The Heroic God Slayer
Chapter 25
Okay, now for Izuku and the others to go after Momo and Itsuka. With the boy himself finally getting into the better mindset for dealing with these matters. I felt he needed a different kind of failure than just losing a fight. That's a bit easier to come back from after all. His failure to act though is comparable to Godou's in Campione. And now he has to make it more clear on where he stands. So on with the show.
(No POV)
Izuku's fists were still clenched tight as he waited in the airport to go after the girls. While Xeimei had initially planned to go with him alone, Mina and Reiko forced themselves in. "It's not just because we don't like the idea of him going with you alone. Momo is my friend and classmate after all." Mina said while gently feeling where the creation user had patched her up.
"And Kendo is my class president and friend. If I left her when I have the capability to fight, I'd never forgive myself." Reiko said while brandishing her burning fan. Xeimei at first wanted to deny, but Izuku stopped her. "Xeimei I'm going to need everything at my disposal for this. I don't know enough about Serafim-san to assume my authorities alone will be enough to win."
The look in Izuku's eyes stirred something in all of the girls as he addressed them. The wild look of anger burning upon his face made each shiver with a measure of anticipation. "Understood my king. To be honest, I'm not sure the Greenwich Assembly even has all the details on her skills either. But someone else does." Xeimei said while trying to hide her arousal.
In Utah, Jonathan was settling Eri down for bed. A book in hand he read a story to help her to sleep. The little girl gripping onto his nightshirt as she fell into dreams. "It's….. kinda nice having a daughter again." Jonathan mused.
But his musings were interrupted, and Eri awakened, by the man's phone ringing. She was startled and freaked out a little until Jonathan calmed her down. "It's okay! You're okay. Nothing's wrong. You're fine. Let me take care of this real quick," the old warrior cooed to help relax the girl. Putting his phone on silent as he saw Izuku trying to call again.
He let out a groan before helping Eri settle into sleep again. Once she had let go of his shirt, the man could leave to deal with Izuku's matter. "Better than that first week. Those night terrors of hers were really bad. Now what the Hell could that kid be calling about?"
His eye twitched upon seeing he had at least a dozen missed calls from Izuku. "Kid, what the Hell do you want? I was trying to put Eri to bed when you called, and she-" Jonathan started. But Izuku interrupted him with, "aniki now isn't the time. I'm pissed enough as is and I need information."
Jonathan was surprised by the audacity Izuku had. Let alone the tone he carried as he was waiting to go to Brazil. "Okay. I'd tell you to calm down, but I think Xeimei's already failed at that. What's going on?" the first Campione asked before going for a bottle of whiskey.
After the details were relayed, Jonathan let out a few contemplative grunts. "Okay, I at least understand the situation. But what makes you assume you can just ask anything of me? Especially after I had to clean up your screw up?"
"How about the fact you jumped into my territory, wrecked shop on a group of villains I had my eyes on and took a child from my country like you owned the place! I may not have acted immediately, but I could still have crushed the Shie Hissaki myself. And rescued Eri. But you took it upon yourself to just do what you wanted in my home!"
Izuku had a furious gaze while waiting in the private suite of the airport while pacing and talking to Jonathan. Who was smiling from the other side of the phone and contemplating Izuku's newfound resolve. 'He's finally getting some of it. Good. I'm not handing Eri over to him, but he's finally getting more of the picture of what it means to be a King and Campione. This anger though needs some tempering.'
The first let out a sigh before asking what Izuku exactly wanted to know. "You know her better than me. Let alone her authorities. I want to know what else me and the girls could be up against." Izuku said while taking a breath to steady himself. Jonathan nodded before noting Marcia's knowledge of a few of the martial arts of her country.
"She's a full master or Maestro of Capoeira. So, watch for that. Her authorities meanwhile are a little odd. I've told you two, but I guess I can let you in on two others. The first is from Grand Bois. It acts akin to a minion type of summoning power. She can summon or create plant beings to fight for her. Or buy her time for a tricky power."
Jonathan describes her most dangerous authority. One taken from Shiva himself. "She has to build up the steps of power. But she can cause massive devastation once she finishes her dance. Or even use smaller steps to cause some serious pain or injury. She sliced me in half one time. Thank the gods for Asclepius."
