World Strongest Swordsman (RWBY X Mihawk/Jaune)

Chapter 14: The True Monster Hides Within

Within the night of the brawl that ended in a draw, Jaune stood on a rooftop, staring down at the courtyard of Beacon in silence.

Jaune: That brawl could have been worthy to some degree for a warrior such as her... however, her emotions hold her back.

He glanced behind him, at a slightly open door leading down from the first-year student dormitory.

Jaune: Isn't that correct, Pyrrha Nikos?

He said as a exposure of red hair was exposed from the small crack in the door. It creaked open, revealing the Mistral Invincible Warrior standing in the doorway. She nervously smiled and rubbed the back of her head as she stepped onto the roof.

Pyrrha: Haha... Sorry, I just saw you alone and... Ah.

Jaune: Tell me, Nikos. What did you think of the mere mock training?

Pyrrha: Training?

She asked, confused, as Jaune glared at her before shutting his eyes and turning his head back to the courtyard below.

Jaune: Our short battle today. What did you see before I struck you?

She looked confused once more, then her eyes widened and she nodded in understanding.

Pyrrha: Well... My arm was...

Jaune: Sliced off, I presume.

She nodded and sent a confused look towards Jaune.

Pyrrha: Are you able to send illusions to your competitors?

She says, possibly thinking that it was his semblance but sheer was gravely wrong, it was no power. It was no semblance or magic...

Jaune: Fool.

Pyrrha: Huh...?

Jaune turned around to face Pyrrha, his arms crossed.

Jaune: Basic killing instinct. Let me tell you this, you lack refinement, and sooner or later, it will be your downfall.

His words struck a chord in Pyrrha. It was cold and bold to say outright, but Pyrrha didn't seem too affected. She only looked down before nodding at Jaune.

She understood where he was coming from. The man in front of her seemed to be a master of the sword. The way he spoke, his form, style, and sword weren't something people could just pick up and learn. It was one of the most refined styles she had ever seen someone with such a sword be able to pull off.

Understanding as well that she still had a long way to go, she admittedly felt appreciation for Jaune. Unlike the normal praise for her godlike skills, Jaune was insulting her for lacking proper training and the true way of fighting. This was a first.

Pyrrha: I know and understand, but I won't stop trying my best to get stronger... Stronger than you. Strong enough to protect my team and friends.

Silence filled the night sky where they stood, Jaune's facial expression unchanged.

Jaune: Then to see if you are worthy...

He pulled out Yoru and stabbed it into the concrete below them, staring at Pyrrha.

Pyrrha looked confused, staring at Jaune in bewilderment.

Pyrrha: Why? And why did you stab it into the concrete slab?

Jaune: Fewer questions, more resolve is needed now.

With a concerned look, Pyrrha shrugged it off and grabbed the handle of Yoru. As soon as she did, she immediately retracted her hands, clutching them as her fingers twitched. She flinched back in pain.

Jaune: Understand that Yoru is unlike any blade on the surface of Remnant. Unlike the ordinary weapons that everyone uses, Yoru is an aura-enforcement blade that requires aura with high enough proficiency to make it physically harden. Should you lack the basic control expected of those near my caliber, your aura will be continuously drained. One mistake will lead to your aura breaking and soon, your very life force will be drained... Pyrrha Niko's, It is clear that you have yet to gain true control over your Aura thus you wont ever make it anywhere near my power. As if comparing a mere flightless insect to that of a Grimmly Wyvern.

Pyrrha, hearing this news about his blade, had a horrified expression on her face. Not only had she never heard of such a blade, but based on Jaune's words, trying to take his blade could result in a slow death.

Pyrrha: And... you want me to try again?!

Reaching for the handle of his blade, he grabbed it and casually pulled it out of the concrete, sheathing it behind him.

Jaune: I expect you to train, not just your semblance and basic fighting talent but your aura, aura control, your body and your mind. Sharpen your mind, strength your soul and improve your body to not mimic, but to create a new warrior that will make history like a monster but worst as it has control and not a mindless beast like those Grimm's.

Without hesitation, he walked past Pyrrha and stopped by the doorway. She turned to him as he spoke.

Jaune: To rely solely on your Semblance reveals your weakness to grow and adapt. To rely solely on your skills will result in you being overpowered by the strong. And to focus solely on getting stronger blinds you to the world around you. Sometimes, it takes forsaking your humanity to protect your free will, your freedom, and, at last, your pride as a warrior.

The way Jaune spoke reminded Pyrrha that the world isn't kind. There are people who will sacrifice anything for power, greed, lust, and slothfulness. However, getting rid of her humanity was something she would never do. But if it would allow her to get strong enough to protect her loved ones, then... maybe it was time to become a true monster rather than fight the monsters as a human.

Pyrrha rejected that ideal, that belief, and that vision. She is human, she fights like a human, and she behaviors and think like a human. She had not yet come to a basic understanding of Jaune's words, as their visions and beliefs of what is strength and the definition of power were worlds apart.

Jaune was a true monster, more dangerous than the Grimm and the darkness in humanity's soul, someone like that would be far to dangerous to continue to interact with but Pyrrha did not look at Jaune like that, to her... He was becoming more interesting by the second.

Pyrrha: Maybe... he is trying to tell me to fight with logic rather than emotion?

Jaune was too confusing for the warrior, but one thing was clear... She needed to grow. She needed strength to reach his level and, one day, be able to hold Yoru without sacrificing her humanity and life to do so as they can stand on equals with each other...

She now had a new goal beside a making friends and to reach her fated destiny, this is a goal of hers that she will risk taking to the grave with her to make it come true as she wont take any other answers beside being his equal and grow stronger then Jaune.