Heroes to Hunters
Chapter 17
As much as I wanted lead all of you on and tease with the cliffhanger for quite a while, I personally dislike that from other authors. So I'll get to the chase with this chapter. You might be surprised, and….. well let's just say I'm setting things up for a much longer down the line story. Now then, on with the show.
(No POV)
The UA students were in shock at seeing more people from their world as is. But to see a member of the league of villains as well. That was dumbfounding. Toga had a small, strained smile and said, "you don't have to worry right now. Since my quirk is gone, my mind is clearer than it has been for years." This confuses a few but then a voice calls out from a different entrance to the village. They say, "gotta wonder if this is fate or something else." The person who said this has purple hair, and is wearing dark pants and boots, a long red scarf and mask around his eyes. This is the villain Spinner or rather Iguchi Shuichi. But rather than having his usual green skin and lizard like appearance, his skin is a peach color.
When Toga sees him, she starts to tear up and runs to him, wrapping him in a hug. He reciprocates the gesture. Walking up behind him as the two villains are embracing is a woman with blue hair and wielding a longsword like none of the UA group have seen. This is the Wind Thief Scimitar, and the woman wielding it is named Kuvna. "I found this guy about to be crushed by a Volvidon in the Lava Caverns. He started asking a lot of weird questions, but I got enough that he wasn't there by choice." "Yeah, and those two and the others aren't the only ones." The one saying this is another hunter, Han and beside him is his sister Amalee. Han and Amalee both have brown hair and green eyes and are each wearing the high rank Kamura Gear. Though Han is wearing the Kamurai set to his gear. On his back, Han has the Ancestral Sword of Kamura and his sister is wielding a Fulgent Shot.
And behind both of them are a set of heroes and villains as well. Amalee is escorting the number 10 and 5 heroes from Japan, Ryuku and Mirko, respectively. In contrast, Han is carrying a woman that Hawks never thought he would lay eyes on. She has purple hair and is wearing a prison uniform. She is currently asleep and riding on Han's back. This is Hanai Nagai, aka Lady Nagant. "What is going on here? How is she here!?" Hawks shouts as he sees his senpai from the Public Hero Safety Commission. This bit of shouting, plus Han setting her down, starts to wake Hana up. She shakes her head and is confused by the sights around her. "Where did that ice beast go? Or that lizard looking thing that spit that stuff on me?" Han, Amalee and a few other hunters step up and look between each other.
One of the first to step up is Sorek, a broad shouldered pale skinned man with green hair. He had been the one who found Eri and the Big 3. He is wearing the Tetranadon armor without the helmet and had the Aknosom Gunlance on his back. The one who found Hawks and Toga was another woman who had walked up to the group, Tzaid. She had blazing red eyes and short black hair. Though both were obscured by the Bishanten armor she wore, and on her back was the Dawn Ray bow. Sorek speaks up first saying, "are there more of you out there than we thought?" "What the hell does it look like to you? Of course, there are." Tzaid says sarcastically.
Elder Fugen then claps his hands to get everyone's attention. "I get the feeling we have a lot to discuss. Given you three will most likely be staying together, we can discuss this in your private room." Fugen says to Izuku, Ochaco and Setsuna with a wry smirk. The three blush and agree. They all go to the private residence area, and the house for the three of them is bigger than the others. Much like the rest of the private houses, it reminds most of them of sumi-e or ink wash paintings and homes from the earliest periods depicted. But this one has room for the three lovers. "So while I'd like to leave you all alone, I feel we should air out how you all wound up here."
Mirio decided to speak first, by explaining they had gone to pick up Eri and take her out to play. "We'd been at the park for quite a while and when we were all walking back, the black hole opened up along the street." Izuku mentioned that the same thing had happened to them after the joint training missions. "Really? Did creatures come out of the portals at the houses?" Mirio asks, but the ones from UA are stunned by that statement. "Wait a minute, are you saying some monsters came out of the portal that brought you here?" Momo asks with eyes open wide. Mirio confirms and describes what the creatures looked like.
