Cursed Edgerunner Chapter 4 (Patreon)

Feixiao's father was a large gruff looking man with smoke marks across his hands that he couldn't wash off in short warning. And without any small talk, he said gruffly in a deep voice.

"Blueprints young man." I handed over the blueprints for the monowire, mantis blades, and the projectile launch system that would be going into my arms.

Feixiao who also followed her father into the room looked at the blueprints of what I wanted with a raised eyebrow of interest. "These... Why are you just asking for parts? These are in no way a completed weapon and this tube design you have. Unless you are trying to make a railgun, a gun barrel can't magically enchant a bullet or something. That's why you use dust rounds." Feixiao's father questioned with an off expression.

After a moment, I shrugged and held up my arms with my cyberdeck interfacing with them and I saw both of them flinch as the false skin opened up at the wrists and middle of the forearm where the monowire and other things went.

"They are weapons to my prosthetics that were... Stripped from me, and although I can install those weapons, I need the blades and systems hardened in an industrial setting I don't have access to." I said bluntly.

"What was your name by the way?" I asked Feixiao's father who chewed on his inner cheek and said less gruffly.

"I got it... You are from Atlas aren't ya boy? But my name is Loufu Xiong. Alright, I can make these double mantis blades and specialized folding barrel easily. But the monowire will not be able to be fire dust infused with how thin the wires are. They would snap from their great heat." 

Feixiao herself then added on. "You need much bigger weapons like a great axe or huge sword to deal with heat dissipation and give the metal space and to react to the stresses of use. A wire can't exactly handle that."

'Then how do the nanowires of Cyberpunk handle it?' I wondered before shrugging and saying. "Alright, then lightning dust for cutting then with the monowires." 

Both of them nodded and after some muttering between the two, Loufu said calmly. "Very well. So I can have this project done in a week, how does twenty thousand Lien sound?" 

My lips twitched and I said calmly. "Very well. Could I pay upfront with gold now or lien later?" 

Luofu and Feixiao blinked at my words and Luofu's face unexpectedly broke into a smile with him saying. "Yes, that's fine. A smith can always use more gold to use in youngsters' fiddly mecha shift weapons." 

I brought out a stack of gold coins and the older fox faunus used a clamp to test the density and purity of the gold before nodding and saying. "That's good gold there, I will take six coins and I will have your project done in five days then."

"That will do just fine Mr. Xiong. Though I do have a favor to ask." The man's face pinched before he sighed and waved his hand obviously expecting me to make some weird change to the project I laid out in front of him.

But he just froze and stared at me in confusion as I asked. "Can you or your daughter unlock my aura for me?" 

There was a pause as both of the faunus's stared at me, before Luofo spoke with amusement. "If it wasn't for your implants I would have thought you came from the boonies. But uhhh you know why they are called Huntresses right? Yeah, only women can have aura." 

I just stared at the man for a long moment of silence. And my mind sailed back to when my sponsor was saying how my RWBY world was going to be 'special' and fucking here it was. 

For a moment I wondered if my sponsor was so much of a fucking asshole with how he tossed me into that experimental facility that I couldn't get aura here in this world.

But I recalled that Jake's that have been reincarnated could use any special magical energy and energy systems so long as they understood them or came across it naturally.

So unless my sponsor wanted to be lynched for fucking me over completely for some stupid reason. I should easily be able to get aura!

I took a deep breath, and I put another gold coin on the table and said with a wry smile. "Look, it won't hurt for you to try you know? I know all it takes is a chant and pushing your aura into someone else right?" 

Feixiao looked at her father who shrugged and Luofo said gruffly but kindly. "Young man, you should just take that back, it won't work." 

I exhaled in annoyance before I flicked the coin at Feixaio across the table where I said. "Please just try, if it doesn't work that's my fault and you still get the coin. I won't bring it up again and it will only take a minute at most to try."

Feixiao who caught the coin with a finger gave a wry smile and looked to her father. "What's the harm father? I've unlocked some kid's aura before anyway as well." 

Luofo just rolled his eyes and said flatly. "Fine do what you want Feixiao." 

