Heroes to Hunters
Chapter 16
This took longer than I wanted because I was busy with work around home. But… Now I will be getting into a few new hunts and we will be shifting locations. And shifting the tone a little bit. But that would be telling. On with the show.
(Ochaco POV)
I still feel like Deku-kun is trying too hard to help Setsuna to adjust. But when I caught her earlier to plan for some hunts, she explained it to me. "He sent Akatsuki down with a letter to apologize. Mentioning that he's quick to wrap me in a hug when we've been slept together because he can still feel how scared I am. And don't give me that look. You've done it too." Ahem. Well. I didn't think she had noticed that. But yeah, I've pulled her into hugs. Before we were in this relationship, and when I've felt Izuku pull her into a hug.
She continues on by saying that Izuku had sent her wulg scarf as well. Mentioning that it was the first time she had really shot and killed any of the monsters from this world. I nod before saying, "I do see his point. I'm just worried about you. And him. He's always so quick to jump into crazy danger for others. Never thinking worrying about himself, and always looking to help others. But really. That is what we both love about him." I know I'm smiling while reminiscing, and I don't care.
Or at least I didn't until Setsuna gave me a quick peck on the cheek. "You are just too cute yourself. Most of us knew you two had some chemistry and that there was something there for a while. Or at least the girls all had an idea." She says with a smile while chuckling at my blushing face. She then thanks me for worrying about her, and that it was now her turn to fight alongside both of us.
So with a sigh I agree and we both meet up with Deku-kun to shop for supplies and other pieces. I'm one to suggest she get a new weapon for up close fights. She seems a bit nervous at the prospect but the other two of us offer to loan her some parts to make weapons to do extra damage to the Kirin. With our basic supplies set and with a general idea of where to begin, we head out for the Coral Highlands.
(No POV)
Izuku and the girls had were prepared for this fight with the smallest of the Elder dragons. He was wearing Barroth α to counter the lightning attack he knew would be coming at him and was wielding a Rathsblade to dish out extra damage. For Ochaco she and Setsuna were both wearing Kadachi β armor. And Setsuna was wielding new Blazing Rifle with extra flame ammo. While Ochaco was had a new Flammenkaefer to fight up close and on the back of the monsters. "Yeah, you won't be able to mount these monsters Ochaco. Even if you could, I doubt you would want to. With the electricity they can put out." Izuku said with a teasing smirk on his face.
This made Ochaco blush a bit as she had been psyching herself up to jump onto the back of an Elder dragon. Izuku is quick to come up beside her and give her a side hug, before saying, "but I'm glad to see you are as courageous as ever." All this said with a big beaming smile. Ochaco blushes more before saying, "Baka" and tucking into his hug a bit. Setsuna on the other hand is just chuckling at the whole exchange.
"We should probably get moving." The green haired girl says and Izuku agrees. He states the basic strategy he had in mind with him fighting up front and distracting the dragon. "I went with a defensive weapon partially for that reason. I'll keep it focused on me, and you two pepper it with shots or other burn strikes." Ochaco is quick to protest saying that he should be more careful. That is when Izuku brings up his other point. "We had gotten that blazing gunlance for Set for a reason. Maybe she could fight up with us?" He says with a sheepish look on his face.
Setsuna isn't too sure, but Ochaco does see where he is going with the idea. "You're thinking each of us will fight up close with another covering from a distance. Right?" She then says that she would have to fight up close with both of them since she didn't have any ranged weapons. "So we'll be counting on you the whole time Deku-kun. But I know you'll do all you can to protect us." With a smile and a few words of encouragement (and mentioning that they she can go last with the up-close fights) Setsuna is ready to head out with her partners to face off with the Phantom Beast.
They decide that the person who uses the shield pair would be the one to claim the prize in the fights with the Kirin. So Izuku goes first. Or he would if they could find the beast. "Well it is called the Phantom Beast for a reason." Setsuna says after a day of hunting and no luck finding anything. Izuku just sighs in frustration before saying, "when I'm not trying to find it, the beast (or threat) comes to me. When I'm looking for it, it is nowhere to be found! What is with that kind of luck!" The girls get a bit of a laugh about the matter before settling in to eat for the evening.
