Boom!
Sand exploded everywhere, nearly blinding me as my momentum threw me upwards, thankfully sparing me from inhaling sand.
That was close, too close.
Had my senses been any slower or had I reacted a fraction of a second later, I probably would've lost a leg. Though my current position wasn't much better, I could see further due to how high I was but my mobility in the air was virtually zero.
"Tch, so many." I mumbled to myself as I started to count passively again, none from the air at least, I wasn't that unlucky thankfully.
Shaw!
The hollow sound of steel scraping metal reverberated through the air before being quickly lost in the sea of tumultuous screeches. My face scrunched up as the deafening sound hammered away at my heightened hearing.
Flicking the switch on the scabbard of Crocea Mors, I threw it at a Molecrab a short ways away. Keeping it in my peripherals as it stabbed into the eyes before its tiny head exploded to make space for the expanding scabbard.
As gravity took hold of me, I maneuvered to land on my shield before launching myself.
Tap!
I used the extra time that allotted me to finish my counting and boy were the odds against me, around 80 Molecrabs, there's no way this was just a single cast, it had to be at least a colony.
"tch!"
"Screeeee!"
But counting can be a distraction, planning another. The screeching of the Molecrabs brought me back to reality, as a particular Molecrab soar towards me with the involuntary aid of one of its fellow companions.
"You're better than the Grimm at least." I grumbled to myself as I bisected the somewhat intelligent crustation, before having to reel back at the abhorrent stench that assaulted my nose, I could feel my bile rising before I swallowed it back down.
"Far smellier though."
Planting my feet on one of the Molecrabs claws, I launched myself towards my shield again, which even through my tear blurred eyes and nauseous stomach wasn't too hard given the colour difference.
Clamp!
Though, I never made it to my intended target as another lucky Molecrab pinched at my leg, sending the both of us into a roll and tumble due to my momentum which thankfully carried me away from the epicenter of the mountain of Molecrabs.
As the roll came to a stop, I punched the molecrab in the face and watched as it's tiny little brain thing, something slimy and disgustingly sticky, I don't know, splattered all over my hand.
"Ew." I flicked my hand in hopes of getting the clear substance that coated my hand, the smell lingered on it which just made everything worse.
The ever shifting sand made it practically impossible to ever see the Molecrabs tunneling, forcing me to rely on pure instinct and reaction time to cut them down.
Boof!
Like the one that just unearthed itself behind me, but like its previous comrade, it was slain in seconds but that seemed to be the point, a distraction.
clever.
"How about we just talk this out instead?" I laughed nervously as I was quickly swarmed by the whole horde of Molecrabs, not good. This was more of an endurance run then anything else, though my Aura gave me great endurance, it couldn't work miracles.
Wait...
Endurance?
Why am I thinking of fighting all these Molecrabs, I just need to win.
Win.
Nothing else matters, these aren't Grimm, so why don't I get a little reckless now.
I could hear them closing in on me.
20 meters.
I closed my eyes.
15 meters.
I concentrated and started rotating my Aura.
10 meters.
The momentum started to build up as the revolutions soon sped past my level of control.
5 meters.
I could practically feel a claw reach for me as parts of my body exploded from excess Aura.
0 meters.
A claw nearly ensnared me when I took hold of my Aura into a full stop-
Boom!!
Thud!
Nearly collapsing, it was only by pure instinct that my legs held me in a kneeling position as my hands clutched at my chest.
Damn it, no.
Every breath only brought pain as if shards of glass tore at my throat and lungs.
Why can't I breathe?
Why can't I breathe?
Breathe!
My tears mixed with my sweat as my eyes burned even more, everything was either on fire or in pain.
Fire...
Fire consumes air and an explosion would probably do the same but quicker....
Damn it, I'm such an idiot.
Putting my hands on my shaky leg, I forced myself to stand.
Step
Step
Slow and methodical, with trembling legs, I walked until air could fill my lungs again.
Once air returned to me, I felt my lungs flare in pain. My Aura pooling to fix whatever damages were there as I blinked my eyes back into focus.
"Damn it, was that seriously not enough?" Some of the Molecrabs seemed to have survived, which normally would be nothing but a cake walk but I just didn't have either the stamina or Aura to take them on now. I could barely even stand at the moment.
