Disclaimer: The characters correspond to their respective owners Eiichiro Oda and Kohei Horikoshi.
VOID MILLENNIUM LOST WORLD: Is the second part of the Trilogy "Void Millennium". Since the three of them will approach different dilemmas I decided to make them into different parts, being the last one rating M as it will have more violent content.
English is not my native language, sorry in advance if sometimes it gets a little confusing, I am trying my best, I hope to get better as the story continues.
I'll try to reach the Spanish version for those who are reading it using web translate. Thank you for reading it even with those weird translations TToTT
For those who already read the first part, you can skip this chapter as it is a little Recap + "Crew" the last chapter from Void Millennium.
"RECAP"
Six years before Kamino incident. A strange phenomenon caused All Might to travel to a world completely different from the one he usually inhabits, leading him to establish an alliance with the heart pirates that would take him to an oracle who will reveal the way back.
During the journey he discovers that he has been using a mysterious ability during his hero work in his "world", mistaking it for "Instinct" … Now he wishes to learn more about it, but is limited by the intolerant captain who won't cooperate.
The oracle meeting accomplishes its goal by returning him to his home accidentally along with her... The information they acquire along the way reveals that it was always about time travel rather than multiversal travel: Discovering how once more, the government has been in charge of erasing history along with its different races, cultures and hiding how the world has been deformed over the years to what it is now.
All Might shares his version of the story causing him to be taken for crazy, being sent to a psychiatrist in charge of erasing memories and thus forgetting the incredible event to continue with his daily life. It was until six years later, that a strong trauma causes those memories to return, thus creating the need to investigate about that desired power called Haki that can benefit him now that he is unable to transform into his muscular form.
During his search of the last remaining piece of history "The Poneglyph". He finds the dying oracle looking for it too, unintentionally exposing the group of 1A students to the hidden mysteries of the past.
Now they must protect the students from being discovered for knowing the existence of the void millennium, train that ancient ability, reveal the hidden history in order to return the oracle to its time and at the same time, obtain information for the races that still secretly coexist with humans.
An unexpected event places the only person capable of revealing the forbidden history on the verge of death, turning it to race against time to find answers and recover the oracle consciousness before her body dies of starvation, forcing the symbol of peace to seek for a crew to take them to uncharted waters due to the high level of danger… all happens at the same time that a mysterious ship makes its appearance at the docks.
Having no choice, All Might must once again accept help from criminals to save the life of the one who helped him return.
IMPORTANT DATA
* All Might has awakened his Observation Haki but, he is only able to perceive the "voices" and auras of people with superhuman strength.
* Nezu, Hound Dog, Tsuragamae and Tamakawa are confirmed Minks hiding their identity and pretending to have a mutant quirks to avoid being eradicated like the rest of the Minks.
* The oracle knows more than she says, but since she suffers from paranoia and apparently schizophrenia, she withdraws from people. It is still unknown what she is hiding.
* The investigations of the oracle theorize that the vestiges of the Red Line are in Bermuda's triangle and Dragon's triangle. (Chapter 12 "Red Line")
* The only thing that could not be destroyed from history were the Poneglyphs that no one has been able to read.
"CREW"
The moonlight shone through the thick woods that surrounded the road leading to the school, while the passengers were silenced by the shrieking of the brakes announced their arrival. The confused heroes saw at the UA entrance, a gray man geometrically shaped and a cowboy wearing a mask and dreadlocks waiting for them.
The teenagers were uncertain about the abrupt change of plans since only the teachers got Nezu's message, who specified not to discuss the reason with their students.
Both student groups expressed their frustration with the teachers' enigmatic behavior to the heroes, who welcomed them with serious expressions.
Snipe and Cementoss explained the incident to both groups of heroes-in-training without giving details, leaving the youngsters overwhelmed by the unexpected news.
Following the path to the Heights Alliance, students and teachers noticed the dramatic difference in the perimeter restored by Cementoss which revealed the attacked area. Most of the ground was completely destroyed and large rock formations stood out in the surroundings.
The young heroes stared in horror at the scene, worrying about the possible target and keeping their opinions to themselves due to the principal's order to avoid the subject with the rival class.
"They're coming for us... I told you we shouldn't probe any further." Mineta whispered terrified
"Shhh... Mineta, be quiet." Ojiro hushed, affected by his classmate's uncertainty.
"What's with all those whispers from 1-A class?" Vlad King asked his partners, being ignored by All Might and Present Mic, while Midnight looked at them suspiciously.
"Let me guess... Con-fi-den-ci-al." Both blonds just exchanged a guilty gesture in response to the sexy heroine's words.
The remaining students who managed to listen Mineta, shared his uncertainty of becoming the target of an unknown enemy.
"Calm down… You are overthinking the situation; if we had been their main objective, they would have been stealthier instead of attacking the school in such a reckless way." Iida explained
"They might have been planning an ambush for where we were going." Added Sato.
