The mission to collect sap in Forever Fall took a terrifying turn when the commotion attracted a massive, unexpected horde of Grimm.
Hundreds of various shapes and sizes—Ursa, Beowolves, and even a few Creeps—swarmed the forest floor.
Everyone else would have been instantly stuck in fear seeing such a large number, but Jaune faced the approaching wall of black and red with a wide, predatory smile.
To him, they weren't monsters; they were glistening, moving Multi-Coins.
"Jaune! This is too dangerous even for you. Let's leave!"
Pyrrha shouted, desperately trying to control the number of Grimm advancing on their position.
She was providing powerful cover fire, using a high-custom Laser Sniper Rifle she had recently acquired from Jaune's shop.
The rifle was a Silver Rank marvel, possessing almost unlimited ammunition because it used light and dark energy harnessed from Aura as its power source.
The power was devastating; with a single shot, it pierced through the hard shell of three armored Ursa at once.
"Sorry, Pyrrha, but I can't,"
Jaune roared back, a thrill coursing through him.
"They are calling for me!"
Jaune focused, gathering the electric energy of his Golden Lightning Qi around his body.
With an explosive jump, he shot himself toward the horde, leaving a golden, smoking crater where he'd been standing.
Pyrrha then watched in awe as Jaune cut through the heart of the horde.
His sword, Crocea Mors, was covered in a sheath of intensely crackling, golden-white lightning.
The blade seemed to extend far beyond its physical length with pure energy, making his single swing cut through more than twenty Grimm in a massive, devastating arc.
The monsters simply dissolved into ash, their death tolls ringing up Multi-Coins in Ciel's silent ledger.
"Our leader is super powerful! I don't think this little horde would be enough to sate his hunger!"
Nora spoke with absolute delight, using her hammer to smack a Beowolf that dared to come near her position.
She might not have enough money to buy something in Jaune's shop just yet, but she had accepted many highly profitable jobs with Ren, and they would soon get their desired Silver Rank items!
Ren observed Jaune's movements with an intense, analytical gaze.
The way Jaune held his sword, the explosive footwork, the precise, sweeping cuts—it was a style that felt ancient and effective, but utterly unlike any modern Huntsman technique.
"Where does he really come from?"
Ren mused, his curiosity piqued.
"The Arc family is a family of knights... but that technique, those movements, should originate from my country, Mistral, where the history of blade work is deepest."
He vowed to ask Jaune about his fighting style later.
Jaune took care of the massive horde in a matter of minutes.
He returned to his team, breathing easily, his eyes still shining with the residual golden energy of his Semblance.
The forest was silent, littered only with dissolving piles of Grimm ash.
Not long after the last monster dissolved, Glynda Goodwitch arrived on the scene, having been alerted to the massive Aura spike and Grimm dispersal.
She surveyed the utter carnage—the perfectly cleared area, the deep scorch marks, and the unnaturally intact figures of Team JNPR.
She could only sigh in profound, almost defeated resignation.
Ozpin's decision to accept Jaune's half-truth about his Semblance and his power—and, more importantly, to not provoke him—was proving to be absolutely right.
Glynda knew that the strength Jaune possessed was a double-edged sword, incredibly dangerous but utterly essential.
With Jaune Arc on their side, with his immense power and the resources of his mysterious shop, they might actually stand a chance in the coming conflict.
"Clear the saplings and return to Beacon, Team JNPR,"
Glynda instructed, her voice flat.
She kept her gaze neutral, avoiding any direct challenge to Jaune. She simply watched the "Golden Lightning" user walk away, understanding that the dynamics of the war had shifted fundamentally today.