Hey Guys! How's life been? I know its been a long time coming, but I have some news!
The reason for me falling into an unexplained Hiatus is for several reasons! The first being College and work of course, though in much higher concentrations. I'm working two jobs, and traveling more than 60 miles ONE WAY to get to my college campus. The short summary is that I have my normal pleasure time cut into almost a fifth of what it used to be, working 65+ hours a week, so I did the only thing a young man like me would do. I took it out of my sleep schedule! Who needs 8 hours of sleep?!
Anyway, enough about me! I have some Story related news! I am working on the next chapter for Flames and the Forest, so that will be continued soon. I already have the first half mapped out, I just need to know more concretely about some variables concerning the plot.
! Carrier of the Nine is a whole other story. I had like 42k words rewritten, and I, as of twenty minutes ago, scrapped it. I just don't like it. I don't know WHY its always steering in the same direction, so I've begun my third and hopefully final rewrite. I might add a little sneak peak at the bottom of this just for the special peeps out there that follow me as an Author over just my story. Luv ya!
! For another bullet point, I have been working a LOT on a new story, and its given birth to my OWN ORIGINAL BOOK!...or rather the premise and universe for the story to be written within in. However, because of that, it's put me at a crossroads. Before you draw some conclusions to it, it is a Highschool DxD fanfic with an OC, but I used the universe rather than the "plot" to kinda find what I really wanted...and I did. SO, I have a few choices. I can 1, release the story, chapter by chapter, and show you my latest work that I'm actually rather proud of...and maybe have it stolen. My first possible story launch would become a moot point, as someone else harvested the budding fruits of creative labor. OR, I could keep it to myself, and wait it till I know I can finish my book before any pricks get the first few outlines done before I release it. I want to show it to you regardless, but It's just got me a little worried.
My own original story, Never thought I would be able to say that.
Oh! Side note, how would you guys feel about a LIVE tour of my computer's library? It would be late in the day and definitely on a weekend, but it could be fun! Who knows, maybe working and writing live would be interesting. It would either be really cool or really fucking horrible having a few of your eyes overlooking my strings of thought. I'm on the fence about it, but I'm open to persuasion! The main reason I haven't just posted everything is...well, because there IS so many things. I've got so much content on here you wouldn't BELIEVE! I mean, even my first EVER fanfic is still in one piece...
Anyway, I'm going on too much, Imma head to the bottom and see you guys there after you finish reading! Please enjoy the next EXTRA long chapter, courtesy of me as an apology.
Berserker: Chapter 6, Stages to Danger.
Classes are so boring.
Even know, I don't even think anyone is paying attention…their all fucking staring at me.
After all the matches were concluded, Hanta Sero, and Ejiro Kirishima were sent to the nurse's office along with Midoriya. I was, by far, the more brutal with how my test was conducted.
But that doesn't mean I would change it.
All Might had to butt in when I made it back with Toru too…
"Congratulations! Villain team successfully defeated the Hero Team…However! Remember that the bomb was also in your custody! If it had been set off in your clash, you would have perished with your adversaries! Real Villains would be much more wary of their own armaments!"
"Would they?" I asked quietly, and All Might tilted his head, "Hm?"
"I know what you're all thinking." I said, turning to stare at everyone, even Toru at my side…I think…maybe?
"Probably something along the lines of 'I was too brutal! This wasn't nice! how could I do this to my classmates?!' …and frankly, it's all I expected from you."
Some of the class flinched, though All Might held his eyes evenly, analytically. "What do you mean by that, Ikari-shounen?" All Might asked carefully, and I stared at him. It wasn't threatening, or stiff, or bold…it was just a stare.
A stare that held eyes of experience.
"Villains don't care." I said bluntly, "They kill, they destroy, they murder…my fight with them was closer to an accurate battle from any other bout here today…and in fact, if it came down to blowing up their own bomb, or surrendering…some would still make the world hurt."
I looked away, heading back to the classroom, "I'm sorry…but this is the reality."
I looked back, staring right into All Might's eyes, "Heroes loose too…all the time."
I did what I did to pass, just as Harden…Eijiro did to give his teammate a chance at victory. I respect him for that.
But it's a fools dream to enter this "business", and expect good fortune for your lifetime.
No Hero has ever had a happy ending.
None of them.
They All died with regret. They ALL left this life at the hands of their foe…or alone, forgotten.
This isn't an occupation of dreams.
This is Death Row, with confetti.
If none of them understood that, weren't willing to fight for it, didn't have the heart, feared this…then they shouldn't be here…they shouldn't even be in this entire academy.
Ironically, it isn't the Heroes who are blessed.
It's the Victims…the ones who are blessed with Mediocrity, that live life free of the overbearing responsibilities that Heroes have to carry.
"Senshi-san?"
I blinked, rubbing my eyes as I looked at the board, "Sorry, what?"
"What is the answer to number 4?"
"uuuhhhh…" I said, reading the question, glancing at my textbook, and a neighbors.