"No… That doesn't make any sense, there must be a logical explanation." Todoroki said calmly.
Both groups were approached by Aizawa who was waiting for them in front of the dormitories prepared with recent information just provided by the police.
"Aizawa sensei… What's going on?" The orange-haired girl from class 1-B asked as the other teachers refused to provide any information.
"Why did villains come to the school?" Her classmates joined in.
"Who were they?"
"How many were there?"
"Does it have something to do with...?" Kaminari covered his mouth instantly before finishing his query. "You know what." He whispered the last part, leaving the classmates in room 1-B intrigued by his behavior.
The worried kids kept peppering Aizawa with questions, dreading the answers and exhausting the overworked teacher.
"The league of villains put a bounty on Eri... They want to make use of her quirk to heal their leader's body."
"So, the school is being targeted by the league of villains? "Kendo asked.
Eraserhead's scarf started to frenziedly move as the friendly principal emerged from it.
"Not quite." He answered, extending a paw in the air. "The task was given to villains outside the league."
"As bounty hunters?"
"That way they avoid losing their members and at best get Eri-chan." Yaoyorozu stated it out loud while the Mink cheered for her brilliant remark.
"That's right, that's why we will be in charge of reinforcing the school's security starting tomorrow." Said the rodent with total confidence.
"They single-handedly ruined their plans by performing such a foolish act trying to take her directly from the school's territories." Vlad King remarked.
"All they managed to do was inform us of their plans."
"That's what they get for hiring outsiders." Monoma celebrated haughtily, combing his hand through his blond hair, mocking the stupidity of their enemies.
The naive students reveled in the villains' oversight while considering their schemes, while the rest of their classmates, though, were really concerned about the unease feeling as the school came into being targeted; being aware to be vigilant in their new home as a result.
"For everyone's safety, it would be best to stay close to the buildings and avoid wandering around alone even inside the facilities." Nezu spoke in a composed manner as a leader to avoid upsetting the teenagers. "We'll make sure Eri is secure, and we'll have the area well-guarded. Likewise, you must report any irregularity you may notice. Understood?"
"YES PRINCIPAL!" Both classes nodded before withdrawing to their respective buildings, thus leaving the teachers alone.
Nezu's words discouraged the symbol of peace. Toshinori felt guilty for not having reported the presence he had noticed earlier. He could have prevented it if he had only relied on his gut. However, they would not have known the league's goals if the villain wasn't captured.
Yagi was unsure of his abilities, not yet able to fully trust himself, and felt uneasy with his decisions. If he was still unable to tell his companions' "Voices" apart, how would he be able to recognize a threat and warn others of the threat? He understood it was too early to perform that level of Haki.
He was at a loss for words at this point other than to quietly express his gratitude that no one was hurt. In order to help prevent future occurrences of this kind of predicament, he had to concentrate on his training.
"I'M SORRY PRINCIPAL, IF I HAD SPOKEN UP EARLIER, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED." He placed the blame on himself.
"You knew about that?" Asked the heroine with red glasses.
"I NOTICED SOMETHING STRANGE IN THE PERIMETER AND DIDN'T REPORT IT... "He confessed apologetically. "IF THEY KEEP INSISTING ON COMING AFTER ERI, WE'LL NEED YUE'S ABILITY TO FIND THE VILLAINS BEFORE THEY GET CLOSE."
Aizawa looked sideways at Nezu both in complete silence.
"All Might, I need to talk to you about something important... But not here." Nezu mentioned jumping off Shota' scarf to guide Yagi to the main building. "Aizawa, can you update the teachers on the situation? I'll take care of this."
The echo of their footsteps in the empty hallways was audible. Being the only ones walking on that desolate floor. The blond felt uncomfortable with where they were heading. As a hero and teacher, He was fully aware of where the principal was taking him. … The infirmary with Recovery Girl
"IS LITTLE ERI ALL RIGHT?" He halted in anguish at the notion of the innocent girl being hurt again.
"She's fine; Nejire is currently keeping Eri company. On the other hand..." He pronounced it with grief in his voice. "Yue has passed away."
Silence abounded between both heroes, freezing time for only a few seconds that seemed like an eternity.
"I... I BEG YOUR PARDON?"
"She sacrificed herself to help Mirio and Eri escape."
"NO... YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND... YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF HER SPECIAL CONDITION. SHE WILL BE AWAKE IN AN HOUR OR SO."
"I am aware of her problem... And unfortunately, this is not the case."
"IT'S BEEN TWO HOURS SINCE WE LEFT, IT SHOULD ONLY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER THAN USUAL."
"She has been unconscious for two hours as you correctly stated. However, there are no vital signs, but her body shows no evidence of rigor mortis, yet."
