RWBY : Remnant Hulk

At night, on the rooftop of the dormitories, the cool night breeze swept through Beacon Academy. The dim glow of Vale's city lights flickered in the distance, casting a faint shimmer over the academy's grounds. Jaune Arc sat alone, his arms resting on his knees, staring blankly at the horizon. His mind was a storm of doubt and fear. The weight of his darkest secret pressed down on him like a boulder, suffocating him. If his team, his friends, ever found out the truth... what would they think of him? Would they abandon him? Would they hate him?

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached, and Jaune tensed. Pyrrha Nikos emerged from the stairwell, her crimson hair illuminated under the moonlight.

"Jaune?" she called out softly.

He flinched at the sound of her voice but did not turn around. "What are you doing here, Pyrrha?" he asked, his voice hollow.

She took a cautious step forward. "I was looking for you. You seemed troubled today, and I... I wanted to help."

Jaune let out a bitter chuckle. "Help? Pyrrha, you don't understand. You're a prodigy, a champion. You deserve to be here. I don't."

Her brows furrowed in concern. "What are you talking about? Of course, you deserve to be here. You survived the initiation, fought alongside us, and proved yourself."

Jaune clenched his fists. "You don't get it! I didn't earn my spot here!" He turned to face her, his eyes brimming with frustration and shame. "I never went to combat school, I failed every test I ever took, and I didn't earn my way into Beacon! I lied. I used a fake transcript. That's how I got in."

Pyrrha's eyes widened in shock. "Jaune... why?"

He sighed, his shoulders sagging. "Because I wanted to be like my family. My father, my grandfather, and all those before them were warriors, a heroes. I wanted to live up to that legacy. But the truth is... I don't belong here."

Pyrrha took a step closer, her expression softening. "Jaune, that doesn't change who you are or the potential you have. I can help you—"

"No!" he snapped. "I don't want to be coddled! I don't want to be a burden! If I can't stand on my own two feet, then what good am I?" He turned away from her, his voice barely a whisper. "Just leave me alone, Pyrrha."

Pyrrha hesitated, then, with a disappointed look, turned and left, disappearing into the shadows.

The next day at Beacon, Jaune was minding his own business when Team CRDL saw an opportunity to strike. As he walked down the staircase, Cardin gave him a hard shove from behind. Jaune tumbled down, his body crashing against the hard stone steps. Laughter erupted from Cardin and his teammates.

Ruby, Weiss, Pyrrha, Ren, and Nora rushed over.

"Jaune!" Ruby cried, kneeling beside him. "Are you okay?"

Jaune gritted his teeth and forced himself up, wincing as pain shot through his leg. "I'm fine."

Nora clenched her fists. "No, you're not! Those jerks pushed you down the stairs!" Her voice was filled with fury.

Ren, usually calm, had a rare frown on his face. "We should report this to the teachers."

Pyrrha reached out to help him, but Jaune pulled away. "I said I'm fine!" he snapped before limping off, leaving them all in stunned silence.

Jaune sat alone on a bench, staring at the floor, his mind swirling with frustration and self-loathing. The price of his deception was becoming too heavy to bear. Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice.

"You look like someone carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders."

Jaune looked up and saw Bruce standing before him. His concerned gaze was steady, yet kind.

"I'm fine," Jaune muttered, looking away.

Bruce smirked. "That's the second time I've heard you say that today. And both times, it wasn't true." Bruce handing a small candy to Jaune, "You know... This is the third time we've meet each other."

Jaune exhaled sharply, accepting the small candy Bruce handed him. "Thanks."

Bruce sat beside him. "I know what happened last night."

Jaune's head snapped toward him. "How?"

Bruce simply smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes. "I have my ways. Look, Jaune, I won't lecture you, but if you keep pushing away the people who care about you, you'll regret it more than anything. Trust me—loneliness is a burden heavier than any lie."

Jaune's mind replayed Pyrrha's disappointed face from last night. He sighed. "Maybe you're right."

Bruce chuckled, ruffling Jaune's hair. "Good. Now take another candy."

Jaune blinked. "How many do you even have?"

Bruce look at Jaune slowly and than he says, "Yes," Bruce replied simply before walking away.

That night, Jaune returned to the rooftop, the same place where he had rejected Pyrrha's help. This time, he was ready.

When Pyrrha arrived, she was taken aback when Jaune immediately said, "Okay, let's do this." His voice was firm, filled with newfound determination that hadn't been there the night before. It caught Pyrrha off guard, but after a brief moment of surprise, a warm smile spread across her face. "Alright, Jaune," she said gently, "let's begin."

She guided him through the process of unlocking his Aura, placing her hands on his. "Close your eyes, focus, and repeat after me. 'For it is in passing that we achieve immortality, through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory, to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death. I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee.'"

As she spoke, a golden glow enveloped Jaune, his body surging with newfound strength. He felt... different. Stronger. His wounds healed instantly. He clenched his fists, feeling the raw power coursing through him.

Pyrrha smiled. "Now, let's start training together. Maybe Bruce can help you too."

Jaune grinned. "I'd like that."

But...

The next day, chaos erupted in the academy halls.

Team RWBY, JNPR, and CFVY stood in stunned silence, their eyes locked on a shocking sight.

Jaune stood there, his knuckles bloodied, his chest rising and falling heavily. At his feet, Cardin Winchester lay on the floor, his face a bruised and battered mess. His nose was broken, his mouth was swollen, and several teeth were scattered across the floor. The rest of Team CRDL stood frozen in fear, their faces pale.

The air was thick with tension. Jaune's fist dripped with blood, and for the first time, everyone saw a side of him they had never imagined.

Ruby's voice trembled. "Jaune...?"

Jaune exhaled slowly, his knuckles tightening. Whatever had just happened... was only the beginning.