Justice Across Space and Time
Chapter 73
Okay. Just a bit longer and a few new trouble to come the hero crew's way. Not to mention, Mina coming to terms with her new state of being. And let's be honest that wouldn't be easy for anyone. So on with the show.
(No POV)
After a week of sailing, most of the teens were getting restless. Especially after a few spotty reports from the ones in the crows nest. "That's the fifth ship that we spotted and then it just dips back over the horizon." Jotaro noted while tapping his foot on the deck.
"I know what you mean. It seems a bit odd. They don't even fire any shots at us." Izuku said while keeping a close eye on his friend. Jotaro seemed to be doing better after the incident on the hideout. But he still seemed uneasy or agitated.
But he wasn't alone, as Mirko was also coming a bit undone. She seemed to be holding it together, but a few of the others on night watch had mentioned seeing her faux fighting on the deck. "It's kind of freaking me out man." Mineta mentioned one morning.
Izuku sighed and hoped that they could finish this job soon. Only to be distracted by Melissa subtly coming up behind and glomping him. "You need to relax a bit Kibou. It won't do you, Jotaro, or anyone else any good if you are so tense, we can feel it."
The green-eyed teen was a bit wide eyed but let out a sigh and agreed with Melissa. "It's just….. I'm worried about him. He's been a rock and inspiration for me on par with All Might for over a year now. And to see him like this. It's…. well."
"Not just disconcerting. But a bit frightening as well, right?" Melissa said with a small smile of recollection. She thought about her father and how he had obsessed about the idea of maintaining All Might as he was with his impressive quirk. Rather than putting faith in the hero he would become without his quirk.
She sighed before saying, "you aren't the only one who's been thinking it. I heard it a bit on the main ship too. How they all felt assured things would be fine or work out. Not because of All Might, but because Jotaro and Saphentite were around. And learning about their pasts. It just reinforced that."
"The problem is, just like All Might they are human….. well so to speak. And I'm starting to see more of the cracks around the edges with Jotaro especially." Izuku said with a sigh. He leaned back a bit into Melissa's chest before admitting that he was afraid something might happen.
Unbeknownst to them, Jotaro could hear them. And he agreed with Izuku's worry. 'Especially given what happened during the island raid. But that isn't the only problem. I think I'm becoming more of what I'm afraid of than I thought.' The hero considered this before calling it a night.
For the next few days he focused on his slightly strengthened senses. He wasn't quite up to his usual standard. Or even to the base level he had been at in the world of heroes. 'But my ears are still pretty good. And they're growing stronger while we've been down here.'
He notes that each of the ships were tossing around various bits of gossip. Some wondering if they'll see more action. Others were questioning if they'd get a chance to check out the Lust ring more.
But one factor was murmured in varying amounts among each of the ships. The fact that they all felt they could rest easy or that they'd be safe with Jotaro and Saphentite at UA. "That's a bit of a problem."
"What do you mean?" Mirko asked after hearing Jotaro thinking aloud. He covered it up by saying, "if these ships that keep disappearing are with the same group, then they might hit us on shore. We'd be a lot more vulnerable there."
Mirko hummed before asking if they could pursue the pursuers. "That's a bad idea ma'am. They might be waiting for just that as well. Then they can ambush each of our ships and weaken our force. Or give them some kind of bargaining chip." Izuku noted. Before Mirko put him in a headlock for calling her ma'am.
Though she did compliment his foresight. "Thank you. Jotaro was often more about getting me to focus on the moment. But Saphentite often worked with me on my planning and analysis skills." Izuku said with a slight blush. Though some of that might be due to getting a facefull of Rumi's boobs. Something Mineta was cursing.
Though the blush let up quick as Izuku could feel an unsettling pressure behind him. One that was coming from Melissa. Her glasses gleaming as she looked at him with a humorless smile. "You seemed to be having fun Kibou," she said with a tilt of her head.
"Relax miss Tech Might. I'm not stealing your boy. Just giving him a bit of business for calling me ma'am." Rumi said before letting go of Izuku. But at the same time she was shivering from the cold glare she could feel behind that smile. 'I might have another one to invite to my agency.'