"I TOLD YOU… IT SHOULD TAKE A LITTLE LONGER THAN USUAL, BUT SHE'LL BE FINE... IT'S JUST… SHE JUST PUSHED HER HEART TO ITS LIMIT." He expressed uncertainty, attempting to persuade both Nezu and himself.
"Toshinori… Her brain cannot get any nutrients or oxygen if her organs are not working... Yue cannot possibly be alive."
"BUT I'VE SEEN IT BEFORE! HER HEART STOPS BEATING AND HER ARTERIES FEEL ODD, BUT SHE ALWAYS REGAINS CONSCIOUSNESS FOR SOME REASON."
"You'll understand when you see her..." He said it coldly, giving up as he observed his friend's stubbornness, choosing to show him the patient instead of continuing with the explanations.
Recovery Girl did not want anyone to come in, but Nezu insisted on seeing the patient, not letting her have any other choice but to welcome them in, removing the blanket that totally covered the woman's wounded body.
A shiver ran from the soles of his feet to the blond's scalp, making his skin bristle while his eyes expanded fully, showing an expression of horror at what was in front of him. Laying on a a stretcher was Yue's battered body with a large scar dividing her face, joined only by emergency derma clips.
Toshinori knew just how ashamed the maiden was of her scars and how she had always tried to hide them, but now… She will need to cover the last bit of skin she left exposed.
"I'm sorry All Might... It's heartbreaking news for everyone." Recovery girl said.
"NO... SHE'S STILL ALIVE."
"Stop being so stubborn, Toshinori. Her organs are no longer responding, including her heart; we are only waiting for her to go into rigor mortis so that the autopsy can begin." The elderly lady stated.
"AUTOPSY?!"
"It appears that something lives within her... We have no idea what it is or whether it represents a threat."
"YOU CAN'T PERFORM AN AUTOPSY ON HER! HER VOICE IS STILL PRESENT. I CAN HEAR IT, EVEN IN THAT CONDITION."
"Voice?" Asked the intrigued principal. "Let's take this somewhere more private, All Might" He murmured, pointing towards the exit. "Recover Girl, don't tell anyone, and the autopsy is out of the question. Remember that interfering with her body is strictly forbidden."
Nezu began preparing tea for his guest, inviting him to sit down, while the blond squatted in front of the small table as the rodent made his way to his seat.
Both appeared very serious, and the principal seemed extremely concerned, making All Might nervous. Being the only sound in the room, the kettle filling the porcelain cups with tea.
"Are you sure she is alive?"
"YES, I CAN SENSE HER AURA."
"Her aura... Then you can make use of the observation Haki..."
"That was quick... There's no doubt that his combat experience has helped him understand it."
"NEZU SAN, DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HAKI?!" He exclaimed attonished.
"Vaguely..." He admitted it as he took his cup to the table. "What I'm about to tell you is a little complicated; I'm not sure where to begin with..." He remarked, pressing his temples.
Despite his intellect, the information he had to share with him was so varied that he didn't know which topic to start with; perhaps he should start by explaining the girl's life or his enigmatic relationship with her. Either option would be difficult.
All Might hadn't seen his pal in years with such a gloomy and guarded approach. The rodent took out the yellow notebook that Yue gave him, seeking a particular section.
"Have you ever wondered… Why I present myself in such an unusual way?"
"DO YOU HAVE A REASON? I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED IT WAS A JOKE OF YOURS."
"For those who are unaware of our origins, will always regard it as a joke. But for those who know the truth... Will greet in a specific way..." He stated as he handed the notepad.
"GARCHU..."
"Are you familiar with the Minks?" He questioned as the hero went through the pages and recognized several familiar faces.
"TO BE HONEST, I'D NEVER HEARD THAT TERM BEFORE." He replied, staring at a page with Nezu's name highlighted in orange that had his photo and data.
The hero's response made the rodent nervous, causing a drop to slip down his fur.
"I'm almost sure you might have met some of them in the past... We are one of numerous ancient races."
"ANCIENT RACES" The hero noticed that everyone in the book was an anthropomorphic mammal, remembering Bepo's greeting with the young fox.
"I THINK I TRAVELED WITH A MINK. A BIG POLAR BEAR." Nezu was reassured by his words... That way it should be easier to explain.
"As you've already noticed, we're animals with humanoid features." He remarked while All Might continued paging through the journal, gazing at photographs of the students, professors, and police officers with orange highlights, recognizing among those tagged: Tsuragamae and Tamakawa from the police department, Hound dog and Nezu from UA. Leaving the other students with familiar faces with black marks on their names.
"WHAT DO THESE MARKS MEAN?"