During the night, they each share a few stories from some of the other hunts they have been on. "I swear. I thought Kendo was about to wet herself when the Nargacuga rushed all around her and then pounced. Thing was sitting right on top of her and all it did was roar. Wonder what it was all about?" This gets a few chuckles between the other two. Ochaco though, has a personally embarrassing story from her own hunt for a trio of Legiana while working with Tsuyu, Shoji and Sato.
"We had been searching for a while and had taken down one. But the second turned out to be more than we bargained for. It was a Shrieking Legiana. We managed some good hits but then we got blown off the nest area it had retreated to. And when we did….. well lets just say a sandwich would be an appropriate analogy for our situation." Sato and Shoji had ended up tangled with each other, and both the girls were the uncomfortable filling for said sandwich. Made all the more awkward and hard to maneuver as they had landed on their sides and couldn't stand.
For the girls though, it was awkward because they were in a sixty nine position and couldn't move. "I could not look Tsu-chan in the eye for at least a week after that. The boys eventually were able to stand and we were able to wobble our way to the camp where Tokoyami-kun could cut us loose." They had all decided to avoid the Shrieker and try hunting other Legiana. And to wear armor with less likely hood of getting tangled.
This gets a few snorts of laughter and other reactions from her partners, and they all relax after a disappointing day on the hunt. The next day though, they are met with success. Izuku is quick to engage and take advantage of the charges and other strikes that the Kirin loves to use. "Remember how it attacks! So that way you'll be ready when it is your turn!" He shouts as he deflects a bolt line, before getting up close and using the axe form for extra damage. It takes them about an hour (between tracking and fighting) but they beat their first Kirin.
"It's kinda sad to hunt these things. If it wasn't for one of them, we may not have found you Izu." Setsuna says with a sad look, and Ochaco mirrors it. Izuku nods before saying, "I know what you mean. But we aren't going after all Kirin. And I want to do this a bit out of respect for the one that I fought. It's like the respect you give to a worthy opponent." Both of the girls nod, somewhat seeing his point. The next day they are re-armed… to an extent anyway.
Izuku had switched to the Brazenridge long sword, while Ochaco had gotten out her Flame Knife to fight at close range. Setsuna was still armed with her Blazing Rifle and continued to cover both of them and boost their attacks. Luckily, they found another Kirin on the third day of their hunt. After seeing how Izuku handled the monster, Ochaco was quick to get in and blade dance a bit and slash away. Even with only one blade. Izuku on the other hand had managed precise enough control of his long sword he sliced off the Kirin's horn in one attack.
"Dang Izuku! I didn't expect you to pull something like that off!" Setsuna said after they had managed to defeat the second Kirin. Izuku mentioned that he had been practicing a few different combinations with the long sword. And finally finding the most efficient combo for both standard attacks and spirit strikes.
Setsuna though was nervous as the next day the three of them would face off with another Kirin. And this time she would but up front and center. "What if I can't get a good strike? What if I get knocked out and….. what if I'm not good enough?" (I know that is cliché but these are teenagers we're talking about. And everyone deals with that thought at one point or another) Izuku and Ochaco are both quick to come over to her and talk up Setsuna's confidence.
"You don't have to be good enough. You just need to do what you can. We'll both be here for you. And we'll back you up however you need it." Izuku says with a small smile. Ochaco also says she'll do as much as she can to help her up close in the fight. She looks to both of them and pulls them in for a hug before thanking them. When they break apart, she has a genuine smile on her face. And a bit more confidence in her eyes.
The next day though, they do not find a Kirin. While Setsuna is a bit relieved she also feels like this is a bit of a waste of the confidence she had built up. Izuku though has an idea where to look next. He is currently armed with a Spiked Shooter and Ochaco has Garon Hatchets for burning cuts into the side of the monster. "You know I've been thinking this for a while, but Ocha; you really like the dual blades, don't you?" Setsuna asks as the three are heading back to camp.
Ochaco sputters a bit before Izuku tackles both of them to the ground. Just as they hit, a bolt of lightning hits the ground. They all look up and see and Kirin standing up on top of the coral. "Not what I was expecting, but I don't think we should complain." Izuku is quick to say, before sliding back and firing a few shots of normal ammo. Setsuna gulps before standing. She takes a deep breath and pulls out her gunlance and shield. Ochaco follow suit with her hatchets before tossing a smoke and poison smoke bomb at the foot of the electric Elder dragon.
