Disclaimer: The intellectual property rights to Hellsing belong to Kouta Hirano, as does the My Hero Academia series, with Kohei Horikoshi.
Author's Notes: This chapter is coming out a little early since I'm looking forward to writing the chapter that will follow. But I still had a good deal of fun writing this chapter. I also keep surprising myself when these chapters seem to keep getting longer. I have the general layout written down, but then I just keep adding more details and pieces that I feel better develop characters, and they just keep getting longer. Anyways, please enjoy yourselves.
0.0
In the dimly lit basement, one could hardly make out what exactly had happened. What little light there was revealed few details of the utter brutality hidden within the shadows. Aside from the toppled steel shelves that decorated the floor, and the dark spots dotting the walls, there was nothing remarkable to be said about that room. But if one were to close their eyes and listen, the quiet groans of a dying man would betray what had truly happened.
"KUUUUGGHH!"
*SPLAT*
A thick stream of blood splattered on the floor. Stain. The Hero Killer. A man who'd killed 17 pro heroes and permanently crippled 23 others, the mere mention of him sent chills crawling down the spines of Japan's everyday citizenry. He'd made a name for himself as one who knew no mercy. His techniques were mysterious, his Quirk unrecorded. So why was he the one on the losing side of things? Why was it his opponent with a firm grip of Stain's throat, and not the other way around? Why was it his blood, and not his enemy's, that had been spilt onto the floor? Why was it he, the man whose kill count was the envy of the criminal underworld, who was on the verge on unconsciousness? How had it gotten to this point when, only minutes before, he'd been slicing through a reputable hero with ease?
"Uuuggghh…" He could barely maintain consciousness as blood flowed freely down his chin. He couldn't feel his legs. They'd been shot through completely. He doubted he'd be able to walk again without medical attention. His ribs had been shattered into smithereens. Probably pierced his lungs too, that was probably why he was coughing up so much blood. It didn't help that this kid had a vice grip around his neck.
"Disappointing." Their voice boomed, the reverberations sending ripples through the concrete walls. He didn't raise his voice or change his tone, but the echo alone elicited feelings of submission from Stain. He felt himself tremble. Maybe it was the blood loss or this U.A. brat's aura, but he knew he'd met his match. He was smart enough to know that no matter how long he fought for, he'd never be able to kill this kid.
"…but not unexpected."
Stain, if he could still feel his lips, might have chuckled ashamedly at himself. This brat whose name still eluded him had known from the start that his victory was assured. Stain never stood a chance. That wasn't arrogance he'd sensed earlier. No, that was a level of assuredness that exceeded confidence. Victory wasn't a question... it was a fact.
"To think someone like this exists…" he mulled. A fighter so far beyond his capabilities that there was literally nothing he could do to them. The only comparable people who came to mind were All For One and All Might. Quirk users whose skills and experience made them practically invincible. This kid… What was he doing at U.A.? Why hadn't his name spread throughout Japan? Why was he here?
For the moment, those questions would have to be left alone as Stain considered his options. Maybe there weren't any. Maybe he was already dead. But the only one allowed to kill him was the Symbol of Peace, All Might. Only he was permitted to put an end to his crusade. It didn't matter how much power this kid was packing, he was determined to make it out of here alive. If only to die later, at the hands of his greatest hero. Despite his limbs going limp and his eyelids sagging heavily, he willed himself away from the abyss of unconsciousness and began gathering the strength to free himself from his opponent's grasp.
0.0
Alucard grinned maniacally. "How precious," he chuckled, "This rat thinks he can escape." After engaging the Hero Killer less than a minute earlier, he had discarded his disguise and emerged in his true, towering form. Dark red fedora, orange-tinted sunglasses and all. Sadly, their "fight" was short-lived as Stain was unable to evade the rain of fire from his Casull. He'd refrained from using the Jackal since there was little point in wasting its ammunition on such a weak combatant. In the seconds that followed, their battle consisted of Stain trying and failing to close in on him and draw blood. He put up a valiant effort, but in the end, Alucard put two holes through Stain's calves, leaving the Hero Killer motionless.
Now all this piteous criminal could do was writhe in the palm of Alucard's hand. It was unfortunate, but he couldn't delay this any longer. He'd had his fun, meager as it might have been. Deku would soon arrive with his friends in tow, and he couldn't allow Nezu's scheme to be unveiled to the world just yet. There was still more to be done before the stage was ready for his entrance.
As the Hero Killer made one last ditch attempt at breaking the stranglehold Alucard had on his windpipe, he shut him up with a single intense glare, wresting control of Stain's mind and rewriting his most recent memories. While there may have existed an interesting avenue for him to reveal his identity through Stain, Alucard could see the wheels of fate beginning to turn. Soon, there would be a more entertaining opportunity to introduce himself to Japan. So, with some vampiric mind wiping, he rewrote Stain's memories to focus primarily on Deku and Iida. There was some struggle in erasing himself from Stain's memories. Trauma always served to complicate things, and rarely to his benefit.
Once that task was complete, some bodily restructuring was necessary to avoid any fingers being pointed towards him. Alucard gingerly placed Stain's broken body onto the concrete floor before a miasma of black fog materialized, gently wrapping itself around the now comatose Hero Killer. The process of resetting bones and healing flesh was one that normally took months, even with the aid of doctors and hospitals. But for Alucard, such an arduous task was a trifling matter. A trivial chore to be done in seconds.
He clicked his tongue. "Now then… what to leave broken…?"
What wounds would leave his allies with the fewest questions? Obviously, the bullet holes were the first things he patched up. No professional would ignore such a grievous mark. In fact, the clever ones among them might draw a connection with the "sniper" from the USJ incident. Stain was already covered in bandages, making his job easier. He left Stain's ribcage and chin as they were since those were reasonable targets for any experienced brawler. He mended Stain's arms and bent his elbows back in the right direction. The blood patches splattered all over the man's body did not go well with the scenario he was forging. Following some minor cleanup, the Prince of Darkness took a step back to admire his handiwork.
What had once been an unidentifiable corpse was now a brutally beaten, but breathing, Hero Killer. All that was left for him to do was craft himself some fitting attire for his testimony. Black mist swirled around him as the imposing vampire gave way to the modest U.A. student. He made sure to add some signs of battle damage to his uniform. A few red gashes and cuts on his sleeves and leggings, accompanied by scratches on his cheeks and bruises on his fists. Yes, this would do nicely. The enormously talented U.A. youth overcoming hardship to take down the infamous Hero Killer. Perhaps a tad unrealistic, but still sensible enough to satisfy most people.
With his playmate no longer on the brink of death, Alucard's thick fog engulfed them both once more as they slid into the floor in a hushed silence. In the end, no sign was left that the two warriors had ever been there in that basement. Soon, they reappeared in the same alleyway they'd vacated following Deku's departure. Plumes of smoke still rose in the distance so evidently the battle against those Nomu beasts was still going on.
Alucard wondered when he would get to face one so he could test the strength of those mindless behemoths. The technology these villains possessed certainly held its own with the designs of that Nazi Doctor from decades past. Though admittedly, the Doctor's revolting knockoffs proved more of a challenge than what he'd seen in Japan so far.
He set the inert Stain down at the center of the area before proceeding to decimate everything in the vicinity, tearing up garbage cans and carving chunks out of the walls.
"One more minute," he whispered. Using his third eye, he saw Deku sprinting to his location, accompanied by a few pro heroes and Todoroki. The distance that remained left him with roughly one minute to finish his preparations. He finished Stain's outfit with a pool of his own blood. And just as Deku rounded the corner, Alucard crouched down and took a ragged seat against the wall. Yes, this would do just fine.
0.0
"ALEX-KUN!" Izuku raced to his injured friend, not waiting for an answer before helping him off the ground. The Rabbit Hero, Mirko, wasn't far behind as she leaned in close to check that he was still breathing.
"I-Is he alright?" Izuku wondered, worried in a way he hadn't been for quite some time. The look on Mirko's face told him Alex-kun was still alive. Thank goodness. For a moment, he was deathly afraid that he'd lost one of his role models. Now that he'd calmed down, he noticed Alex-kun's chest was rising and falling rhythmically. So he could have spared himself some psychological torment if he'd just taken the time to look more closely. Unfortunately, Mirko had no intentions of letting him calm down, as what she did next immediately sent him spiraling.
With a wide grin, she smacked Alex-kun upside the head before grabbing him by the collar of his tattered uniform. "OI, BRAT! WAKE UP AND START TALKING!"
"MIRKO-SENSEI!" Izuku threw himself between them, worrying for Alex-kun's health. "CAN'T YOU SEE HE'S HURT!?"
"Pssh," Mirko scoffed. "Just a couple'a scratches, he'll be fine." As she spoke, Izuku felt a comforting warmth on his shoulder. "See, what'd I tell you!" The Rabbit Hero smirked.
He didn't respond. He was too busy holding back tears and giving Alex-kun possibly the biggest hug he'd ever given. Alexander looked surprised for a brief moment, but quickly regained his composure and patted his dear friend on the head.
"Calm yourself, Deku. You're embarrassing us both." He joked, wrestling free of Izuku's clutches, and helping him stand up straight. Unfortunately, Izuku couldn't contain his emotions. While not openly sobbing, his pupils were visibly watery. He rubbed them dry with his sleeve, sniffling while doing so. In the meantime, Mirko fiercely reprimanded him for battling such a dangerous opponent.
"You didn't stop and think for even a second, huh? You're supposed smarter than this, Alex. You're lucky to have gotten away with this only this much-" she touched the scratch on his cheek.
"Yes yes, I am fully aware." Alex-kun replied, wincing.
"You should have known you'd need my help with this guy. Even though those huge monsters were pretty fun, that doesn't matter if you get yourself killed while I'm off having a good time."
Despite being on the receiving end of this strict lecture, Alex-kun still found the time to send a few cheeky winks his way. Even when things got tough and he was the one getting yelled at, Alex-kun never lost his wit and charm. Izuku hoped he could one day be as coolheaded as him.