Okay, I counted eight Molecrabs left, they still seemed to be recovering from the explosion so that bought me some time to think, and think I did; 3 small, 2 big and 5 massive.
The 5 massive ones were the most injured, probably closest to the explosion and most likely protected the small Molecrabs from most of the explosion.
The 2 big ones looked to be the healthiest, so I should avoid them the most.
The 3 small ones looked a little better then the massive ones but not by much, easy targets to go for.
Planning, planning. Rush the small ones, then take the massive ones and if I had any energy left, charge the big ones, sounds like a plan to me.
Boom!
I charged at the three small ones that were in what could almost be called a loose triangle formation.
With arms like lead, I slashed through the small Molecrab with some difficulty. Cutting it into three pieces, kicking a severed pincer to one of the two that charged me while I stayed low to the ground as I charged the third.
One down.
It reached to snap me in two.
Sliding under, I stabbed at its head while my momentum pushed me to nearly bisect it but it's organs stopped my slide.
Having to push on it, I nearly flipped the Molecrab over before I got Crocea Mors free.
Giving me little time to react to the third Molecrab as it lunged behind me.
What could I do?
Its momentum won't allow me to just stab at it, but I need to do something!
Something!
I threw Crocea Mors at its head, scoring a clean hit as I threw myself to the left. Narrowly dodging its body as it crashed into the Molecrab I just killed.
Crunch!
"Ah!" numbing pain radiated from my feet, making my head drown blanks as I poured Aura into my ankles to stop whatever Molecrab was under the sand from severing my feet.
Boof!
My breath hitched, feeling colder as three massive Molecrabs surfaced around me with claws that were the size of my entire body.
Another groan of pain nearly escaped me as the claws on my legs clenched harder, forcing me to use more Aura to further strengthen and heal my ankles.
It was already taking a lot just to do this much, if any of these three Molecrabs attacked, I'll be crab food.
I could feel my heart beat faster and faster, so fast that the drumming in my ears drowned out the surrounding world as the massive claws reached to cleave me.
It's been a long time since I've been pushed into a corner like this.
I bit my lower lip as a metallic taste overwhelmed my mouth, it didn't matter.
Faces of bone and red glaring eyes soon filled my vision.
Filled my hate with hate.
Anger.
Grief.
Within my chest, I hate my hate bubble and coil. As something inside me burst.
a well of power filled my very core.
Crackle!
Grimm
How I hate them.
Something warm filled my hands, as screeching rumbled all around me.
Doesn't matter.
Never again.
White flames licked at my palms.
Eating at my flesh
Doesn't matter.
The smell struck me as the Molecrabs caught aflame too.
Never again.
The flames engulfed me, eating away at me.
Doesn't matter.
I heard a distant human scream or was it near?
Never again.
***
The others often complained that the medical dune was too dark for anyone to see but Talc would like to say otherwise, then again. It's mainly due to his semblance granting him sight beyond even the Faunus.
Scratching his nape, his hand softly moving from his head to his side as he paid very close detail to the sand. Not to count the grains this time but to avoid the scathing glare of his twin.
The grumbling of the old man who grumbled near the boy was starting to get real annoying though. Though, he mused that he couldn't really call him a boy now, what was his name again?
He spoke it often when he talked to himself, just the strangest thing Talc has seen, a chuckle nearly escaped him but he'd rather not get beat now, there's a reason why Opal's the leader and not him.
He was after all still responsible for this incident, some of the few more outgoing members have taken quite a liking to John, John? Jong? Jaune.
"Could you explain what happened to the young Huntsman?" As always, Danalin could read Opal like a book, thankfully some of the attention away from him, he had no doubt it would quickly be placed back on him with a higher intensity.
As he went to open his mouth, Opal cut him off. "And simplify, I don't need any of that Aura Talk from you, simplify." He shot her a glare that wilted under the intensity of her own, why did she even care so much?
"Well, I sent him on the test I told you about a will ago-"
"The test which so conveniently matched exactly what I told you to do?" As if her sharp words weren't enough to make Talc sweat, seeing Opal's Aura pumped out her body and into the surrounding sand, mending and spreading would certainly do the trick.