Sorek, who had picked up Eri and was doting on her, confirmed what creatures they had seen. They were all small bird wyverns, namely Izuchi which had bladed tails and spun to increase the impact of the blades. The others were Wroggi, which were poison spitting wyverns. Mirio mentioned that they had caught all of them by surprise and had hurt Nejire and himself before Tamaki intervened. Even then the monsters dodged quite a few of the attacks and Nejire had even been poisoned when she underestimated a Wroggi.
"After fighting off and dodging the Izuchi and Wroggi the portal widened and pulled us all in. Then we landed near some big pagoda structure next to a waterfall." Mirio finished his tale about what had happened to them. "Guess that explains why I found you at the Shrine Ruins." Sorek says and continues to gently pat Eri's head. Said little girl is leaning into the kind gesture and has a small smile on her face. Izuku is glad to see the little girl again and happy that this hunter seems to care for the little one. "I'd been hunting an Apex Azuros and had just killed it when I heard you call out. Glad I had brought along my antidotes. We're more accustomed to the poison of the monsters, but you seem to have weaker bodies." While a few take offense to the claim, the UA hunters point out that these people all fight scarier monsters than those every day.
Ryuku and Mirko bring up their story next. How they had been chasing a group of villains in their world, and then some seemed to get grabbed up by spider webs. "Don't know what the hell it was but there was the huge spider thing that webbed them up. That wasn't the terrifying part though. As soon as they were close, some gas came out of its mouth, and it burned them all with a stream of fire." Mirko says before Ryuku continues with the tale. How they had tried to fight it, but they kept getting tangled in the webs. "Then this black portal opens, and we all get pulled in. The monster, the two of us, even the little remains of the villains." Amalee jumps in to say they were attacked by a Rakna-Kadaki. "Not something most would want to face. And you were lucky I was hunting said monster when you were all tangled up in the webs." She says with a stoic face, but neither former hero can deny hearing the concern in her voice.
Hawks, Toga and Shuichi go after them, as their story is more dramatic and terrifying. "We had been celebrating with the rest of the League and our new allies. We had just beaten and absorbed the Meta Liberation Army." Shuichi starts in. This terrifies the hero students and the teachers who had accompanied them. Hawks admits that he had been with them to pass information to the hero commission and stop all of the villains. "As much as I want to rage about the pushing us down and other comments about the government heroes, I won't deny it was a smart idea." The former gecko man says with a disgruntled look on his face.
"But just as we were being announced as the new leaders, one of those portals opened up. We all thought it was someone with a warping quirk messing around. That was until Gigantomachia got closer." Toga explains. What she describes next terrifies and worries all parties involved in the conversations. "There was this purple mist or something around, and then all of the sudden…. A blade, spear, I'm not sure what came out of the hole and ran Machia clean through." The giant villain had been pierced through his chest and then the portal had opened more, and the beast attached to the blade appeared.
The blade was its tail, and it was a massive creature with purple skin and what looked like bone blades all over it. "Then all of the sudden, the purple mist exploded. Setting fire not just to the inside of Gigantomachia, but also a quarter of the PLA." Hawks said with a grim look on his face. All the people from UA and the other heroes are wide eyed at the destruction involved. "Magnamalo." Han says with his eyes narrowed and a sigh of sympathy. When they all look to him, he goes on to explain about the beast. "It's a monster of destruction and destruction alone. It wants nothing more than to destroy all living things. And that gas was the Hellfire. It's more destructive and painful compared to the usual fireblight. What's more, it can recoil boost itself from place to place in its attacks, let alone launching purple fireballs from itself."
Fugen then says that Han is the first person in over 50 years to kill a Magnamalo. "It's why he has that sword on his back. I entrusted it to him after he faced down with the monster and killed it." "You took down that thing!?" Toga shouts as she and Shuichi look to Han in amazement. With a quick nod, Han asks them to continue their story. Toga looks down before saying, "after Gigantomachia had been killed, Tomura tried to unleash a powerful wave of his quirk at it. But it did just like you described and blasted away before it could hit. When he was about to try again, Magnamalo rocketed towards him. And cut him in half." All of the heroes are wide eyed and terrified at the description of what had happened.
