My Hokuto Academia
I DO NOT own Hokuto no Ken or My Hero Academia, they belong to their respective creators, Tetsuo Hara, Buronson, and Kohei Horikoshi. Support the official releases, especially of Souten no Ken. Oh, someone's already translating Souten no Ken: Regenesis [manga version] already!
Italics = Flashback
"Italics" = Speaking in a Different Language
'Italics' = Inner Thoughts
Italics = Flashback
"BOLD" = All-Might's tone or Present Mic [excited]
Chapter Forty-Four: The Ultimate Killer [I]
Heihe, Heilongjiang Province, China
Several Years Ago...
A Chinese prefecture-level city on the Russian border, but it's where a young man is currently under the tutelage of a ruthless master.
"Again."
SMACK!
The young man was parrying each blow coming at him but his master was far faster than he let on. Now? He just switched to another style, mainly by the claw-type attacks.
Steel Tiger's Rampage!
WHAM!
The young man did not expect a crescent kick into the liver! Unfortunately, this led to him lowering his guard to clutch his wound. The master wielded his hands like they were claws...
SLASH!
SLASH!
SLASH!
POW!
The student got a palm strike into the face! However, that was burned into his memory: the master stepped forward calmly while delivering claw strikes into the student's body and then finished it with a palm strike!
He was not done!
WHIP!
"GRAHHH!"
He was not expecting the sweeping low kick! The young student immediately put up his guard to prep for any attack, but it was too late.
SPLORCH!
In the end, the student managed to survive. However, he noticed his master's hands, stained with blood. His blood.
"Alright, let's take a break, Young Akaguro."
"Yes, Master Kagehama."
Hosu City
Stain clutched where his old wounds used to be, but it was a small cost to learn several other styles. He remembered his master's words on why...
'It's better to be versatile, whether it's on the battlefield or in your own house. A good craftsman makes use of every tool, it just needs the right moment.'
"I'm glad for your tutelage, though it was borderline cruel at times."
As the Hero Killer hunted for more prey...
Edgeshot Agency
The following morning had them in meditation, clearing their heads, lasting for an hour. Midoriya was feeling less aggressive, but how long would that last? Momo, on the other hand, was getting better as a close-quarters fighter.
Phantom Spider's Pace!
Momo was working on last-minute sidesteps, mainly to disorient Edgeshot, but to her credit? Momo did get one or two hits on him. The other times? Hard countered. To the face.
"Alright, that's enough. There's also an important announcement I like to make."
Both of them paid attention.
"Later in the evening, we will be going to Hosu City. Part of a big request sent by the Commission for a team to investigate and possibly apprehend Stain."
This was a bit of a bombshell, especially since Iida's there.
"Come along, we will do some patrols now."
Shady Alleyway
"So? You're the newest member of the League?" said a smug-sounding man. He was definitely middle-aged, gray-haired, but the purple blazer is what made him stand out. Arms dealer or broker at the very least.
"Yea, my employer said you might have some explosive suggestions. Name's Bloodgash."
"Ah, the name's Giran," responded the broker. "So, what-"
"Do you have any sort of grenade launchers?"
Giran's eyes widened, then motioned for him to come along. As soon as he went into his little 'shop', the scarred merc's eyes widened. The entire shelf was adorned with various sorts of firearms, grenade launchers, and remote explosives.
"... It's beautiful," muttered Bloodgash. "Oh, that one! Definitely that one."
Giran saw what he was pointing at. A classic from the battlefield, the MGL-140 grenade launcher. The six-shot cylinder system. Perfect for causing havoc.
"You like?"
"Definitely..."
Battle Company Agency
"Gunhead, how dangerous is this Hero Killer supposed to be?" asked Kiryu.
"Well, he knows how to erase his presence and seems to prefer bare hands or his blades," answered Gunhead. "That's the weirdest part, it sounds like he was formally trained at the least."
"So you want-"
"I'll need both of you to come along with me. One. A good opportunity for investigative work. Two. We will need all the help we can get, the close-quarters type to be specific."