Gulp
"Well, we can get back to that later." Talc clapped his hands, the sand around him grew rigid as if rearing to spear him. "I sent him to fight a cast of Molecrabs which quickly turned out to be more than a single cast, it was a colony which he of course faced alone, what alerted me to something behind wrong was a massive explosion and the high levels of Aura which let- ahem, which then quickly led to a fire that was entirely composed of Aura... with Jaune at the center." Talc bit his tongue as he could feel the urge to continue his rambling for a little longer, don't get him wrong, Jaune's injuries were grave but that boy was anything if not prodigious.
"How did the fire start?"
"Well, that would be an advanced Aura technique." His tone seemed to perplex the two, at least enough for the sand to no longer ripple aggressively around him.
"What?" This time it was Opal that asked a question.
"He used an advanced form of Aura manipulation that requires one to link their emotions and Aura which is as strong as it is volatile if ya don't have either the Aura control or emotional control to withstand the strain- Ow!" Talc leaped with a yelp as a thin slab of sand slapped him across the head, turning to glare at his sister a half angry and half confused glare challenged him.
"Did you understand anything that this bastard said?" without even breaking eye contact, Opal asked a slightly fidgety Danalin.
"Not a clue ma'am."
Betrayal of the highest order!
Talc deflated, conceding to his sister, his eyes once more wandering towards the ground.
"Think about it like this, say a regular guy like Danalin here were to run from Vacuo to Vale without stopping and having to fend for himself. No huntsman training and no physical fitness, that's basically what Jaune did, throwing himself into the deep end of a sinkhole with no rope and only his hands to climb." Talc knew he circled back in his explanation but there's a big reason why he hardly ever teaches anyone, it's just not his thing.
Glancing at the charred and slightly alive body of Jaune, the kid only had a few days at most before even his ridiculous levels of Aura just wouldn't be enough to heal him, he's just too inefficient.
"Why didn't you stop him or even just warn him?" Opal asked a really stupid question.
"Because there was no reason to think he would even be able to sync his emotions with his Aura yet, hell, it took me two years before I could sync them."
Shuffle
Seeing Opal's steel glare shimmer down would normally be cathodic if not for the looming death of his student. Turning to look where Danalin had gone off two, a soft light emanated from Jaune as Danalin used his semblance to accelerate Jaune's Aura.
"Jaune, ah, didn't know you would get all sappy now." it took a whole lot of self control to not retort with his own observation but not now, for now. He needed Opal to leave and an argument would do the exact opposite.
Waiting by Jaune's side, he could see how Jaune's aura brushed at his wounds with only a small amount sticking and healing. Had he been another person, Jaune would've already been dead, emotions and Aura are just too volatile to ever mix.
Opal left after a while, leaving me and Danalin in a tense silence as I glanced at the open curtain.
"I'll going to close that, whatever you're going to do, make it quick." Danalin hobbled towards the curtain that acted as a door. Glancing back at Jaune I steeled myself, a chance like this wouldn't ever come about, it was now or never.
"Don't disappoint me kiddo."
His own cyan Aura glimmered as he drew something from his eyes, an intense brilliance resisted his pull but his will soon over the natural force, an orb of pure cyan radiance soon ejected from his eyes, running down his arm and into his palm.
Said palm then slowly was placed upon the eyes of Jaune's, his scathing hot Aura mixed with Talc's cool Aura. connecting their Aura's to act as a pathway for the orb to pass through.
"What the?"
With wide eyes, Talc watched as his Aura naturally integrated and was greedily accepted by Jaune's own. That wasn't very normal, Aura much like blood required a certain type to be accepted.
No distractions.
Talc took a part of his core, essence, and passed it to Jaune's eyes, that too being accepted. It was almost laughable how greedy Jaune's Aura was, then again Jaune did seem a little special. Talc only hoped Jaune wouldn't question how he had two semblances now.
With a part of himself now gone, Talc felt a strange coldness cause his skin to bump.
"You better become someone super famous because this is the shit I go through to keep you alive." Talc grumbled, quite jealous of Jaune never ending Aura supplies, what he would give to have even a fraction of that.
Hhhaaa, you're a real monster Jaune.
***
"Ugh..."
What happened?
Blinking my eyes, I found my arms wouldn't move, actually. I couldn't move at all.
Sighing, I rest my head on the sand as I mulled over what landed me here.