Feixiao got up from her side of the table we were sitting on the other sides and she leaned against the table with one of her hands falling on my shoulder. "Alright Jake, so here is what is going to happen... I am going to 'try' to sink my aura into your soul to pull it out and activate it. But I won't be be able to." She explained.

Seeing my expression she gave an awkward smile and said. "So basically boys and girls have different souls you know. A girls soul is softer, more malleable, supposedly its why we are more emotional. But either way, men's souls are the completely other way around."

She took a deep breath and continued. "Men's souls are stubborn, more like metal that slaps aside any attempt to mess with them unlike women's souls that are more like taffy that can be pulled, stretched, and made to do things like act as aura and semblances."

After she finished her explanation I took a breath and said calmly. "Then I at least want to feel my soul being activated even if it's to rebuff your own."

Feixiao actually just grinned and said. "Up to you Jake, this is going to sting though!"

Her body glowed with a dark blue aura and then she began chanting.

"For it is through sacrifice in which we achieve victory. Through this, we become the zenith of all creatures that dwell beneath the heavens. Boundless in glory yet unending in hardships, I unshackle your mortality and spur thee ever onwards."

And I could feel it, I felt her soul energy pushing into my body and brushing into my own soul. 'Isn't this basically Jujutsu bullshit as well?' I mused before I felt Feixiao's aura touch my own soul fully and for a moment our souls repelled one another.

Then... Feeling Feixiao's soul pulling back as she obviously didn't plan to give mine the pull it needed. I forced my soul into reaching outwards, all but hugging her own souls energy making a flicker of gold spark around me while Feixiao's own aura flared with power.

"That... No this is impossible?" Feixiao muttered as that spark of golden energy crackled powerfully as she wrenched her soul energy backward while holding onto my own and then my aura burst into life with a violent crackle of energy that surrounded my form.

I stared into Feixiao's multi-colored eyes for a moment as her fox ears atop her head twitched repeatedly in shock before I took control over my aura which was seemingly an entirely instinctive process. And I brought my aura down to only making my hand glow.

But even as I inspected my golden glowing hand, I felt Feixiao's hand on my shoulder tighten and she asked slowly and with painful awkwardness. "Are... Are you sure, you are a man?" 

My lips twitched as Feixiao let go of my shoulder and stepped back at my very flat expression. "I am very sure of that... I have all the parts belonging to that gender. Thank you very much." 

I felt my senses ringing out to me and I looked over at Luofu who was frowning as he looked between me and the project. 'Ah shit, he is getting cold feet.' I thought with a sigh.

"Look, I won't say anything about my aura getting unlocked. Because if Feixiao has tried with other men like the kids and younger boys who wanted to have their aura's unlocked, like she mentioned. It's clearly a thing about me in any case not her."

The man exhaled before shaking his head. "Alright fine, I won't say anything and neither will you say where you got your aura unlocked." 

But then Feixiao cut in with a flat retort. "Father, excuse you but I can take care of myself. I am already a combat teacher at Haven remember." 

Feixiao gave her father a flat look who looked ready to retort sharply before he simply took a deep breath. "Fine, I will stay out of it. You are strong enough to make your own decisions."

He just shook his head and refocused on me. "Jake, I will have your project done by this weekend. Is there anything else you need then?" 

I shook my head knowing he wanted to get to work as he looked interested in the projects I offered him. So I got up and then bowed my head. "Thank you for taking on my commission, I will be back in a few days to pick them up around noon."

With that I made my way out of the Xiong families shop with Feixiao following behind me and as we left the actual house where we did the business deal. Feixiao nudged my arm to get my attention as we reached the wall surrounding her families property.

"So what are you going to do now that you got aura? Become a hunter... Or something?" She asked with some wry confusion going across her face as I was certainly the oddity among all oddities with how I was now the only man to be able to use aura.

I however shrugged and said plainly. "I don't have too much interest in becoming a hunter honestly. I have some other goals I need the protection of aura and I want to get strong... But we shall see."

Feixiao was silent for a minute, she just stared at me for a long while before she abruptly spoke. "When your projects are done, and you fix your prosthetics, I want to spar with you. I want to show you the strength of a true huntress! So you know what you are missing out on."