Detached from the trio, Shoto Todoroki carefully made his way to the comatose Hero Killer. His eyes trained on him, Todoroki examined him closely to make sure he was knocked out. Just to make certain, he activated his Quirk, encircling Stain in an icy cocoon.
"He's out cold… right?" he asked, checking with one of the pro heroes. He waited for Izuku to wander over with Alexander and Mirko in tow, the latter two having finished quarreling. "Let's tie him up and get out to the main road. See any sort of rope we can use? If I keep him on ice, he'll probably shatter his own body the second he wakes up."
"We should probably take all his weapons, just in case." Izuku crouched down and unsheathed one of the Hero Killer's numerous blades. The others joined him in divesting Stain of his knives and swords before Todoroki wrapped him in a rope he'd conveniently discovered nearby.
"Of course we'd find rope in a trash-filled alleyway." Maybe it was because he just didn't like fighting in such dirty conditions, but the red-streaked boy sounded irritated about the fact. Izuku didn't like fighting in the dirt either, but he also believed that heroes were supposed to fight and help whenever and wherever they could, regardless of the situation.
"Sorry… We're supposed to be pros, but things still ended up like this." One of the heroes said, reaching for the rope but being declined. Izuku expected Todoroki to glare at them, but something must've changed because the look in his eyes was much kinder than he would've expected. Something inside of him was different now… maybe what he told him during their fight at the Sports Festival had made him reconsider his approach to heroism?
"Honestly… I haven't done that much. They're the real heroes here." Todoroki pointed at him and Alex-kun. Even though he wasn't present, Izuku wanted to believe that Iida was also included in that message.
Even though he appeared to be wounded on multiple parts of his body, Alex-kun managed to keep up just fine. Izuku wasn't sure if he even needed his shoulder right now, but he was grateful to be at all helpful. Taking out a foe as formidable as the Hero Killer was an accomplishment like no other. Honestly, the rate at which Alex-kun racked up feats was starting to get ridiculous. First he'd beaten the leader of the League of Villains in a 1-on-1 duel, then he was drafted by one of the top Pro Heroes in Japan, and now he'd managed to knock out probably the most infamous villain in Japan!
Even after all he'd said to him about believing in himself and having more trust in his abilities, Alex-kun was making it really hard for him to keep that promise with how far ahead he seemed to be. Izuku's head drooped as he imagined how All Might-sensei must feel hearing all this praise being lauded onto Alex-kun. What had he done? A single good match against Todoroki during the Sports Festival. Luckily for him, his dear friend had been keeping a close eye on him this entire time.
"Deku."
Izuku snapped to attention when he heard Alex-kun's voice.
"Ah geez, am I really starting to look up to him like I do All Might?" He wondered.
"Deku." Alex-kun wrapped his arm around his neck and brought their heads closer together. "Are you doubting yourself again?"
"N-No…," he meekly whispered. He knew Alex-kun had seen through him already, yet still wanted to try and conceal his feelings of mediocrity. But after Alex-kun giggled in his usual assertive and deceptively jovial way, he had no choice but to give in. "Maybe…"
"Awww." Alex-kun pouted slightly. Once he took another glance at Izuku's face though, he decided to get a bit more serious. "Deku, listen closely to what I am about to say." Alright. He leaned in closer as Alex-kun whispered into his ear. "Do not seek glory."
What did he mean? He looked back at him with a mixture of confusion and curiosity in his eyes.
"The Hero Killer might have chosen the worst possible way to express them, but his core ideology holds many truths. A right and proper hero does not seek glory. They do not seek attention. Conflict. Violence. Anger. Much like All Might, heroes are meant to see problems and solve them. In an ideal world, there would be no problems for them to solve. But then there would be no awards to collect, hm?"
Analyzing everything he said, Izuku understood what Alex-kun was saying and found himself agreeing with all of it. In fact, he was reminded of what he himself had said earlier when he'd shown up to protect Iida-kun from Stain. How could he have let himself forget it so quickly?
"His methods may be deplorable, but the Hero Killer is correct in that that most of our 'heroes' are simply in it for the stardom. Do not let yourself go down that path, Deku. Not if you aim to inspire others like you were by All Might." His smirk was like a beaming ray of sunlight, sideways as it might have been. He looked back down at the floor in deep contemplation. Then, steeling his resolve, Izuku stood back up and slapped himself on both cheeks. He wasn't going to let something like this happen again. Alex-kun was right. If he wanted to properly represent All Might as his successor, he couldn't let himself focus more on gathering accolades over saving lives. And besides, as All Might's successor, he was bound to get into trouble. And, as if on cue, some trouble happened to appear as they exited the alley.
"Huh?! Whaaaa… WHY'RE YOU HERE?!"
"GRAN TORINO!" Oh no, he was in serious trouble now. Gran Torino had ordered him to stay in the train after the Nomu attacked, but he'd disobeyed because he'd known his friends were in danger. Of course, that wouldn't be enough to convince Gran Torino to spare him his wrath. Or at least his boot, which instantly delivered itself unto his face.
"I TOLD YOU T'STAY IN YOUR SEAT!"
"GRAN TORINO!" The well placed boot was delivered squarely on his forehead, just as he'd begun bowing apologetically. The elderly man's boots were rubber fortunately, so while the impact stung a bit there wasn't any worry of there being any brain damage. But the *WHAM* that resounded across the street indicated that Izuku wouldn't emerge without a little bruising.
Once he'd calmed down enough to listen to his intern's explanation, Gran Torino fury did relent somewhat, despite the puffs of infuriated steam gushing out of him. "Well… I don't know how this happened, but… glad to see you're still alive."
"Gran Torino… I'm sorry." He bowed once more. He'd known from the start that defying Gran Torino would result in punishment, but he'd already prepared himself for that. He locked eyes with Alex-kun and the two shared a pleasant chuckle. Now they'd both get a good scolding. Here was somewhere he knew they stood on equal footing.
"Is this… the alley he mentioned?!" A bandana-wearing hero asked.
"Huh?"
Behind this newcomer was a platoon of other pro heroes, all relatively unscathed. "We got a backup request from Endeavor. But…" Oh, so that was why they were here! Todoroki must've come here with his father, and then Endeavor had sent out help once things had calmed down in the town center. "They're badly hurt. Call an ambulance! Hey, is that… the Hero Killer?!"
"So he's… Endeavor's still over there fighting, then?" Todoroki looked a little concerned. That was a good sign. After all, he'd shown nothing but contempt and resentment towards his father since their first day of school.
"Oh yeah. Those Nomu siblings or whatever…"
"Yes! Those of us whose Quirks had no effect on those villains came to help you guys." That was Endeavor, alright. Sure he normally acted cold and dictatorial, but he was still a good person at heart. Hopefully he and Todoroki would be able to mend their relationship moving forward.
"Let's see…" counting with his fingers, around five to ten minutes had passed since he'd first fought Stain. So that whole fight, from his own rescue of Iida to Alex-kun's valiant victory, had lasted five or ten minutes. But to them, the experience felt a whole lot longer…
"GET DOWN!" Gran Torino shouted.
"A VILLAIN! How could Endeavor let it go…?"
"Huh?" Dumbfounded, Izuku barely reacted in time before a winged Nomu swooped down and plucked him from their ranks.
"MIDORIYA!"
"Huh? Wha…" Stupefied by the suddenness of the ambush, he couldn't offer any sort of retaliation as he soared off in the Nomu's clutches. As his friends shrank in the distance, Izuku realized what had happened and cried out in horror. Even in all this panic, he already knew that there was little chance he could escape. Gran Torino, as incredible as he was, wouldn't be able to catch up to them if the Nomu got too high up. Then, from above, someone began to speak.
"Both this sham filled society…" What was that? "…and the criminals who wield their power in the name of petty mischief…" Was that… Stain?"…are targets of my purge… haaah… haah…" Out of nowhere, the Hero Killer appeared and gracefully landed on the back of the Nomu. With lightning precision, he raised his good arm and stabbed the Nomu directly in its exposed brain cavity.
A grotesque *SHK* sent the Nomu spinning on course to meet a gruesome death on the hard pavement below. Izuku felt an arm wrap around his waist as the Hero Killer vaulted off the Nomu right as it was about to collide with the floor, mitigating the effects of their fall.
Shocked into silence, Izuku couldn't help but catch a glimpse of the Hero Killer's sorry face, still pale after being unconscious only moments before. But had he really been unconscious? If so, how could he have performed such a feat while out of commission? And his eyes… they were chilling. His pupils seemed to have disappeared underneath a white haze. Like a monster straight out of a horror film, his ragged breathing and bloodshot irises sent tremors down Izuku's spine. For a moment, he forgot the imminent danger he was in. But he was pulled from that stupor as he heard him whisper
"All… for the sake… of a better society…"
0.0
"Hey Hey Hey! What the heck's he doing?!" Perched atop the same building they'd arrived on, Tomura Shigaraki watched with disgust as that pathetic excuse of a villain cut down one of his Nomu. The fuck was he doing? Those things were hard to make! "Why'd he kill my Nomu? And why're those kids here? So many questions, but no answers." He scratched the back of his neck, his eyes already turning red with rage. But despite how much he yearned to go down there and tear the worthless "Hero Killer" apart, they weren't here to do that. But still, Shigaraki was appalled at how far things had gone off track. "Why… aren't things going my way?"
The binocular's he was holding began crumbling into ashes as Shigaraki subconsciously activated his Quirk. So hot did his fury burn. "Let's head back." He ordered.
"Did you achieve the results you were hoping for, young leader?" Asked Kurogiri. Shigaraki churned in his well of frustration for a moment, debating whether to indulge in it or not.
"Idiot. That all depends on tomorrow."
