Chapter 12
The Reward
Moment's later after the white light encompassed everything, the room shifted. The light disappeared and was replaced with blue lines in a chart like design. It was round and slowly showed a room. The room was materializing out of thin air. The words in front of everyone said-
Initializing…
-in bold computer text. When the room came up more and more, with the oak wood and metal pipes above them. Carpets were around there feet and rooms lined the whole area. It was clear that the room initializing was the Militia's headquarters. Or at the very least headquarters in Japan or somewhere nearby at least.
Once it had completed the room was clear and clean. Everyone looked around to see the surrounding. Shadowsmith at that moment began to walk towards the other end of the hall. He then dematerialized when he went through one of the students, then went back into form. As he walked, his footsteps echoed a little down the hall. His appearance was difference, younger, smaller, and his suit was simply a sweatshirt and slack pants over his head. A mask still covered his face but it seemed custom made and only connected to his ears. As for the room, it had shifted forward down the hall to a slightly smaller room.
This room had a desk with a man behind it writing something down on it. This man was slightly bulky and had a short trimmed beard and short smoothed hair as well. As Shadowsmith walked forward the man looked up at him and greeted him.
"Ah the new recruit welcome." The Man said extending his hand out to him.
"Thank you sir I appreciate that." Shadowsmith said with a slightly higher pitched voice, shaking the man's hand.
The man offered him to sit down in the seat in front of him. He took it and sat down crossing his legs a bit. The man cleared his throat pulling up some documents in front of him.
"Alright so tell me, what is your name?"
"'Hero' name or the real thing?"
"Whichever you feel comfortable us calling you with."
"Then my name is Shadowsmith."
"Shadowsmith okay, your medical documents here say you're quirk is your name sake. Is this true?"
"Of course it is, my quirk allows me to make weapons and armor out of any material even the lipids in my body and the shadow aura the surrounds me. However I can also faze through any material and become basically a shadow form for all to see in pure light."
"Sounds powerful, I think you'll fit right in with us here in the Militia." The Man said to Shadowsmith. Shadowsmith smirked a little and looked up slightly as he did so.
"I had that suspicion I would. With how the world is now with these 'heroes' you need more people with strong quirks."
"True that man. Alright let's just cut to the chase since I know your reason is self serving, why do you want to join? I mean a hero is more prestigious or hell stay what you are and be strong to your people." The man asked raising an eyebrow. Shadowsmith thought about it for a second before sighing and answering.
"Truth be told I wanna prove myself. More than a name and more than a strong quirk, I shall be strong but in my own way. This Militia is my way to prove that sir. Not to mention, well I need experience in war somehow. So it's more experience and proving of self worth, rather than for money or a rebellious reason." Shadowsmith answered looking up at the man.
The man thought about it then nodded a bit. He then put the document away and pull out a sheet of paper. Is was a smaller document describing things in the Militia, health care, food, living quarters, everything needed to survive out there. Shadowsmith knew what this meant and signed it with his name and birth date. The document was put away and the man and him shook hands once again.
"I must say your reasoning is one of the better ones, welcome to the Militia lad."
"Pleasure all mine mister."
"Call me, Kaiser."
'Strange but I like it, you're the Captain of this Militia right?"
"Correct it will be great to serve with an upstart prince to a reestablished kingdom." Kaiser said with a smile on his face.
As the two shook hands Midoriya and the others began to think about it. This man didn't join for money or greed, he did it to prove he was more than what he was. That was honorable and respectful for him to say. However as they thought about it the room shifted to a MUCH different room. This one had computers and wires strewn around the room. It was showing Shadowsmith again, this time working on a rusted up and worn down Kiralexia on a desk. As he did so a new man came in, in casual wear walked in and looked at the scene. Shadowsmith had a wrench on a bolt tightening it with a bit of a struggle to it.
"I see you're still working on that thing Kero?"
"Yes Otto I am this, thing, person, is very valuable. They can be of assistance to us and I can reverse engineer it to make more for a division in the Militia." Shadowsmith said grunting as he tightened the bolt.
As he did so it suddenly made a ping sound and slowly spun the other way. Soon it sped up before becoming ridiculously fast. Shadowsmith took a look at it and seemed neutral at it.
"Oh that's not good, HIT THE DECK!" He yelled ducking from the bolt as it spun right off.
It hit across the room bouncing around like a heavy bouncing ball. Side to side, ceiling, metal, wood, it hit everything. When Kaiser came from the doorway and the bolt sped right to him, he caught it instantly. Steam coming from his hand as he dropped it to the ground. He looked at Shadowsmith and Otto with a stern look.
"What is going on here?"
