Chapter 43
Frozen Retreat
Hours after the main battle against the Kurral lord was over and everyone got settled in again, things began to take a calm into the night. Due to the attack they had endured, yes they lost a few ships yet once again it was only some frigates, the major important ships, mainly the flagship were in need of repairs. The closest place to get such repairs wasn't to far off, thus after a short stop to mainly fix the dents and replenish ammo, they set back out across open water. A stop by Korea Kiralexia felt a sense of ease with being around the people, who allegedly knew Jack very well and were willing to have him in port. After leaving night had fallen and the whole fleet was quite.
Many of the students were sore and exhausted from the work they did today, others were still recovering from the whole ordeal. Mina wasn't able to sleep well because Kaminari was snoring, and she just couldn't so she decided to get some fresh air. When she came onto the deck she saw Kiralexia on the rim of the ship leaning on the railing looking outwards. He had wrappings around him abdomen and tail, still recovering from the fight earlier. Mina was confused and curious about why he was out here and decided to move up to his side. He only partially looked over into her direction as she leaned on the railing as well. He had something a light in his hands as it smoked and the smoke moved around up into the air. Mina was once again caught off guard and asked him something.
"I didn't think you smoked."
"Eh not often, unlike some I don't feel a compulsion to use it everyday."
"So it relieves stress for you?"
"Just eases me after days like this. And besides, I create my own variant with no nicotine or anything addictive."
"Wait so it's pot?"
"Heh nah more like an incense stick, I change the scent every time, both smells nice and just feels right when I want to."
"Huh every day I seem to learn a new strange thing about you. Also I smell Sakura blossoms."
"Ya I felt like it. don't worry this was the only one from me tonight." Kiralexia clarified looking more relaxed.
As he did so he decided to snuff out his, ahem, cigarette and burned the rest up in his hand. He then made a new one and offered it to Ashido, yet she would decline it. He scoffed a bit but accepted her decline and burn away that one to. He then just looked out into the ocean and sighed as he looked onwards. He was at peace and Mina could tell how much this trip seemed to have been changing him. Before he was calm for sure but always had that lingering bit of anger and even showed aggressive tendencies. When the two would play the tabletop warhammer game, he was not only make strategies a lot but showed anger in either losing or hell even winning there was anger in his eyes. Yet now the anger subsided and he was more relieved, much calmer and even smiling slightly. She to was happy knowing that, yet was curious as to why.
"So you seem a lot happier now."
"Well I did give a lesson to Vanelis earlier."
"Heh I saw, a black eye and broken arm, woof you didn't hold back."
"Hey with him he'll be healed in the morning."
"Hehehe, that was not what I meant I was more meaning that. At UA you always seemed irritated, angry even, why is it now that you're more at peace?" Ashido asked Kiralexia.
Kiralexia seemed caught off guard with the question. He looked to the sea once more and seemed to be more somber then earlier. With a sigh he gave his answer.
"Well when you're a Mercenary, even when you help people and save lives, you will never be seen as a hero. The only thing heroes view you as, is a villain, nothing more nothing less. So being in a school that raises people to view Mercenaries and even other people like Jack and his crew like villains? Needless to say I always felt like I wasn't welcome."
"Did… Did Mr. Aizawa or All Might play a part in that?"
"Aizawa is a possibility. We worked together when he was younger but he never liked me for killing people instead of arresting them. Same with All Might only difference is that he and Dave could set it aside and allow me and my friends, to do thing our way."
"Really? I didn't think he would."
"Oh he did, and I'm glad he did, it made it much easier. But when I first came back to life you remember what happened between me and him right?"
"How can I forget that was a moment of pure anger and it scared me, scared all of us."
"*Sigh*, learning that All For One lived and my sacrifice meant nothing. To see that man that failed my own sacrifice, brought my anger above the heavens. But now I feel animosity. it's true he never knew he lived nor did I, and now we both suffer for it. Anyways ya being in a place that has double standard in what is right and wrong, ticks me off. Thus the school always ticked me off." Kiralexia said clearly showing he was both annoyed and also relieved to speak his mind. Ashido felt sorry for his mistreatment and wanted to apologize.