While Jotaro had been questioning these matters (and quietly glad that Itsuka and Saphentite were getting along. In more than one way) he hadn't picked up on a certain other matter.
That being, Mina talking more with Luno on what she now was. And even learning a few things about magic from the demon. "So, form it like this?" she asked while trying to create a ball of magic in her hand. She had learned how to feel magic, even within herself. But she was still having trouble grasping how to make it flow or work.
"You're trying too hard. It's not like those quirk thingies. You don't turn it on and off. It's something you feel and let flow." Luno explained. Mina looked back and forth between the Hellhound and her hand before trying again.
She takes a measure breath or two before remembering what she overheard Jotaro talking about when training Ojiro and Itsuka in ki. 'It's a similar concept I guess. But unlike drawing from the planet, I draw or let it flow from myself,' she thinks while remembering what the various ki orbs looked like.
And it reflects in her creation of a ball of pink magic energy in her hand. "Whoa! Whoa! I guess I got it!" she said with an ecstatic look toward her improvised teacher. Though the demon seemed only slightly impressed.
"Not bad. That about's what a child down here would do when they first try magic. But all you've done is gather and form the magic itself. Nothing else. That's the next step." Luno says before a few other captive demons offer to teach her more. And while Mina is tempted, she feels more willing to trust the Hellhound hybrid.
Saying, "you at least know the lust side. And I know that was more of what messed with me. Both in Luxuria city and while I was back on Earth. I don't….. want it to control me again." Mina grips her arm and shivers a bit while saying that. Something all of the denizens of Hell noticed, but Luno didn't want to take advantage of.
They let out a breath before leaning against the bars. "I take it something happened back home. Which is the whole reason you're all down here. Right?" the hybrid demon asked. Mina nodded before telling about the gas attack and the near death state scores of students were stuck in. "Others have had their quirks turned against them. And Saphentite found that the only way to cure them, and me, was to use some of those flowers and other magic materials to save them."
Luno looked at her funny before asking if she was sure about that. "I don't know everything about magic, but effects like that and what's happened to you won't be changed just because of a new potion."
"The dog's right girly. Likely scenario, whatever the genie is planning to make with have other effects that they haven't told ya'll about. It may even remove their powers entirely," one demon comments before taking a swig from a flask on his hip.
Mina was wide eyed and terrified about the possible scenario that could come. 'But why… because they're willing to do what is needed to save lives. At least that's probably how they'll spin it when it comes time. But still….. I thought they weren't keeping things from us!'
The pink girl bites her lip while thinking about this and starts to worry and panic about what else could befall herself or her classmates in the future. This is when Luno snaps her out of the matter with a lick to her face.
"I'm not saying you shouldn't believe in your friends. I was just warning you about what could happen. Besides, it's not like you'll be able to go back to being a human. Or rather a full human. Best guess, the genie's concoction will probably help regulate your demon half. And to make the most of it, you should learn more about magic."
Mina blushed at the lick but understood what her impromptu teacher was getting at. And she kept practicing what her magic could do. Something that would come into play very soon.
After nearly a week of other ships stalking them, the pirates on them were ready to make a serious approach. By using a few spells from some higher ranked demons, they were able to make a storm and then fog to hide their approach during the night.
"We get one shot at this boys! We'll show those humans what happens when you cross a pack of demons!" a captain called out before ordering for full masts and swarming towards the ships. With a certain demon observing from afar. "If this fails, I may lose my shot to stay in the human world full time. But perhaps they'll all be willing to make more deals."
Sirius, Tokoyami, and Reiko were startled from their positions on night watch, but still tried to quickly raise an alarm. Only for most of their friends to be awakened by the rocking of the ships as they were struck by cannonballs. Even the largest ship was jostled before being swarmed by a number of imps, Hellhounds, and other demons.
Jotaro burst out from the captain's cabin and quickly engaged the enemy. With Mirko leaping in with a powerful set of kicks to the head of the demons. Orca, Itsuka, and Saphentite coordinated to clear their deck. And the Okie Mariner team busted through a number of demons alone.
