Jaune rode the gigantic Nevermore through the black skies as though it had always belonged beneath him. The unwilling beast kept shrieking in fury while the blazing whip wrapped around its neck continuously redirected every attempt it made to escape.
Its enormous wings beat violently against the air, generating tiny hurricanes that scattered drifting ash and pulverized fragments of moon rock in every direction, yet every ounce of that tremendous strength had become another weapon in Jaune's hands.
With a sharp pull upon the flaming tether, he wrenched the skyscraper-sized Grimm sideways, forcing its trajectory directly into another gigantic Nevermore diving toward a cluster of LUCID awakened.
The collision resembled two mountains slamming together. Black feathers, Grimm flesh and crimson energy erupted outward in an expanding shockwave as both colossal birds tumbled through the air, crushing dozens of smaller flying Grimm beneath their combined mass before spiraling apart.
The battlefield above the moon instantly descended into greater chaos as enormous aerial predators found themselves colliding with one another instead of descending upon humanity.
The reprieve lasted scarcely a heartbeat before another threat emerged. Far above the tangled mass of Nevermores, a gigantic Manticore folded its wings inward and fixed its monstrous gaze upon the impossible rider controlling one of the Sleeper's own creations.
Its maw spread unnaturally wide as countless streams of condensed runic energy gathered together within its throat, compressing until they formed a single incandescent beam that resembled a concentrated lance of sunlight.
The atmosphere distorted around the gathering attack, as the sheer heat radiating from it was palpable enough to be seen. When the Manticore finally unleashed it, te beam screamed across the battlefield with enough force to bisect mountains, aimed directly toward both Jaune and the Nevermore beneath him.
Yet just before the torrent of destructive energy reached its target, it simply... vanished. There was no explosion, collision, or visible defense. One moment the beam occupied the space between predator and prey, and the next that entire stretch of existence had become empty, as though the attack had never been fired at all.
The Manticore visibly hesitated. Its monstrous features twisted into unmistakable confusion, instincts incapable of comprehending why its own technique had vanished from reality.
That moment of bewilderment proved fatal.
Jaune calmly raised one hand, opened his palm toward the stunned beast and released everything he had just stolen. The exact same beam erupted outward from his hand with a much greater violence it had originally possessed, crossing the intervening distance almost instantaneously before crashing directly into the Manticore's face.
Flesh, bone and condensed Grimm matter vaporized beneath the impact as the creature's head exploded apart in a blinding eruption of crimson and molten black.
Its enormous body convulsed violently before beginning the long descent toward the battlefield below, shedding ash and disintegrating flesh as gravity reclaimed it.
Jaune barely spared the falling corpse a glance. The skies remained saturated with enemies, and every second spent admiring destruction, was another second the Grimm continued threatening the awakened below.
With another vicious crack of the flaming harness, he forced the Nevermore beneath him into an abrupt banking turn that carried them directly through the densest concentrations of aerial Grimm.
Rank Zero and Rank One Nevermores burst apart beneath the wake generated by their larger kin, while flocks of smaller flying Grimm scattered in panicked disarray before the colossal beast barreled straight through them.
Jaune himself had already begun attacking independently. Condensed spears of brilliant flame materialized one after another within his hands before being hurled into the enormous swarms surrounding them.
Yet the projectiles refused to remain ordinary spears. Midflight they expanded violently, unfurling into immense burning nets that spread across the skies and entangled dozens of Grimm simultaneously before detonating into towering infernos.
Other spears reshaped themselves into gigantic flaming hands whose incandescent fingers snapped shut around clusters of airborne Grimm before crushing them together in explosions of molten fire.
Everywhere Jaune looked, another weapon emerged from the dwindling reservoir of stolen flame runic energy circulating through his body. Rank Zero and Rank One Grimm fell by the hundreds, their ashes joining the perpetual storm already sweeping across the moon while enormous sections of the airspace were abruptly cleared for LUCID's awakened.
The Nevermore beneath him had tolerated enough. Whether driven by instinct or some deeper intelligence, the skyscraper-sized beast finally attempted to rid itself of the impossible parasite controlling its movements.
Its body shuddered violently as runic energy surged through every feather, immense cracks racing across its flesh while its form began dividing apart. Jaune immediately recognized the technique.
The creature intended to split itself into multiple independent bodies, overwhelming him through numbers before escaping entirely. Within moments one gigantic Nevermore became two, then three, each clone peeling away from the original like living fragments attempting to regain individual existence.
Before the process could continue further, however, Jaune simply reached toward the phenomenon conceptually. His fingers closed around empty air, yet what he grasped was not flesh but the runic energy sustaining the cloning itself.
Plunder activated and the power enabling duplication vanished from the Nevermore entirely, flowing into Jaune's own reserves before the Grimm even realized what had happened. The creature instinctively attempted to repeat the process, only for another invisible force to settle across its body.
