RWBY : Remnant Hulk

Chapter 15: The Forge of Transformation

The abandoned mine stood in eerie silence as Bruce and Team RWBY ventured inside. The air was thick with dust, and the faint echoes of their footsteps reverberated through the cavernous tunnels. Old mining carts, rusted tracks, and broken tools lay scattered across the ground, remnants of a once-thriving operation. The deeper they went, the more unsettling it became. Shadows flickered along the jagged rock walls, and an uneasy tension settled over the group.

At the heart of the mine, they stumbled upon a giant drill, suspended in the center of the main cavern. The machine, a relic of the mine's past, loomed over them like a mechanical titan left to decay. Its massive drill bit, though rusted and worn, was still a formidable sight.

Blake ran her fingers along the rusted walls, noting the deep gouges in the rock. "There were Grimm here," she muttered.

Yang frowned, cracking her knuckles. "There are Grimm here."

As if on cue, the ground trembled beneath them. A deep, guttural roar echoed through the cavern, and before they could react, a Blind Worm, a monstrous Grimm adapted for subterranean hunting, erupted from the depths. The beast's head was armored like a battering ram, its body covered in thick, chitinous plating. It had no eyes but sensed them through vibrations in the air and ground.

"Of course," Weiss groaned, readying Myrtenaster.

The battle erupted in chaos. Ruby dashed across the cavern, a blur of red as she unleashed Crescent Rose's high-caliber rounds into the worm's hide. Weiss coordinated her attacks with Dust-enhanced strikes, sending shards of ice to freeze parts of the beast. Blake used her semblance to create afterimages, distracting it, while Yang, grinning despite the danger, launched powerful shotgun-boosted punches.

Despite their efforts, their attacks barely left a mark. The Blind Worm's sheer size and endurance made it a nightmare to fight. Every strike that landed only seemed to enrage it further.

Bruce, watching with arms crossed, finally spoke. "This thing's hide is too tough. Your weapons won't break through."

"So what do we do?!" Ruby shouted, dodging a sweep of the worm's massive tail.

Bruce smirked. "We use what's already here."

His gaze flickered toward the giant drill. Understanding dawned on Team RWBY.

"You want us to use that?" Weiss asked incredulously. "It's ancient. It probably doesn't even work!"

"Only one way to find out," Bruce replied.

With no time to argue, the team split into action. Ruby and Weiss ran to reactivate the drill's power source while Yang and Blake distracted the Blind Worm, keeping it within range. The drill's control panel was in shambles, its buttons faded and levers rusted. Ruby frantically worked her mechanical knowledge, bypassing old circuits while Weiss infused the system with Dust energy.

"Come on, come on—work, dammit!" Ruby gritted her teeth.

With a deafening clank, the drill roared to life, its massive bit spinning at terrifying speeds. The vibrations alone made the cavern tremble. Now all they needed was to lure the Blind Worm into its path.

Yang grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."

She provoked the worm, taunting it as she dodged its lunges. Blake used her semblance to create a chain reaction of clones, leading the beast closer. As the Blind Worm lunged forward for a final attack, Yang and Blake leaped away at the last second.

The drill met flesh.

A horrible screech filled the cavern as the spinning drill tore through the Grimm's armored hide, its body thrashing wildly before it was completely shredded into nothingness. Black mist dispersed into the air, signaling their victory.

Yang wiped sweat from her forehead. "That… was… awesome!"

"Reckless, but effective," Weiss admitted, catching her breath.

Bruce simply nodded. "Good work. Now, let's get what we came for."

With the Blind Worm defeated, the team quickly gathered as much rare ore as they could carry. The cavern held rich deposits of a unique metal—dense yet flexible, perfect for weapon forging. Once their bags were full, they made their way back to Beacon Academy's forge, reuniting with Team JNPR.

Jaune greeted them, relieved they were safe. "How'd it go?"

Ruby smirked. "Oh, you know. Just fought a giant underground Grimm and used a drill the size of a house to kill it. No big deal."

Jaune blinked. "You guys what?!"

"Long story," Yang laughed. "Anyway, we got the materials!"

As they prepared to begin, Bruce suddenly turned to Jaune. "One more thing—you're gonna have to give up your armor."

Jaune stiffened. "What?"

"We need more metal. Your sword and shield alone aren't enough."

Jaune hesitated before nodding. He unbuckled his armor, piece by piece, until he stood in only his hoodie and pants. The moment the Pumpkin Pete logo on his hoodie was revealed, Ruby burst into laughter.

"Oh my god, you still wear that?!" she giggled, holding her sides.

Jaune turned beet red. "I-it's comfortable, okay?!"

Even Weiss smirked, and Yang patted his back. "Don't worry, buddy. It's iconic."

Muttering under his breath, Jaune turned to the forge. The real work was about to begin.

The forging process was long and grueling. Jaune, Ruby, and Yang carefully dismantled Crocea Mors, ensuring that nothing was wasted.

The metal was melted down, mixed with the rare ore from the mine, and purified under intense heat. Jaune worked tirelessly, hammering, shaping, and reforging the molten steel under Bruce's guidance.

"You're not just making a sword," Bruce reminded him. "You're creating a weapon that reflects who you are now."

Finally, after hours of relentless effort, the weapon was complete.

Jaune lifted the Ultra Great Sword from the anvil. It was enormous, nearly as tall as he was, resembling a massive slab of metal rather than a traditional blade. The sheer weight alone radiated power.

Weiss stared. "That's not a sword. That's a—"

Bruce smirked. "It's a sword."

Jaune, panting but proud, grinned. "And it has a surprise function… but you'll have to wait to see it."

But there was one issue.

The sword was so heavy that even Nora and Yang together struggled to lift it. When Jaune tried to wield it, he could barely lift it either.

Bruce chuckled. "Looks like you need more training."

He handed Jaune a new weighted training set—this time, twice as heavy as his old one.

Jaune's jaw dropped. "I just got rid of the weights!"

Bruce only smirked. "And now you're ready for the next step. Well... At least it resembles your old armor sets."

As Jaune reluctantly donned the new weights, his teammates couldn't help but feel bad for him—except for Bruce, who merely watched with approval.

Jaune sighed, adjusting the new burden on his body. "This is gonna suck."

Yang grinned. "You'll thank him later."

Jaune groaned, but deep down, he knew this was just the beginning. His new weapon was ready, and now, he had to prove himself worthy of wielding it.