"I'm sorry for how this world is."
"Oh don't be like that, you are not at fault, you once thought that but after my classes I noticed something. You among the whole class as well began to change your views and even actions. When you and I went to that model store you noticed a father and child crying."
"I remember I felt bad and wanted to help when no one else seemed to notice."
"And you did, you asked what was wrong and gave them the help they needed. You did something most ignore because of heroes. And when I asked why you did that instead of saying something silly about a start to hero work. What did you say exactly?"
"That it was just right, I wanted to help not because I'm a hero but because I did want them to suffer."
"THAT, that right there is why I see you and many of 1-A as a good step in the right direction for our world. The Militia and hell even the British Isles are also examples of how to make a hero society WORK."
"Not tide down by titles but doing good just because."
"Truer words have never been spoken." Kiralexia said smiling facing the deck instead. Mina did the same and seemed more relieved.
"Do you think more will become more open to helping without heroes to call to?" Mina asked Kiralexia.
Kiralexia seemed a bit surprised by this question but decided to think about it. He was fascinated by it, didn't think Mina Ashido would even ask such a thing. After thinking about it he realized just how uncertain the future was with thoughts like THAT and gave his own thoughts on it.
"I, honestly cannot say, the future always finds a way to shift and turn. No matter who tries to see the future and how you try to alter it, it changes, Sir Nighteye, rest his soul learned that near his death. Even with his own quirk he can't change what always changes."
"But didn't what he see never change?"
"Because that's how his mind saw it, the future altered into what his quirk saw as most likely. But that never meant it wouldn't change, even the great king of the Midwest kingdom could see every form and thought of the future yet even he would admit he couldn't tell which would happen, the one most likely or the near impossible."
"Wait the Midwest Kingdom, I heard of that from your lessons."
"Yep, during the 21st century a nation led by what many consider to be THE first ever man with a quirk. And two for that matter but that's a tale for another time."
"What happened, all you ever said about it's end was that it 'burned bright but short'."
"It did, but now it's rising again, small but powerful. I've worked with the leader of the new kingdom, a bit hard headed but overall kind."
"The man we saw in the dome?"
"Ya the same, a schemer but I did like his stories, and his goal was honest. Destroy the crooked nation and rebuild the kingdom he said 'would've stood the test of time for more then half a millenia'."
"Sounds, patriotic."
"IT was but later he admitted it was a foolish idea to say that it would last THAT long. Oh I do wonder how he's doing now? I've heard that America nowadays isn't doing to well. A new civil war might break soon." Kiralexia said sounding a bit somber. Mina felt that and decided to change topics.
"Well we can decide what to do with that later right now we're on the lookout for your old friends. Care to explain who Rasputin was properly?"
"I thought I did to you?"
"I don't remember."
"Heh, typical. Alright, well, he was strong and definitely no nonsense. But he understood a good strategy and was kind even gentle giant like to little kids. Toga loved him for that, always did little spars and smiled at her growing strength."
"He respected strong men?"
"He respected strength as a whole. He once told me 'strength is not defined by gender but by your will and determination to fight even against uneven odds. I care only if you can fight a good fight not if you have tits or not. Never let anyone misjudge you for weakness, but by your strengths they will know.'" Kiralexia said mocking a Russian accent.
"What did that mean?"
"Well, I'm not fully sure but I believe he meant that to be misjudged by your strength was weakness, however to be true to such strengths WAS strength. Even my own brother who wasn't strong physically earned his respects for never backing down to defend him and his allies."
"I think I'll like you."
"He may like you, women who were strong always made him smile. I guess it was his way to say that those most abused to fight it, something worthy of his respect and his friend." Kiralexia explained with Ashido agreeing.
"Well we'll see him soon. Perhaps he can explain his ideals in better detail then you."
"Ya my bad, it's been a while since I've heard his explanation, I've uh kinda forgotten the finer details." Kiralexia said looking a bit somber once more.
Ashido and him both sighed looking more peaceful up into the sky. Kiralexia was pleased looking at the stars, like he once did so long ago. Even in a death state his stared up into the stars. Ashido to remembered the first time the two just sat together and talked in the night. Yet there thoughts were interrupted by Vanelis, bandaged and bruised from Kiralexia.
