Greetings again. This time. we deal with the aftermath of the fusion and the introduction of a key element into the story. Gai's ability to utilise the power of the Ultra Fusion Cards in his human form is only demonstrated once in the series. That for me is enough evidence that it could be done with all of them, however. This means I can implement more Ultraman powers without needing to go giant all the time - a lot easier to handle. Anyway, let's go!
Super hero time!
Izuku: Reach for the stars! With the power of an Ultraman, I just might touch them!
Zelda: To explore the outer reaches of the cosmos, even the ancient Shiekah hadn't been able to do so! Amazing!
Izuku: Well, Ultramen can live for a long time. I guess they have a little bit of an advantage!
Zelda: Very well, I'll just have to advance their research even further!
I + Z: Plus Ultra! The hero has come!
Izuku didn't know how to respond. The words kept bouncing around in his mind. Practically everyone believed the quirkless weren't fit to be heroes. Many were quick to explain how they could never amount to anything. The quirkless were merely a lesser evolved form waiting to go extinct. To be told that even Izuku could be a hero, where everyone else viewed him as lesser… it was an amazing feeling.
Gai only had a few tears as a warning before the boy was openly bawling. At least there was a bright smile on the kid's face. Crying kids weren't exactly something being an Ultraman had prepared him form. Resting a hand on Izuku's shoulders Gai couldn't help the chuckle that escaped.
"I was expecting a thank you, but I guess the sentiment's still there." The man remarked, his smile fading slightly. "Besides, it isn't only our minds that have been fused. My body has become one with yours. Not only does that mean your own body has been regenerated, it means you have access to my powers as well. Becoming an Ultraman, fusing the powers of other Ultramen – that ability is at your fingertips."
Izuku's sobbing paused temporarily, wet eyes turning to Gai. It took a few minutes, but the confused silence was soon replaced by an ear-piercing sound of confusion. So close to Izuku, Gai received the full brunt. It was one of the few times where the man cursed his enhanced senses. Through the horrid ringing, Gai could only wave his hand, Izuku watching as a light formed into a set of strange objects.
"As I said, it's part of the fusion process. Just as it allows an Ultraman to appear human, it allows the human access to the Ultraman's form." Gai clarified, Izuku absently nodding as he gazed at the cards in his hand.
They were simple enough but the grand device they came with was far from ordinary. An arch pulsing with light sat upon a pedestal of silver, black and red two wing-like structures sitting on the side. Its form alone made it appear alien, let alone the odd sensation Izuku felt the moment he touched it. Yet, despite that unfamiliar feeling… there was something oddly natural about grasping it, as if it had been moulded to Izuku's fingers.
"The Orb Ring; by scanning Ultra Fusion cards, you can access the majority of my powers," Gai stated, a clear pride to his tone. "I'd grant you access to the Orb Calibur, but… I don't think your body is ready for that just yet. You're still young. We'll have to get you training your body to accept my power."
Izuku eagerly nodded. If he wanted any chance of becoming a hero in the future, intense training was always going to be on the cards. The only difference now was that he'd have a little more help. It was like a dream come…true…
When Gai heard the small laughter coming from Izuku, he wasn't quite sure how to react.
"Gai… if this all isn't a dream, if my mind isn't making this up before I die… thank you! You're the only one who's said I can become a hero!"
"This is no dream, and it's not going to be easy. I'm going to have to train you on how to use the power of a garrison of warriors. Do you think you can handle a regime like that?" the older man warned. Izuku needed only one glance to the Orb Ring in his hand before a resolute expression appeared on his face.
"Yes, sir!"
When Izuku awoke, he was met by an earthy scent, eyes trying their best to adjust to the harsh sunlight. A sigh of relief escaped his throat; Izuku was still at the playground. If his mother learned about what had happened to him, she would be tearing herself apart. As it was, she was going to be woefully worried if Izuku was late home.
"Ah, when was the last time I got scolded? Probably when I ended up with the Silver Cross Corps..."