"Miss Yue was investigating on her own, who were genuinely Minks. I helped her identify who I was convinced they were in order to protect her identity in case she presented herself to the wrong being." Nezu explained, pointing at the orange highlights for then continuing with the black marks above the names. "Thus, eliminating from the records those who only appear to be… Now without her we can't make any progress. We were arranging an expedition to the dragon's triangle with two goals: gathering information and sending her back in time."
"DRAGON'S TRIANGLE! THAT'S SUICIDAL!" The hero lost his temper and stumbled back in disbelief.
"We told her the same thing... but her answer was: I'd rather lose my life with the slightest chance of returning, than live an eternity trapped."
"BUT SHE CAN'T DO THAT JOURNEY ALONE; WHAT ABOUT THE CREW?" The hero feared, that making such a bold decision would put innocent people's lives in danger.
"We're seeking members of our races to join on this expedition... Only we should know what has been kept from us for centuries, and some of us are even willing to die for that knowledge."
"OUR RACES?... HOW MANY ARE INVOLVED?"
"For now, only two. Minks and Mermen."
"WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS?"
"I don't know, I don't know the whereabouts of the rest or even if they still exist... Actually, even we ourselves don't know who we are."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT NEZU SAN?"
"We Minks, and Merpeople grew up with a tale about our origins as a simple bedtime story, so believing in it is blind faith... Imagine my surprise when I heard of your trek into the past... And with Yue's arrival, we finally confirmed that everything we thought was mere fantasy, was real... We want to know what happened to our forefathers, to our species... To the world... above all, why are they pursuing those who discover the true history?"
Nezu kept silent for a few minutes as he got his ideas in order. "If Yue is right and there are still traces of civilization in the Dragon Triangle and the Bahamas, we will be able to learn what happened to this world and the various races that lived on it."
"In the old tales passed down from generation to generation, it is mentioned how our ancestors took advantage of the quirks to infiltrate into this vast world. We don't know where they were hiding, and we assume their full story was forgotten or they didn't want to tell it for the sake of future generations' safety, therefore suppressing our heritage."
The tea in the blond's cup began to generate ripples caused by heavy footsteps approaching the office, echoing down the hallway.
A black hand came out of the door embedding large claws while the other opened with force slamming it into the drawer rendering it unusable. In front of them stood an enraged and menacing hero.
"NEZU! THIS HAD BETTER BE A BAD JOKE! HOW DID SHE END UP LIKE THAT?"
"GANG ORCA... YOU TOO? "He reacted at the sight of an agitated orca man steaming from his deadly snout.
"All Might... Gang Orca is a Merman hybrid. Despite being a mammal, mermen blood runs through his veins. He is in charge of searching for merpeople that would accompany Yue to investigate the deep waters of the dragon triangle."
"JUST AS WE WERE GETTING ANSWERS! WHAT HAPPENED? DID SOMEONE FOUND OUT ABOUT HER?" Gang Orca demanded fiercely.
"WE TOOK THE NECESSARY MEASURES TO MAKE SURE SHE WENT UNNOTICED!" He yelled angrily, slamming both palms on the table, completely shattering everything.
"No... The villains' league dispatched a bounty hunter to retrieve the child rescued from Overhaul... He attacked in the absence of students and teachers." Nezu explained as he reached out to save his cup from the merman smash.
"HOW DID THEY FIND OUT YOUR STUDENTS WERE GONE?"
"THEY'D BEEN WATCHING US SINCE MORNING..." IT WAS THE PRESENCE AT THE ENTRANCE.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" The merman's tone changed defiantly at the blond's words.
"WHEN YOU ARRIVED IN THE MORNING, THERE WAS A STRONG PRESENCE ALONG WITH YOURS."
Gang Orca couldn't stop his impulses, grabbing All Might by the collar of his suit and lifting him off the floor. "DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY? WHERE ARE YOUR HERO INSTINCTS? YOU JUST LOST YOUR POWER! HOW CAN YOU CALL YOURSELF A HERO? FOLLOW YOUR HUNCHES!"
"Stop it! It's not his fault..." Nezu interrupted as the aggressive hero shook the blond like a salt shaker. "The excursion was planned to start in the morning, but plans changed, so we rescheduled for the afternoon... I don't want to doubt my staff or my students... But there's a chance we have a traitor within the institution."
"IT MUST BE TOGA HIMIKO WITH HER SHAPE-SHIFTING QUIRK."
"Whoever it is, we need stronger control over who enters the school and more surveillance on the students and staff... If what we know about the past becomes public, both the students and ourselves may be jeopardized."
Seeing the consequences of his decision not to speak up, Toshinori couldn't help but believe that even if he lacked power, he may still be of assistance in another way. "I MUST CONTINUE TRAINING MY HAKI" He continued to blame himself for his lack of confidence and experience.
"Gang Orca...We must move; Yue cannot remain in a coma for long... She might perish if she doesn't get the nutrients she needs."
"SHE'S COMATOSE? YOU SAID SHE HAD PASSED AWAY!"