Yep, not even the right page.
"Need a life line?" the teacher smirked, and I rolled my eyes, "Nah, I know the answer, I just disagree with it."
"Eh?"
"I mean sure, the answer is whatever "X" equals, but I find the use of the alphabet in a mathematical equation to be offensive, I mean who in their right mind would-"
"See me after class."
"Fair enough."
"Would someone else like to answer?"
"x = 57.667" Tenya answered from somewhere, and I rolled my eyes, damned smartass.
XXX
Class Representatives huh?
Hmph, this better not be a role of the "Top Scorer", or I'm going to fail my exams until I either drop out or someone takes my place.
"We should settle this by election!" Tenya simmered, and I fully agreed.
"Sounds good to me." I said, before standing up, and looking at everyone. I smiled nicely, before it soon turned to menacing, "If I get even one vote, I'll beat the ever-loving crap out of every single one of you."
I sat back down, and closed my eyes, "So, Aizawa, wanna write it up or are you going to take a nap?"
"Cheeky brat." He grumbled, "It's 'Sensei', and I don't care so long as it's decided before the class period is over."
"I'll call you that title when I learn something." I said blankly, before getting up and going to the board myself.
"Since nobody will be voting for me, I'll do the tally. For those of you, who want to become the class representative, please raise your hand."
I got quite a few hands, so I started just jotting things down. The class seemed to echo what I wrote in confusion.
"Floaty?"
"Broomstick?"
"Chilly?
"Yaoyorozu-sama" I said with a small bow as I wrote her name, and she flushed with embarrassment, earning everyone's confused and curious look. I even put a little tally mark next to her name, and continued.
"Oi Oi! Don't start adding votes!" Sparky said, and I just turned.
"It's my vote, got a problem?" I said with a raised eyebrow.
I kept writing down new names.
"Pinky?"
"RETARD!?"
"Well, its true isnt it?" I turned with a raised eyebrow, and the class restrained their laughter…looks like everyone did so. It's not my fault he goes brain dead when he uses his electricity…payback bitch…I don't remember what for, but yeah, consider us even…somehow.
"Vice president?...actually, no, whoever gets the second amount of votes can do that shit…and it better not be me." I said with a foul glare.
"Alright! Heads down kids! Gimme your votes when I call the name. if you wanna get smart and vote twice, I'll kick you twice on your way out the window."
"Right! First up, votes for "DIEEE!"."
One vote…no surprise there.
"Pinky?"
1
Chilly?
None…interesting.
"Broomstick?"
…oh, wait, they probably don't know who that is.
"Broomstick is mister prim and proper over there with the glasses."
…still no votes..damn.
"Yaoyorozu-sama?" I said, and got two raised hands! Yay! I quickly added the final two votes, totaling up to three.
"Retard?"
The whole class quivered in amusement, and one hand went up.
Oh, it's the retards.
I put ½ a point for the fun of it, I wanted to see his reaction. I'm not shaming retards, this is all in the name of casual and completely innocent harassment.
"Nervous Wreck…er, Midoriya" I said, and I blinked in surprise.
3 votes…how troublesome. Nothing against the kid, but now I feel like a douche for not voting for him.
I don't really want Midoriya to have to battle Yaoyorozu-sama, or vice versa…
Well, I guess feeling like a douche is going to have to hang around for a bit longer.
"Well, results are in, you can look up now." I said, pointing two large arrows at the two winners.
"I got three votes!" Midoriya said in a socked and panicked voice, looks like he wasn't ready for that…but I saw his hand go up earlier, I won't be fooled by you! You want this just as bad as the kamikaze nutcase over there.
"DEKU GOT THREE VOTES!" the nutcase roared, and I just rubbed my eyes, "Glad you can read, I hope you also notice you only got one, shut up."
"TEME! I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Another time second place, another time."
"DAMMIT!" he seethed, smoldering in his chair, and I waved at the two winners to come up to the board.
"Well, we have our President and Vice." I said monotonously, "Questions?"
"Who is president?" Floaty asked confused, and I just shrugged.
"I don't care."
Yep, feeling the "I'm a douche" right now…but I must endure. Picking a side is even worse…even though I kinda already did…but isn't putting them on equal footing better than not?
This is dumb, screw this.
"Who even needs a vice? They can be co-presidents or whatever, as long as they lead us, is there really any problems?" I said with a flat look, and moved away from the front.
Aaa…back to peace and mediocrity.
I made it back to my desk, and sat down, blinking at a little note on my desk.
Akashi – 1
…
Imma pretend I didn't see this.
"We'll, that's all I had planned for this period" Aizawa mumbled, turning and leaving out the door, "you can head for lunch."
I blinked in surprise, I guess he doesn't care if it's two presidents or a Pres and Vice…works for me.
I got up, pocketing the vote, and heading out, "Cool, Co-Presidents, you don't mind do you?"
Midoriya was shaking, something I found to be quite frankly worrying…is he going to fall over or what?