0.0
*BEEP*BEEP*
The doctor examining the young Alexander Anderson's form had an air of professionalism about him. He was a talented man who'd graduated from Japan's top medical school and hoped to one day be more effective than those whose Quirks were designed for healing. He had years of experience behind him with all manner of illnesses and injuries, ranging from tuberculosis to broken arms and brain tumors. But this? This just seemed… off.
Alucard couldn't help but snort with amusement at the look on the doctor's face. He played it off, but that didn't change the reality that his facial expressions were immensely comical. The doctor simply couldn't believe his eyes. Bruises, bloody stains and cuts that had occupied multiple points of his person had all been replaced by pristine skin, smooth as the day he was born. Of course, this was all a façade. Alucard could shape himself to whatever physique he so desired. But this man's utter befuddlement was hilarious. He wished he could break out of character and do more to upset him, but sadly that wasn't an option. Izuku, Todoroki and Iida were all nearby, and he couldn't risk them seeing something like that.
"Well…" the doctor stood up and handed Alucard a medical form. "Your injuries seem to have healed. They were minor to begin with, but your recovery is still pretty impressive. Is that a part of your Quirk?" He could see the look in his eyes, that desire to know more about his powers. It was cute, his craving for knowledge. Oh, if only he could share that same longing.
"Partially. I can't heal all wounds. However, gashes and the like are easily dealt with whenever I consume my shades." The doctor hummed happily, gratefully accepting the papers once they were signed. It was nothing important, just an acknowledgement that he was permitted to leave the hospital. He had little reason to stay. His "wounds" had healed, his classmates were safe, and he'd washed his mouth. He'd needed to do that last thing after spouting that nonsense to Deku earlier.
"That's amazing, Alex-kun!" Deku added, mouth agape in astonishment. Alucard wondered why he found such an ability so baffling when that medical lady at U.A. had demonstrated superior healing powers. Perhaps it was because a "Quirk" as flexible as his was a rarity? Possibly.
After Deku's near abduction and Stain's rescue of the poor boy, more heroes had arrived on scene to lend their aid. Endeavor, the silver medal in the pro hero rankings, showed up and demanded Stain's immediate surrender. Of course, the man was so idealistic that even in his decrepit state he was still willing to do battle with everyone. But he couldn't have that. He already had several broken ribs and numerous other injuries, all of which could prove fatal if not handed to proper medical officials. So, rather than let the man perish at the hands of either Endeavor or to blood loss, Alucard put him back in a comatose state. He'd earned that much after giving him some modicum of entertainment earlier.
Seated close by were Todoroki and Deku. Todoroki hadn't seen little open combat since arriving at Hosu, which undoubtedly disappointed him. But unlike Iida, and Deku to a lesser extent, he wouldn't have to worry about recovering from his nonexistent injuries. Deku, with only a couple cuts on his arms and legs, had been given some bandages and painkillers. Like Todoroki, he also seemed somewhat despondent after having little to no impact on the fight's outcome. But they should have considered themselves lucky, considering the state of their friend.
Sitting in his hospital bed was a heavily bandaged Tenya Iida, whose injuries did not reflect the enormity of the many missteps he'd taken that day. The boy had demanded that he be allowed to watch Stain's arrest in person, but his request was swiftly denied. They couldn't let this emotional wreck anywhere near the object of his ire. And although he had sincerely apologized many times during their stay, the way he smiled gave off a deeply ingrained resentment. Not at them, of course. But rather frustration, fueled by his failure to apprehend the Hero Killer by himself. Not only that, but he'd severely overestimated his own abilities and been trampled on by his target.
"Iida." Alucard called out. "Maybe you should have accepted my offer?" referring to the time at the train station when he suggested they go out on a little playdate.
The crestfallen boy could only stare at his feet. "It's not like that. I…"
*SLIDE*
The door to their room slid open and in walked two familiar figures and one unfamiliar individual.
"Ohh, all the little warriors are awake!"
"Gran Torino!" Deku waved happily.
"Mr. Manual!" Iida shrunk back in embarrassment.
The dumpy grandfather of a pro hero slowly walked over to Izuku. Alucard no longer saw people by their age, after all he was older than anyone alive. But he'd still been pleasantly surprised by how agile this gray-maned bandit was. His style of catapulting himself off walls and devastating his opponent with waves of blows bore a great resemblance to Mirko's, but he was uncertain if it would fit Deku.
"I'm still gonna chew you out, but…" Gran Torino pointed over his back as a wide-eyed Deku grew worried. "Before that, you've got a visitor." They all perked up as they beheld the… now it was a dog? Alucard had witnessed many phenomena over the centuries he'd inhabited this planet, and yet this might have been the first time he'd ever met a man whose head was that of a mutt. "This is Mr. Kenji Tsuragamae, Hosu's Chief of Police."
"Tsurugamae! Ch-Chief of Police?!"
"Please stay seated, woof."
Goodness, he even barked like a dog. What an unfortunate Quirk, perhaps lessened by the enhanced sense of smell and reflexes. However, Alucard wondered whether the man had an urge to chase his own tail or eat feces. His flabbergasted classmates spoke volumes to how unusual this "Chief of Police" was. Nezu was an animal whose Quirk made him almost human. Was this Tsurugamae his antithesis?
"So you're the U.A. students who put a stop to the Hero Killer, woof." They all nodded in unison. Deku, Iida and Todoroki glanced at him since, to be fair, he was the one most deserving of the credit. "As for the Hero Killer… He's currently in treatment for his burns, broken bones and a number of other serious injuries, woof."
Ah yes, he'd burnt Stain in a few instances during their duel. There were times when he forgot how flimsy the mortal body tended to be. To be scorched by the embers of his shadowy cloak was something he rarely looked out for, though perhaps the many layers of gauze on Stain acted as tinder. Oh well, it didn't seem as if they were suspicious of his background at all, at least.
Hosu's Chief of Police took a deep breath before beginning what Alucard sensed was to be a lengthy history lesson. "At the dawn of this extraordinary era, the police moved to prioritize leadership and to maintain the status quo… so they decided not to use Quirks as weapons. The profession of 'Hero' rose as one that would fill that void, woof." Tsurugamae paused to breathe before resuming his spiel. "Authorizing the use of such might… of these powers that could so very easily kill… was a heavily criticized decision at first, but it would garner public support. All because your predecessors acted morally and complied with the laws, woof."
The Chief of Police tried to hide it, but it was clear he was directing this part of his speech at him. "But those without permission… Those who inflicted harm without explicit instruction from the police and powers that be… Even if they were to face someone like the Hero Killer… such action would represent a stunning breach of the law, woof." Not unexpected. Alucard had dealt with authorities with similar policies for decades. The only difference was that he'd had the Hellsing organization's assistance in dodging them. "You four, as well as your pro hero mentors… Endeavor, Manual, Gran Torino, Mirko. The eight of you must be dealt with strictly and impartially."
They were all stunned as they processed everything Tsurugamae had just told them. Scanning their faces, Alucard concluded that there was no need for him to intervene. He could see that there were others who were confident enough to oppose the judgement of Hosu's Chief of Police.
"Hold on a minute."
"Todoroki…"
"If Iida hadn't acted, Native would've been killed." Who was Native? Was he referring to that weakling who was nearly offed by Stain? "And if Midoriya hadn't shown up, both of them would be dead. Nobody even knew the Hero Killer was in town. Should we have let people die, all in the name of your 'Law'?!" Deku desperately tried to convince him to stop, but the boy was insistent. "Everything turned out fine, so just forget about the law this time! Isn't it a hero's job to save people?"
The dog man scoffed. "Clearly you've much to learn. Some education you're getting, woof, from U.A. and Endeavor." Ouch. A harsh, but fair, assessment. Todoroki had reacted prematurely, giving Tsurugamae little time to properly explain his intentions. Todoroki took an aggressive step forward but was held back by Iida.
"Wait… just listen to what he has to say." Gran Torino pleaded.
As it turned out, Tsurugamae had simply been reciting a script that entire time. As the Chief of Hosu's police force, he was obligated to notify them of their wrongdoing and how it ran against their laws. In reality, the bipedal mutt understood and sympathized with them. The real question was, how were they to deal with this predicament? Releasing the news and making it public would turn the four into heroes, but they would still be duly sanctioned. However, they could cover it up with the story that it had been Endeavor who'd confronted and defeated the Hero Killer. The burn marks would line up nicely with that narrative.
In the end, he left it up to them. Whether they wanted to accept credit or not was ultimately an issue of vanity.
"What do you say?! I'm an understanding man. So when it comes to a promising group of young people, I'd rather not have to pursue charges over this admittedly massive indiscretion, woof."
The decision they made was boring, but understandable.
"The world's an unfair place. You'll receive none of the commendations that you otherwise would have, but…" he bowed respectfully. "As someone invested in keeping the peace, I can thank you!"
0.0
"That darn Izuku Midoriya! Thanks to him, my teaching license got revoked for six months. A pay cut too. But I guess he didn't have much choice. That's just how it goes. He acts before he thinks just like you, Toshinori!" Rubbing his nose in irritation, Gran Torino could hear Toshinori stutter in embarassment.
"I'm so sorry. Looks like I didn't teach him well…"
"Well, can't say I really care about the teaching license at this point. I only got it to teach you in the first place… to keep my promise to your predecessor, Shimura…"
"And I really appreciate it. I'm only who I am today because of you."
"Got a funny way of showing it, forgetting about me."
"No no no, it's not like that! More like I sealed away those precious memories…" Both of them knew that wasn't the truth, of course.
"HEY!" Gran Torino joyfully chortled. But then he remembered why he'd decided to call him. "Listen, you know why I really called?" His voice lowered to a whisper. "The Hero Killer. I was only around the guy for a few minutes, but it was more than enough to scare the crap outta me."
"You were frightened, Gran Torino…?" Toshinori couldn't believe his ears. "But he's in custody now, so what's wrong?"