Izuku scrambled to his feet at the sudden voice in his ear. His eyes were practically spinning in his head trying to find the source. It was enough to make the voice raucously laugh, which did little to help Izuku's situation.
"Well, at least we know the regeneration worked out. Figured you'd be kind of tired after all the work your body went through with the assimilation. This works out for the best though."
"Gai… it's you. You must be speaking in my mind." The boy realised, reaching down across his body. No matter where he touched, there was nary a wince nor cringe. Pulling up his trouser leg revealed untouched skin and his eyes no longer stung from the explosions they had endured. "Then, all your talk about fusing, about aliens, the universe restarting…!"
"Yep, all real. If you need any more evidence, look to your left." Gai prompted, the boy's eyes directed towards the innocent items sitting on the ground next to him.
The Orb Ring hummed to life as Izuku picked it up, the Ultra Fusion Cards revealed as Izuku opened the small holder they were in. if they had been part of a dream, then they couldn't possibly exist in the physical world. If some being had left them there while fusing with Izuku? Well… that didn't really make much sense either, but there was too much evidence now. Questioning it would be pointless.
"As I said, the Orb Ring and the Ultra Fusion Cards will be how you access the powers of me and everyone else. Keep them close at all times." Gai warned, Izuku quick to respond. So long as he kept the Orb Ring stuffed in his backpack, Izuku's mother wouldn't notice it… probably. "Once you get some training in, you'll be able to utilise the powers of individual Ultramen through their cards alone. For times where you can't grow giant, they'll be your main form of enhancement."
"S-seriously? That sounds incredible!" Izuku replied, gazing at a card he pulled out with a refreshed wonder. With how casually Gai spoke about fusion, the Ultramen were incredibly powerful beings. Being able to access their strength on a whim was a huge improvement. His excitement dimmed, however, when Izuku caught sight of the setting sun. "Ah, mum's going to kill me! I need to get back!"
Deep within the child's mind, Gai watched as the boy began sprinting through the streets. With the energy he showed, it was hard to believe Izuku was close to death. the man could only be thankful for the assimilation succeeding despite Izuku's strange reaction.
"There has to be a reason why he reacted that way though. Don't remember anyone else's hosts reacting like that." Gai murmured to himself, settling within Izuku's preconscious. That was one thing he had been told was very important when assimilating with a host. That was unless you wanted to traumatise your host by constantly reminding them of the foreign presence in their head. No matter how much the human may accept it, their brain was unprepared for having a second conscience within it. At least in the preconscious, the mind wasn't forced to continuously acknowledge it. "Probably to do with those quirks people have developed. The kid said he didn't have one, but… tch, I should leave this stuff to people like Eighty or Hikari."
When Izuku first glimpsed a clock, he couldn't help but pause in his tracks. With having his body regenerated and all the info-dumping from Gai, it had felt like an eternity passed. Imagine his surprise then, when his mother greeted him without an ounce of concern for his lateness. Though he tried his best to stick with the typical routine, Izuku couldn't help but try and dash over to the clock.
"It's barely been more than a few minutes!" the boy gasped, only to cover his mouth when his mother curiously peeked through the door. "I guess I could understand the mental conversation part… our minds are able to process things incredibly fast, but the regeneration… unless it's instantaneous regeneration? That's on the level of Recovery Girl, and even she needs to utilise the victim's stamina to achieve that! I don't feel tired at all!"
You need to stop thinking about this by your world's rules. We're talking about alien biology." Gai's voice quipped in Izuku's ear. Fortunately, the boy decided to merely nod this time. His mother had accepted his occasional ramblings. Talking to imaginary friends, however, would cause a far greater level of concern. "More importantly, you need to make it clear to your mother that you want to go out more often."
That was easier said than done, however. Inko Midoriya, though the best mother Izuku could ever hope for, tended to be rather protective. Perhaps it was because of Izuku's quirkless nature, or maybe Izuku's meek mannerisms. Either way, it left Inko rather averse to the idea of Izuku being staying out for too long. If he was planning to keep Gai's existence a secret, having Inko accompany them wasn't exactly ideal either.
