Sunshine

Chapter 36: Broken Crown

As the chaos of Whitely's rescue unfolded at one end of the train, the other end was a battlefield of a different sort. In one of the cars, Jaune and Vernal moved with calculated precision through a hail of bullets. The enemy's gunfire echoed through the metal corridors, but Jaune held his shield high, his aura flaring with intensity as he positioned himself between Vernal and their attackers.

The relentless barrage bounced off his shield as Vernal, now wielding her pistols, returned fire with deadly accuracy. Each shot found its mark, dropping White Fang operatives one by one.

When Jaune closed the distance on one of the attackers, he swung his shield with brutal force, smashing into the Faunus's face. The satisfying crunch was followed by a swift thrust of his sword, driving it deep into the enemy's gut. With a grunt, Jaune yanked the blade free, kicking the body aside as he turned to the next target. A quick slash across the chest and another adversary fell, lifeless.

"Damn humans!" a Faunus shouted, his voice laced with venom as he raised his weapon, eyes locked on Jaune.

Before Jaune could react, Vernal's sharp voice cut through the noise. "Duck!" she yelled, her tone urgent.

Without hesitation, Jaune dropped to the floor, trusting Vernal's instincts. The crack of gunfire rang out as Vernal squeezed the triggers, her pistols spitting fire. Both bullets struck true, slamming into the Faunus's chest and sending him sprawling backward, lifeless on the cold floor.

The car fell silent, save for the distant rumble of the train on its tracks. Jaune quickly scanned the area, confirming the White Fang members were down for good. He wasn't taking any chances—these terrorists had a nasty habit of getting back up when you least expected it.

With a sigh of relief, Jaune glanced around the car, noting that it was mercifully empty of civilians. The thought of innocent lives caught in the crossfire had weighed heavily on him, but at least here, they had only enemies to deal with.

Vernal holstered her pistols, reloading them with a practiced ease. "You think he's farther ahead?" she asked, her voice steady, but with an edge of concern.

Jaune wiped the blood from his blade with a grim expression and turned to her. "Maybe," he replied. "But whether he is or isn't, we need to clear the cars ahead, if we can take control of the front, we might just end this,"

"Why the head?" Vernal asked, her eyes narrowing as she reloaded her pistols, the click of metal against metal punctuating her question.

Jaune adjusted his grip on his shield, his gaze focused on the door leading to the next car. "The White Fang would want complete control of the train, if they get ahold of the engine, they control everything, makes sense they'd head straight for the front,"

Vernal's lips curled into a smirk as she cocked an eyebrow. "Or maybe you're just guessing because of all those old Western movies you love?"

Jaune couldn't help but grin, a hint of sheepishness in his expression. "Maybe a little," he admitted with a shrug. "Those movies did get a lot right, though,"

Vernal chuckled, her smirk widening. "Well then, partner," she drawled in a mock Southern accent, "Let's giddy up!"

Jaune laughed, the tension between them easing for just a moment. But as they moved toward the next car, the seriousness of their mission settled back in. They exchanged a glance, nodding in silent agreement before Jaune reached for the door handle. With a swift, practiced motion, he yanked it open.

Their lighthearted banter vanished instantly as they were met by a grim sight. Standing in the middle of the car, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of White Fang members, were Jax and Bertilak. The two men were formidable figures, their presence commanding the space, and the blood on their weapons was fresh, the evidence of a recent and brutal fight.