Being stuck here in Remnant for a while might not be a bad idea, as it likely was safer than the Cyberpunk universe that was supposed to be my home. But I still needed to pick up Cursed Energy not to mention learn whatever the hell my Cursed Technique was.

"Fighting you doesn't exactly do anything for me... Hell where would we even fight as keeping my status as the only guy with aura secret would be for the best." I said bluntly.

The fox faunus's ears twitched as she frowned and thought about the question and I didn't stop there as I said firmly. "Then I will see you in a few days Feixiao, thank you for escorting me out of the door."

I turned my back to Feixiao and came up to the door and I was about to walk out until Feixiao asked quietly. "Don't you want to be something special though? To be a hero to the rest of humanity and even faunus's?" 

I sighed and bonked my head on the door before I groaned and said. "I got my own goals, and sitting around in school for the next half a decade basically is a total waste of time." 

The door I began to open clanged shut as a fucking massive sword slammed through the door and pinned the door into it's frame.

I slowly turned around towards Feixiao who wrenched the large gun sword combo out of the door casually and I reached into my side with my auto pistol falling into my hand. "So... What is the meaning of this?" I asked bluntly.

Feixiao hefted the large gun sword combo over her shoulder and I idly wondered if summoning weapons or something was her semblance. But I refocused as she spoke firmly.

"Jake I am a combat teacher, I been teaching huntresses combat and survival training for the last three years of my life after I served as a roaming huntress for an extra five years... I see you, and I see how aimless you are. I get you might want to keep your aura secret, but don't you think it's a waste for you to just hide when you could work to protect the world?" She spoke with utter passion as she put a free hand over her large ample breast over her heart.

I took a deep breath and I said bluntly and with no argument. "Feixiao, I refuse to go to Haven and spend years in school. I got other shit to do."

Feixiao instead gave me a bright grin and then with her free hand she put her thumb to her chest and said proudly.

"Fine then! Be my apprentice then Jake, I am one of the stronger huntresses of this generation. And I can make you strong, and teach you a number of aura-based techniques to make you even stronger than if you merely self-trained!"

Then a slight flush entered her cheeks before she shook her head and looked at me earnestly... And finally, I just shrugged, and taking a deep breath I said. "Alright alright, fine I will do it." 

And I saw the fox woman grin with victory clear on her face and then I saw that her semblance most likely was weapon summoning or some form of interspatial storage as her sword was swallowed by swirling lights and disappeared.

"Now... Can I leave? I kinda want to get some lunch and other shopping done." I asked rhetorically and Feixiao gave a chuckle and waved a hand lazily.

"Yeah alright alright, I won't bully you anymore. You are free to go."

With that I pulled the door open while idly wondering how much of a hassle it was going to be for her to fix the door she shoved her fucking sword through. But I was then left unmolested as I left the Xiong Armory and left to go towards the upper levels of the city where the nicer stuff was.

'Hmm, I should probably get some Dust samples, I have the cheat of perfect bodily intergration when it comes to technology and even magic implants. So, Dust would also likewise fall into that theme.' I thought as I went to the higher end of Mistral city's upper terraces.

As Mistral City was built on and between two massive mountains with a huge platform that connected the two mountain peaks together with a large palace and series of buildings atop the platform that hung suspended btween the two mountains.

But after a bit of looking, I found a large library that had a wired connection to RWBY's equilvalent of the Net so I went in and rented a room with a computer so I could use my Cyberpunk tech that was so far ahead so I could access the net and gather alot more information.

"Alright... Let's see what is in the local news." I muttered as I brought up the local news and events before pausing at the header on the report that made me freeze.

[Men2 movement strikes back against Huntresses Equality group!] [In a not at all controversial clash, the Men2 Movement has strongly opposed the Huntresses Equality Group's demand for state-mandated boyfriends, citing personal freedom and societal equity. The Huntresses argue this measure addresses loneliness and societal pressures unique to female warriors being the ones constantly on the frontlines against the Grimm, but female critics call it "extreme entitlement from the most hopeless of the female gender."]