This time Jaune invoked Null. The concept behind the cloning technique simply... stopped functioning. The three incomplete Nevermores abruptly shuddered before collapsing unwillingly back together, flesh and feathers forcibly recombining into their original singular form. The unfortunate creature released what could only be described as an indignant, deeply offended squawk as its attempted escape ended in complete humiliation.
Jaune allowed himself the faintest smirk before rotating the gigantic flaming whip between both hands. The tether snapped through the air with a sound resembling cracking thunder before he violently redirected the unwilling mount once again.
The Nevermore had no choice but to obey. Dragged entirely against its will, it hurtled directly into another cluster of battling Rank Twos where colossal Grimm struggled against LUCID awakened amidst storms of runic destruction.
The gigantic bird became a living battering ram, smashing through allies before Jaune carefully angled its momentum to avoid the awakened while maximizing devastation amongst the Grimm.
As he continued guiding the creature through increasingly reckless maneuvers, he became aware of an unwelcome sensation within himself. The reservoir of stolen flame runic energy was nearly exhausted.
Every spear, whip and redirected beam had steadily drained what he had stolen from the unfortunate Sleepless operative earlier. Soon nothing would remain. Jaune briefly examined the dwindling embers circulating through his Rune before quietly murmuring to himself,
"Hmm. Might as well use it all up then."
An idea formed almost instantly. Rather than continuing to suppress the Nevermore's stolen cloning ability completely, Jaune deliberately relaxed the pressure exerted by Null. He did not release it entirely. He merely loosened the conceptual restraint enough that the Grimm sensed opportunity.
Predictably, instinct took over.
The enormous Nevermore immediately attempted splitting apart once again, desperate to rid itself of the rider that had turned it into an unwilling siege engine. Flesh divided, and wings separated.
The gigantic body fragmented into multiple immense Nevermores. This time the process succeeded.
Or so the creature believed.
To its profound dismay, every newly formed body discovered a Jaune already standing atop its back. None of the duplicates possessed Jaune's full presence, yet each carried enough substance to be unmistakably real.
Every clone held a flaming whip fashioned from the last fading remnants of stolen fire runic energy, and despite those flames already weakening visibly, each immediately seized control of its unwilling mount.
The skies descended into utter pandemonium as three colossal Nevermores, each ridden by an identical Jaune, suddenly crashed through the battlefield in entirely different directions. One drove its mount directly into another flock of gigantic Grimm, reducing the engagement to a whirlwind of feathers and explosions.
Another forced its Nevermore into repeated collisions with airborne smaller Manticores, while the third descended lower to disrupt aerial attacks targeting LUCID's Rank Twos. Even after the fire whips finally began dissipating into glowing embers, the duplicate Jaunes simply abandoned their mounts altogether.
They launched themselves from Grimm to Grimm with astonishing physical prowess, fists pulverizing smaller airborne creatures before bounding onward toward new targets. Several copies plunged directly toward the battlefield below, crashing into grounded Rank Two Sleepless operatives that were already engaged against LUCID veterans.
Though lacking access to Jaune's runes, they retained enough raw strength and stolen runic energy to become dangerous combatants in their own right, adding further confusion to an already incomprehensible battlefield.
High above the carnage, the original Jaune remained calmly standing atop the primary Nevermore, observing his scattered bodies with quiet amusement. A small smirk tugged at his lips as he watched the duplicates sow chaos across every corner of the battlefield, each acting independently while drawing enemy attention away from humanity's main force.
Nevertheless, he immediately recognized the shortcomings of the Nevermore's Runic energy. The limitations remained painfully obvious. Those bodies were reflections rather than true extensions of himself.
They possessed only roughly half his physical capability and lacked the defining runes that truly made him terrifying.
None could invoke Weakness, Plunder or Null. They existed only through the borrowed statistics and fragments of stolen runic energy he had distributed among them.
Effective, certainly. Yet far from ideal.
"Unfortunate," Jaune muttered quietly as the final wisps of stolen flame dispersed completely from his body.
Without hesitation he abandoned the tactic. Sprinting across the Nevermore's broad back, he reached the creature's neck before splaying his palm outwards akin to using the shape of blade. A single clean strike followed and the edge passed effortlessly through flesh, bone and Grimm matter alike.
The gigantic head separated from its body almost instantly, momentum carrying both halves apart before the corpse began collapsing into drifting ash beneath his feet.
Gravity reclaimed him once again. Jaune entered freefall, calmly preparing to Plunder the distance toward yet another Sleepless operative below.
Before he could activate the technique, however, his senses caught subtle movement approaching from the side. Rather than resisting it, he simply adjusted his body slightly, angling his descent toward the incoming object.
A broad metallic platform swept beneath him with perfect timing, allowing him to land smoothly upon one knee before the construct continued racing across the battlefield without losing momentum.