"I don't believe the cafeteria is open at this time, perhaps we should wait until the class is over." Yaoyorozu-sama stated, and I nodded.
"Fair enough…got anything you want to discuss to stall for time then? Leaving the little pop rock over there to his own devices might make things messy."
"YOU FUCKER! DIE ALREADY DAMMIT!"
Yaoyorozu-sama seemed to search for an idea, and Midoriya seemed to shrink away as people observed the two of them. I stared at them myself, before I reached out to my side, and grabbed the air.
I heard a small shreek of surprise, and I grinned at my success.
"Damn, I really am getting better at this…but then again, it isn't like your very calm right now…reason you're mad?"
"Eh? Toru-chan? Where is your uniform?" Yaoyorozu-sama commented in surprise, and I felt Toru giggle under my palm, "I didn't feel like wearing it!"
There was a dull thud in the back, and everyone rolled their eyes at the small blood pool dripping off the top of a now apparently empty desk, its little purple midget struggling to remain conscious despite his wide, blood shot eyes.
That really is creepy.
"Planning on sneaking out?" I said quietly, and I could hear her huff, "Well, I was."
"Well, sorry…but your pretty mad right now, something happen?"
"Hmph!" she said, pulling from my touch, and I frowned as she made her way back to her desk. Must be personal I guess. She seemed pretty incensed about something after the vote was over, maybe she wanted to win?
"How did you know she was there?" Yaoyorozu-sama asked in curiosity, and I blinked, "oh, it's part of my Quirk I guess."
"…really?" she asked, gesturing for me to continue…oh, I hadn't told anyone else about my quirk, only Midoriya and the teachers know…though the staff knows because it's a safety concern. Aizawa even has a tranq dart for me, same as All Might.
I tilted my head to the side, before I asked a simple, blunt question, "Do you want to know?"
"I am curious." Yaoyorozu-sama said with a nod, and I shrugged, "Sure Yaoyorozu-sama." I said with a nod.
"My Quirk is called Berserker" I began, walking for the board and grabbing a marker to start writing. I will illuminate her to my quirk as a favor towards striking even. I still use those headphones she made for me, and as long as they last, the more and more I owe her. I go threw them rather quickly, and they were holding up really well!
"It's what you'd call an Enhancement Quirk, however, it isn't simple in the sense that it multiplies my strength by a set number. It's called "Berserker" because it gets stronger the angrier I get, though the easiest way to measure this is by my heart rate, as my quirk makes my heart beat faster in order to keep me alive. It increases my physical abilities, as well as affords me a sort of hypersensitivity to anger as well…it would be wrong to say I can sense people, it's more like I can sense their anger, and find where they are by proxy."
I finished my current scribbles, and it came out as a simple timeline, with several dots with numbers on them.
I pointed to the first one, "Base level is calm, which is anywhere from about 60 to 80, is what you could call my "Resting State". Here, I am still stronger that the average person, but not greatly so. If you were an athlete or a weightlifter, I would probably have to really fight to win an arm wrestle."
I drew an arrow to the next dot, and marked it with 100, "This is the second stage, which I call the "Ignition State." Basically, this state is elevated from the previous, and my strength takes its first jump. While here, I can leap buildings as long as I'm not carrying anything too heavy and such, but it's more like a medium level enhancement, so it doesn't let me punch a robot into smithereens, but it definitely increases my speed. My heart rate, perception, senses, and metabolic rate especially increases, so my stamina greatly increases as well. This state is unique however, as from here, I can leapfrog to up to high stages relatively quickly.
I turned, and blinked as I saw the entire class staring at me attentively, Yaoyorozu-sama and Midoriya sitting on a pair of desks front and center.
…yep, this is weird.
"So this Ignition stage is what you used during yesterday's training session?"
"Err, yeah, though I came real close to the next one once I had to run to the top."
"What stages follow?" she said, intrigued, and I felt a little awkward seeing all the stares.
"Um…ok…the next stage is...uh…what I call the "Awakened state" I said hesitantly, but picked up momentum again as I just stuck to the facts. "This is typically from 120 to 159. My speed, strength, and endurance, as well as reaction time takes a large leap. I haven't actually measured my limits in terms of numbers, but it's an enhancement from my previous state. My body temperature skyrockets, and its actually unsafe to remain in physical contact with me for an extended duration of time."
"After that is my "Active State", which doesn't trigger until I hit 160. 160 is, again, another boost, but with more…effects as it were. I gain something similar to Kirishima's harden, making me somewhat resistant to physical injuries, and with it comes blood regeneration."
"Blood…Regeneration?" Broomstick said in the back slowly, and I shrugged. "My heart rate doesn't slow at all during this stage, and because of the increased rise in flow as well as temperature increase and tougher skin, it's incredibly hard for my body to manifest the time and energy to cork the puncture, should one take place…so, my blood cells rapidly multiply, allowing me to continue fighting even if an artery is severed. It boosts my timer from a few seconds to nearly 3 minutes. It doesn't really make sense, but it works."