Nezu turned his attention to Toshinori who was standing still, fixing his shirt collar.
"Her voice... All Might, you said you still hear her voice. How weak has it become?"
"STILL AS PRESENT AS EVER."
"AN UNCONSCIOUS OR SLEEPING PERSON IS NOT CAPABLE OF GENERATING A PRESENCE." Orca was annoyed with Yagi's inexperience.
"CAN YOU USE HAKI AS WELL?"
"NO… SHE TOLD US A BIT ABOUT THE PAST AND MENTIONED HAKI WHEN SHE TOLD US SHE WOULD USE HER FREE TIME TO TEACH YOU..."
"Yue must have a lot of faith in you... she hoped you would pass it on to the students." Nezu's words distressed the retired hero. The girl was determined to teach him a skill to set an example again as a symbol of peace and teacher.
"THEN THE PRESENCE I FEEL?"
"It doesn't belong to her; it comes from within her. Whatever that thing is, it replaces her blood and keeps her organs running. It seems, they rely on one another to survive."
"LIKE A PARASITE?"
"You could say so."
"SO, I NEVER HEARD HER "VOICE", IT WAS FROM WHAT LIVED WITHIN HER."
"For the time being, it's just slithering around inside her body without making her organs work. Whatever is within her is still alive... If it has been like this for years, it could be responsible for keeping her body in good condition. Since… As I mentioned to All Might. There is no evidence that her body goes into Rigor Mortis."
"WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?"
"Yue wants to find the rest of the history to figure out how to get home… There's a slim chance that discovering it will help her regain consciousness, since we might be able to find out what that is or who she is... But we have less than a week to get her back before her body dies of dehydration."
"WE CAN HAVE MORE TIME IF WE PROVIDE HER WITH INTRAVENOUS FLUIDS."
"NO."
"She requested us, not to perform any kind of medical intervention on her, no matter what happened."
"BUT THAT CAN SAVE HER LIFE!"
"It's for our safety."
"OUR SAFETY?"
"She didn't go into detail. But she was very clear... We believe that whatever lives inside, may be dangerous and must not be released... If her body dies, that thing will do too, so we must keep it inside."
"WE DON'T KNOW IF WHAT LIVES WITHIN IS ONE OF THE ANCIENT RACES OR IF SHE IS ONE..."
"WHY DO YOU THINK SHE IS FROM A DIFFERENT RACE?" The blond's question made the two heroes uncomfortable.
"You should have already noticed her aberration towards humans." Nezu remarked while drinking the last sip of his cup.
"That's one of the reasons she hides... Living in UA must be torture for her... She prefers to sleep in the field's trees than in her room."
"THAT EXPLAIN WHY HER ROOM SHOW NO SIGNS OF BEING OCCUPIED."
"NO. SHE DOESN'T BELONG TO ANOTHER RACE... I SAW HOW BLOOD CAME OUT OF HER ARMS THE DAY SHE CUT THEM OPEN. THOSE BLACK ASHES SLIPPED INTO HER SLEEVES AND INSIDE HER BODY..." Perhaps her illness is caused by the parasite that dwells inside her... Wait... The guardian... Surprisingly, he remembered the words she said to her before departing 6 years ago.
"You were chosen by a guardian All Might... For one of them to show out of the underworld is not only extremely rare, you could say it's im-po-si-ble, they can't survive outside of it if they have no one to link their life to... He must have been really desperate to do it…" IT LINKED ITS LIFE TO HER IN ORDER TO SURVIVE...
"I BELIEVE I KNOW WHERE THE ANSWERS MAY BE, BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW TO GET THERE." He thoughtfully rested his fingertips on his chin.
"All Might, you know more about the past than any of us, we need you to lead the search team. You can do it remotely to avoid exposing yourself to danger."
"SEARCH TEAM..." He remained thoughtful.
"WE ARE RECRUITING A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO CAN BE USEFUL FOR THIS DANGEROUS JOURNEY."
"I had already mentioned it to him..." The rodent stopped the hooded hero.
"AS YOU CAN SEE, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME IF WE WANT HER TO LIVE… WE HAVE THE SHIP, IT'S NOT THE ONE SHE WAS LOOKING FOR, BUT WITH A GOOD CREW, WE CAN MAKE UP FOR IT." Gang Orca took one of the woman's notebooks from his long black cloak. All Might saw the seriousness of both determined heroes.
"NEZU SAN... WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE INFORMATION WHEN THEY LEARN THE TRUTH?"
"I'm not sure yet... We don't know what it is or why it is so important to get rid of it, but for the sake of future generations of Minks and Merpeople, we need to know where we came from and why they want to get rid of us. It doesn't seem to disturb them as long as they believe we have a mutant Quirk, unlike when they discover we don't." He murmured this while rubbing the scar on his face.