"What really intimidated me was probably… the overwhelming pressure of his fierce ideals. Don't get me wrong… I'm not praising the guy. But y'know your whole 'Symbol of Peace' thing? That sense of duty? It was like that. In so many words, it's charisma. The investigation will continue. And his ideals and opinions… they're gonna get out there. On the net. In papers and magazines. On TV. This age we live in… for better or worse… is one of suppression. But mark my words- people are gonna be influenced by this."
"So heroes will deal with them, just like this time…"
"Then there's this League of Villains…" A chill traveled down Toshinori's spine. Sure, they weren't anything to worry about right now. But any organization with enough backbone could pose a threat to public safety, and the League of Villains certainly showed that after what they did at USJ. "The media's already making the connection, so this League's gonna go from the gang who attacked U.A. and got beaten at their own game to… an organization with something to say. In other words, they're the perfect magnet! The evil of individual thugs isn't worth much, but when it's united by a single will… it'll become a hundred times more dangerous."
Toshinori stroked his chin in thought. They'd dealt with situations like this before, but back then they'd never had to deal with the internet. With how easy it was to acquire information and connect with each other, keeping things secret had grown significantly more difficult. "And if this is what they were gunning for from the start… then the enemy's head honcho is no slouch. Steadily removing their obstacles… manipulating the whole situation according to their calculations… that way of doing things. I've had a bad feeling about all this… Shimura was my friend and your predecessor… the last user of One For All. And the man who killed Shimura… the man who opened up that hole in your gut… I think we can assume that 'All For One' is back again."
Toshinori shuddered, feelings of rage and dread conflicting within him. He couldn't quite get rid of that feeling he'd had back then… That feeling of accepting his anger and fury… the euphoria of letting loose on All For One. It'd left an opening for his hated nemesis to deal a crippling blow to his gut, but that was a price he'd been more than willing to pay back then. He was certainly paying for it now, that was for sure.
"To think he somehow survived after those wounds… I don't want to believe it."
"That brave little kid's admiration for you is no joke. You'd better find a chance to sit down and tell him everything. Tell him everything about you and One For All."
0.0
The Following Monday:
"At present, the identities and addresses of these three are unknown. However, based on their physical characteristics as well as footage of two men incidentally capture by NHA TV… some are speculating that this incident could be linked to the events of last month, when U.A. High School was attacked by the so-called League of Villains. With the largest number of murders of any independent villain since the advent of All Might, Hero Killer Stain has certainly made his mark on the history books. Up next, a look at the motives behind this fiend's crimes…"
"Pardon me? I'd like to purchase this. Thank you." Once the employee finished ringing up his bag, Alucard politely nodded before leaving the supermarket. Even though food wasn't a necessity for one such as himself, he had to make a show of going occasionally, to appear more normal and grounded in their mortal society. His bag contained only a single item. Although it wasn't of any particular importance to Alucard, it still made for a good laugh.
The newspaper headline read "HERO KILLER ARRESTED". "VIOLENCE IN HOSU ENACTED BY GANG OF CRIMINALS?", "SLAYER STOPPED BY ENDEAVOR'S EFFORTS". It seemed Hosu's Chief of Police had kept his word.
After they'd agreed to Tsurugamae's plan and its underlying conditions, Mirko had entered the building and demanded that he depart with her immediately. The others were dismayed by the sheer volume of her voice, but he'd already grown accustomed to it by then. He had her wait a few more minutes as he checked on his classmates. During that time, Deku called Uraraka and his other friends just to explain the meaning behind the mysterious text he'd sent. The boy's eyes were eerily wide following his phone call with Uraraka.
He almost burst out laughing at this novice's irrefutable lack of experience with the opposite sex. That was really the only occurrence worth mentioning, although there was the news that Iida's injuries had nearly cost him his arms and, by extension, his future as a hero. He and Deku came to an understanding and mutually agreed to grow stronger together, which Alucard found touching. But since theirs was not a rivalry like the one between Bakugo and Deku, he doubted that would amount to much.
Seeing as the internship was reaching its end, it was then that Mirko reminded him of the promise he'd made. Coyly, he'd held a finger up to his lips and asked her to meet him at U.A. whenever she had the time. There, he said, all would be revealed to her.
"ALEX-KUN! Hurry up, we're going to be late!" A shrill voice cried out, pulling him from his reminiscence.
He snickered at the boy's anxiety. "Hardly, my dear friend. We've made a habit of leaving early in the morning for this exact scenario."
"But still!"
"Yes yes, I'm aware." Tossing the newspaper into a trash bin, Alucard broke into a sprint, followed soon after by Izuku. His adorable little friend was acting quite eager that day. That week he spent training with Gran Torino must have been greatly beneficial to his self-confidence, as he seemed to be moving with far more conviction than before. Hopefully that feeling would last.
They arrived at class on time, as he anticipated. There, they found Kirishima and Sero laughing their asses off. Why? Well, for once Bakugo looked moderately presentable. That was all that needed to be said on that front. Thoroughly amused yet not wanting to get involved in their antics, Alucard guided a perplexed Deku away from the explosive trio when they were then confronted by an equally volatile trio.
"Wow! So you got to take out some villains? I'm jealous!" Mina Ashido cooed.
Nonchalantly twirling her earphone jacks around her fingers, Kyoka Jiro seemed less than eager to lay out the details over her experience. "It was just evacuation procedures and logistical support. No real fighting."
"That's still awesome!"
Tsuyu was next to detail her internship. "Just training and patrol for me. Though one time, we did catch some foreign smugglers." Looking closer at her, Alucard noted that her long tongue, normally a mainstay of her physical appearance, no longer hung freely out of her mouth. Quite an improvement, he murmured. A hero shouldn't flaunt their powers for the world to see. While it was one of her distinguishing features, there were appropriate times for such things.
"That sounds amazing!" Mina Ashido repeated, sounding as excited as ever. The young woman practically ran on social activity.
"How'd the past week go for you, Ochako?" Tsuyu wondered.
Alucard giggled at the sight that followed.
"It was very…instructive." The battle aura seeping from her every orifice spoke volumes on her experience. Her pupils had disappeared in the midst of her newfound tenacity. She'd become so fearsome that some of her closest friends edged away from her.
"Ochako's had some kind of awakening." Finger on her chin, Tsuyu stared inquisitively at her other pink-haired friend.
"She was with the Battle Hero, right?" Ashido nodded affirmatively in response to Jiro's inquiry.
Her instruction must have been quite thorough. He hoped to meet this "Battle Hero" one day, that way he could find out firsthand what kind of man he was. To have morphed a girl as innocent and timid as Ochako Uraraka into this was worthy of the highest praise.
"Such a transformation in just a single week…" Cowed by the all-encompassing might of Ochako's evolution, both Kaminari and Mineta shrank away from the Uraraka who, by the way, had started shadow boxing in the middle of the room.
"Transformation? Wrong, Kaminari." The grape-haired midget began ominously ibbling on his fingernails. "All women… hide their demonic natures deep within them!"
Beads of sweat began forming on Kaminari's forehead. "What happened to you with Mt. Lady?" he anxiously wondered. An excellent question. Surely a hero as well-endowed as Mountain Lady would have fit snugly into Mineta's preferences. Perhaps he should have paid closer attention to her file. "I, on the other hand, was pretty spoiled. It was tons of fun. Now if you wanna talk about the most transformative, most traumatic experience… That'd be the one you four had!" Kaminari said, pointing straight at them.
By now, he and Deku had met up with Iida and Todoroki around his desk near the back of the room. Puzzled, Deku and Todoroki turned around to make sure they were the ones being addressed.
"Yeah, yeah, the Hero Killer!" Hanta Sero, stuck in Bakugo's chokehold, wriggled free for just long enough to contribute to the conversation.
"I was so worried." Yaoyorozu added.
"I'm just glad you're all still alive." Far more physically able than Sero, Kirishima broke free of Bakugo's grapple and joined in on the discussion. Not even the least bit concerned about the enraged maniac currently strangling Sero, which was moderately worrying. "But Endeavor came and saved you, right? That's our Number Two for you!"
"Right… we were saved." Todoroki murmured, Deku bashfully agreeing with him. Both students sent cursory glances towards him. Making sure no one else noticed, Alucard nodded his approval. Maybe they disliked deceiving their friends like this, but the issue was out of their hands now. They had already acquiesced to Hosu's Chief of Police. There was no longer any need for them to dwell on the matter.
"So I saw on the news that… they think the Hero Killer's connected to the League of Villains? I hate to think how things could've turned out if a scary guy like him had showed up at USJ that time." While he hadn't quite tucked his tail between his legs, Ojiro showed visible signs of unease as he spoke. He'd been only a minor player during that incident, after all. Were a skilled foe like Stain to have met the child in battle, he would surely have been annihilated.
Kaminari, ever the oblivious one, remarked on how Stain, as frightening as he was, displayed many admirable traits. From his tenacious nature to his one-track mind, there were certain parts of the villain's personality which he found "cool".
"Kaminari…!" Deku warned. Realizing he'd made a massive mistake, Kaminari immediately apologized to Iida. But by then it was too late. Class 1-A's president had grown noticeably gloomier at the mention of the Hero Killer, but now his eyes were stuck to the floor. The room's atmosphere grew cold as they all remained silent, unsure whether to console Iida or move on to another topic.
"No… It's fine." Oh? Had this brash youngster matured? "He's certainly a man of conviction, so if some people think he's cool… I get that. But his convictions have led him to conclude that society requires a purge. And no matter what one's motives are, that's just wrong." He raised his elbow up into the air. "So that no others like myself emerge and suffer my fate… I will correct my course and walk the path of a true hero!"
Well, that was an improvement. Their class president made his unique hand gesture as he loudly declared his intentions. Out of everyone listening to his speech, Deku was by far the most impressed. Most others, himself included, sighed in relief knowing that Iida was back to his normal self.