"Woah" Retard said, "That's a bit crazy."
"Yeah, you could say that…it isn't a pretty sight to behold." I said grimly, before moving on, "but, since I have your attention, I should give you all a fair warning. Because my Quirk requires my anger to manifest, it should be obvious that I am in control so long as I control my temper, yes?"
"Well, once I reach 180, things get really…really dicey." I said bluntly…they should know anyway. I don't need an idiot coming in to help me, and getting taken out by me on a rampage.
"At 180, I reach the "Enraged State". It's at this point where my anger supersedes my ability to control it, and I become much more…dangerous. It's much harder to tell friend from foe, and honestly, anything that pisses my off will probably be destroyed within the few moments I decide I'm angry at it. I encourage all of you to evacuate when you see me get particularly nasty. The most obvious clue would be my skin. As I get farther and farther from sanity, my skin will turn darker and darker purple."
"How strong…are you?" Kirishima asked slightly fearfully, and I looked him straight in the eye.
"Enough to make All Might the 1-A Hero Course Examiner."
Everyone was less than nonchalant at this nugget of information, and continued.
"While Enraged, my Strength becomes very fearsome. Cars become pebbles, trees become twigs…and people become ants." I said seriously, "However, while that happens, I have gained some moderate control. I managed to keep my sanity at that point during the Entrance Exam, if you recall."
"Yeah! You were pretty badass dude!"
"Enraged is special." I said, ignoring the comment from Retard, "My anger will grow simply because I am mad. Calming me down here is next to impossible, so don't even try. Once I reach the enraged state, you have anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute to get away, because once I hit 200, I am no longer human…I'm a Berserker. When I loose all real human cognition, I call it falling into a "rage"…the aftermath is never pretty."
The class was silent, and I even caught the tail end of Aizawa's sleeping bag as he seemed to be listening from outside.
"Berserker State means I am no longer sane. I cannot be reasoned with, subdued, or restrained. My skin becomes tougher, but can still be damaged if you nail me REALLY hard. My senses are greatly magnified, and I am entirely motivated by instinct. My skin temperature is incredibly high as well, so much as touching me with inflict burns on your skin. If you are threating, or I perceive you as a threat…I will kill you."
I took a deep breath, and I continued, "The highest I have achieved is 211 bpm…the town no longer exists, despite having a fully prepared hero team stationed to suppress me."
"…You mean the place…is gone?" Floaty asked fearfully, and I nodded.
"On the Plus Side, Berserker State has a timer." I said, and everyone had a heavy sigh of relief, "My Body physically cannot maintain that level of enhancement for long, and I will tire rapidly. Because of the adrenaline and various other effects, I typically run dry in 3 to 7 minutes. Once that happens, I will fall asleep, and from there, I will most likely remain comatose until I die or heal from the exertion."
I put my marker down, looking at the massive chart I made, and started to erase it, "So, for those of you who have questions, ask them now, because if you wait till later I will ignore you or flat out K.O you."
"Um…is this why you didn't want to be president?"
"No, I didn't want to be president because it's a massive pain in the ass to manage a bunch of rowdy high schoolers. Next one." I said with a wave of the hand, prompting the next one.
"Are your parent's still alive?"
"Parent, alive and still pissing me off every now and then."
My mother will remain a topic for another day.
"Did you inherit your quirk from them?"
"Yes and no, my Quirk is a fusion of both."
"Should we try to…not make you angry?"
"That would defeat the point, as I would notice and get angry anyway."
"Are you stronger than All Might?"
"Dunno, but he is the strongest, so he is here to suppress me till my timer runs out or get you guys to safety."
"You don't think he can beat you?"
That question caught me off guard.
Especially because it came from the living bomb over there.
"If he turns the battle into one of attrition, then he can win…if he really wants to trade blows…then no, I don't think he can."
"HA HA HA! THINK SO EY?" a boisterous laugh came from outside the doorway, and I turned, setting the eraser down as the spangled hero in question stood in the doorway.
"Yeah, I don't think you can…and I know neither of us want to test it either." I said firmly, and he just hummed his affirmation. Even if he could, the aftermath and destruction would level the school at the very least.
The bell rang, and I walked past him, "Well, stomach is calling me, later Blondie."
All Might laughed behind me, and I just walked away. I rounded the corner; before I stopped…I leaned against it, sighing.
"Well…that went well."
I rubbed my own hair, before just pushing off to get ahead of the crowd. It's all right, I wasn't really here to make friends with them anyway. Its better they know now then figure it out when I go all Rage Mode. If their afraid of me, it's fine.
Being alive and afraid is better than dead and betrayed.
Ooh, rhyme…yay.
That was sarcasm by the way.
I headed to the cafeteria, following the wall to the windows, and leaned against it, sliding down to the floor, and fishing a granola bar out of my pocket. I typically munch all day, metabolism wanting to eat my stomach and all, but I kinda lost my appetite, so I'll settle for some more munching instead of a meal.