Rising from his landing, Jaune looked toward the platform's creator. Pyrrha stood only a few steps away, crimson hair flowing violently in the rushing wind while her expression suggested she wanted simultaneously to embrace him and throttle him unconscious.
She stared absolute daggers at him, lips pressed into a thin line that clearly months of unanswered questions.
Yet beneath that outward frustration, Jaune's weakness sense perceived something entirely different. Beneath Pyrrha's glare lay overwhelming relief, joy and quiet happiness so intense it bordered upon painful.
She was simply glad he was alive. Jaune smiled warmly.
"Nice catch, Pyr. Seems you've grown a lot stronger since we last saw each other."
Pyrrha opened her mouth almost instinctively before closing it again.
"I... yeah."
Her shoulders relaxed fractionally as the fierce glare finally dissolved into a weary sigh. Questions flooded her thoughts. Where had he gone? What had happened to him? Why did it seem as if his Plunder rune had grown so impossibly powerful? And more importantly... why had he disappeared for so long?
Jaune sensed every one of them lingering just beneath the surface. Unfortunately, neither of them possessed the luxury of asking. Pyrrha understood that just as well as he did. Without another word, both immediately returned their attention to the battlefield.
The metallic platform streaked across the warzone with astonishing speed, carrying them from one engagement to another. Pyrrha became a blur of elegant motion, phasing effortlessly through incoming attacks before countering with surgical precision, multiple metal spears dancing through impossible trajectories that continually disrupted Sleepless formations.
Beside her, Jaune fought with utterly different philosophy. Rather than relying upon techniques of his own, he continually robbed enemies of theirs and used them back on their owners.
Fire became his before being hurled back at its creator. Lightning vanished from one combatant only to erupt beneath another. Weapons disappeared from grasping hands before reappearing elsewhere entirely.
Thoughts unraveled, memories vanished and even comprehension dissolved to permanently become Jaune's own.
Sleepless operatives found themselves staring blankly at empty palms where weapons or runes had existed moments earlier, only to be struck by those very same abilities redirected against them. Every engagement ended almost before it properly began, the battlefield steadily tilting further toward LUCID's favor.
LUCID members that Jaune passed couldn't help but watch in awe as he carved a line through the enemies like a comet of unstoppable destruction.
Enemies that they had just been struggling against were simply rendered into vegetative states or directly destroyed due to being unable to move or having their powers redirected back at them.
Even Pyrrha couldn't help but watch Jaune's battle prowess with a slight incredulity. In her mind she couldn't help but wonder.
'Is this truly the power of a Rank 2?'
As these thoughts were racing through their minds, everything changed. A peculiar sensation rippled across Jaune's awareness.
Weakness reacted, not toward an individual nearby but towards the distant horizon,
His expression immediately darkened.
Turning slowly, with his hand grasped around the neck of a Sleepless operative, he looked far across the crimson landscape where something enormous tore through the skies toward the battlefield.
At first he thought it another Grimm, but then the details became visible, and that assumption died instantly. The creature possessed the elongated body of an immense worm, yet every other aspect of its anatomy defied reason.
It resembled less a natural Grimm and more an eldritch nightmare dragged screaming into reality. Gigantic fleshy wings protruded from its sides, each one stitched together from pulsating muscle and sinew rather than feathers or membrane.
Hundreds of clawed human-like hands emerged continuously from its body, grasping desperately at empty air while writhing tentacles slithered between them in ceaseless motion. The entire monstrosity looked as though flesh, Grimm essence and some deeper cosmic horror had merged into a single impossible organism.
Before anyone could properly react, a thunderous voice boomed outward from the creature, rolling across the battlefield with enough force to momentarily drown every clash of steel, every explosion and every scream.
"Retreat down below, all my brethren!"
The command echoed across the moon like divine decree. Sleepless operatives immediately began disengaging while Grimm shifted formation in response.
Jaune froze at the voice. Recognition struck him instantly.
He knew it and most importantly... he hated it. Memories he would rather bury forever stirred unwillingly within his mind.
Then another presence erupted into view behind the monstrous worm. A colossal Eastern Dragon surged across the crimson skies, scales blazing like molten gold while overwhelming runic power gathered deep within its throat.
The dragon inhaled before unleashing an incandescent beam of fire so brilliant it seemed to split the heavens themselves. The torrent roared across the battlefield directly toward the eldritch worm, illuminating everything beneath it in blinding gold. Beside the dragon flew another gigantic figure, an immense black crow whose wings seemingly merged with the black sky with every powerful beat.
They were not arriving but had been chasing it. Jaune recognized both manifestations immediately.
Taiyang and Qrow.
He hadn't seen either of them for a while now. He had been in contact with Qrow but in person, it had been a long time. A faint smile almost formed before reality caught up with him. If Taiyang and Qrow were pursuing that creature personally...
Then there could be only one explanation.
Jaune's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Carnis..." he whispered, the name leaving his lips with quiet certainty as every fragment of amusement vanished from his face.