It does get poisoned, but it shakes it off for the most part. While it is distracted, both of the girls get up close to start attacking. With Setsuna opening up with a volley of shots before wyrmstakeing the beast's side. When the Kirin reels back after the explosion, it regains its footing and points itself right at Setsuna. The beast begins it's charge and Setsuna is just standing there scared. She is barely able to get her shield up in time but she doesn't get knocked down. She looks at herself and sees that she is glowing yellow.
"Just in time." She hears Izuku say. She looks back and sees he has his bowgun pointed at her. She puts it together that he used armor ammo to bolster her defense. He then switches up and starts shooting off sleep shells into the monster's side. It eventually falls asleep, but he had used all of his sleep ammo. Ochaco stops Izuku and Setsuna from just attacking the Kirin right away. "Let's do what you guys did against Nergigante." The pink cheeked girl says with crafty smile. The other two put it together and start unloading bombs around the dragon.
They each set off a few of the bombs, and once they have exploded Izuku fires off a cluster bomb shot. It hits right as the monster was flinching away, and he changes up again to sticky ammo. Setsuna and Ochaco meanwhile have gotten in close and started to strike more and more. With Setsuna doing all she can to keep the Kirin's attention on her and not the others. As she is getting into a groove of slicing and blasting, the Kirin begins to charge up a huge blast of lightning. Izuku hits her with some armor ammo and this time Setsuna is ready and prepared with her shield. She still gets knocked back. But she is in a much better spot to deal damage.
And deal it she does. She holsters her weapon for a second and tosses some poison smoke down before picking up scattered slinger ammo. While she is doing that, Ochaco has moved in and started slashing the Kirin multiple times. And when she feels the full charge, she gets into the proper position before unleashing demon mode. Between this unrelenting mixture of slashes, piercing slinger shots, and Izuku getting up close with his bowgun for a wyvern shot (which Setsuna did as well), the beast falls.
And when it does, so to does Setsuna. But in relief that they had won and that she had faced a monster up close and personal. As she is laying on the ground, she starts to laugh a bit and it isn't long before the other two are as well. "I can't believe we did it. We actually beat three Kirin!" she exclaims happily. Izuku stands up and goes over to offer her a hand up before saying, "yeah. I know that was the plan but still. Wasn't sure we would actually get it done." "Oh, so you figured we'd fail?" Ochaco says with a smirk. And when Izuku is fumbling over and backpedaling to cover up what he said, both girls just laugh before sending up another kill flare.
When they get back everyone is impressed that they took down that many Elder dragons. "Seriously! You've taken down four Elder dragons! I don't care that you had help, I've needed it too! But still! How are we supposed to measure up to that!" Bakugo shouted as the dead Elder dragons were brought in. The three just shrugged before heading up to the forge to get some new armor made.
For Izuku he has the Kirin γ armor. The girls on the other hand have both weapons and armor made for themselves. Setsuna has the Kirin β armor made and chooses the Quickcaster as the weapon she wants. For Ochaco, she goes with the Kirin α armor and has the Thundersword made. "Hell of a fight they pulled off. Kind of wish I wasn't planning on sending Izuku off though." The Commander says after reading the reports of their hunts.
For some though there has been some new tension. Both Todoroki and Jiro had admitted to liking Momo after one of their hunts. But the tall onyx haired girl wasn't sure on how to respond to either of them. For Koda, he and Kinoko had started a slow relationship and he was enjoying the chance to move out of more than one shell. Others, like Mina and Eijiro, kept dancing around their feelings.
A week after Izuku's team had beaten the Kirin, a ship arrived at port. This was the Argosy. And the cargo she was carrying was a person. A tall imposing man with twin short swords across his back. "Fugen. It is good to see you again." The commander said as people were lining up to meet the new guests. Fugen let out a big laugh before saying, "Good to see you as well Cyrus! Still holding up well. As is this town of yours." The Commander then called all of the hunters for a meeting.