It seemed as though the heroes would win again. But they pulled out a new stop. That being the few demon mages they had, who quickly turned the tide with spells to weaken their foes. "We won't kill you. No! It would be a waste for that. But don't think you'll be able to get away from us~!" one mage said while tilting Sirus's head up at them. Her body barely able to move thanks to the spell.
It wasn't much better with Jotaro's ship. He was able to counteract the spells and absorb some of the magic. But it wasn't quite enough to stop them all. Saphentite was the only one who had any luck. Thanks to her own spell work and analysis of her enemies' spells.
"Even if you win here, it won't matter! The others will that the other ships!" one demon proclaimed as it was trapped by golden rings of light. Saphentite looked panickily towards the other ships. Hoping she could get there in time.
(Mina POV)
This is bad! These ships came out of nowhere and now we're at a huge disadvantage! What do I… wait. Luno said I'm part Lust demon. And that means….. I should have some influence right? But I don't know if -Whoa!
"I'm surprised you aren't downed girly! Well it won't matter soon enough. We'll take the rest and you won't have a choice but to surrender!" Ugh! This demon's breath reeks! But I guess that fits for pirates. What do I do? If I had my quirk, I could handle them easy. Well maybe.
Huh. Guess that's some of what Jotaro was wanting to break with all of us. Our reliance on quirks along. I can't let these monsters win. Luno explained how a basic demon brainwashing or allurement spell works. And I still remember a bit of what happened when I…. attacked Jotaro.
I take a breath before saying, "Don't assume it'll be that easy. You might be surprised on what we humans can do. Or even what a half human can do!" I let the magic flow through me before creating a magic circle in my hand.
"I think it's time for you demons to sleep!" I shout before mixing a bit of what I've come to accept as my demon pheromones and energy. I remembered how Midnight's quirk worked and this is a perfect copy of it. But it isn't limited men or just more effective against them.
A few of the demons have started nodding off, and the misty spell spreading up to the top of the ship. Wait no, that's not right. Deck? I think that's it. Anyway at least it's working. Hopefully it doesn't have other effects.
(No POV)
Jotaro and Izuku grunted at both were pinned by some of the demons. The rest of the heroes on the ship were in just as rough a place as they were still being swarmed by the pirates. "Now we'll show you what happens when you cross us!" one called out with his cutlass high.
Only for a different group of demons to call out as they saw their comrades falling asleep on the largest ship. Mina runs up to the deck and sees the situation that her friends are in. "Saphee! Can you turn into a fan and blow this over to the other ship!" she called out.
And the genie was happy to oblige. Before most of them knew what was going on, Mina's sleep spell had covered Jotaro's brig. Lulling the various demons completely to sleep and saving her classmates.
"Ugh! Uh oh. This….. might be more trouble than we thought." Jotaro said after pushing off some of the demons. He then ordered the rest to get the rest restrained and to treat the injured. All the while keeping a close eye on Mina. Knowing what she likely knew.
And it was confirmed when they met aboard Selkie's ship. "How did you learn magic?" Saphentite asked with a grave tone. Mina bit her lip and admitted that one of the demons helped her. "They're a half Hellhound. Luno was willing to help me understand what I am now. After all…. It's not like I'm really human anymore."
She notices that Saphentite and Jotaro didn't seemed surprised by what she said and calls them out on the matter. "You knew I wasn't really human anymore, right? And you kept it from all of us. Let alone… the possible consequences that could come from whatever Saphee makes."
The genie and hero's eyes pass over their crewmates and the others. Before they could say anything in their defense, Mina was on them again. "Why?! Why didn't you tell us any of this?! Did you think we wouldn't figure some things out!? Don't you think we deserve to know what could happen?!" Mina cried out with some tears in the corners of her eyes.
Jotaro and Saphentite look down in a bit of shame. Before the former let out a sigh of frustration. "You aren't… wrong. But you're not entirely right either. It's complicated." Jotaro admitted before looking toward Saphentite. Who had an uneasy look on her face before saying, "It's not wrong that we don't know all of the probable effects. But I do know that it will save their lives. That's of more concern right now."
