Son of Babylon

Chapter 10

4 years ago

Gilgamesh stood looking over the edge of the Hanging Garden down to the ice like capital of Atlas. He felt a slight ping of anger at the sight of the Kingdom. 'What is this bland and dreary place? Such a fitting home for the humans.' Gilgamesh thought before the sound of foot falls drew his attention. He turned to see Jaune walking up with a black coat with white fur around the collar. "What are you doing?" Jaune asked stepping up beside him looking down over Atlas as well. "Please don't tell me you're thinking of attacking them?"

Gilgamesh glared at Jaune for asking such a stupid question before shaking his head. "No, while Atlas is a worthless Kingdom; I won't kill them. Even if I want to." Jaune just sighed but didn't argue with Gilgamesh. He turned looking over the Garden as snow slowly fell from the sky around them. The lights of the Gardens shining brightly making a magnificent sight. It was a spectacular scene as the snow was changed to a green and gold color from the lights of the Garden shining off it. It was amazing and while Gilgamesh didn't like Atlas he had to admit that the Garden did have a nice look in the snow. "What did you want Jaune?"

Jaune let out a deep breath, steam filling up before his face before fading as he turned to Gilgamesh. "Well I wanted to know how your talk with that General went?" A scowl stretched across Gilgamesh's face in an instant as he turned from Jaune with a growl. Gilgamesh's reaction was enough of an answer for Jaune to understand what happened. But he stayed silent to wait for his reaction.

"His name was Ironwood and he is by far the biggest fool I have ever met in my life!" Jaune just passed a glance to Gilgamesh as he glared down at Atlas. "That man dared to try and order me around! He demanded that I join the council to support the other kingdoms! The fool even had the nerve to call me a fool if I didn't! If I ever meet the General again I will force him to his knees as he begs for my forgiveness!"

Jaune just sighed pocketing his hands looking up to the sky. "I guess your anger is understandable. For someone to come into your Kingdom and tell you what is best for you to do is pretty insulting." Gilgamesh nodded at him.

"That is correct, I'm glad that we're leaving this frozen wasteland soon. I don't want to spend another year in this pit." Jaune just shrugged at Gilgamesh's words turning around to walk away.

"I guess, but at least we've finally dealt with this stupid Atlas debacle. I'd rather not have an army show up saying we must head to their Kingdom. That's just annoying." Gilgamesh had to agree with him on that as he turned around to follow Jaune into the Garden to get out of the snow. Still though Gilgamesh paused turning to look out over the frozen wasteland that made Atlas feeling a strange sense of Mana coming from just past the kingdom. He wasn't sure what it was but he knew it was a threat. 'I best keep an eye out incase whatever is creating that mana comes closer.' Gilgamesh thought before entering the Garden to go take a hot bath.

Present day

Jaune stepped forward through Forever Fall passing through the red bushes just to come up to a tattered and destroyed clearing. He saw Cardin laid flat in a heap mumbling in pain as he held a wound in his side. The ground was stained red with Cardin's blood only being darker than the leaves that covered the rest of the forest floor. Jaune just huffed at the sight of Cardin before looking around to see what might have caused all the damage. He slowly stepped past Cardin before pausing as Cardin grabbed his leg. "H-help me… W-we need to l-leave before it comes back." Jaune simply kicked Cardin's hand away from him before turning to look over the clearing. He stepped forward into the center of the clearing looking around closely at the tree line. His eyes scanning over everything closely before stopping at the sight of something black moving through the trees. 'So that is where the Mana is coming from. It must be another corrupted Heroic Spirit.' Jaune thought as he looked over the black mass carefully.