"Wow ain't that a peach, you two having a family moment but could you get to bed already? I can hear the sappiness in the med bay."
"Alright satellite ears keep the bitterness down we'll be going." Kiralexia said with Vanelis sneering at him moving back down to the med bay.
Kiralexia smirked a bit before moving on to his own sleeping quarters. He offered it to Ashido and she accepted it. They would rest till the dawn would come. Once the dawn arrived they were a mere hour away from reaching Kamchatka the end of there deal. After an hour of just singing and enjoying the last bits of time at sea, they made it to the harbor. Kiralexia gave Tsu and device to help her in the colder weather in Russia. As everyone prepped to get out and move to safer land, Jack came out and bid them all a farewell.
Once on land and the fleet departed to better waters, Kiralexia took a look at the device and realized, they had to take the train to make it about halfway to there destination. He sighed and planned to basically be stowaways. Aizawa and the teachers protested, even some of the students until Kiralexia and Ms. Mineta both asked if they were willing to spend what would be over thousands of dollars on just a few of there tickets. Aizawa was the one to ask how much one was and Hina answered with almost 2'000 dollars. Needless to say they all went quite and accepted the plan.
As the train was about to leave Kiralexia and the whole crew went to the station and up to the conductor who was shocked at the amount of people coming last minute. Kiralexia then showed a HUGE bunch of tickets for them to reach the halfway mark to there destination. The conductor raised an eyebrow but decided not to look to far into it and allowed them on… what you'd thought they'd hop on the train while it was moving?
Either way they got on with the fake tickets, that were almost one to one, and made it into there cabins. Kiralexia smiled and sighed as he made it to his secluded room alone and watching the scenery move around him. Minutes passed as everyone got settled in for the long haul and Kiralexia was just watching the outside world. Soon though he heard a knock on his cabin door and he looked over to see Aizawa request his audience. He accepted and Aizawa sat across from him to begin to speak.
"So here we are, the true beginning of this madhouse plan of yours."
"I wouldn't call it that but we are much closer to him."
"I've been meaning to ask what is the real goal here? Just to have your family back?" Aizawa asked sounding a bit mocking to him. Kiralexia gave him a harder stare and his own answer.
"You mock a man who wants to reunite with his own family? A family that believed you had been dead for almost a decade?"
"I-i didn't-"
"Oh you did mean it, next time you speak like that to me. Then you better prepare for a broken rib." Kiralexia said leaning towards Aizawa with a stern look in his eyes. He then leaned back and gave a different answer. "But to answer the other question there is more to this plan of mine."
"What would that be?" Aizawa asked raising his eyebrow to Kiralexia.
"Come now you must know this."
"Wait."
"You need people to aid in finding the traitor. I am not the best at this I admit, but having my own sister be around me along with many students, it gets difficult."
"We have Vanelis."
"He's not a person to be trusted with THAT. Besides I have my clues to who it might be but I am not certain."
"So it's both family, an addition to the Sports festival, and the whole of the elites finding our traitor? That seems a bit much."
"Sure but not everyone in the elite core was a master in information gathering and even spy works."
"Like Rasputin? He doesn't seem good."
"He was good but… heh you want lawsuits of broken limbs?" Aizawa was silent and gave a worried look to Kiralexia. "Ya that's what I thought. But he would be a good guard and hell, maybe show Midoriya and you students some moves."
"Like what how to punch?"
"How to brawl. When I train I teach unorthodox methods to quirk use. Vanelis shows how to take advantage of the unforgiving fighter. Rasputin will show how to fight against the odds."
"But, he seems to be stronger then even Endeavor."
"Oh many Nomu's gave him a good fight, even unlikely foes. So he has experience." Kiralexia said with a smile.
Aizawa calmed himself and began to speak more peacefully. He would ask or add onto things that Kiralexia was speaking about. He never trusted nor cared for the machine. He always found him, dangerous, a villain even. Yet he saved lives and did good, just not with the law. However thinking about anyone else in the Militia one stood out for him.
"What about your brother you call him? Shadowsmith, how is he with this intel gathering?"