Izuku gulped upon hearing that power and asked if there were other authorities he'd be willing to share. "Nope. You presented me with two good reasons to hear you out Izuku. Enough that I was willing to give you the name of two of her authorities. You're on your own from here. And frankly I could use a bit of sleep. Goodbye."
The first abruptly hangs up on Izuku while smiling to himself. "You'll figure out how she does things soon enough Izuku. Don't underestimate her just because she loves to party. She's a Campione for a reason." Jonathan said before finishing his drink and going to bed.
The youngest king snarled as Jonathan hung up on him. "Everything okay?" Mina asked before they were informed the plane was ready. "Fine. Let's go. This is going to be long flight." Izuku dismissively said while brushing Mina off. Something that Xeimei picked up on and was planning to address soon enough.
"Hey how come we couldn't just teleport to Brazil? Like the ones who kidnapped Kendo did?" Reiko asked as they boarded their flight. Xeimei looked to the side and admitted it was an art that wasn't supposed to be used across long distances. "Who ever cast those spells might have almost died doing them. Because normally a portal spell can only work within a country."
Mina questioned why that was, and it was Izuku that answered. "Jonathan's authority can tell us part of it. It's not something humans should be able to do easily. Move across the world with a thought. Could be a domain of the gods. And doing so as a normal mage is dangerous."
Xeimei concurred with his analysis and noted that portals were easier thanks to Master Jonathan. "But limited as Izuku noted. Though we should really focus on the task at hand. What do you think the Duchess wanted with them?" They all thought about it for a while with Izuku noting that it was likely something related to her nature and position.
"I've read up on a few of the old kings that we had records of. Voban was one who would take who and what he wanted of people. So long as it was interesting or gave him a good hunt. Salvatore of Italy was all about looking for a good fight. And Lady Aisha was all about influencing people in her travels."
Mina hummed before saying, "could she maybe be looking to just party with them? Or….. maybe make them into. No. I don't want to think about that." Mina shivered while remembering Njord and when he kidnapped her.
It was worse for Izuku, as his mind filled in the gaps of possibilities, and it enraged him more. Reiko tried to calm him down, but he brushed her off somewhat aggressively. "Okay that's it. I think I need to do something about this." Xeimei said quietly to herself as Mina caught Reiko.
She went up to Izuku from behind. And when he turned, she had a smile on her face and was right up in his. He was surprised and wasn't ready for what she did next. Xeimei's smile didn't fade as she gripped onto his shirt and started dragging him to the lavatory of the plane. Pushing him in before going in herself and locking the door.
The other girls were shocked but let it go. "She is the first after all. And she knows him a bit better than we do." Mina said while gripping her arm. Reiko nodded and hoped that she could snap him out of whatever this was.
"What the Hell? What's this about Xei-muph!" Izuku started before his first mage pounced on him. Locking lips with the boy while keeping him on the seat. He tried to ask a few more times what she was thinking, but that just led to more of a make out session while he was on the toilet.
He finally gave in and started to return the kissing. Hugging her tight to his body while she ran her hands along his arms and shoulders. "Feeling a bit calmer?" Xeimei asked while catching her breath. Izuku blushed up at her before saying, "yes and no. Was that the only reason you dragged me in here?"
The Chinese girl shook her head and noted there was more to it. "You've been a bit out of sorts for a while. Some of it was due to what happened with that Yakuza thing and Master Jonathan. But it feels like this pushed you over and you aren't thinking clearly."
Izuku leaned back in the lavatory before letting out a sigh. "Okay yeah. I was mostly pissed at aniki for how he did that whole raid on the Shie Hissaki. I was thinking about saving the girl myself, but I let the whole matter of being a hero slow me down. And now I want to give into my instincts as a Campione after he lectured me on my position."
The young Campione acknowledged that he felt very possessive of Momo and the other girls after following that line of thought. "While it is nice to know you value us, you need to remember you aren't alone. And some of your authorities won't work if you don't trust us. Or we don't trust you."
"You're right. Maybe that's what I've been…. What the?" Izuku said before feeling something unlock within him again. He closes his eyes before drifting into his inner world. There, he comes upon the aspect of Athena he'd had little luck connecting to.
"It seems you have begun to understand what true wisdom entails. For the wisest beings take not from one source or group. But they consider all suggestions and actions they can take in their lives. And that wisdom will show you the various paths forward. So how will you act upon it, God Slayer?"