Indeed. This was better than where the man-child had stood previously. Of course, he still displayed traces of naivety in believing that Stain's "purges" were wrong in their entirety. There were definite necessities lying within those methods, no matter how much blood needed to be spilt. Hopefully the sitting students of Class 1-A would soon become aware of that fact. Otherwise… well… Now that he thought about it, he'd likely still be present to deal with it.
"Now whether they'll support me or oppose me when the time comes, that is the question." He whispered under his breath as Eraser Head arrived and commenced that day's lesson.
0.0
"I AM HERE!"
And for once, Japan's Symbol of Peace chose not to make a grand, extravagant entrance. Had his powers weakened to such a degree that now he couldn't even muster the energy to leap over a building or crash through a wall? Alucard had grown so familiar with the man's lamentable circumstances that he couldn't even bring himself to be derisive about it any longer. At this point, he was merely a spectator watching a wild animal stalk its wounded prey, waiting for it to weaken to the point where it could no longer offer any resistance. He looked forward to the day that All For One would jump on the opportunity and free him from the doldrums of routine.
"AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS… YOUR BASIC HERO TRAINING! IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BOYS AND GIRLS! HOW IS EVERYONE?!"
"Not much of an entrance. I'd expect more after a break." Some among them remarked. "Maybe he ran out of shticks?" Ah, so they'd recognized All Might's repetitive nature. It felt comforting to know that his classmates were capable enough to identify such traits through rose-tinted glasses.
"Run out? Never. My supply of shticks is inexhaustible." All Might whispered underhandedly, only slightly offended by their offhanded remarks. "AS AN IMMEDIATE FOLLOW-UP TO YOUR INTERNSHIPS, TODAY'S ACTIVITY IS A PLAYFUL ONE. A RESCUE-TRAINING RACE!"
As Deku gawked at All Might's costume, Iida raised his hand. "Shouldn't rescue training be conducted at USJ?"
"THAT PLACE IS FOR DISASTER RESCUES IN PARTICULAR. But what did I say? THAT'S RIGHT… A RACE!" The gates behind him swung open to reveal the expansive spread of factories where they would be holding their race. "THIS IS FIELD GAMMA! It's a dense spread of factories that wind together to create an intricate network of mazelike alleys! You'll split into four teams of five, with each team going one at a time! I'll send up a distress signal from somewhere inside, and you will all start at the border! It's a race to see who can reach and rescue me first!"
Why him? Wouldn't it be far more sensible for the rescue target to be someone weak and vulnerable? Not that All Might wasn't vulnerable, but someone who more closely fit the normal image of a civilian.
"Naturally, keep the destruction of property to a MINIMUM!" All Might didn't even bother concealing it as he furiously pointed at Bakugo. The spiky-haired teen raged quietly at being pointed out but could offer no words of retaliation. He WAS, after all, the most natural culprit.
The first group was comprised of Hanta Sero, Mina Ashido, Iida, Ojiro and Deku. From what many were muttering, the consensus seemed to be that Deku stood little chance at success. The other four all possessed superior speed compared to him, though Iida was still recovering from his injuries. Hanta Sero was the boy's biggest competition in this race since with his bands of tape, he could easily sling himself over and across the vast web of tubes and pipes running throughout the area. But to Alucard, the odds were a nonissue. He'd discerned from the boy's morning behavior that he was eager to show off. No matter what it was, he was curious to find out if it was worth the wait.
In a friendly betting contest, members of the class who weren't in group one began wagering who of the five would come out on top. "I say Sero's taking first. He's the best bet."
"Yeah, but don't count Ojiro out." Kaminari lackadaisically replied, lounging on his elbows.
"I'm rooting for Ashido! Her reflexes are nuts." He was uncertain if Mineta was cheering for Ashido out of genuine belief in her capabilities, or because she was his perverted fantasy of the day.
"Deku'll come in last." Stated bluntly, Bakugo wasted no time in venting his rage by cursing out Deku. Whether that miscreant would ever stop to reflect would determine what direction his career took.
Standing far from where the race was to commence, Alucard noticed Deku joyfully jog towards him with an open smile on his face. Indeed, all the signs were there. He was going to show off something new. Hopefully it lived up to his expectations. Otherwise, what had Deku done during that week-long internship?
"Watch this, Alex-kun." He murmurer, giving him a thumbs up as he joined the other contestants at the starting line. Regardless of the result, the fact that Deku had shed enough of his insecurities to act confident was already a compelling sign.
Casting his senses over the nearby vicinity, Alucard was surprised when he didn't find any speakers. Outside of All Might, there were no teachers or officials present. So who would be announcing the start of the race? He received an answer in the form of an ear-splitting shout.
"START!"
From the center of the factory-laden training center came All Might's voice, almost breaking the sound barrier as he screeched the race's commencement. Shockingly, the competitors were unfazed by the pain inflicted unto their eardrums, and all five bolted from their positions. It was Ojiro and his powerful tail that took the initial lead, bounding off the flat floor and rushing into whatever paths were in front of him. Not far behind him was Iida. Their dearest class president seemed to be taking things slow, which was reasonable given that his suit was still being repaired.
Ashido successfully took advantage of her Quirk, her corrosive acids burning through the metal canisters, creating footholds for her to climb. She thus managed to avoid having to painstakingly traverse the forest of metal pipes. She might have taken the lead, were it not for the fact that someone else had the same idea. No only that, but they were far better suited to the task. Hanta Sero soared ahead of them by employing his bands of tape to continually launch himself over the rooftops.
"See! In a cramped place like this, overhead's the way to go!" Kirishima noted.
"That puts Sero at an advantage. He's great at staying airborne." Mezo Shoji added, the tendril attached to his arm doing the talking.
Their judgements were quite accurate, given the initial performance. Sero had taken a substantial lead by now, vaulting himself over pipelines and other obstacles that the others found difficult to dodge. By all accounts, it was his race to lose.
"Sorry. Looks like this test… was made for… me…?" As he spoke however, a flash of green zipped straight past him.
Alucard chuckled. Well, wasn't this a sight to behold.
"WHOOOAAAA, MIDORIYA! WHAT'S WITH THOSE MOVES?!" Amazed, every one of his classmates forgot about their earlier betting contest and instead focused on Deku's growing lead. Sero in particular was flabbergasted. One moment, he'd been at the front with none of the competition even in sight. Now, he was the one thoroughly behind with little hope of catching up.
Uraraka perked up when she noticed the pattern of Deku's movements. "Wow! Bouncing around… just like…"
The blondie. Alucard slowly began to clap when he saw, from the corner of his eye, a look of utter horror and astonishment work its way onto Bakugo's face. Hopefully this would be an educational experience for the braggart. He wasn't nearly as special as he made himself out to be. Well, at least not in the positive connotation of the term. Now if someone called him "special", therein lay some semblance of truth.
"How'd he change so much in just one week?" Asked Mineta. The enormity of Deku's new abilities must have been greater than he'd anticipated since it had been enough to distract the little pervert from his usual sexual fantasies. Quite an achievement.
"Midoriya's jumping around?! And not breaking bones anymore?!" Ashido and Ojiro shouted in unison.
It appeared that however Gran Torino had taught Deku, it had been profoundly effective as the youngster now soared above his classmates in a triumphant dash to the finish line.
Or at least, that should have been the case. Alucard's outward chuckle became an inward guffaw as the still inexperienced Deku slipped and fell on a wet tube, breaking his concentration and sending him crashing down into the depths of the factory. While he held back his laughter, Alucard couldn't help but crack a smile at the sight. How typical of him, shattering all expectations before running straight into a wall.
In the end, Deku avoided last place. That spot belonged to the now irate Ashido, who'd taken the courtesy of stopping midrace to check that he was still alive. Sero took first as expected, but there was a hint of disappointment beneath his pride. Alongside everyone else in Class 1-A, he understood that Deku had stumbled onto something special. And if molded correctly, he'd undoubtedly enter the running for strongest in the class. But for now, the dejected boy lay facedown on the floor, wallowing in abject humiliation.
"Sero may have taken first place, but… you've all figured out new and better ways to use your Quirks since starting school!" All Might proudly declared, congratulating each of them for their accomplishments. It was almost as if the rest of the class, who had yet to take their turn, had become an afterthought in the wake of Deku's performance. "Keep up the good work as you prepare for your final exams!"
Ah yes, final exams. In light of everything that had occurred since first "enrolling" at U.A., Alucard had overlooked the fact that he was supposed to be a student of U.A. Taking exams and writing essays, things he hadn't done since before he'd become a monster.
Through his third eye, he watched All Might discreetly praise Deku's efforts and progress. From the look of realization on Deku's face, it seemed as if the two would be holding one of their personal talks once class was over. Likely to discuss something important about One For All and the further development of his abilities. While he was fully capable of eavesdropping on them, he'd forgone that method. He doubted that anything they talked about would really affect him. And besides, he had a meeting of his own to attend.
0.0
"Mr. Principal." With a level of respect atypical of her, Mirko curtsied lightly in deference to the white mammalian creature.
Sipping from his teacup, Nezu wasn't sure how to proceed with what felt like an interrogation. One where he was the one being interrogated. When Alucard selected Mirko as his mentor for the internship, Nezu didn't bat an eye. At first glance, their personalities seemed compatible. Well, in the sense that neither minded a bloodbath. But after giving it some more thought, he realized there lay certain risks in that arrangement. Mirko, as candid as she was, had an uncanny ability to read people. Maybe this was due to her rabbit-like senses, but her natural instincts leaked into her being easily able to detect lies. But he'd hoped that with Alucard's flawless body manipulation and centuries of experience, they'd manage to elude her.
Buuuut… he forgot that his vampiric associate was a trickster. A fun-loving, murderous sociopath, in the kindest sense of the term. Even if Mirko didn't notice anything, Alucard might have been willing to poke and prod her in the right direction if he believed it would provide him with a fun time. Halfway through the internship, Nezu even gave him a call to ask if he had any intentions of doing that. Alucard brushed it off however, telling him
"All of your goals shall be realized, Nezu."