"Master class, he blends in well, as do I, but in my situation it's difficult to do so. With him, even in a situation like mine he finds the information needed and brings it to the forefront."
"When will he arrive in this journey?"
"Hard to say, Rasputin will have another person but we know not who it is. My best guess will be Kai Asui but perhaps someone else."
"Hm. Well guess we'll find out in about a day or so. I'm going back take care."
"You as well, and perhaps next we speak, you are calmer and less, judgmental?" Kiralexia said raising an eyebrow as Aizawa left his cabin.
No matter how much he spoke to him, he'll never get use to such a man. He found him, irritating, not as much as Vanelis. As he passed by his cabin he saw how Vanelis smoked, and was, building something? Vanelis out of everyone in the Militia was the most twisted person. Aizawa saw how he smiled with glee fighting his students. He's heard of his ecstatic behavior killing legions of soldiers without a sweet being broken. Why he is like this, he will never know. He sighed as he went into his cabin and rested till there destination would arrive.
Hours had passed and they made it to the halfway mark to there destination. The way to there destination could be driven over but, no cars were to be seen. However Kiralexia did say they could hike over there instead. It would take about a day or so but would be able to make it there. Everyone decided to agree as the chances of hitchhiking with a bus was slim here. It was rural area with a bit of snow here and there but as it was nearing the end of march, the snow began to fade and grass grew. The fields of swampy grasslands went far and wide as this was western Siberia. However they were moving more northern from the center and thus the further north they went the colder it got, with snow becoming more and more prominent. They would rest when night came, or when at least a few hours have past. They had food and drinks with them ready and on standby for when they needed to sit and rest.
Two days and two nights past by without much events. Vanelis scared off a bear and pack of wolves while also hinting something between Toga and Midoriya to Midoriya himself. He got red faced and told him off while Kiralexia and Toga talked as they walked ahead of them. Midoriya could not fully deny it but didn't know how to feel about her yet. As they rested many of the students huddled together to keep warm. The winter clothing in there hero suits weren't much so Kiralexia and Momo made thicker winter clothing for them. When they went to rest Kiralexia made yurts for them while he rested out in the frost ridden wastes. Vanelis would rest with him out as well, on the other side of a fire while Kiralexia just looked to the sky and heard the wind blow. The feeling of the breeze in the night, hooting of owls, and Kiralexia sword he saw the eyes of predators in the night. It was peaceful albeit exhausting moving by foot to this one location.
Eventually at around the afternoon of the third day they arrived around the outskirts of the location. It was a fairly large town, small city even. Buildings lined areas in hodgepodge locations some gas stations showed on the map, bars hotels, and small shops even. Some people milled around with vehicles driving around as well. Kiralexia looked at the map and saw how big the place was, and well it definitely bigger than he thought the place would be. The map didn't give the name of the buildings or even the town itself. However as the group moved closer the towns sign was seen snowed and paint slightly chipped away.
Welcome to Chiylovka
a strange name but the founding date made some form of sense. Around 80 years ago actually, well before Kiralexia was even alive on the earth, and definitely Rasputin. Kiralexia chuckled as he suddenly remembered what this town was known for. For starters it was roughly under a million to half a million citizens living in this town. But also for a specific place. A place HE KNEW Rasputin would still be in after all these years. He wanted to move to the location both shown on the tracer but also one he knew of but everyone was exhausted from the long journey. Kiralexia sighed as he decided to give them to a nearby hotel. Yet as they moved towards the hotel he knew was both cheap and passable, he saw a poster on a wall. One promoting an arena, with the so called 'Legendary Siberian Wolf'. In fact the main match was a whole week thing, yet now it had ended and would start backup by tomorrow.
Kiralexia smirked as he knew who this was, it was obvious afterall. He would move to the hotel and payed for just the night, as they would move out by the morning. Everyone got a room and finally rested after about three days of cold harsh foot travel. Kiralexia got a bath as did everyone else and he just awaited the morning to arrive. Ashido would find his room and asked where does he know Rasputin is in this town? Kiralexia chuckled.
"In the Arena of the gods you could say." Kiralexia said with a smile.