"What the actual hell... Aren't huntresses like normally hot with how active they are and with aura tuning up their bodies?" I muttered as I pulled up further records and wow.

First was how Mistral's police department was constantly being flooded by men calling in to report huntresses getting hyper pushy with them in public, trailing them home, hiding in their closets... And one man even had to call for emergency services as a huntress got stuck under his sink when her weapon unfolded pining her inside the cabinet.

Apparently and I quote... 'I was totally going to get some dick if I offered to suck him off while he was doing dishes obviously! You are all just jealous I got that close to a man!' And quote by said huntress on why she had broken into his house and was hiding in the cabinets under his sink.

My exasperated frown became a whirl of utter horror as I realized what the real fucking prank that my sponsor had done to me. He had made all the huntresses and women here in RWBY that had Aura. So fucking thirsty that ninety plus percent of men were utterly turned off by them.

I mean sure they were hot and all even still. But when the girl is crazy enough that she after being refused by the man she wanted. Friends your mom's scrollbook account, joins her book club, meets her at the bookclub and then begins a long term friendship with said mother all in order for said mother to introduce her to her single son...

"Wait... Was Feixiao trying to do some weird Master-Disciple play with me? That was why she was blushing and wanted to fight me?" I muttered with my eye twitching as I remembered the twitching ears she had going on as more points of intrest towards myself.

I brushed my hand across my face as I took a deep breath. "Ok Jake... All the huntresses of the world are hopeless Christmas cakes that are so bonkers that they are a turn off. This doesn't affect me though. I got to get back to cyberpunk and start jumping curses JJK style anyway." 

With that I got out of the police reports of huntresses and the news articles of them being total 'femcels' that were demanding state-gifted boyfriends and other nonsense as I went into the more intricate bits as I started looking into the prices of gold to Dust and other things.

Technically I had a whole avenue of soft power with the ring I had. Imagine if I brought something like a load of Gravity Dust to a Megacorporation back on Earth? I mean sure they were utter shitheads and evil. But my goal wasn't to become some paragon of good.

My entire goal right now was just to get as strong as I could as my sponsor said that Sukuna was going to be a thing. To say nothing of other curses coming about. Though to be honest, once again I wasn't even interested in fighting Sukuna, let someone else deal with that nonsense.

I was going to get strong, get rich, and then if I was lucky, go to bed each night with a different beautiful woman in each arm.

After some research, I picked up some places I could offload some of the gold coins I brought for a decent price. And then likewise I found some other places that had better prices on Dust. At least lower-quality dust.

As I wasn't looking to get a hold of the highest quality huntress casting and military-grade dust. I wanted to get ahold of Dust to see how it interacted with my complete body acceptance and of course in time see how it reacted with Curses.

Finishing up with my research I yawned and stretched in my chair. "Whelp, time to get going." I muttered as I got up to do some shopping before I headed back to the world of Cyberpunk. As it's not like my cheat ring had any sort of cooldowns or anything.

Leaving the library I first headed over to a jewelry store that bought my high purity gold coins without any fuss and then I headed over to the local lower-end Dust store. Which sold Dust to people wholesale so they could power their homes with electricity, heat, and other things.

The Dust store was actually rather large as it was also a full groccery store and I went in without issue and began buying smaller amounts of grade 1-3 Dust and noting down their colors as well to tell them apart along with their elements.

Fire-Red, Ice-Light Blue, Water-Dark Blue, Gravity-Black, Electricity-Yellow, Hard-Light- Whitem and finally Wind Dust was a bright green. I made sure to buy the dust in raw crystal form as well as the powder form as well. 

But buying so many types of Dust even if in lower qualities and quality was still rather expensive so I was right back to being on the poorer side.

"Well that should do it." I muttered as I carried my Dust and some groceries out of the store as I considered where I should go to teleport back to the world of Cyberpunk.

However, a soft female voice spoke up. "Excuse me sir! You dropped a dust crystal as you checked out." 

I blinked and turned around from where I was previously walking towards the more sparsely populate area to find a place to make a portal. And I took in the source of the voice and her friend standing next to her with a smile.

