Three weeks passed in a comfortable rhythm. Classes, training, team bonding. Jaune's performance in the advanced combat seminar continued to improve. He'd gone from getting dominated by second years to actually holding his own. Yatsuhashi still beat him consistently, but the margins were narrowing.
Team JNPR was gelling perfectly. Pyrrha's technical skill complemented Jaune's tactical thinking. Nora's explosive power balanced Ren's precision. In team exercises, they were consistently ranked in the top three.
Team RWBY remained their primary social circle. Joint training sessions, study groups, occasional weekend outings to Vale. Ruby had started asking Jaune for tactical advice. Yang dragged him into morning workouts. Blake borrowed books from him. Even Weiss had warmed up, occasionally asking about shield techniques.
Everything was normal. Peaceful. Exactly what Beacon should be.
Which is why Jaune wasn't surprised when his scroll buzzed at 3 AM on a Tuesday morning with a system notification.
[ALERT: Quest 2 Activating in 24 Hours]
[Prepare for dimensional transit]
'There it is. I knew things were going too well.'
He sat up in bed, careful not to wake his team. Checked the notification again to make sure he'd read it correctly.
Twenty-four hours. Tomorrow night, he'd be gone.
Jaune slipped out of bed quietly and headed to the bathroom, pulling up the full quest details.
[QUEST 2 INFORMATION]
[Quest Activation: Tomorrow, 3 AM (23 hours, 47 minutes)]
[Destination: Black Bullet World - Tokyo Area]
[Mission Objective: Defend Cursed Children shelter from Gastrea attack wave]
[Context: The Tokyo Area is under siege by Stage III and Stage IV Gastrea. A shelter housing Cursed Children (young girls infected with Gastrea virus who gain superhuman abilities) is directly in the path of a massive Gastrea wave. Local Civil Security forces are overwhelmed. Your mission is to defend the shelter until reinforcements arrive and evacuate the children to safety.]
[Duration: 5 Days (Black Bullet World Time)]
[Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ (Low-Moderate)]
[Failure Condition: More than 30% of Cursed Children casualties, shelter destruction]
[Success Rewards: Enhanced Durability +20%, Regeneration (Minor), Poison Resistance]
[WARNING: Time Dilation Variable]
[Remnant Time Passage: UNKNOWN (Estimated 3-10 days)]
[Note: You may miss up to 10 days of Beacon classes. Prepare appropriate cover story.]
Jaune read through it twice, his mind racing. Five days in the Black Bullet world. Three to ten days here. That could mean missing almost two weeks of Beacon.
'Oh good. Giant monsters and traumatized children. That's a step up from Pokemon terrorists.'
Black Bullet. He vaguely remembered that one. Post-apocalyptic world where humanity was pushed to the brink by giant monsters called Gastrea. The Cursed Children were young girls born with the virus who became both weapons and outcasts.
Stage III and Stage IV Gastrea meant serious threats. Not just dangerous, but potentially city-destroying level monsters.
"System, what are the Gastrea capabilities?"
[Stage III Gastrea: Building-sized monsters with specialized abilities. Highly dangerous, require coordinated teams of Civil Security to defeat. Capable of destroying city blocks.]
[Stage IV Gastrea: Monolith-class threats. Capable of destroying entire districts. Typically require military intervention to stop.]
[Cursed Children: Young girls (ages 6-12) with superhuman physical abilities and red eyes. Society discriminates against them severely. They partner with Promoters (adult handlers) in Civil Security.]
'Building-sized monsters. Great. And here I thought the Death Stalker was big.'
That was significantly more dangerous than the Pokemon quest. Giant monsters instead of trained creatures. Children he'd have to protect while fighting things that could level buildings.
"And my role?"
[You will arrive at the shelter as it comes under attack. Civil Security forces are retreating. Cursed Children are terrified. Your objective is to hold the defensive line for five days while reinforcements organize evacuation.]
[Primary threats: Multiple Stage III Gastrea, possible Stage IV Gastrea]
[Secondary threats: Structural damage, supply shortages, panic among children]
Five days holding off monsters that size. Protecting children who were probably traumatized and scared.
This was going to be brutal.
Jaune closed the system and looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. Twenty-three hours to prepare. To come up with a cover story. To make sure his team would be okay while he was gone.
He couldn't tell them the truth. But he needed something believable.
'Family emergency? Nope, they know my family's fine. Special training? Where? Solo mission? First years don't get those. This is going to be a terrible lie no matter what I say.'
He'd have to figure something out.
Jaune went back to bed, but sleep didn't come. His mind was already running through scenarios, preparations, tactical considerations.
Morning came too quickly. He went through his usual routine, trying to act normal. Breakfast with his team. Morning classes with Port's rambling and Oobleck's speed lectures. Combat class with Goodwitch.
"Jaune?" Pyrrha asked at lunch. "You seem distracted."
"Just thinking about the advanced seminar tonight. Goodwitch said we're doing multi-opponent scenarios."
"You'll do fine. You always do."
'If only you knew what I'm actually thinking about. Multi-opponent scenarios against building-sized monsters.'
That evening, he attended the seminar as scheduled. Multi-opponent drills where he had to defend against three attackers simultaneously. His danger sense proved useful, but his mind was elsewhere. Planning, preparing, worrying about what came next.
After the seminar, he pulled Pyrrha aside.
"I need to tell you something."