"Gran Captain what a pleasant surprise. I was just-"
"I don't want to here it I know what you're trying with this Prototype and I am fully fine with it. But if anymore damage happens when repairing this thing then I'm halting it and throwing it out where we found it understand Shadowsmith?"
"Y-yes sir I'll make sure of it."
"And you get back to your post private." Kaiser ordered looking at Otto who was nervously looking away from him.
He agreed and walked out of the room. Shadowsmith was left alone and went back to fixing Kiralexia. Kiralexia put his hand on Shadowsmith and he while surprised sighed and accepted the gesture. This one definitely made it clear that Shadowsmith and Kiralexia had been close for a while.
Shadowsmith repaired and helped fix up and broken or at the very least dirty Kiralexia in a downed state. They moved still but perhaps more information would be needed. However it would switch once again into a brief look into a sort of front desk look with a cleaner Kiralexia and Shadowsmith sitting down welcoming newcomers. These newcomers where the earlier members of the elite, each showing off abilities and making light talk. However it seemed to be jittery as if hiding some of it from the group. It would end with Ms. Mineta putting one of her balls on the desk and Kiralexia getting his hand stuck on it.
He looked down at it struggling to get it off. Instead of ripping the ball off he ripped part of the desk off and fell backwards with a hard thud. He then said 'Hire her.' on a low groaning tone. The next thing was something more serious, less cut apart. It was in a dark room with a singular window behind someone. That man was in dark robes and there whole body was hard to make out. What could be made out was sleek and thin, yet worn and a strange shine to them. They had a mask on there face that hid there mouth and they had a leg up on the table in front of them.
On the other side was Kiralexia and Shadowsmith in there suits. Kiralexia's was metallic and had a sleek and advanced look to it. It was almost alien to see. He was sitting right next to Shadowsmith, in a very straight yet relaxed look to him. Shadowsmith had his hands on the table and was beginning to talk with this figure in the dark.
"So let me get this straight lad. You want to hire me and my brother to take out some American military outposts inside the country itself?"
"Yes." The figure said in a low deep voice that was very smooth.
"Why?"
"Because I want to prove to the world that this pillar of democracy is fragile and weak. Do you know what America is like now?"
"Not the full story only parts, but from what I've heard that country is, worse than the middle east during that War on Terror shit."
"You aren't half wrong, the country is a rotting carcass. Corruption everywhere, poverty in every street and house, racism and sexism in major and minor cities. White supremacists in all corners just eating away at what SHOULD make it America. The citizens are blinded by propaganda and lies. A pillar of democracy? More like a rotting sick man. First it was the Ottomans now it is the U.S.A."
"It doesn't surprise me, out of all the countries when it comes to the rise of quirks, America was one of the most turbulent ones. It didn't help that only a few years earlier a massive revolution was finally destroyed weakening there hold further."
"Yes and as of now it is what I call a dying country blinded by arrogance. Villains are rampant and the Pro heroes aren't doing enough to stop it. At this point in time there are many locals more independent from the country, forming what the Han Empire had, regional Warlords. Not to the same extent but it is close indeed."
"And you're one of them right?" Kiralexia asked pointing at the figure. They laughed a little before answering.
"You could say that, I had done this far before the warlords came along. I have been trying to rebuild an old relic of the past in the Midwest of America. That is where you come in, take out at the very least 3 to 5 military outposts around my borders and beyond, and you shall be paid exceptionally well."
"Alright you have a deal but first tell us your name for our records."
"My name is unimportant at this time, simply refer to me as an ally to this- what do you call yourselves?" The Figure asked showing a faint purple glow in where his eyes where.
"Right you don't know it yet. Well for most outside and in we are known as AHM better known as the Militia."
"And what does AHM stand for?"
"Very well it is obvious when you know what we do but whatever. It stands for, the Anti-Hero Militia." Shadowsmith said with a sigh.
"Well then I look forward with working with Anti-Heroes for a change. Once again consider me an ally to your Anti-Hero Militia." The Figure said with the faint traces of a smile on there face.
This information was much more useful and intriguing to say the least. For starters, the Figure was clearly well-known and useful to the Militia to some extent. Secondly the Militia's name itself, Anti-Hero Militia. The name made sense, and also had a double meaning to it. What that truly meant would have to wait. This was unexpected to hear all at once. The name reveal of the Militia, the introduction of this Figure, and what America was like from someone inside back whenever this was made. However how much was true and how much was just fabrication out of spite? It was hard to tell especially with the lack of information on this Figure exactly.