"All right. Let's start with some introductions. This is Elder Fugen. The head of Kamura village. They live in a region not too far from ours and is somewhat more explored compared to the New World. But they have to deal with a different danger altogether. Elder Fugen." The Commander leaves the floor for the other man. He goes on to explain that their village in under threat of a long calamity called The Rampage. "Every 50 years or so, the rampage begins and the monsters all around start rushing and attacking our village. We managed to find something of the source, but now we have to deal with the Rampage more often."
He goes on to say that he had come to ask for some extra hunters to help with defending his village. Fiagi and Sig are the first to volunteer but the Commander stops them. "We need our Sapphire Stars. I can't let the two of you go." "Then we'll head there. Me and Jaeger." Alsiya says with Jaeger coming up behind her. The Commander nods at this but then calls Izuku and Akatsuki up. The green teen is confused but goes along with it. "I want you to go to Kamura village. I want you and Akatsuki to train there and learn their way of hunting." This shocks everyone, but Setsuna and Ochaco are quick to ask to go as well.
"I'll take whatever hunters and help I can. Anybody else?" "I'm in." The one who said that is Mineta. He steps up and mentions that he isn't a hunter. "But I did help fight against Zorah Magdaros pretty well. If a major part is defending the village with turrets and other fire power, then I bet I can help." He says with determination in his eyes. This surprises a few, but the next to speak up surprise everyone more. "I volunteer as well. I'm sure I can be of help." Momo says while trying to not look at Todoroki or Jiro. They can tell some of what she is doing and both volunteer as well. Kendo is the next to speak up, followed by Rin, Tetsutetsu, Yui, Midnight and Toshinori. As well as a handful of other hunters who are up for seeing other regions.
The Commander mentions that they will have to leave their gear behind. "We'll keep it in storage for you. You can get some new gear when you arrive in Kamura." With that set, the hunters get ready to load up on the Argosy and an extra ship to accommodate the supplies and the hunters that are being brought. The night before they all shipped out, Izuku and the girls enjoyed one last night at Seliana. When they shipped out, Rondine said the journey would take about a month. So everyone settled in for a decent trip.
When they arrived, they were interested in the strange plaza that the Argosy had docked at. "Welcome to the Buddy Plaza. You're the hunters from Astrea right?" A voice called out and they all saw a young man with canyne walking beside him and a felyne on his shoulder. "I'm Iori. I'm the Buddy handler here. And this is a pretty impressive one. Is he yours?" Iori asks Izuku, who just blinks before saying yes. Iori then explains they can train and teach Akatsuki how to fight effectively as his partner. This intrigues Izuku and he agrees to leave Akatsuki there.
"Don't worry boy. I'll be back." "I wouldn't be so sure. I'm gonna put you through the wringer to make sure you're up to our hunting standards." The Astrea hunters hear call out. The look around but don't see anyone. But Izuku feels a presence behind him. He turns and sees a man clad in ninja like garb. He nods before saying, "a little late but you noticed me. I'm Utsushi. I train the hunters here. And I'm going to train all of you. Better be ready." With a quick affirmative from the rest, Utsushi disappears in a cloud of smoke. With that done, Elder Fugen tells everyone to head out to some of the lodging they had provided. He escorts them toward the center of the town.
"Midoriya!? Is that you!?" Izuku hears call out as the group is walking up past the steelworks. He turns down the street and sees none other than Togata Mirio. Along with the other members of the big 3 and Eri. "Mirio-senpai!? What?! HOW?! Why are you all here?!" "Believe me kid, we'd like to know that as well. Let alone what happened to our quirks. Or what I witnessed a week ago." The one who is speaking is the number 2 hero from their world, Takami Keigo aka Hawks. At seeing him, the UA members are shocked. But not as much as who they see behind him. Looking downtrodden, but at ease, is a face they all thought they would never see again. "Hi Ochaco-chan. Izuku-kun. It's been a while" this is said by Himiko Toga.
So that cliffhanger is dropped. I'll try to get the explanation of what is going on up soon. But it may take a while with the harvest about to start. Please review.
I'm going to admit something: I wanted to write in a character or two coming out, but I couldn't. Not because I don't agree with it, but I'm not as capable of writing what it would feel like to be in the position of many who can't be honest about who they are. And I'm sorry for that.