He looked back to Cardin who groaned trying to crawl away. He shook his head at him before turning back to the object in the trees. He stared closely at it before opening one of Bab-ilu's portals and fired a spear at it. He was about to turn away only to see the black object shoot forward towards the spear catching it. Jaune's eyes widened in shock as the object entered the clearing revealing a giant black knight covered in a thick black smoke that seemed to be leaking from its armor. In its hand was the spear Jaune fired as it quickly closed the distance between them? 'How the hell did that thing catch my spear!' Jaune cursed raising Enki in tonfa form to block the black knight's attack as it slashed out with the spear. The strike hit Jaune with so much force it made his hands go numb as he was sent flying back across the clearing. He quickly flipped in the air righting himself holding a hand down sliding it over the ground balancing him. When his feet touched the ground again just at the edge of the clearing the black knight was on him, a deep growl escaping it as it brought the spear down on Jaune.

He quickly cart wheeled to the side barely dodging the strike as the earth exploded where he stood. He cursed before spinning on his hand slashing out with his tonfa's. The strike was blocked by the knight as it grabbed the tonfa in hand. Jaune cursed again before using the knight's hold to steady himself as he brought his knee down slamming it into the knight's head. The strike made a loud clang of metal but barely affected the knight. Jaune growled in frustration letting go of his tonfa pushing away from the knight just as it lifted him over head. Jaune flipped through the air landing on the ground just in time to duck under another attack. He growled taking his sword in both hands slashing up cutting across the knight's chest in a spray of sparks making the knight stagger back dropping the spear and his second blade. Jaune quickly retrieved the second half to Enki before jumping back away from the black knight opening all ten portals of Bab-ilu before firing as many Noble phantasms as he could.

Jaune had expected that to be the end of the fight, to watch the knight get rendered into a pincushion of Noble Phantasms only for the black knight to easily catch and deflect each Noble Phantasm that came its way. Jaune's eyes widened in shock which proved detrimental to him as that moment of shock gave the black knight enough time to close in on him. Jaune's body reacted for him quickly bringing his blades up to block the black knights strike as it cut at him with the Noble Phantasm. Jaune barely blocked the strike though as the blade of Durandal cut into his side ripping through his shirt, but not his skin. Jaune could only assume this was because of his aura having been unlocked. 'So there was one upside to aura.' Jaune thought before being sent flying across the clearing crashing into the tree line with an explosion of red leaves and dust. The black knight let out a mighty roar slamming a foot into the ground that made the ground shake.

Cardin dragged himself to a seated position against a tree trunk staring in shock at where Jaune had crashed and at the black knight. He couldn't believe what he had seen as he watched the black knight roar again, the black smoke around its body spilling out almost like a tar. Only the sound of twigs snapping drew his attention as he turned to a sight that made his eyes widen in shock. Jaune stepped out of the red dust cloud a hand held against his neck as he bent his head to the side till a loud pop could be heard. His shirt was ripped apart revealing his chest and the marks of Bab-ilu while a sheen of white energy flickered over him. He sighed in relief before turning to the black knight which roared at him again. He slowly glared at the Black knight before taking a deep breath. "I must admit, I haven't been pushed so far into a corner before in my life." The knight let out another roar tightening its hold on Noble Phantasm. Jaune glared at the knight's hand his eyes turning red as the tattoos over his body began to glow. "You worthless abomination! You dare to use my treasures! You dare to strike me! For this you shall face a fate fare worse than death!"

Jaune roared out throwing his hands to the side as golden portals began to open up around him. More and more portals opened up as Jaune drew forth Enki. "Now you beast, let us see how long you stand in defiance!" Jaune shouted slamming the pommels of Enki together as it formed into a bow. The black knight let out a roar before charging forward as the portals around Jaune began to fire off. Countless numbers of Noble Phantasms began to pepper the knight who simply began to deflect, block and parry the strikes away. Jaune stood back in the tree line drawing back Enki's golden string. A golden arrow appeared against the bow as Jaune took aim. He took careful aim watching as the black knight continued to move close with each Noble Phantasm he caught and deflected. "Sword of the End, Enki!" Jaune shouted the arrow in hand glowed brightly as he released it letting it sail through the air towards the knight.

