate acid.

I tried to jump away from the attack.

"Shit!" Only to remember my heel had been chomped, making me fall face-first into the ground. "I'm such an idiot."

The acrid smell of acid filled my nostrils, making it clear my end was near. As despair took over my being, I could only think of one thing.

"Forgive me, Minos…" I lamented with tears in my eyes. "I failed you and our son."

With one last effort, I threw my axe at the two-headed grimmm.

"GYAR!" It struck where the necks met, making it recoil a step.

"Heh!" I laughed sarcastically. "If I had a bit of Aura left to use my Semblance, I could've cut you in half."

Shaking off the pain to focus back on me, the creature took a step forward, its mouths open, already drooling corrosive green liquid.

"ROOAAR!" Roared the monster, acid bubbling in its throat.

But before it could attack, a voice echoed above us, shouting something unintelligible.

"HAKUNA MATATA!" Shouts a strange purple-and-gold blur falling from the sky onto the grimm.

POFF!

"CAIM!" Whimpered the monster as one of its skulls was smashed by the impact.

After the blow, the grimm, now with only one head, staggered and collapsed to the side.

"PUMBA!" Shouted another voice falling from the sky.

This figure descended more slowly, so I was able to examine it.

It was wearing armor like I had never seen before. Heavy and shaped like a humanoid vault, predominantly purple with yellow details. At its back, it seemed to carry a Dust rifle, while in its hands it wielded a… 'rocket hammer?'

[Image Armor]​

[Image Weapon]​

​

The armored individual fell beside the grimm's head, and with a swing of his weapon, propelled by a blue rocket flame, he smashed the skull with one blow.

"Are you crazy, Pumba?" Yelled the being standing in purple armor, helping the other who had landed on top of the grimm. "Why did you throw yourself like that?"

"But it was the boss lady who told us to jump." Said the figure getting up, with a deeper voice than his ally.

"Not belly-first, you idiot." Explained his frustrated ally with an irritating voice, turning his back. "You were supposed to use the jetpack to land, remember?"

"Aaaaah."

Happy to have been saved, I tried to get up and greet those two, but I tripped and fell again.

"Damn!" I muttered once more, frustrated.

"Hold on, commander!" Said the warrior with an squeak voice, pulling a green seed from a holster. "I think you know what this is, right?"

It was one of Jaune's miraculous healing seeds. I quickly ate the seed, already feeling the pain leave my body, replaced by relief and energy.

"Thank you men, but who are you?" I asked, curious.

"Timon and Pumba reporting for duty." Said the taller one with a deep voice, saluting with his left hand.

I stood up, cracking my shoulders and stretching my legs. The shorter one with the irritating voice handed me my axe as I finish stretching.

"Thanks again, but I doubt just two of you in armor will make much of a difference."

My comment made the two glance at each other and chuckle before the shorter one explained why.

"Let's just say there's more than just two of us."

Looking around, I saw what he said was true.

Several pairs of fighters in armor similar to theirs were engaging with grimm, thinning out our enemies before they could reach the defensive line.

"Who are you?" I ask stunned.

The shorter one stepped forward and with his chest puffed out, proclaimed:

"We are the Pride of Steel, we are Knight Shade."

---

 

[brian diaz requena]

nice chapter, juane the milf hunter