"Ikari-kun." I felt a voice whisper into my ear, and I jumped, looking to see a floating uniform.
"Toru, you like sneaking up on people don't you?"
"It's a thrill" she said, before tugging at the edges of her skirt, "Mind if I sit with you?"
Really? She still wants to be around me?
"Sure, plenty of window to go around…were you going to eat anything?"
"I'm on a diet?"
"Why care? It's not like anyone is going to judge you."
"I care! Being fat means my foot steps are louder!"
…what a weird thing to be conscious about.
"Ok." I said simply, and kept munching. I watched all the students flow in, and I felt a little despondent as I saw crowds of guys and girls laughing and joking around.
A group of friends…was nice, but no thanks.
Fond memories must remain memories…for they will no longer be fond if they are overcome with jealousy.
"Are you ok?" Toru asked suddenly, and I blinked, "I'm perfectly fine…why? Am I bleeding somewhere?"
"You didn't seem ok when you left class."
…she followed me a lot sooner than I thought.
Hmph, well, no point hiding it.
"Yeah, it was a bit awkward…I mean, it's a weird thing to have to say to a bunch of your peers. "Hey guys, don't mind me, just be careful, I might kill you on accident!". It's not a good ice breaker." I said blandly.
"Why did you tell them?"
"Because being alive and afraid is better than being dead and betrayed." I replied instantly, recalling my earlier thought with a small smile. "It's just better this way. I am not really built for working with a team."
"Giving up?"
I flinched, "I don't like that term. It's not that I'm "Giving Up", it's that I'm approaching it from a different perspective."
"You're afraid."
I looked at her blandly, "Duh. Being around me multiples your chances of dying by a fucking massive margin. In fact, you will die if you don't leave me be when I go all rage mode. I don't want to be a Hero Killer."
"So don't be."
…did she just say that? Is she trying to piss me off?
"Sorry, but what makes you think controlling insanity is that simple?"
"Don't let it get that far."
What the fuck.
"That's like telling a dehydrated dessert-stranded victim not to drink water from the first oasis he's seen for miles. Anger isn't something I can just ignore, it influences me as a person. The only way I can stop that chain of events is to calm myself down during the Awakened State, or have someone inject me before I make the transition. Any later than that, and my skin and metabolic rate will prevent any sort of tranq or suppressant from being effective."
"I think you can do it."
"…huh?"
Is she delusional? Was she not listening during my explanation of why I can't?
"At the Entrance Exam…I saw you fully Enraged, and you didn't hurt anyone…in fact, you carried Midoriya-kun all the way to Recovery Girl without crushing him in your grip." She said, leaning forward closer to my face.
"That was different." I said, looking at the remainder of my meal.
"How?"
"Because it was." I said tersely, taking the final portion of my bar in one bite, crunching it loudly. She sat there still, before sighing and giggling suddenly.
"Well, you still owe me you know, don't forget."
I blinked, before I nodded, "Yeah, I'll take you on my next run."
She made her way off, and I sighed as I crinkled my granola bar wrapper into a small ball. She was a weird one, I don't really get what makes her tick. I get that I'm kinda special, I can almost "see" her after all…but was she trying to be helpful there? It was more like just confirming truths.
I stewed in thoughts for a few minutes, allowing the populated hum of the cafeteria to take my mind away to a more contemplative state…and then an alarm sounded. There was a strange stillness as the alarm was registered, before everything went to hell. I shot my eyes open in surprise as the amount of fear that suddenly appeared around me nearly swallowed ever other emotion whole. Screaming and rapid foot falls besieged the doorway, and pretty soon, I was slammed against the glass, a large number of asses hovering in my sight line.
I couldn't even stand up, people pressing against each other just to get out.
My anger was quick to soar.
"Fuck off!" I growled, pushing the kids around me away. A small circle around me fell like dominoes, and I stood up, staring over the crowd…looks like Kirishima and Retard are trying to…calm them down?
Was the alarm a drill?
And everyone is panicking?
"Ururaka-san!" I heard Broomstick cry, and I whirled around. Their hands were reaching eachother, but the prim and proper lad kept getting forced away.
Was this a movie seen or something?
I stood over the kids I knocked over, who were still straggling to stand, and I glared.
"Move."
They moved.
How nice of them.
I walked forward, before I just tsked my teeth as I started shoveling people aside. This was the Hero Academy, if you could handle getting thrown around, you shouldn't be learning how to fight crime. I carved a path through, before grabbing Broomstick's shoulder.
"What's Happening?!" I shouted over the crowd, and he turned immediately, "It's a false alarm! Its just the Press!"
I blinked, before I sighed. I squinted my eyes shut, rubbing my nose rapidly. Are you fucking kidding me? All these "Hero Hopefuls" are running scared because of a bunch of reporters.
"Broomstick, your flying."
"Tenya Iida!" he said exasperatedly
"Tenya, whatever! You need Ururaka right?"
"I need to calm everyone down!" Tenya gasped as someone elbowed him in the gut, "This is getting out of control."