Hawks confirmed what she said and went on to say that Genten and Dabi had both tried to attack the beast as well. But they ended up consumed by the Hellfire. "There was nothing left of Dabi and Genten was eaten by the beast. Shigaraki's remains were much the same, burned and eaten. Twice and Compress tried to slow it down or evacuate people, but the thing was too fast. I even struck it and barely did any damage." He then said that both of the aforementioned villains had been consumed by the flames. And he chose to focus on saving others rather than fighting, grabbing Toga and Shuichi, and trying to fly away. "But the portal thing started sucking all of us in. I tried to fight against it, but we still got pulled in. The good news is that Magnamalo did as well so…." Hawks and the rest look down with somber faces.
"When we came to, we were in this strange swamp area next to a giant pyramid like structure." Hawks said and Elder Fugen confirmed that it was the Flooded Forest they had landed in. And it was where Tzaid had found them wandering. Shuichi though had been dropped next to one of the lava tubes in the Lava Caverns regions. "I got bowled over by that Volvion or whatever it is and well….. Kvuna saved me. I'm not sure if you were intending to but thanks all the same." He says while bowing to the woman.
For the ones from UA however, some see this as a bout of good fortune. The League of Villains was no more. And their new allies had been burned to nothing. But most of them are sympathetic to the costs and the loss of life incurred. Hanai is the next to speak up with her tale from inside Tartarus prison. "Much like the rest, a portal opened up in the prison. But what came out was some ice breathing monster." Amalee asks if it looked like it could fly, and Hana confirms it couldn't. "A Goss Harag. A terrifying beast to see."
The former hero then tells how the monster started swiping and striking at the guards all around it. Before turning red and blasting ice all around that froze most everyone to death. Todoroki and a few others are wide eyed and terrified at the idea of this monster, especially when she mentions that she saw it create ice blades on its arms. "The thing slaughtered through dozens of villains and even guards before one of its attacks broke my cell. I fought it and I seemed to do some damage. But it just enraged it more. It started leaping around and unleashing more ice. It was enough that some villains that were in the infirmary or on life support were losing said support." She finishes her tale by saying the portal opened again and pulled her in along with the Goss Harag.
"When I woke up, I was in a freezing cold place, and couldn't use my quirk anymore. I tried to make something to warm myself up, but then these blue lizard things started attacking me. I tried to run, but then I got hit with some blue liquid." "You got attacked by a Great Baggi. Much like the Izuchi and Wroggi, they have alpha or leader counterparts. The great versions lead the others and work in tandem to hunt. I was already hunting that beast, and I'm extra glad I jumped in when I did." Han says with a smile. Izuku is quick to note they had seen similar around Astrea and the research base. With the Great Jagaras and Great Girros.
"Hold up Midoriya. What are you talking about? Have you been fighting these things?" Mirio asks with a stunned look on his face. Izuku and the rest smile before explaining what had happened to them after the joint training. By the time they were done, each of the newcomers to this monster filled world were amazed at what they had done. "You had no powers, no idea on what to do. And you still jumped in to learn more and grow. Maybe more of us could do that." Shuichi says thinking back on his own history.
Sorek and the others decide to offer to train each of the newcomers to Kamura village. A few aren't entirely sure, but Shuichi and Toga are up for learning. "We both know how to use blades from our pasts as villains. But here maybe we can do some good and help others." Toga says asking to learn a bladed weapon. Shuichi on the other hand was interested in the swords that the hunters wield. Hawks was up for learning how to fight as well, but he wanted to talk with his fellow pros and the Elder.
When Izuku and the rest had headed out to the steelworks to get fitted for new armor, All Might brings up the point that Hawks was thinking about. "Someone from our side could be pushing us here. As well as unleashing monsters on our world. I don't think there have been any warping quirks with that capability before, but anything is possible." Hawks and Midnight agree, and Fugen brings up his own point. That some mystics, wyverians, or even riders could have an influence on the matter. "Monster riders have the capability to enhance the very monsters they ride with more powers, and some have made portals to various places. If some of them are working together, then it could spell some strange sort of disaster."
Since they know they can't look into the matter for now, the pros decide to table the issue for another day. With a few of them committing to fighting alongside the hunters until they can find a way back home. "We've been doing this for a while now. No reason to stop." Midnight says with a determined look.