Izuku was brought back to the world and started to laugh at what he just perceived and hugged Xeimei once more. "Thank you. For more than one thing. It's true that I have to decide, but I still need others to help me see more of how to go forward." Izuku said while burying his face into Xeimei's chest.
The girl smiles before brushing his hair with her hand and letting herself rest upon his lap. Only for both to blush as she felt what wasn't so "calmed down" when he responded earlier. "Well….. we're already here~. I believe this would be called the "Mile High Club"? Care to join~?" Izuku gulps and bites his lip while still holding Xeimei close. And the pair don't leave the lavatory for almost an hour.
Reiko and Mina pout at this and wish they could join. But Reiko chooses to focus her sister in arms on the task ahead. "So. If we are dealing with a Campione who is trying to keep our friends, how do we get them away? And let's not forget that she likely has multiple mage organizations working for her."
Mina leans back in her seat before noting that this would all still come to a fight. "Heroes and Villains, Gods and God Slayers, Campione and Campione. It all comes down to a fight with them after all. Even if the first group will try to avoid it. So I guess we need to be ready for that." She brings up an idea or two for combinations they could do with their quirks, as well as any of the powers from Momotaro's animals.
"Okay but you really shouldn't use the power of the Dog. You're way too destructive. Haven't seen what you can do as the Pheasant though. You might be able to handle it given your speed and slight range focused skills with your quirk."
After Izuku and Xeimei were done in the lavatory, they both came out looking a bit disheveled. But the former was looking more put together than he had been. He still had a furious gaze upon thinking about what could be happening to Momo and Itsuka. And his resolve to get them back no matter what wasn't faltering.
But instead of a possible one-man raging inferno, his glare was focused like a sharp knife. "Okay. I'm sorry about earlier. I'm just working out a lot of different things. That's done for now though. We're getting them back." Izuku said before hugging both Mina and Reiko. Both girls could smell Xeimei all over him, but they put it aside and just enjoyed the moment.
"You'd better celebrate with us after this is all done Izuku. Can't let Xeimei have all the fun~!" Mina said while winking back at the girl. Who returned the wink with one of her own and a thumbs up at the thought of celebrating after the fight.
Izuku groaned before saying they needed to rest a bit. "No telling what my elder sister will have in store for us when we get there." To his and the girls surprise, no one greeted them upon arriving in Rio. Instead, it seemed as though parts of the city was getting ready for a festival.
The young Campione decided to try his hand at his language skills and asked what was going on. "Weird to see a bunch of teens from Japão here. But I guess it's about time for Festa Junina. It's become popular for an attraction outside for Brazil. Outside of Carnival," an officer said before tipping his hat to the teens.
Xeimei facepalmed before saying, "you can almost bet the Duchess will be taking full advantage of this time to have fun. And I'd bet she's not going to be too cooperative if we get in the way of the party." Izuku rolled his eyes and said they still had to go. "Let's check in with the local mages and ask where she lives."
"I don't think that's necessary Izuku. Take a look at that screen." Mina said before pointing to a TV showing Marcia Serafim. Seemingly promoting a portion of the festa being held at her mansion outside the city. And from what Izuku was reading, she was a very popular person due to her philanthropic endeavors and willingness to share the wealth of her company. Making his eye twitch in a touch of jealousy.
Reiko hummed and said, "I suppose she's no different than a hero in that regard. But…. something feels off." Xeiemei and Izuku both looked at the screen and started to see some of what the ghost girl meant. "She knows we're here. Or more accurately, she's willing to bring civilians closer so I can't fight all out if I go to her home." Izuku analyzes while looking at the set up for the festa.
Xeimei and Reiko agree and wonder if they should look for the ones who kidnapped Itsuka and Momo instead. Only for Mina and Xeimei to notice something as the screen pans over Serafim's mansion. The more experienced mage freezes the image before rewinding slightly. "They are at her home. But why are they being kept inside?" Izuku asked while his fist tightened slightly.
"I guess we'll have to find out when we get there Izuku. Let's bring them home." Mina says with fire in her eyes. Izuku smiles at her and agrees. "The festa starts soon. We need to get them out before she can use locals as a reason to stop or slow me." Izuku says while cracking his knuckles slightly.
His girls agree and mentally prepare for the fight ahead. From the shadows though, they were being watched by a few mages. Who gave their reports and waited for what would come. As night started to fall, Izuku took a breath and asked the girls to come to him.