All Might swallowed saliva as he remembered that Nezu used to be an object of experimentation.
"WE NEED A CREW OF MERPEOPLE TO SAIL IN THE DRAGON TRIANGLE... AND I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO FIND VOLUNTEERS..." He triumphantly acknowledged slapping All Might's chest with the blue notebook and slightly suffocating him.
"GANG ORCA... I REALLY DOUBT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA..." Said the blond with a droplet running down his hair.
Both heroes were peering through a window into a small room where the huge Marlin Merman was chained on a stainless-steel table.
"IT'S A GREAT IDEA! IF THEY DECIDE TO HELP US, WE WILL REDUCE THEIR SENTENCE… AND IF THEY DIE IN THE EXPEDITION, THERE IS NO PROBLEM!" He remarked triumphantly, with his gaze fixed on the blond's troubled expression.
"WHAT IF THEY ESCAPE ON THE BOAT?"
"THEY WILL WEAR A SPECIAL ELECTRIC SHACKLE WHICH CONTAINS GPS."
"I STILL DOUBT IT'S A GOOD IDEA..." He said anxiously
"DON'T WORRY ALL MIGHT, I'LL CONVINCE THEM… YOU KNOW… I'M VERY PERSUASIVE." He mentioned resting his hand on the hero's shoulder before entering the room, smashing the table and tossing it against the glass, yelling at the triton while drenching him in spit.
Before the scene, All Might preferred to get away, sitting on a commissary chair, with his face hidden over his hands, inhaling heavily.
"You look frustrated Toshinori-kun." A familiar voice called out to him in a friendly manner.
"TSUKAUCHI-KUN! WHAT A PITY FOR YOU TO SEE ME IN THIS STATE..." He sighed embarrassed, removing his hands from his face.
"Tired and stressed? No, I'm used to it." He smiled as he joked, attempting to ease his pal. "Oh... That reaction is not typical of you, what's got you so worried?"
"IT'S COMPLICATED... BETTER TELL ME, WHAT'S NEW?" He changed the subject while the merfolk was in charge of terrifying the "Volunteers."
"Well, I do have something unusual... Have you seen the news lately?"
"NO, I'VE HAD A LOT ON MY MIND... I'M MENTALLY EXHAUSTED... BUT PLEASE BRING ME UP TO DATE."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that... Maybe some other time…"
"NO TSUKAUCHI-KUN, PLEASE KEEP GOING. LISTENING TO YOU WILL DISTRACT ME FROM THE CURRENT TURMOIL." His friend smiled at how he always had time to share with him regardless of his mood.
The detective stretched his body as he sat down close to the blond. He seemed exhausted.
"Well, Recently, there have been reports of marine wildlife being hunted, particularly large species. Biologists thought it was some kind of predator, but the way they leave the carcasses make no sense... Too clean to be that fresh... Then we thought it was poachers doing... But they leave the bones behind, which is the most expensive thing they sell. So, the idea got dismissed." The information seemed strangely familiar to Toshinori.
"AFTER EATEN, THEY LEFT THE CARCASSES TO LURE PREDATORS."
"What? You already knew that?"
"NO, IT JUST SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO A LONG TIME AGO EXPERIENCE... PLEASE CONTINUE." He said this while flailing his hands in front of him.
"Long time ago... All Might, that's illegal and savage..." He expressed concern about his friend's experience.
"HAHAHAHA... YES, I HAD NO CHOICE." He laughed nervously rubbing the back of his neck, still appreciating the confused look on the detective's face.
"Heh, you're hopeless... Later let's go get some coffee and talk about your criminal experience." He made fun of the blond.
"Well, as I was telling you... Today in the morning they sent a group of biologists to investigate the case and they all vanished, as well as the second group of conservationists. After losing communication with both of them, they dispatched a search squad, valuing life over the perpetrators. They found the conservationists' ship without the lifeboats... But listen." He turned to Yagi with a serious tone. "The ship... It's a huge metal vessel with armored weaponry... It was cut in half! A PERFECT CUT AT LENGTH." The attack completely captured All Might's interest, widening his gaze towards the tired detective.
"And when I say perfect... I MEAN PERFECT! There is no trace of any irregularities. Like cutting butter with a toothless knife; a clean, smooth cut through everything that passed through the center... Metal, equipment, furniture..." More than worried, he seemed amazed. "It was undoubtedly accomplished by a long-range Quirk... Someone dangerous is sailing around and feeding on endangered species... Right now, they're deciding which agency to dispatch to stop them."
"A PERFECT CUT..."
The hero's heart was racing. The method of feeding he had previously used, a neat incision cutting multiple things in two along the same axis... Everything sounded so familiar.
"That's right... Listen to this... This is a scoop... They found the castaways, both groups were reunited before their ship was sunk, according to the testimonies, they were attacked by..."