The young woman who spoke was a woman with luscious long dark black hair and a very curvaceous form along with blue eyes that fit well with her mistrali/asian appearance. While her friend was also very beautiful but very different looking with very pale skin and silver white hair.

"Uhh thank-" I paused as I looked at the crystal she was offering towards me in her hand. "That's a grade five at least water Dust crystal." I said flatly as I looked up at the woman who nervously giggled.

"Oh really? I was just... Watching you check out as you were carrying those two heavy bags and saw it left on the counter. If it's not yours... How about we just share it then?" 

My lips twitched as I knew all too well that raw Dust crystals were used mostly in weapons like bombs or put on weapons and clothes to enchant them basically with the Dust's effects as the crystals would hold a charge for a lot longer and have more power. 

Compared to having the same weight and volume of Dust in it's powdered form anyway. Point is, that you also don't fucking break apart a Dust crystal without special training and equipment though a Water Dust crystal would just explode with a metric fuck load of water going everywhere.

The white haired girl seeing my catching on, all but bounced forward with her very ample breasts bouncing with the motion as she said in a husky voice. "I am sorry for my friend. We have just started our third year at Haven and she is just... So lonely with all the hard work we been doing." 

The white-haired woman stepped forward with her hand gently going to my chest with me taking a step backwards at that but her other hand snaked forward and grabbed the bag handle of groceries and dust in one of my hands.

"Ah, you know. A large migrant flock of Nevermore are supposed to be flying over Mistral tonight. How about we escort you home, we are huntresses in training and will make sure you get tucked in nice... And tight!" The silver-haired beauty said with absolutely zero confusion as to what she actually meant.

But I had the perfect excuse for her. "I am sorry, I am afraid I have no bed to be tucked into. I just arrived here to Mistral from Atlas, but my luggage got stolen so I am trying to get myself a new Scroll and find a place where I can stay."

The two girls shared a look before the silver-haired girls hand that was previously on my chest before I stepped back went to my shoulder as both of the two girls grinned.

"My name is Albion and this is my friend Magenta. So I have a bit of an idea... How about you come to Haven, and we can make sure you are nice and comfortable for tonight in my teams room. We third years even get two bedrooms as a bonus for making it this far haha." The silver-haired girl spoke.

'Holy fuck... She is saying so bluntly she wants her and her team to run a train on my ass. No wonder men are literally fleeing from huntresses.' I thought before I took a breath as I couldn't just fuck the first thirsty huntress after my dick.

"Alright then Albion, this is enough." I said firmly and I leaned away from the silver-haired girl and I saw Magenta grin for a brief instant before she spoke in an earnest tone. 

"Well we just want to help you, could you at least share your name with us? Maybe we can escort you to the hotel distrct after you get your new scroll?" Magenta said earnestly as she came up and then took my other hand into her own. With her bringing my hand that was holding the rest of my stuff between her chest.

For a brief moment, I considered screaming 'bad touch!' to scare them off but I just groaned audibly before I said. "Girl's let go of me before I call the police. I don't want to go with you."

And with zero fucking shame, Albion said with a grin. "You are going to call the police is what scroll?" 

My face twitched before I took a deep breath and with my hand partly buried in my bag I was able to grab and unscrew the container for the wind Dust powder. And then I flexed my mechanical hands and arms making Albion blink in surprise at the great strength in my arms.

And with her hand off my own, I yelled out. "Pocket Sand!" And I threw a palm full of bright green low-grade Wind Dust directly into the girl's face which reacted to instantly raised up Aura's.

The aura hitting the Dust I threw at them obviously reacted with the Dust and then as the wind Dust exploded I activated my portal ring behind me as I was blasted backwards in an explosion of forceful magical winds that came from the activated Dust.

I landed back in my home back in the cyberpunk world with my mind instantly closing the portal as I slammed into the ground in my living room with a dull thudding noise.

"Ughh!" I groaned as I felt my aura had instinctively flared up and absorbed all the stress of the impact but it still left me a bit stunned so I just lay there on the ground for a hot minute.

And then I grinned as I slowly sat up as I just imagined the reactions of those thirsty ass huntresses finding out I literally disappeared in that harmless explosion.