Yep, I knew that.
"Cover your ears."
"What?"
"Cover. Your. Ears."
He immediately clapped his hands over them, and turned away.
I inhaled, before letting my anger fly as I just bellowed at the top of me lungs.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"I boomed menacingly. Several of the people near me fell over in shock, and the entire cafeteria fell scarily silent as I caught my breath. I coughed a couple times, rubbing my neck as if trying to wipe it away.
I leaned down, grabbing…Tenya, by the back of his coat, and hoisting him over my head.
"Speak." I rasped, and he kicked his legs at suddenly being hanged, but still managed to deliver his message.
"Everyone!" Tenya gagged, fighting to get oxygen from his own coat as it strangles him. "Everything is Alright! It's just the Press; there is no attack in progress, or issues that we need to fear! We are all UA Students! We must ACT as such!"
Everyone sweatdropped. It was a strong message, but it was hard to fully appreciate when he was being held above everyone by the collar of his jacket…like a momma lion holding up a cub by the scruff of their neck.
I coughed quietly, my throat a little raw, setting the turning-blue Tenya onto his own two feet slowly, and I rolled my shoulders.
I patted his shoulder, though he fell to his knees soon after as he regained his oxygen…it's amazing he could deliver such a message while being essentially strangled.
"Right, good job Broomstick." I coughed out, rubbing my throat some more as I scanned about for a waterfountain.
"My name…is Tenya Iida…Address me as such!" he wheezed, and I had to give it to the guy, he made me respect him a little.
"…maybe, we'll see." I said, walking off with a small half smile. That guy may be rigid, inflexible, and rather staunch… buthe's got his foundation set real square. A reliable man that guy, a reliable man.
I think I'll skip the rest of class today. I want to train…I feel the need to progress. After briefly quenching my thirst and soothing my throat, I headed off.
I walked right off campus, right out of the assembled buildings for the sports field that we used for our… "Quirk Assessment Exams". It was a pretty large field, and with the budget these guys had, I doubt they would pitch too much of a bitch if I…roughed it up a bit.
I walked farther and farther out, reaching the center of the field, and taking off the top of my uniform, placing it several feet away from me. it wasn't like there was anything to put it on, so might as well increase the distance.
I rolled my shoulders and neck, hearing the satisfying cracks, and sitting cross legged, resting my palms on my knees as I controlled my breathing.
Feel the sunlight, the warmth…let it spread, be aware.
Focus.
I breathed out slower and slower, my heart rate decelerating, and after a time, I opened my eyes. My veins were pulsing a fiery red, visible like rivers of lava beneath my skin. They glowed, flowing and shifting with my pulse, and I continued to relax.
Alright, Base level, let's start.
It's true that Berserker lets me challenge insanely strong opponents at the cost of my sanity, but for villains who have that kind of power on standby, they could end me before I "Powered Up". Thus, I needed to make that gap shorter, while not being devoured in the process. The dangerous side of powering up to quickly is falling into my rage far more rapidly. It's like wading into the ocean, versus being taken by a strong wave. If I am not careful, I'll lose myself to the tide.
And then, well, everyone in lethal trouble.
I cut my breathing, flexing my muscles, and clenching my fists, bringing them back into a chamber at my sides below my shoulders. I let my mouth snarl as I grit my teeth and brought the fire from my rage directly into my blood stream. My skin steamed, and fire ignited in my veins as my skin burned red, tinting into purple as I channeled it.
21 seconds.
Not fast enough.
I growled, slamming my fist into the packed dirt, and watched it shatter as dust uplift from the blow. I wasn't hitting it hard, but the impact outta make kids wonder if there really wasn't a villain attack.
I released my fists from their stress, and brought them forward in a breathing motion…relax, its fine, I'll keep trying, I can do this.
I needed it in 10 seconds; I needed it so I could be ready going into the fight, and not powering up as I go. If I versed All Might like that, I'd be out before landing a hit.
That is unacceptable.
Try again.
Time flickered by as the sun swung my shadow. I started to sweat from the repeated exercise, and the heat provided no cure.
"Dammit!"
"…dammit"
"GOD FUCKING- no, no."
"…hmmmmMMMMM…"
"Trying again."
"…Again."
"AGAIN"
"FUCK!"
"What-cha doing?" a sudden voice inquired.
"Ack!"
I jerked to the side, blasting off slightly as I was still coming down from my 9th attempt, and I righted myself midair as I skidded back a few feet. I heard giggling, and I scanned about…not seeing anyone.
"Toru! I could've really hurt you there! That's not funny." I said with a sigh, dusting off my pants as I stood up, finishing my breathing to bring me lower.
"Sorry! I just saw you focused, and I just knew I had too!"
I rolled my eyes, and I resting my fists on my hips, "So? What brings you all the way out here?"
"Aizawa isnt happy you ditched."
"That's too bad; I hope he doesn't lose sleep over it." I said with false sadness, sarcasm practically cascading off my forged downcast expression.