"PI-PIRATES..." He said nervously with a clipped voice surprising Tsukauchi.
"Yes... Wait, how did you find out? I was just informed... I just arrive for a unit to attend that report, it appears that a ship has anchored in the docks and refuses to pay the docking fee... According to the foreman, they are handling with an unknown currency, and the ship appears to be flying a pirate flag."
Tsukauchi's voice became distorted to the hero. Could it be possible they returned to assist them after their disappearance? That clean cut, and those who were affected were still alive. "YOUNG TRAFALGAR" Toshinori rose from his chair clenching his fists, they are the ideal crew to navigate those seas, he could leave them in charge of Yue. If they didn't abandon her once more to her fate.
"What's wrong Toshinori-Kun?" He asked confused at his friend's reaction.
"TSUKAUCHI-KUN! THANK YOU SO MUCH, IT'S JUST WHAT I NEEDED... CAN YOU SEND ME THE NUMBER OF THE PERSON WHO MADE THE REPORT TO MY CELL PHONE? THANKS IN ADVANCE"
"What are you talking about?"
"Hey! Hold on! "He raised his voice, seeing how his friend was about to leave the place in a hurry.
A deep, familiar voice echoed through the room.
"HEY, ALL MIGHT! I HAVE THE SUPPORT OF TWO MISDEMEANORS, THEY CAN ONLY LAST FOR TWO HOURS UNDERWATER, BUT CAN WITHSTAND THE PRESSURE OF THE DEPTHS BEFORE THEY DROWN. THEY WILL HAVE ONE HOUR TO SUBMERGE AND ONE HOUR TO EMERGE... MAYBE WITH SOME OXYGEN TANKS, IF THEIR BODIES ALLOWED IT, THEY COULD MAKE IT TO THE BOTTOM..."
"NOW ALL WE NEED IS SOMEONE WILLING TO SACRIFICE THEMSELVES IN ORDER TO AVOID SOME RIOT." Said the half-breed merman in satisfaction.
"Ehmm... Toshinori... What's going on?" Tsukauchi looked at the hooded hero in bewilderment, he couldn't help but worry about the criminals after hearing his words.
"Wait All Might! It could be dangerous!" He tried to get his friend's attention but failed as he had already fled the police station, making Tsukauchi to chase him down to make him see reason.
All Might got into his fine armored vehicle being stopped by the detective who leaned on Hercules' door.
"IT'S ALL RIGHT. I KNOW HIM, I CAN DO THIS BY MYSELF... AND TSUKAUCHI KUN... PLEASE DO NOT SAY ANYTHING FOR THE TIME BEING, THIS IS JUST A MISTAKE... IT IS POSSIBLE TO SOLVE IT WITHOUT THE USE OF VIOLENCE."
"Toshinori..." He remarked gently, concerned for his safety, but trusting his friend's judgment, he let him go, sending him the number he had requested.
"THANK YOU, MY FRIEND" After getting the message, the hero wasted no time in dialing the manager to take care of the dock fee payment.
All Might's mind was overflowing with ideas. So much had happened in such a short period of time, barely two days had passed, and he still couldn't fully comprehend the information presented to him when fresh hypotheses and occurrences were taking place.
He was conflicted, excited and nervous at the same time. Now in his weak form would they take advantage of him or would they still respect him? On second thought, he would prefer not to be seen like that.
Lights flashed at his side, and the horn of a truck numbed his eardrums, forcing him out of his trance and finally causing him to react to what was happening. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he failed to pay attention to the road and nearly caused an accident. Hercules rushed away from the danger, for then pulled over to let him clear his mind before continuing on his way.
He rested his forehead on the steering wheel and turned on the radio to listen to something other than the voices in his head going over the day. He shouldn't move around in that alienated state, so he spent the time he needed to regain his composure, listening to two songs he didn't particularly like, but their dull lyrics had done the trick.
His destination was only 10 blocks away according to the GPS on his phone. The lights from the city street lamps put him in a trance; every meter he advanced made him more anxious, as he had to turn up the music volume to distract himself once again. His body began to react in an unusual way, a warm and joyful sensation relaxed his being; totally unaware of the origin of such a sudden emotion.
While attempting to determine what was producing this sensation, he noticed some blurry figures in the distance. Causing him to brake hard and be chastised by the cars behind him. The horns were blaring, and the lights in the mirrors reflected on him. All Might was once again buried in thought, but this time for a different reason.
Far from his location, behind several buildings he could see four perfectly defined silhouettes. The only time he had been able to perceive a similar presence was when his pupil activated 20% of his full capacity, he could even say that now they were perfectly clear.
His hands were sweaty, and he could feel his pressure rising as a result of the precision with which he perceived the silhouettes strolling on a surface that was not noticeable to his eyes.