"Wait, when?"
"It will be tonight."
Kushiba City
Mirko was teaching Mina the basics of her style which consisted of Taekwondo and Taido. Every sort of kick you can think of: acrobatic kicks, side-kicks, spinning kicks, and also unique footwork. The pink girl was feeling very exhausted, especially with the timing of the Manji Kick.
"Why...learn...Taido?" asked the pinkette who was panting.
"Flexibility in a fight, plus it's great for surprise attacks."
"Can't...argue...with...that..."
"Besides, a big request was sent from the Commission. We're heading towards Hosu City tonight."
"The Hero Killer?"
"Well, we're supposed to be there to improve 'morale', but you're right, it's apprehending the Hero Killer."
"Wait, we?"
Mirko grit her teeth, explaining that she's part of a makeshift team.
"B-But we don't know how deadly the Hero Killer really is!"
"Actually, there's an idea..." Mirko said. She pulled up her phone, showing some disturbing footage to Mina. It was from the app version of Hero Network and the sender being Manual. The footage in question? Stain in action, fighting and slaughtering Mister Blaster with little effort.
"W-W-What the f-f-fuck?!"
"Yup. Stain's very dangerous. In the case you see him? RUN. Do not engage him."
"What about you?!" Mina said, worried.
"Me? I'm gonna fight him obviously!"
Mina wanted to argue but realized that Mirko wouldn't budge on this.
Hosu City Rooftops
Day would turn into night, but a purple vortex would appear... as three individuals came out of it.
"This is supposed to be Hosu City? It doesn't look too bad. Fuck, it looks affordable by the looks of it," exclaimed Shigaraki. "What the fuck did he mean by taking care of business?"
"Hmm... it's perfect," responded Bloodgash. "Especially for this baby right here." As the merc wielded a cylinder-barrel grenade launcher, loading it with ammo, and continuing: "One shot and it becomes chaos. Tried this tactic in the Golden Triangle, it works fucking wonders."
"Likely purging more Pro Heroes. However, we can't entirely dismiss him..." said Kurogiri, answering Shigaraki's question. "The reality? In all the cities that Stain appeared in, the crime rate dropped."
"...why did you want to recruit him again?" questioned Bloodgash. "Seriously, the more I hear about this Stain, the more it was a fucking mistake to introduce him, to begin with."
"Some critics either attribute this as 'wake-up call' to Heroes...or just shoot him down."
"Again, this bastard's fanaticism would have turned against us inevitably," said Bloodgash.
"Crime rate dropping? Wake-up call? Stain's a fucking Hero Breeder!" exclaimed Shigaraki. "Kurogiri... delay the Nomus for a bit."
Kurogiri looked at him for a moment, wondering if he misheard.
"No, let's do this a different way," Shigaraki said, then turned towards Bloodgash who's aiming his grenade launcher at a bunch of parked cars.
"Just give the word..."
"I'll destroy your pride, Hero Killer."
Tokyo Train Line
"We should be on the way to Hosu City within 30 minutes," said Edgeshot. "Be on guard."
Momo and Izuku both nodded.
"Wait... there's something I need to say, Edgeshot."
"Yes?"
"A friend of ours... he's Ingenium's brother..." responded Izuku. This made Edgeshot's eye widen in a bit of shock, but regained some composure.
"Oh... no. Is this friend of yours interning in Hosu City?"
"Very likely," responded Momo.
Edgeshot now became worried, he now has to deal with an emotionally-driven hero trainee that's out in Hosu City. If they run into him, that is.
Hosu City Streets
BOOM!
With a single explosion, things fell into a panic.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Several cars being blown up sent the entire populace into a panic, running like chickens with their heads cut off, and most importantly, the patrolling heroes in a state of confusion.
"Ma'am, come over here! We need to get away from the blast radius!" said one hero with a knight motif.