While this is happening, Utsushi is putting the Astrea hunters through the ringer in trying to learn how to use the wirebugs. When the UA and villain groups arrive, he's quick to send the newcomers to learn the weapons. "You gotta learn how to fight first. You may have done that in your old world. But here the rules are different." Each chooses their own favorites. Toga liked the Dual Blades and the speed associated. Shuichi takes to learning both swords, enjoying the speed and special movements of the Longsword.
For the couple of heroes and other UA members, each has their own preferences. Tamaki takes a shine to the mixed offensive and defensive potential of the Sword and Shield. As well as the explosive power of the Charge Blade and Gunlance. Nejire though gravitates to the Bow, Heavy Bowgun. As well as the acrobatics of the Insect Glaive. Though she has a hard time dealing with the large bug on her arm. Mirio though liked the use of the Lance, Longsword, Dual Blades, and the Hammer. "The last one feels right for the power in my strikes when I bring my own hammer down!"
Mirko also liked the Dual Blades, feeling it was just right for her pugilistic style, and Ryuku had learned the Hunting Horn and Greatsword to match her own heavy blows from her quirk. Hawks much like Mirko liked the Dual Blades for speed, but he also appreciated the potential and power of the Longsword. Let alone loving the long range power and versitility of the Bows.
Nagant however, gets a feel for the rifles and Heavy Bowguns. "Guess you're like me. You prefer to get around and shoot up a storm." Han says behind her when she is practicing with the iron light bowgun. She blushes a bit before focusing on her target. He proves to be an equally good shot and shows off how hunters can fight on the fly with the aid of the wirebugs. "That would be helpful in a variety of firefights. Too bad I can't use this on our side." Hanai says after Han shows what he can do. He then shows her the variety of bowguns and the ammo to fire from them. She takes the Kamura Light Bowgun as her first weapon and tries to get in on learning the wirebug techniques. Only for Han and the other hunters to stop her and tell her she needs to train more.
Izuku takes the first chance to learn the new way of fighting and hunting monsters. And promptly gets thrown into a wall. "Okay, that didn't work." "Don't try to force it too much. You're not trying to control the monster. Just direct it." Utsushi says with a chuckle. A few of the others give it a try and have no luck. But this is just their first day of training. After the first day is done, none of the Astrea or UA hunters can ride a monster.
So they head for the canteen's and dango shops to rest after a long day. "I gotta say Izuku-kun, I'm impressed you adapted so quickly to this world. Let alone the little fire you started burning with Ochaco-chan and…. Is it Setsuna-chan?" Toga comments while eating their food at the hub canteen. Setsuna just blushes before acknowledging what Toga said. And when she asks for the details, Toga just seems like any other high school girl. And when Setsuna gets around to explaining how he helped her when she was afraid, Shuichi is quick to praise Izuku's mentality. "Even without the hero society we all were raised in, you still have a truly heroic heart. I see why Stain was impressed by you."
He starts in on a bit about the wish to change where they were at and how the society had so many other issues from being told they couldn't use their quirks a certain way. But that is when Izuku drops the bomb on them about his former quirklessness. This makes both villains freeze up and think more about those who they had allied with. They had wanted to change the society, but the ones they had allied with only wanted quirks to define everything. So where would that leave those who were like Izuku? Would they be killed off just for not having power? Or would they just be used for something just as bad as what the current society had when it came to those who were not born with powers.
Toga is the first to say that "we never really thought about anyone who may be born without powers. We just thought about what we wanted and that we didn't want to be constrained by the society that had been built up around quirks. But maybe the quirks themselves are the problem." Shuichi agrees and sees this as a link back to some of Stain's ideology. That heroes shouldn't use their quirks for personal gain. But there was just one problem. "Where do you draw the line when everyone has powers, and the small number who do not are often told there is no value in their lives?" Shuichi says and starts to question what he could do if they ever got back. And try to change the society for everyone. Not just himself.
Don't think I'm making light of what Spinner had to go through. But he chose his path and he let it and his quirk control him and all of his outlook on life. And in the main story, I'm hoping he'll see that he can't follow AFO anymore. And he'll work with Stain to help Izuku. As for the others, I've got some plans for where I'm going with this. I changed from what I had originally planned but it is within the path I had in mind. Please review.