"Will he even recognize you?"
"Well I will meet him later, he's in a match tomorrow but YOU guys can test your metal with him."
"Why not you?"
"I want to surprise him, and give him something fun while I await." Kiralexia said with Ashido beginning to notice something. Even before they fully left his eyes had a blinking red in the iris. It looked off, felt unnerving.
"What's with the blinking in your eye?"
"Finally someone noticed, well I'm recording this and broadcasting our adventure to Japan. Let the whole country know what these guys are really like."
"If you aren't there to see it, how will they know?"
"In time my sister, in time." Kiralexia answered with a smirk.
Ashido sighed before deciding to move to her room, right before she just fell on Kiralexia's floor. Turns out walking for about three days straight would make the legs like jelly. Kiralexia smirked a bit sighing before placing her in his own bed and deciding to sleep at the end of the bed. He fell asleep with Ashido following suite. Come morning and things are a lot less, tiring for people. they slept for a long while and got back on the move.
They were moving around the town and saw a lot of people around, going to stores, or brothels, ahem. Yet more people went to one particular building. A building with a name on it's sign, The Nav. Kiralexia chuckled a bit as he looked at everyone and gave out his plan.
"Alright here's the deal, I don't want to see Rasputin right away, and waiting for the fucker to finish this arena will take far to long. So you 40 students will be in the arena and fight him. A prove of strength if you will."
"Why don't you do that? I mean you're stronger then all of us." Monoma said sounding mocking. Kiralexia stared him down and gave his answer.
"Because I'd much rather meet him in joy not in a fight. Plus even if I did do that he'd see it as a trick, but if you do so, he might be able to see past the visage." Kiralexia said with Monoma going down and scoffing. "Okay if everyone alright with that?" Kiralexia asked with everyone for the most part agreeing. "great I'll see you guys in the ring then. I'll be rooting from the stands..."
"Oh and before I go to the stands, this is a ring with no limitations. All out, life or death. Have fun." Kiralexia said with a cheeky smile on his face.
The students got nervous but sucked it in and entered. Once they entered it was a dark and humid room. Lights strewn the areas, and AC's were on at full blast. The ring was a large cage, going towards the ceiling, caged even up to the ceiling. When they entered they saw Kiralexia and the teachers in the stands looking ready to root. They all came up to someone taking names, right behind what looked to be some scary as punk small but tall. He left the man and entered the ring as another was carried away by staff members. Three people were behind a table a girl with messy hair and showing off legs, and two men, an older man, and a younger person that looked dirty and very messy.
"Names?" The older man asked with a smooth voice yet showing age in it.
"Katsuki Bakugou." Bakugou answered with a stern tone.
The man then looked up and saw everyone in line as they began to list there names ending with Midoriya. He was shocked but also confused. They looked young and yet were about to face what was considered a beast. He raised an eyebrow and looked over to the woman where she began to ask.
"How old are you guys?"
"We're all roughly 15 to 16 years old thank you."
"Going into an early grave I see." The younger man said with Bakugou slamming his hands onto the table getting him to look up at him.
"What does that fucking mean?"
"It means you're all reckless, you won't last a minute in the ring."
"I can take him on alone." Bakugou boasted.
As he did so a loud thud was heard as the man that was once in front of them was slammed into the cage wall. He was tossed out and made a large thud onto the floor. He looked bloodied and almost dead but did breath. The three behind the table then smirked and looked back at the students with a smug look.
"Ya good luck with that Bakugou. All of you will need it." The woman said as everyone then moved outside and looked into the larger area.
The ring was obscured with the cage really being the only thing seen. The floor of the ring was now visible and the large amount of people here was a lot. It was then they finally saw the man in the ring riling people up. His body was pale as snow, yet large and bulky as hell. His pants where nothing more then a loin cloth of fur with tattered shorts. He had shoulder pads and bare footed shoes. His face was bald yet showed a smile with large bones. In fact no skin showed, but bones bleached and eyes dark pits. They glowed a bright green with a tinge of cyan to them. It was clear to the students who this was as he spoke in a booming voice with a thick Russian accent. This was Rasputin and from the looks of things, the fight with him, really would be hell.