"Izuku dinner will be ready soon! Come to the table!" his mother's voice drew Izuku out of his quandary, the boy taking a deep breath before marching in. convincing her would be difficult, but not impossible. Right?
"Why would you want to stay out so long? Have you made some new friends?" his mother had immediately questioned. Izuku barely had the time to sit down.
"Um… yes." It wasn't a lie. If she didn't ask where the friend was, everything would be alright. Trying to explain that Gai was in his head would be a feat, to say the least. "We're both planning on becoming heroes, so we said we'd start training together!"
"Training, so soon? Shouldn't you be focusing on enjoying yourselves first?" Inko immediately countered, a concerned frown immediately pasted upon her face. "You have plenty of time before you even need to think about becoming a hero. You should be playing about, having fun!"
"But training is fun. It's fun when we train together." Izuku answered his face straining to remain stoic. That was rather difficult when there was endless laughter echoing inside his brain, but Izuku coped. Somehow, he could already tell the training was going to be more painful than ever before. "Besides, I don't have a quirk to rely on. If I'm going to become a hero, then I need to start training my body up fast. I don't really have the time to wait."
Izuku would be the first to admit it. He wasn't what you'd call the sportiest of children, nor did his mother skim on her portions. He was a healthy child that was certain. That didn't make him a particularly fit one. If he was going to face the worst of the worst, there was no time to waste. That logic didn't seem to escape Inko, the woman biting her thumb in silent hesitation.
She had no idea how to respond. In her eyes, Izuku was still a baby. The thought of her precious child pushing himself to suffer for a precarious dream didn't sit well with Inko. There would be another person there, so it wasn't as if Izuku was going alone, but… he was still defenceless. Compared to the atrocities some villains could engage with? His son would be toast far quicker than anyone else.
That was why he wanted to train though wasn't it? So he wouldn't be so easily beaten? With some physical training, Izuku might not be a chew toy for the first villain he came across. When we see an obstacle, we don't just back down, we find a way around it; that was what Hisashi had said. Quirklessness was just another obstacle to be defeated.
"Izuku… we've talked about this before, remember? Being a hero is a dangerous business. You could seriously hurt yourself if you're not careful!" Inko answered eventually, her grip on the table dangerously tight. Any stronger and they would be left with nothing but splinters. For a woman whose quirk was based off levitating objects, it was pretty impressive. "How are you going to help someone when you come across people who can do terrible things without breaking a sweat?"
"I'm going to find a way. I have a few tricks up my sleeves, but I need to know more." Izuku replied, the kitchen table conveniently obscuring how Izuku's hand brushed against the Ultra Fusion Card holder. "My friend Gai, he can help me, but only if we start training sooner rather than later. Please mum, I'm not asking for much."
By this point, Izuku's head was almost on the table. His vulnerable form paired with such a tone of desperation almost immediately tore down Inko's defences. Letting her child risk himself was a terrible thought but seeing her son reduced to desperate begging was even more so. No matter how hard she tried, his dreams of being a hero refused to die. If nothing else, the determination would serve him well, Inko supposed.
"…Fine, but you're not going far, okay? Always come back before it gets dark. And if your friend suggests anything too risky, always say no! okay?" Inko demanded, Izuku's head rising with a look of growing wonder. It did little to prepare Inko for the green-haired missile that ran straight into her. "If it's going to help you out in the future, I would be evil to say no. You have to keep yourself safe at all times though!"
"Right! Thank you, mum!" and with those words, dinner became just a little bit more jovial.
Musutafu was fortunate to have Dagobah Municipal Beach Park. With the majority of the city's commerce on the other side, the beach was always blessed with serenity. That, paired with a gorgeous glow under the setting sun, meant that it was the perfect environment for peaceful walks and romantic encounters. If you spoke to some of the older residents, many would have fond memories of Dagobah Beach.