She immediately looked concerned. "What's wrong?"
"I might need to leave Beacon for a bit. Family situation. Could be anywhere from a few days to maybe a week and a half."
"Is everything okay? Your family?"
"They're fine. It's just complicated. I can't really explain, but I need to handle it."
Pyrrha studied him carefully. "This is one of those secrets you mentioned."
"Yeah."
"Okay. When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow morning, really early. Before classes."
"Do you need any help? Support?"
"No, I have to handle this alone. But I need you to lead the team while I'm gone. Keep them training, keep them safe. Can you do that?"
"Of course. We'll be fine, Jaune. You focus on whatever you need to do."
"Thanks, Pyrrha. I mean it."
Back in the dorm, he started preparing. Packed a small bag with essentials. Made sure Crocea Mors was clean and sharp. Checked his armor for any damage.
"Going somewhere?" Ren asked, noticing the preparations.
"Family emergency. Leaving early tomorrow. Pyrrha will be team leader while I'm gone."
"Everything alright?"
"Will be. Just need to handle something."
Nora bounced over. "How long will you be gone?"
"Not sure. Maybe a week, maybe longer. Depends on how things go."
"We'll miss you! But don't worry, we'll keep training! Right, Ren?"
"Of course."
Jaune felt a pang of guilt. They trusted him completely, and he was lying to them. Not about anything dangerous to them, but still lying.
'Sorry, guys. "I'm fighting giant monsters in another dimension" isn't exactly a believable excuse.'
He sent messages to his professors, requesting leave for family emergency. Vague enough to be acceptable. Goodwitch approved it immediately. Port sent sympathies. Oobleck responded with a single word: "Understood."
Ozpin's response was more concerning: "Mr. Arc, please see me before you depart."
'Of course. Because why would anything be simple?'
At 2 AM, Jaune headed to Ozpin's office. The tower elevator, the password, the climb. Ozpin was waiting, coffee in hand despite the hour.
"Mr. Arc. A family emergency, Professor Goodwitch tells me."
"Yes, sir."
"One that requires your immediate departure from Beacon for up to ten days."
"That's correct."
Ozpin sipped his coffee. "Mr. Arc, I've been a teacher for a very long time. I know when students are hiding something. I also know when to press and when to allow privacy." He paused. "This emergency. It's not actually a family emergency, is it?"
Jaune met his eyes. "It's something I have to handle. Something I can't explain. But I promise you, it's not dangerous to Beacon or anyone here."
"Will you be in danger?"
"Possibly. But I can handle it."
"Can you? You're a first year student, Mr. Arc. Talented, yes. But still a student."
"I've been preparing for this. I'll be careful."
Ozpin studied him for a long moment. Then nodded slowly. "Very well. I'll approve your leave. But Mr. Arc, when you return, we're going to have a longer conversation about what you're really doing here."
"Understood."
"And Jaune?" Ozpin's expression was serious. "Whatever you're involved in, whatever you're preparing for, remember that you have allies here. You don't have to face everything alone."
"I'll remember that, sir."
Jaune left the office with more questions than answers. Ozpin knew something was off. He was giving Jaune rope, waiting to see what he'd do with it.
'Second interrogation by ancient wizard. Still not getting easier.'
Back in the dorm, he lay in bed and watched the countdown.
[Quest Activation: 45 minutes]
His team was asleep. Beacon was quiet. The world was peaceful.
For forty-five more minutes.
Then he'd be gone. Five days fighting monsters. Three to ten days missing from Beacon. Protecting children from creatures that could destroy buildings.
'No pressure. Just a Tuesday night.'
[Quest Activation: 30 minutes]
Jaune got up silently and left a note on his desk.
Had to leave early. Family emergency. Pyrrha is in charge. Train hard, stay safe, I'll be back soon. - Jaune
[Quest Activation: 15 minutes]
He grabbed his bag and Crocea Mors. Headed to the Emerald Forest. Found a secluded clearing where no one would see him disappear.
[Quest Activation: 5 minutes]
Deep breath. Center himself. Ready for whatever came next.
[Quest Activation: 1 minute]
"Alright, System. Let's see what Round Two looks like."
[Quest Activation: 30 seconds]
[20 seconds]
[10 seconds]
His aura flared instinctively, responding to his anticipation.
'Here we go again. Into the dimensional meat grinder.'
[5...]
[4...]
[3...]
[2...]
[1...]
[QUEST ACTIVATED - DIMENSIONAL TRANSIT INITIATING]
The world lurched.
Reality twisted. Colors bled. Sounds distorted.
'Still hate this part—'
Then everything shifted.
Solid ground. Hot air. The smell of destruction and fear.
Jaune opened his eyes.
He was standing in a ruined street. Buildings collapsed around him. Smoke rising in the distance. And in the air, a siren wailing. Emergency broadcast.
[Welcome to Black Bullet World - Tokyo Area]
[Location: District 39 - Outer Periphery]
[Time until Gastrea wave arrives: 2 hours]
[Mission: Locate shelter and establish defenses]
[Current Threat Level: SEVERE]
[Good luck, User]
Jaune checked his gear. Sword secure. Armor intact. Aura at full capacity.
In the distance, he heard screaming. Children's voices.
'Right. Giant monsters. Traumatized children. Apocalyptic hellscape. Just another day.'
Time to find that shelter.
He started running toward the sound, his danger sense already pinging warnings about the approaching threat.