Arc of Chaldea

Chapter 16: Dawn of the Vytal Festival

A.N. For better or worse here it is. I'm going to sleep now.

Beacon Academy, the majestic center for learning and training, had undergone a stunning transformation for the highly anticipated Vytal Festival. The entire campus was abuzz with an electric atmosphere, only felt every two years when the festival rolled around. Colorful banners adorned the walls and corridors of the school, creating a vibrant display of pride and excitement.

Advanced holographic projectors illuminated the hallways with dazzling highlights from past festivals, highlighting previous competitors' incredible talents and skills. Meanwhile, in the sky above, airships bustled with students and spectators eager to witness the upcoming battles.

Standing on a balcony overlooking the busy activity, teams JNPR and RWBY watched with anticipation as incoming arrivals flooded the academy grounds. Jaune couldn't help but wonder if this would be his moment to shine, where all of his grueling training would finally pay off.

At the same time, Ruby's eyes darted excitedly as her weapon fixation returned upon seeing the impressive array of weapons carried by her fellow competitors. Taking her gaze off her sister for a moment, Yang turned to team JNPR and proposed with a mischievous grin, "How about a friendly bet between our teams? The team that advances the farthest in the tournament is owed dinner by the other."

"Alright, you're on," declared Jaune after quickly checking with his team. "I just hope your budget can handle it."

Yang let out a hearty laugh that shook her entire body. "Looks like vomit boy has found some confidence."

"Oh I'm not worried Yang, I have full trust in my team and our abilities. And I may have a few more tricks up my sleeve. I believe Weiss was at the receiving end of my last one."

At this remark, Weiss let out a good-natured grumble. "I still can't believe you pulled out a gun in the middle of our spar."

"Well, it's all about the element of surprise in a surprise attack," Jaune quipped back with a smile. "It wouldn't have worked if I announced it beforehand."

"Hey Weiss, hold still I'm going to shoot you." declared Jaune while making a pair of finger guns.

Weiss rolled her eyes while the others laughed, the tension of the upcoming festival momentarily forgotten. "Very funny," she responded dryly. But she couldn't help but smirk at his antics.

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In the dimly lit dorm room of Beacon, Cinder and her helpers sat in tense anticipation. Every few moments, Cinder's eyes would shift towards the door, waiting for Neo's arrival. Finally, the door creaked open and Neo slipped inside with a quiet grace, holding a tablet in her hands.

Cinder's narrowed eyes locked onto Neo as she commanded, "Tell us everything you have uncovered during your infiltration of Site Beta."

With nimble fingers, Neo quickly relayed the information she had gathered during her stay. Each word painted a detailed picture of Site Beta's defenses and the notable individuals within it. She described Jaune, who seemed to be at the center of it all. Despite being officially in charge of only field operations, he was respected by most of Chaldea's staff. His records from Beacon and his title of Faker may suggest otherwise, but in reality, he was far more capable than he let on. As a citizen of Arcadia, he was required to serve three years in the military, further honing his skills in tactics and strategy.

"Enough about this mysterious Arc," interjected Mercury from his spot on the corner of his bed. "Have you discovered anything that will help us defeat him?"