He refused to trust him, no matter how many honeyed words he gave. But, and he'd long since grown to accept this, he knew he could do little to stop him. All he could do was pray that their interests were the same and that Alucard was working to fulfill those interests. And, in the end, that was precisely how things turned out. Alucard did leave signs for Mirko to catch. Mirko did realize that something was up and confronted him about it. Alucard did agree to tell her everything, and he did direct her straight to him. Now the three of them stood silently in his office, Alucard smiling connivingly as he sat in the corner while Mirko stood in front of Nezu's desk, facing the cuddly creature in question.
"So… according to that little bird over there, you've got something to tell me, Nezu."
When he learned of Alucard's handiwork, his reaction was mixed. He knew from the start that someone would figure it out eventually, just not like this. Not with Hellsing's most capable agent leaving the explaining up to him. This would prove to be his greatest challenge, since even Alucard knew it was still too early to cough up the whole truth. So, rather than waste time berating Alucard with accusations of betrayal, Nezu spent the last couple of days weaving together a narrative that didn't mention Alucard being an immortal vampire capable of overthrowing their entire society.
In hindsight, not that difficult.
"Mr. Principal?"
"Yes, Ms. Mirko." Adjusting himself in his seat, Nezu pulled out the documents detailing Alucard's fake past. Even though he still had his reservations on Alucard's underlying scheme, he could only hope it turned out for the best.
"You are aware that Alexander Anderson is a European transfer student? One who traveled here to develop his Quirk at one of the most esteemed institutions in the world?"
"I'm guessing that's a lie?" Arms crossed, Mirko studied Nezu like a hawk.
"Indeed. He is not, in fact, just your average talented transfer student. In reality, Alexander Anderson is a mercenary." That was still true, if one ignored everything else. "You've probably never heard of him, so there's no point telling you his real name. He's a skilled combatant whose talents arguably outpace All Might's. The reason he isn't more widely known is the same reason he accepted my offer. He wants a challenge, and being famous would attract opponents occupying the whole spectrum. Some weak, others strong. He only wants to face the strongest. As I'm sure you've experienced firsthand, his Quirk is quite useful when it comes to blending into the shadows, deceiving his enemies…"
Apparently, that was all she needed to hear as the look of realization which soon appeared on her face told Nezu he'd already said enough. She glanced back at her former intern before turning back around.
"How old is he…?" she asked. She'd contemplated the possibilities of her intern's Quirk already, but now that it was being confirmed... Her voice showed no signs of faltering. She didn't sound surprised. In keeping with her mantra, she was living in the present. It didn't matter who she'd thought he was or the fact that she'd been lied to. All that mattered to her was figuring out the truth and finding her way from there.
"25."
From his corner of the room, Alucard uttered another half-truth. The room was well lit, so there was nowhere for him to hide. Yet in spite of that, it still felt like he naturally blended into the walls. His piercing crimson gaze was so intimidating that Nezu wondered if he was about to pounce on Mirko. But the Rabbit Hero wasn't backing down. When he'd answered with his age, she spun around and stared him down. The air grew tense. The two most powerful people in that room locked eyes for a short but white-knuckled moment in an intense stare down for the ages.
And then, she grinned. Rearing her head back and looking up towards the ceiling, she let out a hearty bout of laughter. Eventually, Alucard joined in. Now, instead of a staring contest, the two seemed to compete on which of them could out-laugh the other. Nezu could do naught but sit in silence. He had tried to keep a straight face during this exchange, but now he couldn't hide his look of confusion. Were they joking around? Had Alucard already told her everything? Why did he feel so left out?
Thankfully, their hysterics calmed into faint giggling before finally, Mirko went back to asking Nezu questions.
"Sorry about that. Honestly, I came here expecting something more… extravagant, than that." She apologized.
"No need, Ms. Mirko. It is I who must ask for your forgiveness, as it was my plan that led to you being played the fool." He smiled, still a bit shaken. Another sip of tea helped calm his nerves, though. "Is there anything else you'd like to know?"
"Oh yeah, pfft. Of course, I wanna know why he came here. Why you hired him."
"Ah, naturally."
And so, for the next half an hour, he deconstructed everything from All For One's reemergence to the role Alucard, or rather "Alexander Anderson", was meant to play. Nezu laid out the general structure of his plan while omitting some of its intricacies, including the details surrounding All Might's worsening condition and his adoption of Izuku Midoriya as an apprentice. But beyond that, Mirko now held an adequate idea of what his plan was and how it was to be brought about.
"Alright, I guess I'm on board with most of it." Nezu breathed a sigh of relief. But then Mirko raised one temptuous finger. "One more thing." At her behest, Nezu leaned forward so they could speak a little more privately. "How much of the truth did you leave out, and how many lies have you squeezed in?" Whoa. The smile she wore radiated an aura of "Tell me, or you're dead." A bead of sweat instantly rolled down his forehead and fell onto his desk with a heavy *PLOP*. Peeking at her, Nezu saw that she now wore a devilish smirk. She knew there was no way for her to confirm her suspicions, but that didn't mean she was just going to let them think they had her fooled.
He waved his arms, frantically trying to calm her. "P-Please, Mirko... You misjudge me. W-What reason could I possibly have to deceive you...?" he stuttered.
Mirko did genuinely believe most of what Nezu had told her. That All For One was regaining his strength and rebuilding his criminal organization. That Alex was a shapeshifter who'd been summoned to somehow counter All For One's criminal activity. She still had her doubts that this kid, who claimed to be a year younger than her, could somehow handle All For One better than All Might ever could. But he'd already surprised her once when he'd taken out Stain, so maybe there was more to him than met the eye.
She released her stranglehold in the Principal, but made sure he knew that this wouldn't be the last time they'd talk about this.
Afterwards, Alex accompanied her out of the room. She couldn't stay for long; the streets of Hiroshima wouldn't last long without her. She was still digesting everything Nezu had told her. She had a strong feeling they hadn't told her everything, but she didn't resent them for that. Despite modern media doing all it could to hide All For One from the younger generation, that menace had hung like a specter for her's. She only knew bits and pieces since she'd never been a diligent student, but what she did know was that he'd once had his fingers in every facet of society. And if he was still alive, there was no guarantee he hadn't installed some agents in U.A.
Walking side by side in complete silence, Mirko cautiously glanced at Alex while maintaining her neutral, confident grin. Was he really just 25 years old? Was he really just some undercover mercenary Nezu'd hired from Europe? After seeing him fight, she'd had a hunch that something was up. Now the question was… how deep did this hole go? The Rabbit Hero was a little frightened by the possibilities that lay scattered along that path.
"I hope today's revelations didn't overwhelm you, Mirko." Alex beamed.
She paused. Was she willing to ask him now? Or was she content with what they'd given her? Reconsidering where she stood and what she now knew, Mirko decided that she was satisfied with this much. Sure, it probably wasn't the whole truth. But what she knew was that there was an evil overlord rebuilding his criminal empire, and that Alex was probably the only one who could stop him. And now that she knew all this, she'd probably be joining him for the ride. And honestly? She'd take that.
"Fine." She snickered. "I'll play along… For now, at least. But I hope someday, you'll tell me the whole truth, not just the edited version."
He smiled as the two chatted over their new relationship.
0.0
Flash Forward To The Final Week of June:
"I DIDN'T STUDY AT ALL!"
Hmm… although Mirko was a capable fighter, how would she fare against stronger opponents when she tended to leave herself so open? She'd most assuredly be willing to sacrifice her limbs if it meant trouncing her opponent. But in the event that such a substantial libation was not enough, how would she fare?
"BETWEEN THE SPORTS FESTIVAL AND THE INTERNSHIP, IT TOTALLY SLIPPED MY MIND!"
She was unquestionably skilled though and would undeniably be useful in countering All For One's movements. Now, his main concern was determining just how much time was left before Japan's Dark Lord unveiled his hand. Even though it would be great fun to deal with a horde of superpowered beasts, Japanese society would in all likelihood collapse in the midst of such chaos.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH…"
But perhaps not to the same extent as Kaminari was, in the midst of finals.
Rikido Sato twisted and turned in his seat, equally as anxious but doing a far better job of concealing it. "Midterms were, well… we haven't covered much since starting school, so they weren't all that tough. But now we've had all these other events… I think the finals're gonna be much harder…"
Recently, their class rankings had been released. And for all those panicking, the results were less than ideal. Kaminari, perhaps deservedly, sat at the bottom with Ashido, who was presently giggling madly beside him. The results did provide some surprises, however.
"Sucks that there's gonna be a practical exam too."
Sitting almost leisurely in his desk seat, Mineta had placed near the middle of the class rankings. Hardly overperforming, but still in a better position than either of them. So smug was he that neither Kaminari nor Ashido could contain their rage.
"WE THOUGHT YOU WERE ONE OF US!"
"Guys like you are only lovable when you're morons! There's just no demand for whatever you actually are…!"
Mineta sighed blissfully. "Such is life," he mused.
Not wanting to see his friends so downtrodden, Deku approached them with some words of encouragement. Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect.
"Ashido, Kaminari! Let's try the best we can! It'd be great if we can all go to the training camp, right?"
"YES!" Joining in on the merriment, Iida proudly struck his fist into the air.
"Haven't you been attending class? How could you possibly fail?" said Todoroki, adding some true but hurtful words to the conversation. Worst of all, Bakugo had actually performed reasonably well. In fact, he was in the top 5. How humiliating for Kaminari, who so often clowned on Bakugo, to have the rug pulled out from beneath him in such a manner.
"WORDS HURT, Y'KNOW!" Desperate to escape, Kaminari inadvertently ran into another of his classmates. The impact having briefly interrupted his suffering and reminded him where he was, the energetic blonde checked to see who it was he'd bumped into.