The scene shifted once again this time to the final battle once again however it looked, different. It was clearer, less cut apart once again, and more focused. It was in the perspective of Shadowsmith running alongside some soldiers in darker armor, looking like a shadow trooper corp. He was screaming to his soldiers to fight on for the Militia. His suit was torn and a bullet holes where on his cloak. He ran along side them cutting up villain in the process with elegance. Clearly the one in the training simulation was altered for the test since this one was more focused, and seemed more in control of the situation. That or losing his balls caused him to lose all of that.
Soon after slams of fists and explosions where heard off the port and harbor. Yet now it was clear where they where in the training, it was the harbor in this final battle in this war they had with All For One. The buildings where similar but definitely altered in the test. For example the smoke plumes and factory like buildings where unseen in the test and replaced with recreational buildings, which where here just in smaller amounts. Ships in and out of port where burning up and some where recently sinking into the sea. Gunfire was heard all around and Shadowsmith alongside Rose Dawn and Oceanus where running alongside a row of buildings.
After a final large explosion heard and seen with a giant plume of smoke Shadowsmith looked over. His eye dilated at the sight of it and froze in place. Rose Dawn and Oceanus also froze and looked horrified. These three seemed aware of what had happened with that and where saddened at it. Shadowsmith sighed heavily before looking down to the ground.
"He has completed his goal. ALRIGHT MEN FALL BACK, BACK TO THE SHIPS!" Shadowsmith ordered moving his right hand in a come here motion. Rose Dawn grabbed his arm and a look of desperation was on her face.
"We can't leave yet, not without him!"
"Rose, you know out of anyone here I agree with you on that, but if we stay here to find him, we will meet the same fate. Please for his sake we must leave, if he lives, or is alive after that, he wouldn't live himself with your death."
"I don't care I must find him, he means to much to us."
"Rose dawn please, we can't stay here, All For One will hunt for us and kill us without mercy. Please listen." Oceanus pointed out waving his hand to the explosion.
"If you truly care about him, you will leave. This is the only way for us." Shadowsmith added with the same desperate look on his face. Rose Dawn looked down then to the others running to the boats.
Some where already leaving port to the bigger ones with men on them. Rose Dawn sighed and looked down in sorrow. Tears flowed from her face for a bit dripping to the ground. She looked up taking in a deep breath before looking back at Shadowsmith with a streak of tears on her face.
"Alright let's leave. I can't believe I'll never say goodbye to him."
"We'll mourn his death when we return, now let's get the hell outta here." Shadowsmith said beginning to leave for a boat.
Oceanus and Rose Dawn joined him alongside Poison Dart and a completely different woman joined them with a very traditional old armor on her. They looked like a Janissary of the Ottoman Empire, just taller and a more modern group of weapons on her. Shadowsmith had started the engine of the small boat and began to ride it to a bigger boat. He looked back for a moment to see All For One being carried away by what looked like high officials of his away from the port. His eyes darkened as he looked at this before looking forward and getting on a big battleship.
The scene closed and froze when Shadowsmith helped Rose Dawn up on the boat and sighed heavily looking to the bridge of the boat. Soon a doorway opened with a bright light coming from it. Everyone inside looked at it confused before realizing what it was. This was the last of the reward and now they can leave this damn dome. Midoriya took all of this in as the students one by one began to leave. A hum came from them as they entered the portal. Uraraka looked back at him and asked if he was coming.
"Ya it's just that, I never thought this group worked like this. I'm gonna ask Kiralexia more questions about this later." Midoriya responded walking towards the exit.
Once he and Uraraka left they where blinded by a bright light before seeing the outside world. At this point the sun was still high in the air and they felt the cold wintry breeze hit them. Upon looking forward they saw Kiralexia sitting down on his reclining chair with Mei Hatsume 'fixing' him, along with the teachers, heroes and students the failed standing around. They all greeted them and gave the congratulations. Kiralexia stood up and batted Hatsume away. He went to Midoriya and patted him on the head with a smirk on his face.
"Congratulations, you didn't hesitate. Now you have gone through what many in the Militia went through during there training and work."
"Okay now answer, who the heck is that figure? And is the Militia really called the Anti-Hero Militia?"
"Yes the Militia is the AHM. It was a prominent Mercenary company back in the day. It was an alternative to being either a hero or villain. Many inside worked on there own moral compasses, or because they were simply soldiers NOT police or heroes. As for the figure, well I think it is to early to say his name or any of that just know that he was a very prominent figure in and around the Militia." Kiralexia explained to Midoriya who pushed his hand away.
Midoriya took that in and accepted it for now. Ashido however had two more questions for Kiralexia. So she came up and asked him them.
"That's fine for now but tell me, how come Shadowsmith in that memory thing fight so differently compared to me? Secondly why didn't you tell us about the whole death thing?"
"Well firstly if I did tell you about that I feared you're fighting would not be sincere, secondly I just forgot right before you went in. as for Shadowsmith, well I'd say losing your manhood would do that to you."