It was a shame how pollution had ruined it so. Whether it be trash thrown by careless people passing by or the heaps drawn in by the waves, rubbish plagued the entire beach. Nowadays, you could hardly walk around without stepping in some truly horrid stuff. At one point, some might've been inclined to clean it. Now that it had escalated to such an extent? Few dared tackle such a sizeable task. Therefore, it was rare to see anyone approach the beach.
That made it the perfect training ground for Izuku.
"Lots of heavy junk we can use to start your strength training… plenty of places to hide if people come around… I can think of worse areas." Gai mused as Izuku navigated the utter mess that was Dagobah Beach. Well, Izuku tried to; it wasn't exactly simple when he almost tripped on a broken blender. Izuku could only be thankful the blade had been lost at sea. "We could even use some of this stuff as target practice once we get advanced enough!"
"But what about becoming a giant? How am I meant to train that anywhere?" Izuku questioned aloud, glimpsing around him. Sure, the beach was far enough from most buildings, but that didn't really matter where he could grow fifty feet tall. The moment he did so, the news would go insane. "We're not meant to use quirks in public! I-I mean, it's not a quirk but it really looks like one!"
"You don't have to worry about that. When the time comes, you just leave that to me." Gai's words were saturated with confidence. In a tone like that, Izuku had no choice but to accept. If he became giant, Izuku would have no clue what to do. Perhaps it was best left to the one who the body belonged to. "You're still young, so we'll be focusing on tempering the body and getting you used to individual powers. Draw a card for me."
"Right." With a flick of his finger, the Ultra Fusion Cards were revealed from their holder. Greeted with so many faces, Izuku wasn't quite sure who to pick. Plucking the first out of the deck, Izuku was met by an Ultra warrior emblazoned with black and gold. "These symbols, they're an alien language right?"
"The shared language of the M78 Nebula. You'll get used to it soon enough, it's only the names of each Ultraman." Gai explained, Izuku only half-listening as he flipped through the other cards. Considering most if not all bore the same larger text, it was pretty safe to deduce it meant 'Ultraman' it was their individual names, written slightly smaller below, that brought a challenge. "The guy you've chosen is Ultraman Gaia. Pretty lucky, considering he's one of only two Ultramen that were born of the Earth."
"Wait, Ultramen can be born on Earth!?" Izuku choked out. It was one thing for beings like the Ultramen to come from other planets? An Ultramen appearing from Earth? Now that was just impossible. Surely there would be some sort of record about – no, wait, universe reset. Of course. How many times was he going to have to use that excuse?
"Well you have Ultramen like Tiga, who evolved from an ancient Earth-based species, but Gaia and Agul are slightly different," Gai answered… his tone pensive. If he were able to appear, Izuku could easily imagine him pacing back and forth. "They are embodiments of the Earth and the Seas, defenders born from the world's consciousness. I guess seeing as you were born on Earth, Gaia's powers were drawn to you. We can use that! If I remember correctly, Gaia had a move called Gaia Healing, it allows you to calm opponents. We'll work on utilising that before we get to the offensive abilities. Focus on the card picture a wave, your opponent being calmed. Then, push your soul into the card."
"Push… my soul?" Izuku questioned, yet he dutifully followed his orders regardless. After all, the first portions were simple enough. Picturing a wave-esque power escaping his hands was a case of envisioning various hero videos. The same with the opponent being calmed, Izuku had seen many an occasion where a quirk could calm an enraged villain. Together, the child's experience meant that picturing the scene was all too easy. As for pushing his soul, all Izuku could do was try and push everything he had towards the card. Nought but the card existed in his mind every inch of consciousness put to the task.
Little did the child realise the way he glowed with an ancient power. Nor did he know the effect he had upon a green-haired girl nearby.
And having introduced another curveball, it's time to end this chapter. Don't have much to say for this chapter compared to the others. I'm just hoping that I've got my Ultraman lore correct; all of the different timelines and universes can get dreadfully confusing.
Super hero time! See you next time!