"Sorry about that…" but then he finally realized just who it was he'd collided with. "…Alex-kun…"
Sitting comfortably at third in the class academic rankings, the only ones above him were the Class president and his vice president. And for this poor, poor child to meet him at this instance… it was as though the world itself was mocking him.
Smiling as innocently as he ever had, Alucard placed a hand gently onto Kaminari's shoulder. "Kaminari," he adjusted the teenager's collar which had grown messy during his temper tantrum. "I would suggest you begin reviewing now if you aim to avoid our teacher's summer lessons."
But for the boy who loved to indulge in videogames, movies and anything that didn't involve studying, the mere thought was like fingernails on a chalkboard to him. Hissing, he veered away and dashed back to Ashido where the two stared feral-eyed at him. The vision of them snarling at him made Alucard chuckle with delight.
"You two…" Nervously, Yaoyorozu gestured towards herself, the only one in the class to have received perfect marks across the semester. The envy of Class 1-A if not all of U.A., she'd managed to excel academically while undergoing such taxing events as the USJ incident. It was a wonder, how gifted she was. "If it's academics you need help with, I could lend a hand. The practical exam, on the other hand, is a different story…" Downtrodden, she stared at the floor in self-deprecatory humiliation.
Yes, that was her sole weak point. Though talented academically, her physical performances were lacking in contrast. Basically sidelined during most of USJ, barely making it into the top 42 in the Sports Festival race, not even making it to the quarter-finals in the 1-on-1 tournament… any sense of pride she'd once held in her physical abilities had been thoroughly shattered. Now with a distinct gloom hanging over her pretty face, she was saved from her self-doubt by those worse off than her.
"I'm not as bad off as them, but… how about helping me too? Quadratic functions are kind of tripping me up…" Jiro skipped as she made her way to her friend.
"Help me out too! You're good with kanji, right, Yaoyorozu?" Sero didn't even bother hiding his desperation as he joined in.
"Me too?" Ojiro followed them, uncertain if he should or shouldn't be asking.
It was adorable watching them crowd around the class Madonna and begging her for assistance. But that was superseded by her gleeful reaction. Her cheeks taking on a thick shade of red, she couldn't restrain herself from welcoming them with open arms. So demoralized was the first-place ranker. She really should have seen that coming.
It was only natural for those less fortunate students to pursue her first and foremost, given her usual kind and loving behavior. Her reasonable and good-hearted personality served as the backbone for her popularity, but it always seemed as if she was completely unaware of her appeal.
"YES! OF COURSE!" She answered, more than delighted to help. How desperate she was, to feel helpful once more.
0.0
Later:
The final exams were of no concern for Alucard. Regardless of how well he did, the stuffed animal up high would see to it that he didn't fail the class. What was concerning, however, was Izuku's growing pile of grievances. Already overburdened by the weight of One For All and All Might's legacy, more weight was added when, during lunch that day, one of Class 1-B's students berated them with a mixture of praise and mockery simultaneously.
Neito Monoma. A boy with many issues, his most prevalent being his blatant inferiority complex. Alucard didn't care to look into the psychological reasons lying behind all that baggage, but he could tell that his classmates did at least respect him. Kendo Itsuka, the "big sister" of 1-B, spared them from his antics with a swift chop to the neck, but that didn't undo the effect his words had on Deku.
And not long after, Bakugo decided it was time to reignite his rivalry with the bereaved child. Seeing this as his last chance that year to properly prove that he was better than everyone else, he swore that
"I'll open the gulf between us so wide… It'll kill you dead! You too, Todoroki!"
Before slamming the door shut on his way out. Alucard had offered some minor words of encouragement, but he knew that this would ultimately be up to the boy to overcome. Over the few remaining days left before the Final Exam, he and Izuku studied together at every opportunity. Alucard gained little from these sessions, instead focusing on correcting all of Deku's mistakes. During that time, he also tried bending what All Might had taught the boy. Rigidity was good for one's principles, but physics proved that flexibility creates a longer lasting structure. Eventually, he wanted to teach the boy that there exist exceptions when it comes to the act of killing. After all, some villains simply refuse to stay down or change their ways.
When the day of the finals came, each and every one of the students in Class 1-A managed to pass the written portion of the exam. Kaminari and Ashido reacted exactly as he thought they would, with elated cheering and thumbs up given to their erstwhile tutor. Deku seemed to have taken his burdens in stride and passed comfortably, though not without some sweat rolling down his forehead.
Now all that remained was the practical exam. This was where most of the class were confident they could excel. And after Itsuka Kendo told them they'd likely be battling robots, many among them were ecstatic. Sadly, for those unprepared…
"Not quite! Various circumstances have demanded a revision to the exam format!" Emerging out of Eraser Head's bandages like a caterpillar from its cocoon, Nezu wasted no time in dashing the hopes and dreams of Class 1-A's less confident students.
"The principal!"
"A revision…?"
"Well, you see…" Nezu huffed as he climbed down Eraser Head's neck.
Behind the scenes, the fluffy little mammal had been in talks with U.A.'s staff about altering their system. Nezu, in his wisdom, realized that he didn't want to rely solely on All Might and Alucard to face All For One's chaos. No, they needed to shape the next generation so that they could better contribute to their efforts. Battling against machines and artificial intelligence designed to do as little harm to the students as possible just didn't cut it anymore.
From now on, U.A. would begin focusing on flesh-and-blood opponents. Maybe he'd been influenced by Alucard for this decision, but Nezu sincerely believed that this was the right thing to do. It was critical that their lessons simulated practical experience as closely as possible! As such, the students of Class 1-A would be pairing up and facing one of the teachers standing before them.
But how would this system work when they had an odd number of students? Alucard could face one of them alone, but that would be unfair in the eyes of his classmates. And besides, there weren't enough teachers to have a 1-v-1 alongside the 1-v-2's. None of his classmates noticed this discrepancy, possibly due to the growing feeling of restlessness amongst their ranks. Outside himself, none of them could keep still as they fidgeted uneasily in place.
"Your pairings and assigned teacher have already been decided. Your battle moves, your grades, your friendships with one another... all these factors and more were considered, so without further ado..." Nezu opened the stage up to Eraser Head, who stared blankly at Todoroki.
"First... Todoroki... is with Yaoyorozu. Against me." He declared while wearing a shit-eating grin, delaying that last bit for dramatic effect. "Next, Midoriya... is with Bakugo."
Pfft. Now that was funny. The moment he heard that announcement, he almost lost his footing. The two were simply incapable of working together in a cohesive manner, largely thanks to Bakugo's hardheaded nature. That buffoonish oaf would never agree to such an arrangement under normal circumstances. That was probably the reason why the teachers had put them together. Their lack of synergy would transform this test from a simple practice session into a grueling mental slugfest. Wonderful for educating students, but not if they wanted their students to enjoy it. Who were they to face?
"Your opponent..." A deep, masculine voice boomed as loud footsteps pounded on the pavement. "...will be... ME!" All Might stepped forth from the other staff members and presented himself to his challengers. Garbed in his Golden Age hero costume, he struck an imposing figure over the meek teenagers currently shaking in their boots. "You'll have to work together to win... SO COME AT ME, YOU TWO!"
He was doubtful that Deku's victory would go at all smoothly. Not with Bakugo hindering him every step of the way, or vice versa.
"Eleven stages have been prepared, and all teams will begin simultaneously. The test guidelines will be explained by your respective opponents. None of the areas are outside the school grounds, but let's not waste any more time. Get going."
Eleven stages... so the staff had indeed elected to give one student the arduous task of defeating a teacher by themselves. Yet who was the teacher they would be facing, was the question. He and Deku exchanged a fist-bump before boarding their respective transports. The boy looked nervous. His eyes growing so wide that they nearly exceeded the limits of his face. But Alucard nudged him forward, urging him to remain calm and to remember the promise he'd made.
He hadn't been given a partner which, again, none of his classmates noticed. They were all too invested in their own tests to care about his, apparently. Understandable, though it still reflected badly on their sense of awareness. But Alucard was given a pleasant surprise when he met his opponent for his "Final Exam".
"Hey, brat."
"I wasn't even aware you had a driver's license, Mirko."
"Shut up and sit down, Alex. We've got places to be and battles to fight."
Humming amusedly, Alucard took the seat directly behind her. "Yes, ma'am."
0.0
Twenty Minutes Later:
The bus skidded to a halt, stopping at the entrance of a midsized stadium. So this was to be their battleground, hmm? Inelegant. Alucard would have preferred something more... intimate. Especially since he'd be sparring with someone he was well-acquainted with.
"The time limit is 30 minutes!"
Having led him to the front gate, Mirko took the liberty of handing him a pair of handcuffs. Now, while he was no sexual deviant like Mineta, Alucard had experienced some particular extremities over the centuries. He didn't disapprove of such lecherous activity, he didn't think she was familiar enough with him to partake in such pleasures yet. It appeared she was psychic though, as the Rabbit Hero delivered a well-placed chop to his forehead.
"Your objective is to either get these handcuffs on me or escape the stage." Mirko performed some rudimentary stretching as she spoke.
Rubbing the sore spot, Alucard pondered why it was Mirko. "Was it Nezu who suggested this?"
"No. I volunteered." Not especially surprising, given her personality. However, that posed an issue for the Prince of Darkness. While he had spent the better part of a week fighting by her side, he knew little of her boundaries. How powerful was she when pushed to her limit? He couldn't afford to let his alias become a murderer, at least not yet. A wry grin on her face, Mirko seemed to be far too happy considering how little she knew.
"And would you mind explaining why?" he asked. After all, she couldn't possibly be aware of just how powerful he truly was. The only possible reason could be
"Because..." She cracked her knuckles. "I wanted to see what you've got."
Oh dear.
"This won't be like your past battle training, kid. Not even the Hero Killer compares to what you're about to experience. Because your opponent this time.. is on another level." Relative to their standards, maybe. But what about his?