"He does need his sleep" she agreed, and giggled some more, "Anyway! We're going on a field trip! Iida-kun, the new Class Rep, asked us to find you before departing. "Attendance is Mandatory!" or something."
"The new Rep? Did Nervous Wreck step down?"
"Yeah, thought Iida-kun could handle it better."
I sighed, "Well, there goes his opportunity, nothing to do I guess."
"…right, anyway, what were you doing all the way out here?"
I stared at where I thought she was for a time, before replying, "I was making a cake, pass me the icing?" I said mockingly, "What the heck do you think I was doing?"
I heard her footsteps near me, and I felt a slap on my shoulder, "No need to be mean!"
"Yeah Yeah, anyway, where are we going?"
"Oh! We're heading to one of UA's off campus training facilities-"
"As in which direction would I go, from here, to meet them before they leave?"
"Oh…umm…that way?"
I stared at her, waiting…she knew I couldn't see where she pointed right? She doesn't have hands in her uniform…
…well, based on her sleeve, I got an idea.
"Works for me, hop on."
"Eh?"
"You wanted to see a faster speed right? Well, here's your chance."
"But you're sweaty!"
"And if training goes the way I hope it does, then everyone should be, because that's the point of training. If it bothers you that much, grab my jacket and use it as a shield."
She hopped over, grabbing it, and I just rolled my eyes, whatever, deal with it.
She draped it over my shoulders as I crouched down, letting her fuss over it for a minute, and I just felt fuel to the fire add-on as I sat in silence. Well, I'll only be going faster, what she wanted huh?
"Alright!" she cheered, before lowering herself down. I scooped my arms under her legs, and she held on tight around my chest.
"Ready? I'm not slowing down till we get there…meaning if it isn't over there, I'm not stopping till we find it." I said, hiding my dangerous expression from her line of sight.
"Ready!"
I grinned, payback time. "Alright, well, don't blame me for messing up your hair…"
Actually, does she have hair? Is she bald?
I dug my heels in, before taking off at high speeds, letting my heartbeat rage as I increased my speed, and I felt her grip tighten as adrenaline kicked into her system.
"WWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Oh yeah, this is good, I am enjoying this.
I ran straight across the field, leaving behind a dust trail like a parting sea as I blitzed under an archway, and soaring into the halls. They were relatively empty, thank the lord, but there was more than one unlucky soul that got blasted onto their asses from the wall of wind I was pushing. I rounded corners by jumping off walls, causing small cracks into the concrete, keeping my speed even as I negotiated tight corners and sudden pedestrians. I ran and ran, thoroughly enjoying Toru's mixed fear, excitement, and embarrassment blended all at once, like a cocktail you know shouldn't have been made, but definitely had one or two.
I burst out the exit doors, knocking one off its hinges, and running right for a line of busses. I saw the last of a class filing on, and I jumped over the guard rail, soaring like a parachute, and skidding to a halt as I burned the soles of my shoes right off. I slid all the way across the room, finally coming to a stop as my heels kissed the opposite wall, and I stood up from my hunched position.
"Aaaah! That felt good…Toru?"
"…put me down."
Uh oh.
I knelt, letting her descend, and she staggered, before falling to her knees and vomiting on the spot.
I did not expect that.
I leapt back a step, "Woah! Hey, you ok?!"
"…I didn't expect it to be such a roller coaster…jumping off walls." She said, before hacking again.
It was really weird, seeing puke appear out of the air.
Is that what it's like when she poops too?
…well, I guess shit just happens.
…I'm going to pretend I never thought that.
I couched nearby, still giving her plenty of space, and rubbed her back, "Well, you asked, I delivered."
"Next time…if you're going to go faster, do it in a straight away…I can't…han-urgk!"
"Next time huh?…sure." I managed to say, watching the puddle get slightly larger, and I turned behind me, to see the entire class of 1-A staring with the biggest pairs of eyes I had seen to date.
"Hey, jerkwads! How about a little help huh? Some empathy!?" I yelled at them, and I saw Ochako and Mina move to come assist.
"Take it easy, Floaty and Pinky are coming over. I'll grab something to…clean this up."
"…thanks." She whispered… "…it was fun."
I blinked, before grinning, "Hell's yeah, I'll take you sky diving next."
"I dunno about that." She wheezed after another dry heave, and I moved over so Mina and Ochako could do their thing.
I wandered off, looking for things to absorb the previously located stomach contents. C'mon, it's the vehicle garage, there has to be at least one rag here…
"Senshi-san! Please explain Hagakure-san's state!"
I turned, sighing as I saw newly appointed Class Rep strutting over, "I took her for a run, I didn't think she wouldn't be able to handle it."
"Running did this to her?"
"Err, no, I carried her as I ran…really fast."
"I see, please note that most people cannot properly register their surroundings like us speedsters! To them, it is a mass blur of color and a nauseous experience. Practice proper restraint."
I rolled my eyes. He made excellent points, but looking at him made me want to argue. "I'll be more aware."