"Crap! These fires are getting out of control!" screamed a firefighter-themed hero but he had assistance in the very least. It was Manual with his intern at the very least. As the water-using hero was trying to put out the flames with his Quirk, he ordered Iida to get any nearby civilians to safety.
Iida was using his Quirk to get nearby civilians away, it wasn't tiring, but what ran through his mind was this...
'What the hell type of Quirk did this?!'
"HELP!"
"On the way, sir!" screamed Iida as he boosted towards an older man who was trapped in his car.
Hosu City Train Station
"Let's get a move on! Explosions have been confirmed!" exclaimed Edgeshot. Momo and Izuku were following from behind. Other trains were pulling in, revealing other Pro Heroes that were requested here.
"You think...?"
"Maybe..." Izuku responded.
"Shoto, this is a good opportunity to see how a crisis is handled in action!" exclaimed Endeavor. Shoto was just following along, only using short responses.
Hosu City Rooftops
Shigaraki overlooked the panicked citizens, this was a surprise to him, putting a grin on his face. "Wow... shit. You didn't even need to use a Quirk. You know what, Kurogiri? Don't bring the Nomu."
"Are you sure?"
"Did I stutter?"
Kurogiri wordlessly nodded.
"This is good old-fashioned psychological warfare, nothing more, nothing less," responded Bloodgash. "It got the intended effect: terrified and compromised populace."
"Hmph... you're right. Let's go home, I don't feel like crushing the Hero Killer's pride anymore."
"But-"
"There will be opportunities down the road," responded Bloodgash. "The Hero Killer can make for a good patsy, so it would be a waste to crush or kill him now."
Hosu City Streets
As soon as the explosions came, they stopped. A sigh of relief came over, but the heroes could tell: the damage was done. Whatever peace that existed in Hosu City was shattered by this random attack of violence? Or would one call it terrorism?
"Okay, the attacks stopped... Iida?" said Manual. However, he was relieved to see that Iida was helping the last civilian, a senior citizen.
"Are you feeling fine, sir?"
"Oh, don't worry about this old man, but thank you regardless."
As the last of the civilians were being escorted to safety, Iida swore his vision fooled him for a minute, but he was interrupted by something...
"Hey, Iida? Let's go-"
"Oh, sorry, I was distracted by something... Wait, I think I saw him!"
"Who?" asked Manual.
"The Hero Killer."
"Out of the question! Do not do it! There's a team on the way here! I'll go on..." said Manual as he went to Hero Network to send a request... only to find that Iida was gone. "TENYA!"
As the speedster ran down the street, he had a grin underneath his helmet, finally having the Hero Killer in his sights.
"I finally found you..."
As he turned into an alleyway, he definitely saw it... blood red scarf, combat boots, and matching white headband too.
"My brother will be avenged..."
In an alleyway, a certain hero was down on the ground, bleeding...
"Pathetic, this is what was sent to apprehend me?" growled the Hero Killer. "The Tracker Hero: Native? They should have sent a squad..."
As the Hero Killer was ready to finish the job.
CLANK!
Stain quickly blocked an incoming kick! From a white-armored hero that looked very familiar to him. "Really? They send a child?"
"I found you..."
Stain raised an eyebrow.
"Blood-red scarf, weapons all over the body... you're the Hero Killer: Stain! I will-"
"Save it, you're just a child in over his head."
"You... cut my brother down, he was a good hero! What did he do to deserve this?!"
"He was another faker and it seems to run in the family too," answered Stain, touching a nerve.
"...In the name of Ingenium," the armored child said. "I will take you down, Hero Killer!"
"Go home, child. You're not worth it," Stain responded. All this did was incense him even more... what he did next?
"FUCK YOU!" screamed Iida.
WHIFF!
The Hero Killer surprised Iida with an elbow strike, diverting the direction of his punch. The speedster had to fall back for a bit, then utilized his Quirk to deliver a speed-enhanced strike!
KRIK-KRACK!
Stain timed it! He timed the elbow block right into the bone of Iida's oncoming fist. The resulting screams were the cherry on top.
AHHHH!