The black knight quickly deflected two more Noble Phantasm's before turning on the arrow which he brought an axe down on in hopes of stopping it. Only the force of the arrow striking into the axe had so much force it sent his arm flying back with a giant explosion that sent the black knight crashing through the forest with a shock wave that uprooted the tree line. Cardin, who had been sat watching the display in complete and under shock, was sent flying back through the trees by the blast before crashing into another tree farther into the forest. After the explosion, had cleared though Cardin looked on into the clearing as a giant crater was seen where the black knight had been. Jaune stood off to the side having not moved from his spot at the tree line panting heavily. 'Damn, I used up way to much Mana in that attack.' Jaune thought quickly taking a knee using Enki as a crutch to hold him up. He looked up behind him as all the golden portals had faded away. 'Did I just open Babylon?' Jaune had no idea how he summoned so many portals but he knew that he had used up all his Mana with Enki's activation.

This was the second time he ever invoked Enki's name. Still this wasn't Enki's full power, it was just the start of it. Jaune got lucky though seeing as the attack had knocked the knight away. He was certain it didn't kill it, the knight had to of been wounded though. Jaune moved to get to his feet only for the sound of people shouting to draw his attention. He turned into the tree line just in time to see his team and team RWBY alongside Glynda running into the clearing. They stared at the destruction before them all before turning to Jaune as he pushed himself to his feet.

"The beast is gone, I failed to kill it." Jaune turned looking into the forest to sense for any Mana only to feel nothing. He let out a sigh of relief at this knowing full well if the knight hadn't disappeared he wouldn't have been able to beat it seeing as he used up all his Mana. "Cardin is over there, he needs medical attention." Jaune moved to walk towards his team only to feel the world around him spin as he fell to his knees. 'I really over did it.' Jaune thought as he blacked out.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jaune's eyes slowly opened to the sight of a white ceiling. He turned to look around the room he found himself in to see it was a hospital like room. 'I must be in the medical bay. I really did over do it in that fight.' He thought slowly sitting up as he kicked his legs off the side of the bed. He looked down at himself to see he was shirtless but still had his pants on. 'Looks like I wasn't out too long.' He thought as he sat for a second before pushing himself to his feet staggering some but balancing himself at the end. He took a deep breath before turning, opening the door to his room looking out into the hallway. As he did this he came to the sight of Ozpin talking to a doctor at the front desk. He huffed at the sight of the man but pushed out into the hall walking towards him. "What brings you here?"

Jaune asked surprising Ozpin and the doctor. "Mr. Arc you're up." Ozpin almost sounded surprised but Jaune could tell the bastard had already known he would be up sooner or later. The doctor did look surprised as he came up to Jaune looking him over. Jaune quickly waved the doctor way as he stared at Ozpin. The doctor looked at him questionably but left when Ozpin told him it was ok to go. "How are you feeling? The doctor had said you were suffering from exhaustion when we brought you in earlier today."

Jaune nodded at Ozpin glad he came up with an excuse for him. He slowly crossed his arms over his chest. "Good, at least it wasn't anything to bad. But you still haven't answered my question. What brings you here?"

"You're right. Please forgive me." Ozpin straightened up waving a hand back towards the room Jaune walked out of. "Why don't we talk in private?" Jaune watched as Ozpin walked past him towards the room. Jaune thought about just walking away and leaving Ozpin to his own devices. But he figured he could humor Ozpin and listen to him. Jaune walked back into the room where Ozpin stood waiting for him.

"So, are you going to answer the question?" Ozpin nodded at him waving for Jaune to sit down. He just ignored the gesture waiting for Ozpin to answer him. Ozpin just stood for a second before sighing and reaching up to adjust his collar.

"Right, well I guess we should get down to business." Jaune crossed his arms over his chest again slowly tiring of Ozpin's constant attempts at filler. "First I should tell you that thanks to your actions Mr. Winchester is doing fine thanks to you saving him." Jaune cocked a brow in surprise at Ozpin's words.

"Who said I saved him?" Jaune asked surprising Ozpin. He looked up to Jaune as if expecting him to elaborate but he didn't. He cleared his throat before speaking up again.