"This test is meant to simulate true battle as closely as possible. Today, I'm the villain and you're the hero. If you win, great! But if not, you can run away..." she smiled mockingly at the end. She knew he wasn't the type to run away from a fight.
Well... he wouldn't kill her, that was certain. However, he'd take this more seriously than his fight with Stain. Hopefully she could keep up.
After they entered the building, Mirko told him to head to the center and wait for the starting announcement. Once that happened, he'd be on his own. The area they'd be fighting in befitted Mirko's style. Laden with tight corridors and congested spaces that would let her easily build up speed and outmaneuver her opponents. It would have been an oppressive environment for someone that wasn't him.
"Everybody in position?" The speaker echoed its announcement down the corridor and into his ears. "Let's begin the Final Exam... For U.A. High's First-Years! Ready..."
He already sensed where she was perched, waiting to fire off and begin her assault.
"GO!"
*WHAM*
The Rabbit Hero launched herself straight at her target with blinding speed. Alex hopped to her left, already angling his leg to send a returning kick to her flank. She hit the floor where he'd once stood, where she absorbed the impact and started to rebound, ready to meet his attack with her own. But suddenly, she found she could not jump. She'd been rooted in place. Something had grabbed her. Not bothering to check what it was, she ducked underneath his leg before crushing whatever had held her down and leapt to the nearest wall. There, she jumped off and started building up momentum again.
Taking a glance back at that spot, she saw a black glove slowly sinking into a puddle of a familiar black ooze. So that was his plan. Restrain her, leaving her open to be wailed on. Unfortunately for him, he'd underestimated just how quickly she could move. Upping the pace, she returned fire.
"LUNA ARC!"
He deftly dodged the powerful axe kick that'd been aimed at his chest. Instantly bouncing off the floor and to the roof, Mirko descended on Alex before he could even look up.
"LUNA FALL!"
Her downwards kick just grazed him, tearing his sleeve off and leaving a red bruise on his arm. But she already knew that to him, a wound like that was nothing. Conjuring a wispy fog around himself, he emerged moments later with a perfectly pristine uniform. She knew she'd have to do much more to take him down. But that wasn't her true goal today. She wanted to see her former intern, this "mercenary" hired by U.A.'s Principal, fight at his peak. Now how was she going to make him do that?
By going even faster, of course.
The walls became darker as an oily brine swallowed the surfaces whole, unleashing a torrent of shadowy, scarlet-eyed shades. Guess only being able to generate shades up to his own volume was another lie.
"LUNA RING!"
Buffeting herself through the air, she did a cartwheel and sliced through almost each and every one of Alex's familiars. Dicing them all into pieces as they disappeared back into the shadows from whence they'd come. The sheer power held in her legs created a vacuum that dragged them all into the line of her attack, making them easy pickings for the Rabbit Hero. This was one of her favorite moves, because the force of her kicks were so powerful that she could basically jump off the open air. So what would otherwise have been a short-lived super move turned into an enduring hurricane that swallowed enemies and spit out dust. Bounding towards Alex, she failed to notice her target pulling something out of his pocket.
*BOOM*
The Casull rarely saw much action, nowadays. Sure, he'd used it against Shigaraki and Stain but those were exceptions. And even then, he'd only fired a few rounds. It truly was saddening, not being able to make use of this formidable weapon more often. But the foes he faced these days were so rarely worthy of the privilege. He'd enjoyed drilling holes through the heads of ghouls in the past, but now he sought prey that could actually fight back. The fact that Mirko had convinced him to do this much was worthy of the highest praise, because it meant he acknowledged her as being worth his time. He'd already done that after spending a week with her, but this was simply the annunciation of that fact.
What was even more impressive, however, was the aftermath of the bullet's ejection.
The bullet missed.
Or rather, it was pushed away. Yes, the strength of Mirko's legs was so great that they could deflect bullets. With his vampiric sight, Alucard saw exactly how it had played out. While performing her cartwheel, her "Luna Ring", the air around her moved so fast in conjunction with her spinning that it formed a thin shield around her. And that wind shield proved just enough to prod the bullet away from her. Intentional or not, he was immensely impressed. So impressed that he didn't even bother to dodge.
*WHAM*
As her foot cleaved through Alex's shoulder blade, Mirko had to wonder if he'd be able to recover from this. Bones and muscles couldn't just be put back together without proper equipment. Alex's pistol was the least of her worries since his wellbeing was, ironically, one of her biggest concerns. But, that aside...
The bullet whizzed past her and hit the floor instead, leaving a sizeable crater in the tiling. This kid was packing something big, and yes she was aware of the innuendo. Alex didn't seem at all worried about his injuries, however. Opting instead to absorb the blow by sinking into the floor where he'd created a perfectly sized puddle for himself. Refusing to let him escape, Mirko broke out of her spiral to mount herself onto his heah and gripping him with her legs. This would have been a pervert's dream were it not filled with deadly intent.
"LUNA TIJERAS!"
One of her signature moves she usually reserved for inhuman or regenerative opponents, Luna Tijeras involved twisting her body and pulling with her superhuman leg strength to rip off her opponent's head. She felt now was an appropriate time to test how far Alex's Quirk could go. And luckily, she wasn't disappointed. Just as she felt his neck start to tear, his throat simply dissipated as Alex's head morphed into a bat. The rest of his body disappeared in the puddle and reappeared further down the corridor where the bat reintegrated itself with him.
As his head materialized behind a thick layer of smoke, the look on his face told her that he hadn't shown her everything just yet.
"I'm impressed, Mirko." He spoke cheerfully. "Already, you've proven far superior to the Hero Killer. It's been some time since I last encountered one of your caliber." Either in mockery or in genuine praise, he began clapping for her. "As per your wishes, I shall... How did you put it?... show you what I've got..."
All of a sudden, it felt like the air was being sucked out of her as a strong breeze began to blow inside the building. Her blood ran cold as an abyss opened before her, rippling out from Alex and devouring everything it touched. His hair seemed to grow longer as black tendrils began to sprout out of him like sludge.
"Releasing Control Arts Restriction Systems 3...2...1. Approval of Situation A recognized; commencing the Cromwell Invocation. Ability restrictions lifted for limited use until the enemy has been rendered silent."
Goosebumps pierced her skin. She stopped smiling as darkness surrounded her. Where once stood Alex, now there was a single, all-knowing, bloodstained eye. The all-consuming darkness expanded until not even a speck of light remained. She was in danger, that was what her instincts told her. Her head on a swivel, Mirko tried to make out an escape route but couldn't find one. Instead, she found herself trapped. Caged by a net of eyes, all staring into her soul. There was no escape.
Forming his gloved hands into a square, it was like they magnified the single iris currently gazing at her. Looking closer, Mirko at last noticed the ritual symbols rising out of his pure white gloves. Were those supposed to be seals? She had no time to ask questions, however.
"Now, Rumi Usagiyama... It's time to educate you on how a REAL vampire does battle!"
She never stood a chance.
0.0
"This is an announcement. The first team to pass is... Alexander Anderson! Not exactly a team, but-"
The speaker shut off mid-sentence as Recovery Girl realized her mistake. Alucard, aware of the surveillance from the start, had made sure to conceal the... important details... of his fight from the cameras. Perhaps a dose of mental suggestion would be necessary, if the old hag hadn't already been sufficiently fooled.
"Uuuuugghhhh..."
"Mirko dearest." He crooned. The Rabbit Hero groaned, slowly craning her eyes open. After being enveloped by his Level 1, the common roof lighting was painful to her eyes. He leaned over and gave her his shadow so she could better reorganize her thoughts. After what he'd put her through, Alucard had considered wiping those memories for the sake of her sanity. But, perhaps on a whim, he refrained. He wanted to test just how robust she was. And, amazingly, she didn't disappoint.
"Ooooohhh..." she got off the floor, hand on her scalp as she worked off an intense headache. Alucard helped her stand up, handing her some pain medicine he'd found in her pocket. How astute of her to carry painkillers. Even she was aware of her bad habits. "That hurt, Alex." Quite an understatement. But for her to even mention what she felt was proof enough of the kind of fight she'd endured.
"Indeed. Don't worry, though. I've healed your body. Your mind, on the other hand, is still fatigued. You've earned yourself some rest. Let us be on our way now."
He offered his shoulder, which she gladly accepted. Together, they began walking to Recovery Girl's tent. Thankfully, it wasn't a great distance from their battleground.
"I never stood a chance, did I?"
Still exhausted after their bout, Mirko still managed to scrounge up enough energy to ask questions. She didn't even seem angry after what he'd done. Even now, she stayed true to her principles. She had asked to see his full power, and he'd given her a peek.
"Don't sound so disappointed, madam. You lasted longer than most."
He knew that was little consolation for the beating she'd suffered. Still, she stayed positive and tried to find something humorous in it. He admired mortals like her, those who underwent terrible strife yet who still came out with a smile on their face. Alucard might acknowledge those who indulged in their desires, he could respect those capable of accepting the consequences. Mirko, Rumi Usagiyama... she was intriguing.
"So what was that about you being a vampire?" Ah. That.
"Aw, I was hoping you'd forget that." he smirked.
"That's a lie." Candid as ever. "I've known you long enough to know how much you like to show off." Turning slightly, she patted him on the chest. "No worries, I won't tell."
Her brave smirk had morphed into her usual shining smile. The duo laughed in unison as they entered Recovery Girl's tent.
0.0
Author's Notes: The last few thousand words might feel a bit rushed, that's because they kind of were. I considered stopping when Alucard and Mirko got on the bus and then just skipping the Final Exam arc afterward. Maybe it was thanks to some underlying resentment I held to my own exams, but I wanted to skim over the Final Exam arc. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I could add what I did to further boost Mirko's character development. She does seem like a good fit for the story, so she'll most likely become a recurring character in later chapters. But overall, this chapter largely served as build-up for the next event, which should be a fun one. Thank you for the reviews and kind words. See you in the next.