Mirko narrows her eyes before asking, "is there a chance…. Some of them might lose their quirks entirely? Or they might be stuck with greatly warped appearances once they take…. Whatever the concoction you have planned is?"
"No….. Well, maybe. As random as the changes were, we don't have an absolute way to predict the outcomes. It could be that some lose their quirks entirely. Or they'll be stuck with an enhanced or weakened form forever." Jotaro said with a rub of the back of his neck.
Selkie and Orca hummed and narrowed their eyes a bit. Before the latter said, "it's not fair to be mad about them keeping secrets. But I can understand why some of you might be." The sea rescue hero agreed and noted that it would have major ramifications for the hero course alone.
"But even if they lose their quirks, it's better than dying due to the LOV and Forgotten's plot," he said with a slightly uneasy sigh. While not placating, it was enough to keep everyone from grilling the other world heroes more. "It doesn't really matter anyway. Until we get back, the point is relatively moot."
Izuku was the one who said this and notes they need to trust in Jotaro and Saphentite for the time being. "He's right. They're the only ones who really know what we're dealing with. So we support them." Itsuka said with a contemplative look of her own.
'Maybe when we get back, I won't be the only nonpowered hero. Maybe I'll be instructing the others,' she thought with a little chuckle in her mind. Mina though brings back the fact that she was a demon. "Or at least a half demon. And the other demons told me that I couldn't go back to being human. So would your potion do?"
Saphentite pulls at the neck of her shirt before admitting she didn't fully know. "But… it's likely that you won't uh…. Have to deal with your demon side taking over again," she said with a shaky smile. Mina narrowed her eyes before looking down at her hands. And started considering what else she could do with what she was now.
Back on the earthly plane, at Sosaku's penthouse the two villain groups were meeting to discuss a few matters. "Eblith had contacted me. They said that the group of pirates they sent to hold the fields were taken out. I had to trade some exceptional things to try and deal with the heroes in Hell." Mandla reports first.
He then notes that while he still had a very substantial collection of Aglaophotis, the loss of the actual place they grow was a hindrance to future plans. "I can still cause damage with basic magic, but that is more akin to most blast or emitter types of quirks or true meta abilities. Not what I'd call a good long term weapon."
Sosaku sighed before noting that they'd manage. She then opened to Tomura. She could tell he had been thinking about a few things over the last few weeks. "It might be a good idea for you to look further away than Japan," he said with a gentle scratching of his neck.
He rationalized that the Forgotten needed more people to work with and resources. "That. And I need to work on building up my own presence here. Not just as the leader of quirk villains. But to be ready for what is to come as sensei's successor."
"You sure that's the best idea?" Natalie asked with a slightly suspicious look at him. Tomura gave her a small smile before admitting, "you've shown me how to grow my forces and the rest to fight the heroes. Not to mention how to hide in plain sight. But if I don't do it for myself, then I won't really be leading anyone."
The half Russian girl sighed before leaning back and agreeing. "I need some more overseas contacts and contracts anyway. AFO often went with using villains alone. But I like the idea of legitimate businesses to throw the heroes off."
She smiled a bit before asking what Tomura had in mind and what he might need from her. While the two leaders hashed out their ideas, the other members considered their own ideas on what to do next.
"The LOV will be staying here. But I think you guys could do a bit of damage around the world if you plan it right." Dabi noted. Acknowledging that each member had the firepower to deal with most of the heroes in other nations.
"True. And there are a few places that are far less accepting of true metas and the like. It could be a good way to recruit allies." Ryan said. And each member considered the best places for each of them to do some damage. And break down the world of heroes more and more.
Okay. I'm setting up for a bit of a gentle end to this story. While some might like the idea of a big bombastic fight to end out a story (especially a shonen one like this) I think having the heroes and villains planning some subtler things lends itself to building more for the story.
And yes. This would be about the time that the whole Nine incident, and well as the lead up to the LOV vs MLA arc. But I'm going to go a different way with it. Please review!