Jaune Arc was …confused to say the least. He parried and dodged the attack from his opponent who was said to have lightning fast strikes.
But…
Why the heck is he so slow?
Jaune wasn't even putting on any effort and his opponent, Rouge or whatever his name was, couldn't land a single hit on him.
Was Mistral's standards too low? Can someone like this be considered a runner up? If so, it's no wonder the champion reigned for three straight years.
If these people were Jaune's opponent, then damn he'd be a champion too.
"I admit, you are definitely the second person to have been able to match me," Said Rogue who retreated a few meters away from Jaune while grinning, "the last one to actually give me a challenge was the champion. Be honored, Jaune of Arc."
Jaune deadpanned at the guy.
"In all male opponents I have faced, you are the best," said Rogue as he opened his arms wide, "I, Rogue, declare you the strongest!"
"…" Jaune sighed, before deciding to end this fight and have some rest after. "Don't blink, I'll end this in moments."
"Come!" Rogue grinned.
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Artoria was in Mt Glenn, a ruined city that was destroyed by Grimms decades ago. The Vale Government has sent a request to the Grand Order for an EX-rank Search and Destroy.
Apparently, just a few month ago, a team of Huntsmen were sent to investigate a suspected new variant of Grimm …they did not make it out alive.
The government sent two more Huntsmen teams, and all of which were missing in action …or killed.
It took them quite awhile before they finally swallowed their pride and requested help from the Grand Order.
Luvia, who received the request, was more than happy to lend some help. Artoia doesn't know what she got from the Vale Government, but for a whole week after that she and Rin couldn't stop smiling.
Currently, Artoria is in the streets of Mt Glenn, and she couldn't help but pity those who experienced its fall.
"…Urgh, my shoulders are already feeling sore." She grumbled while massaging her shoulders, "these piece of fats really are a hindrance."
Don't get her wrong, Artoria loved that her body grew to be the same as that of her Lancer counterpart after taking back her spear from 'that girl', but they can be a bit annoying at times.
Especially when she's fighting. She can only thank her armor for preventing her rather large bust from jiggling whenever she moves.
She paused.
Just then, a ten meter tall Ursa Major - an alpha variant of a bear-like Grimm Ursa - appeared from on the road a couple of streets away from her.
She blinked.
This Grimm, though looking like an ordinary Ursa Major, was far bigger. Its black fur has a metallic glint, and its white bone-like armor and spikes gives off a faint green light.
Suddenly, the Grimm turned towards her, its glowing green eyes fixed on her blue ones.
"Okay," she sighed, "Seems like something weird is really happening here."
With that, she took out an ordinary holy sword. It is a Mystic Code crafted by Medea herself using Excalibur as a base.
It is definitely a top class Mystic Code, unfortunately any Noble Phantasm would destroy it within a few clashes.
It's not that Medea's skills were bad, it's just a Mystic Code just cannot compete with a Noble Phantasm backed by a legend. It's like comparing a diamond to a rock.
Not to mention there are far too few top quality materials in Modern World to create a really strong Mystic Code, and even someone as skilled as Medea cannot make Mystic Code that can fight against a Noble Phantasm with materials currently available to her.
"Should I kill it or capture it?" Wondered Artoria, "…maybe I should, take a picture, first?"
With that, she took out her Scroll and decided to take a picture of this weird Grimm.
After that, she put it back on her pockets, "Alright, then I should end this right now."
Just as she was about to slay the foul beast, she noticed that it suddenly turned its head away and continued on its path as if it was heading somewhere.
"Okay, that is weird …not. Grimms are attracted to negativity, I doubt I'm radiating any sort of that emotion right now. So, did it ignore me because of that?"
She didn't think about it much, and decided to just follow the Grimm.
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"HE'S DOOOOWWWNN!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT FOLKS! LIGHTNING FLASH ROGUE WHO FOUGHT THE CHAMPION LAST YEAR WAS DEFEATED!"
Loud cheers echoed throughout the arena as Jaune stood in front of the defeated form of his opponent, as he unsheathed his sword.
He raised his head to look at the large monitor showing his Aura levels. He's still at 100%, while his opponent is already on 10.
"Ah man," he sighed, "Is this the best Mistral has to offer? I hope the champion won't be a major disappointment."
It's not like he's being arrogant, but he was actually hoping that he could test his skills to someone his age and not get beaten up.
Shirou and the others are just too strong he couldn't tell how much he improved.
Even Sakura-nee, as kindhearted as she was and appear frail at first glance, was someone that could play him around like a toy without even having to move her feet.
"That was a spectacular performance, lad!"
Jaune stared at the man who from earlier and smiled wryly, "Yeah, well, he wasn't that skilled? It's like all he knows is swing his rapier in fast pace. For a slower and weaker opponent that would work, but he shouldn't expect to beat those who have some serious skills."
"Hah! That's what the champion said last year as well!"
"That so? Well, I shall be taking my leave then." Jaune didn't stay to talk to the man and just went on his way.
He wondered if Shirou-sensei finds his performance satisfactory?
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"This does not look good," Artoria frowned as she saw hundreds of those strange Grimms gathered in a large underground city square.
Earlier, when she was following that Ursa Grimm, she was led to a tunnel leading to an underground city.
If she remembered it correctly, Mountain Glenn was Vale's first and serious attempt at expansion, however Mountain Glenn did not boast the natural barriers Vale did, and as such Grimm attacks began to increase every day until inevitably they overwhelmed the city's defenses.
In a last-ditch effort to stave off destruction, the citizens of Mountain Glenn took refuge in the tunnels they had initially cleared for their subways, converting them into an underground settlement and cutting themselves off from the surface entirely.
Unfortunately, this supposed safe haven was eventually compromised when an explosion opened the mouth of another cavern filled with subterranean Grimm.
This left the town completely exposed and the remaining citizens beyond saving. With no other recourse, Vale sealed off the tunnels permanently, creating the world's largest tomb. The ruins of Mountain Glenn now stand as a reminder for history to reflect upon.
Mt Glenn was called as the 'World's Largest Graveyard', for tens if not hundreds of thousands of people that died here.
"Hm?" Artoria noticed an old man with white hair wearing a white coat and a mechanical right arm, "this is …"
Her eyes widened in shock as the old man just walked through the hundreds of Grimms as if he owned the place, and the Grimms didn't do anything to him.
In fact, it even seems like the Grimms were bowing to him. Weird. And dangerous.
"Should I report this or …" Artoria was confident that she can them all alone, but she has no information about these new type of Grimms and they might have some unknown and troublesome abilities.
She was cautious, after all even Gilgamesh, one of the strongest Heroic Spirits, was defeated by Shirou, a human. That's all the more reason to think that they are not invincible and there might be something out there that can pose a threat to them.
Not to mention she had to take out her Excalibur if she were to fight these many unknown new type of Grimms. And she'd blow up the whole place too, even if she hold back her power.
That's not something she wanted to see.
"Let me take a pic real quick," she took out her Scroll and took a picture, with some focusing on the Grimms and others on the old man.
After awhile, she nodded, pretty satisfied with her work.
"I'll leave for now, need to send this info to Vale."
With that thought, she left the underground city and headed back up.