Right... Talc's stupid test.
How the hell was I even supposed to pass?
Fire, right fire.
How did it even start?
It felt as if it was within me, why?
My Aura churned as I left my senses expand.
"Dark." flexing my fingers, it seems my body was healed enough to move, though my legs still trembled a bit as I stood up. Squinting my eyes, I held my hands out to feel for a wall and cautiously walked around.
Eventually, I adapted to the dark and could start to make out distinct figures.
"Aaahhhhh!"
"Gah! Let go of my face brat!" the old wrinkly goggled old man barked at me
Falling on my butt, I backed away, ready to get my Aura up, it washed over me, so smoothly I was almost almost surprised I was doing it.
"What the hell is going on?"
"Get some water down your gullet and stop acting like a ravager without a head!" oh. Wait, it was just Danalin, haha. I was acting quite unreasonable.
"Sorry..."
Drinking the water he handed me, I quickly shuffled out of the sand igloo. Freezing once I got outside, both literally and metaphorically.
It was chilly outside, my shoulders twitched as I looked around to the unfamiliar sand. It was daytime, so why were so many people up and about?
Either I've been in a coma for a year, or we're in a village because are those houses made of wood? Mud bricks too?
"Huh, this is incredible!" I laughed as I took long bounds towards the village, I wonder what sort of people I'll meet, hopefully they're not as crazy as Talc and Opal.
The cacophony of chatter filled my ears like red sap to an Ursa; smiles, laughter, haggling and even dancing. Dancing! When was the last time I could dance?
Walking through the roads of people, so many people, I walked into a flare space filled to the brim with wooden tents as some people in loose clothes sold clothes.
Oohh, a market, might as well look around.
Bump!
"Oh, sorry, didn't see you there." Jaune quickly apologized to the shorter girl who seemed to be a few years older then him, only for her to growl at him, what?
"Watch where your goi- by the damned brothers, why are you so tall? Don' matter, Stay outta my way, I've got much better places to be then lousing around with a dork like you!" the strange girl barked at him before running off again, clearly having Aura given her speed.
Wait, how did I know that?
Rubbing his cheek where her wolf ears tickled him, Jaune walked in the sea of people.
"Come on, it's just one belt for some meat."
"This is some good old Atleasian tech, you can nib a few of 'em bastards with it"
"I'll give you ten slabs of Mole meat for about three kilos of your coal."
Such a great place to be, all the food around really amplified my hunger.
"Hey, kid, you a huntsman in training?" a guy with loose muted green clothing wrapped an arm around me as he continued. "I know a little something about Shade's orientation exam, how about this, I help you, you help me. Eh?"
"I'm sorry sir but I'm a huntsman, I don't need a huntsman school." I lied through my teeth as I moved out of his arm, seeing how he didn't know I was sweating, he must've not caught on that I didn't have any money.
With my senses mostly recovered, my hearing reach further then before.
Bzzzt.
"And with that ends the first round of the Vytal festival. Sadly team BZAR of Vacuo just couldn't beat the sophisticated teamwork of team CNSK of Atlas." The Commentator was booed rather loudly by the surrounding Vacuans. Woah, they even have sports, I wonder what kind of sport is it.
Before I knew it, the sun started to set as the sky grew orange, a familiar face spotted me.
"Well, well. Don't ya just look like a village boy going to the big bad city for the first time, calm yourself a little, yar scaring the locals." Talc chuckled as he walked up to me
I smiled at him, he grinned back.
I walked towards him, he looked nervous.
BOOM!
It was a fluid motion, my Aura naturally moved as my body did.
Instantaneously.
Talc was thrown back a couple of meters before unsurprising, spinning to land on his feet. Whipping his face as he looked at me with an unreadable expression.
"That's for leaving me in that stupid test you bastard." I didn't even try to hide how my lips quirked, his face was surprisingly strong, I lightly shook my hand as the numbness went away.
"Yeah, I sorta should have expected that, let's take this somewhere else, don't want to scare the locals anymore then you've already done." he was right, a quick glance around showed the road to be more barren then earlier, with those that remained whispering to each other, they looked scared of, me?
"Tch, stop being so damn smart." I followed him even if it felt weird to be looked at like the problem, it left a sour taste in my mouth.
I will win this time, for sure.