"Fine then what about America. Is it true that it has warlords?"
"Back when I was in the Militia it was common, now I'm not certain of it. We may or may not have brought territory back into American hands instead of the figures but details. As of now I'm certain there are still some just not as much as there once was."
"Any of high note for us to know of?"
"Eh not exactly, besides most are long gone by now. Though there was one I remember now, I believe was Ronald Drump? Absolute idiot that guy was, he was in his position for three weeks until we took his sorry ass out. That figure had a vendetta against him, I think it was name inspired off of someone of note in America, I can't recall exact though. I just remember him searing through his teeth just saying his name. Not blame him that bastard was the worst man I've met."
"Worst that All For One."
"Okay not that bad but a close second for sure." Kiralexia corrected himself moving his hands to his sides as he did so.
Everyone simply nodded at that information. The fact that they dealt with so many warlords during there day is definitely a feat on it's own. However the fact that they've been to war with one of the biggest Villains of all time should've cement them in history for years to come. Yet they weren't, in fact especially with what they just went through, they've realized just how little they know of them. How could a group that has done so much good, and bad of course, not be that well known? Midoriya above all others, has to learn why and so asks more questions on it.
"So wait, if they really did all this stuff, how come we barely hear anything on them? I mean going face to face with All For One should cement them right?"
"Think about it, if All For One was easily forgotten after his death, so could we. It breaks my heart that we are nothing more than just an old fairy tale basically for little kids to listen to. We should be known to the public yet nothing will ever change that fact. That we are a forgotten relic." Kiralexia said with a sigh. He looked back up to see Bakugou walking up to him with a pissed off look to him. "Oh Hello Time-Bomb, what seems to be the issue?" He asked with a snarky tone to him.
Bakugou then blew up his face and a puff of smoke came up. Everyone looked at him with worry at how the real Kiralexia would react. When the smoke cleared Kiralexia simply gave a calm neutral face coughing up a bit of smoke.
"Ow. What was that for man?" He asked shaking his head a little.
"For breaking my fucking arm in there asshole!"
"Hey language Eri's here."
"Look at her bastard she's already covering her ears." Bakugou stated pointing at Eri. Kiralexia looked back and saw, Eri really did have her ears covered and only looked at them confused.
"Huh, smart kid. Also about that arm-" Kiralexia then looked at his arm then Bakugou's head many times before continuing. "What broken arm?"
"This-" Before Bakugou could finish that his arm felt fine. No damage at all, no blood or protruding bones, nothing. "What the hell happened to it?"
"Oh well just like when you lose the most you feel is whiplash or numbness, winning does the same effect just more subtle due to, well surviving."
"Okay fine but I think surviving that deserves more than what we got."
"Okay how about a free meal on me." Kiralexia looked back and simply got a nod of no from the teachers. "Alright then something sweet, your choice." Kiralexia said again looking back and got thumbs ups instead.
Kiralexia sighed a relief a little and the students thought about it. They all talked to each other about what to get. Looking at him a little bit before coming up with something. Midoriya walked up and gave there answer.
"We've agreed to your deal but in turn we all get free homemade chocolate from you as a bonus to ALL who participated."
"Really that works for you, well fine just give me a few minutes to make them. it's not easy and won't taste the best but it's gonna be homemade at least." Kiralexia said and all the students, for the most part, were fine with that. "Okay then now get your dorms while I make the chocolate and you give me what you want." He stated pointing to the dorms.
They all went to there dorms as Kiralexia looked at them with a smirk. Eri then walked up to Kiralexia and showed off a small drawing of the scenery. He smiled and said it looked lovely. She smiled and walked over to Aizawa showing it to him and Miriou. As she did that Kiralexia then went to All Might and leaned in to his ear to whisper to him.
"You saw what happened to Midoriya in there right?"
"What the black aura of course, what was that anyways?"
"I'm not certain, but I have a feeling his quirk is giving him the previous users quirks soon."
"What how is that possible?"
"I don't know besides it's a guess. we'll have to watch closer at him for now, who knows when that might happen again."
"Sure but we shouldn't stop it next time."
"No promises other than I won't hurt him. Now I'll see you later All Might, I have some Chocolate to make." Kiralexia said patting All Might on the back.
Kiralexia then went to Eri and asked if she'd like to help. She agreed whole heartily and went with him with her tiny little hand on Kiralexia's fingers. All Might watched as he left and then back to Midoriya. He was close to activating a new ability to that quirk of his. Who knows what would happen if it did go out without stopping. That worried him but with Kiralexia there to help maybe it won't be that bad. All he knew was that young Midoriya was gonna have much harder training in the near future.