"WHAT KIND OF MOSTERS ARE IN THAT DIRECTION?" He wondered as he examined his GPS, which showed the docks were 7 blocks distant in the same direction.
A knock on the window prompted him to react as an irritated driver proceeded to insult him, not knowing who was behind the tinted glass.
Toshinori became aware that he was obstructing traffic in one lane of a main avenue; he shook his head and apologized to the driver who was taken aback by the face behind the glass... Worried about his pale skin, the citizen insisted on taking him to a hospital, which the hero rejected.
He proceeded cautiously, knowing that the presences were there, which kept him from not noticing them; he was unable to relax as he was too focused on those silhouettes. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before. "MIGHT I HAVE TOTALLY AWAKENED HAKI? OR IS THAT THOSE PEOPLE POSSESS MONSTROUS STRENGTH?"
He drove as carefully as he could until he reached the docks' entrance and stayed inside the car for a moment. He couldn't recognize any of the silhouettes, but one of the skinny masculine figures could be Young Trafalgar. He had no idea how long it had been. The rest, though, bore no resemblance to any of his nakamas.
His body tensed, warning him of the danger nearby, not knowing whether he should follow his instincts and ask for aid, or confront it alone regardless of the consequences, as the irresponsible woman advised.
He had to be cautious because one wrong interaction may spark a chaotic incident ending his life. He took a deep breath and stepped out of Hercules. His stare was determined as he cleared any doubts in his mind by remaining upright and confident, as if he still had his strength. He proceeded quietly towards the platform, intending to settle the disagreement between the strangers and the attendant before the news spread.
The attendant appeared startled that the voice on the phone belonged to the symbol of peace.
"All Might! I can't believe it is really you!" He was overjoyed to be in the company of someone of such importance.
"GOOD EVENING MR. HIMEKO, IT IS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU IN PERSON, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE MISUNDERSTANDING, WHY?... BECAUSE I'M HERE!" He shouted his famous a catchphrase with his chest raised, leading the manager to go all fangirl over him. "MANY THANKS FOR KEEPING THEM UNDER CONTROL... I HOPE THEY DID NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS FOR YOU." He said it gingerly, hoping for a response that would help him understand the outsiders.
"No, absolutely not... They're good boys, just way too enthusiastic." The old man said, handing the blond an empty form to fill out.
"By the way... Those men don't have papers, but I'm not going to give them away simply because I like them." He blushed with a pervy expression, worrying the blond about the safety of the attendant as he knew pirates are extremely protective over their female crewmembers, and any kind of harassment towards her could ended badly.
"But as you may know, it is illegal to travel without their paperwork in order; please inform them that they must have them on board to avoid problems, okay? You can leave those blanks for the time being as they find them."
"THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND PATIENCE."
"You don't need to thank me... I haven't seen a genuine wooden ship for a long time... They are usually mechanical with a wood appearance... It's just that... Why pirate ship?"
"IT'S THEMATIC!"
"WOODEN SHIP?"
"hahaha I understand, it makes sense... I expect to be welcomed when everything is in place." He celebrated cheerfully continuing with the blond's paperwork.
"Very well All Might, I'll catch up with you in a moment. They can't wait to meet who the number one Hero was."
"YOU TOLD THEM WHAT?" Yagi was upset. "WELL, THEY BETTER KNOW I'M ON MY WAY." He thought, disappointed by his appearance.
"Shouldn't I? I think I got overexcited, hahahahaha." The old man just scratched his head admitting his guilt.
"Go all the way towards the end, you'll know which one it is."
The road to the designated pier appeared to take forever. He didn't need directions to know where they were, since half of the presences were restless.
With each stride, his skin bristled and his body felt hot from the inside as he could feel himself running out of breath. The presences were clearer than ever before, and he was experiencing something he'd never felt before. He could tell them apart by their energy and emotions, independent of their silhouettes. The strongest one radiated a cheerful sensation over him, which helped to calm him down slightly, He managed to remember Yue's words to Present Mic: "It is an extinct ability that allows to sense the presences, their strength, emotions and intentions."
After remembering those words, he felt a bit calmer. The cheerful "voice" coming from the end of the dock showed no signs of hostility, however, that didn't eliminate the fact that they were pirates, and any carelessness in the contact could lead to his demise. Especially now that he was unable to defend himself with his strength.
He had no choice but to confront them with pride, no matter what happened. He went confidently forward, displaying his upright and firm posture with a daring glare into the unknown. The unbeatable hero would not let fear take control over him; he had to go forward regardless of the consequences, bowing to no one.
All Might was astounded by what he saw; his body felt like it was burning, warning him of the danger ahead, but he decided to ignore it as the unknown "voice" managed to calm him down. He was now standing in front of a large ship in bright colors, sporting a figurehead shaped as a cartoonish lion but overall emphasizing its massive sail with a skull wearing a peculiar hat with a red ribbon.