Iida was clutching his hurt fist, but that was a fatal mistake.
WHAM!
A lethal uppercut was sent into Iida, breaking part of his helmet. The Hero Killer wasn't done. Not by a longshot, he needed to teach his child the folly of his ways.
KRACK!
A deadly overhand was sent into Iida's head!
However, his helmet finally broke! Revealing an angered and possibly bloodlusted Iida.
"Ah, your eyes are burning with a vengeance... you will be purged alongside him."
However, Iida was not out, he quickly recovered by stepping back for a bit and quickly trying to flank the Hero Killer!
"Pathetic..."
SPLORCH!
Iida suddenly paused, feeling a warm liquid run down his chest, it was blood. His blood! He couldn't see it, it was a brief flash of light from Stain's hands.
"W...W...W...What did you-GAHCK!"
BAM!
Iida's own world was starting to darken, the blood running down his nose was keeping him awake, but barely. Who knew Stain loved using headbutts too. However, Iida was still awake to do this: a roundhouse kick!
BIFF!
"Really... a move that telegraphed?"
"Shut up!" screamed Iida as tried again but got a jab in the face for his troubles. He was getting frustrated, this wasn't how it was supposed to go, he thought.
WHAM!
Iida's head was turned to the right as soon as the elbow strike made contact.
"I'm not done yet, faker!" screamed Stain as unloaded a barrage of strikes into Iida.
Jiliu Chui!
BAM! BAM!
"You're-"
BAM!
"No-"
POW!
"Hero."
POW!
"You're-"
BAM!
"Just-"
BAM!
"Another-"
SLAM!
"FRAUD!"
As soon as the last strike was sent, Iida was sent careening to the cold asphalt. He was bleeding, battered, but he still struggled... muttering: "Kill you... Kill you... Kill you..." as he tried getting up.
WHAM!
Iida gasped in pain as Stain stomped on his ribs.
"So... answer me this, are you from UA?"
Iida stayed quiet out of spite.
WHAM!
"Answer it."
"Fuck...you..." Iida spat.
"Fine."
SLAM!
Stain now went on a barrage of stomps into his chest, but Iida wasn't budging for a minute... until he started coughing up blood.
"Wait... I know a perfect way..." Stain said, suddenly stopping. He walked over to the injured Native who was bleeding like a stuck pig. As soon as the hero looked at him, he was hoisted up by the face.
"Wait...what are-"
"For letting yourself become consumed by revenge, I'll make you watch."
SPLORCH!
A knife hand was sent into the base of Native's throat, rendering him incapable of screaming...
SHINK!
Iida did not imagine it, one of the tracker hero's arms flew off!
Nanto Soundless Slaughter!
Native's shoulder was sliced through... and Native didn't make a sound at all.
In the span of a minute, Native's entire body was sliced into ribbons, and still, no sound was made.
At the end of that very minute, Native was nothing more than a pile of limbs and innards.
Iida couldn't handle it, gagged up some blood in the making, processing what just happened and with this thought: 'This is my fault... this is my fault...'
"Now, it's your turn..." calmly stated Stain as he walked over to Iida. "Just so you know... it's your fault."
"No... no... I didn't mean to-"
"Silence. Your sacrifice will lead to a better world..."
SHINK!
Iida's shoulder was pierced! He could barely scream at this point... a single thought was running through his head...
'Brother...'
WHACK!
Iida's mind jolted as he saw Stain get sent into the wall by a flying knee strike! However, his vision was growing heavy... because of the blood loss. In that one moment before blacking out, he recognized that figure...
"Midoriya...?"
Author's Notes: Yup, now we're in the Stain fight. Now, a show of hands. Who thinks this arc will have a happy ending? Also, this is part one of the Stain fight and the title is a reference to a Hokuto no Ken chapter [The Ultimate Assassin]
Steel Tiger's Rampage - A slashing combo that begins with a crescent kick into the liver, and ends with a palm strike to the face. It's called Kokoboso when translated to Japanese.