"Right, well you actions had the added benefit of saving Mr. Winchester so I have to thank you for that." Ozpin said only for Jaune to roll his eyes at him.

"Please, that doesn't sound like a benefit. It sounds like a draw back." Jaune waved his hand to the side dismissively surprising Ozpin again. "Really if anything Cardin should have died out there. That would have been best. Belligerent little fools like him have no right to even be Huntsman."

That got a glare out of Ozpin but he took a deep breath calming himself. "Yes well it doesn't change the fact you saved him. Now as enjoyable as it may be to argue our beliefs on this topic I want to get to the real matter at hand." Jaune had been waiting for this, knowing fool well Ozpin was going to try and question him about the battle. "Now you see Mr. Winchester had told Ms. Goodwitch and I about the strange black knight that attacked him and his team. He spoke about how powerful the knight was and the battle you went through with the knight was. He had difficulties explaining what he saw, so I felt maybe you could explain your side of the story."

Jaune shrugged at Ozpin turning away from Ozpin. "I guess I can do that, ask what you want to know and I will tell you what happened."

Ozpin nodded at this before sitting down on one of the chairs in the room. "Let's start then. Cardin claimed that in your battle with the Black Knight is that you summoned weapons through your semblance's portals. Now this is something I have seen you do, but the part that is interesting is that he said after you took a very jarring attack, you were able to summon a wall of portals. Is this true?"

Jaune nodded at Ozpin. "Yes, as you know I didn't have any aura before, so I assume because my aura was unlocked my semblance was able to fully manifest." Ozpin nodded at this answer but Jaune could tell Ozpin didn't fully believe him.

"Alright then, the next thing Cardin claimed was that your weapon turned into a bow and I'm paraphrasing but he claimed that your bow fired a magic golden arrow from nowhere. He also claimed that the arrow created an explosion that destroyed the clearing. Glynda could also vouch for this, seeing as the clearing was indeed destroyed." When Ozpin said this his eyes seemed to harden as he stared at Jaune closely. Jaune narrowed his eyes back at Ozpin wondering why he seemed so interested in the magic part. He rather not reveal anything about himself to Ozpin.

"I guess Cardin must have been pretty out of it. My semblance allows me to store things within it. So the idea of me storing arrows isn't too out there. Also have you never heard of dust arrows that explode?" Ozpin narrowed his eyes at Jaune's smart ass answer, but didn't seem to argue with him. He took a deep breath standing up and turning to Jaune.

"I will take my leave then, but you should know Jaune, you'll need to trust me. I'm only trying to help you." Jaune scoffed at Ozpin.

"If that's true then you wouldn't be hiding things yourself. You should know better than I that trust is earned, not given." Ozpin frowned at his words but didn't argue as he walked out of the room. Jaune waited till the door clicked close as he let out a small sigh running a hand through his hair. 'I really dislike that man.' Jaune thought before looking down at the marks of Bab-ilu over his body. He slowly slid a hand over the marks on his chest remembering how he opened all those portals. He had no idea how he connected to Babylon but he had and it was beyond anything he expected. It had taken all his mana to keep the portals open and to cycle through all the Noble Phantasms while also using Enki's power. He truly had no idea how he did it, but he felt it did have something to do with his aura being unlocked. While his aura had no effect on his mana, the idea of a Semblance doing something to him wasn't too out there. He was a pseudo heroic spirit, so his aura had to have some type of effect on his body's capabilities. With a sigh Jaune ran a hand through his hair before thinking about maybe giving Gilgamesh a call to tell him about the corrupted heroic spirit he saw.

End

AN/ yep I am back. Sorry for the delay with chapters, just for three weeks I got tired and didn't do shit. No excuses other than me being a lazy ass. But hurray you happy little reader people get to see this story again. Also I do have a poll running for other possible heroic spirits I want to throw into RWBY to mess with Jaune. I do it because I can. Do hit the poll on my profile.

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