"Thank you! Please board the bus, Ochako-san brought material inside the bus to deal with the issue."
I nodded, letting him lead, before following a few paces later.
"…thanks." She whispered… "…it was fun."
I smiled. Yeah, it was fun for me too. I wonder how everybody else would handle it…hehe.
Alrighty! Thanks guys, and possible ladies in the audience! I hope you did enjoy, and let me know your thoughts one what I mentioned above, or the content itself! Math is fun and all, but reading replies or even flames are a welcome change from the math of the damned universe.
Anyways, The next chapter I release is going to still be this story, I have all teh way to the Tournament Arc completed, so there is plenty to draw from. The next other story update should be Flames and the Forest, as I'm almost done with it already. Just for a special reader! I got you bro!
And now, to what you may or may not have scrolled down here for! The SNEAK PEAK to the Start of Carrier of the Nine!
CHECK IT OUT!...
XXX
Idle wind chimes seemed to vibrate the very breath of the wild landscape. Shivers that made your skin prickle like it was lightly shocked, as if to remind you that you were alive.
It was sunny, though not without several heavy clouds burdening the sky. A wide swath of wild grasses and flowers populated the landscape, healthy white trees surrounding this small sunlit clearing. Animals of all shapes and sizes were gathering, large numbers hardly quantified the volume. Animals small and tall were all huddled together, encircling a lone figure atop a large angled stone.
It was a person.
He was tall, lean, with blond spikes that seemed to defy the sun in their golden radiance. Eyes that reflected the blues of the deep ocean, and the heightened skies that stretched on for miles. Limitless, piercing, and above all…completely unfocused.
This person clearly had no idea what was happening in their surroundings.
He sat lazily, legs hanging off the edge a few feet above the earth. His hands were knitted together, elbows resting on his knees as he seemed to stare at the skies as if to compete with its infinite expanse. Birds circled him, landing on his cloaked shoulders and picking at its tail as it rested on the rock behind him.
He twitched, and blinked. He stirred, slowly rotating his shoulders, and breathing a loose, free exhale. His hair swayed in the sudden breeze that welcomed his alertness, and he blinked a few times rapidly at the surrounding crowd.
He rubbed his eyes with a finger and thumb, muttering to himself something incomprehensible…though if you had to make a guess, it went something like this.
"Stupid Demi-Gods get into more trouble that I do…and that's saying something."
"Summons?" a voice echoed within the boys mind, and he smiled. "Always Isobu, always, just when I finally sit down too."
"Naruto, you've been sitting there since sunset…of yesterday." Gyuki chimed in, not at all afraid to spill some fact.
Naruto stretched languidly, relishing on the euphoric feeling that it gave him, "What can I say? I was caught up in thought."
"You also managed to attract the natural life in large numbers. Quite being a pain, they probably thought you wanted to talk." Son Goku commented idley, looking over at the group through his hosts eyes.
Naruto blinked, before scanning the crowd. The animals bowed their head in recognition, and he cringed internally, 'damn, it really is my fault.'
"Why you're surprised I have no idea."
Naruto stood up, now looking far more like an authority figure, "I do apologize, I came to this clearing to ease my mind. Please, continue with your own lives, I did not mean to disrupt."
The animals seemed to absorb that slowly, before moving off, giving him a few more bows of acknowledgement, and heading off their own ways. The entire crowd seemed to disappear into the tree's shadows, vanishing like liquid.
"Where to?" Kokuo asked calmly, though there was a noticeable edge, as if she already knew the answer and didn't like it.
'Camp, apparently Percy can't survive his first day without causing problems of some kind.'
"Are we really surprised? He bears the blood of the apparent… "Big Three"." Another voice said in clear disbelief of the title, Matatabi had an unimpressed yawn soon after.
"What of the clones?" Isobu asked, "They dealt with the mortals, it's thanks to them that he can probably return once the year actually starts." Gyuki replied, his tails fishing in the mindscape as if waiting to catch rampant memories.
'That's a problem solved for their future selves.' Naruto cut in, before standing up and stretching some more, the suns light almost intensifying to allow him to enjoy the warmth. 'Right now, Chiron has summoned us to camp, something I told him not to do unless it was important. While it couldn't be life threatening…I doubt he would classify "important" as boredom.'
"Go then." I deep rumble echoed, and Naruto smiled, 'Kurama, enjoy your nap?'
"It spares me from your endless drivel, it's impossible to dislike it."
Naruto snorted along with Kurama's chuff. Naruto hopped on the balls of his feet to get the blood flowing, before he pulled out a ritualistic kunai like he had so many times before, and flourished it, spinning it so fast the blade seemed to vanish, before he caught it in a reverse grip, and crossed the blade with his other hand.
"Hirashin" he mumbled, and he disappeared…a small breeze rustling the grass below.
XXX
DuhDAAAA! How's that! I have high hopes! Hopefully it will go well from Here!.
Thanks for coming in to read! I hope you have a pleasant next few hours!
Take care! Peace!