"Hey. Just stick with our strengths okay Izuku? We shouldn't take chances." Xeimei says as the boy wraps his arm around her waist. Nodding before kissing her, and empowering her with the Dog. Mina smirks as well and leaps into Izuku's arms. "This'll be fun. But not as fun as things will be later~!" she said before kissing Izuku. Her hair turned golden thanks to the Monkey, and she could feel her speed increase. Reiko was more reserved but melted into his embrace as he tilted her head up to kiss her. The wings and other plumage flowing from her back as the Pheasant empowered her.
Xeimei then advised that Izuku save the rest of his authorities for later. "No doubt this will come to a battle with Duchess Serafim. We need you strong. Reiko. To the sky. Intercept anything as necessary. Mina, go in first and disable who you can."
The two nodded to the mage and followed up on their assignments, while Izuku and Xeimei marched forward a bit slower. Reiko spotted a few of the threats and quickly neutralized them with her bow. Mina would dash in and mop up the rest.
While they were walking up though, Izuku was testing what he could feel with his newly opened up authority. 'This has been a bit easy. If she knew we were coming, then she wouldn't have this few people to slow us. Actually, she wouldn't use other people most likely. So that means.'
He put a hand on Xeimei's shoulder before saying, "we need Reiko and Mina close by once we get inside. These others are just a smokescreen." Xeimei turned to him in surprise and asked if he was sure. "Yeah. These guys are just guards and mages to deal with thieves. Or make it look like they are expecting thieves. Once inside though."
As he was speaking, Mina opened the gates of the mansion. And as he crossed the threshold, magic alarms started going off. "Shoot. Reiko, stay out of range for the most part!" Xeimei said before unsheathing her blades. Mina rushed to what she thought were some guards.
Only to be met with monsters made of wood and plants that swatted her away. Izuku was ready to draw a weapon, but he stopped himself. Instead, his mind and the authority started to work properly. Seeing the way to find their friends and avoid more of a fight.
Xeimei tried to give orders, but Izuku interrupted her. "Mina, get ready to move as fast as you can. Xeimei, after you cut a few of them down, toss the bodies up into the air. Reiko, get your fan out." Izuku said with his eyes turning silver for a moment.
Each of the girls takes to their tasks while Izuku focuses on evasion. Xeimei quickly defeated a few of the plant beasts and then tossed them up as Izuku said. Reiko was hesitant, but she did as Izuku asked and set the wooden bodies ablaze. "Mina now!" Izuku called out and pointed to the door of the mansion.
"Okay I get it!" Mina said before sprinting at full speed. Turning into a ball as she got to the door. The force of the wind from her speed pulled the smoke into the house and gave Izuku his opening. "You two focus on the outside, we'll head in!" he called out before grabbing Xeimei's hand.
The two quickly made their way into the building and away from the few creatures that were still inside. "Good thinking Izuku. The smoke will also weaken the plant creatures inside. Now let's move." Xeimei complimented before the pair headed deeper into the mansion.
Finding it much bigger than it should be based on the appearance outside. "I'm wondering if this is some other authority she has." Izuku mused as they were suddenly attacked by a few smaller plant beasts. "Most likely. But we can't worry about that." Xeimei said while rapidly slashing with her jian.
They had to run for a bit longer, but they eventually found who they were looking for. And they were with the person they were hoping not to meet. Marcia sat upon her throne with a barely there nightgown and body all but shown to the world. Her blue hair shimmered and contrasted with her dark skin.
At her sides were Momo and Ituska. Both had collars around their necks and were wearing tight costumes. Their eyes seemed to be glazed a bit as they sat at Marcia's feet. Which enraged Izuku again and he was ready to leap at his eldest sister.
"Izuku!" Xeiemei said while grabbing onto his arm. The look in her eyes helped to temper Izuku's anger for the moment. "You certainly do have a number of lovely flowers around you irmãozinho. Though getting these back… might be more trouble than you expect~." Marcia says as she recrosses her legs. Her eyes never leaving Izuku's as they size each other up.
So it is supposed to be jarring compared to the last chapter with Marcia's appearance to Izuku. But it will make sense with the next chapter. As much as I wanted to get straight to the fight between the Campione, I also wanted to build up Izuku's new authority and how he's been dealing with some matters. And you'll get a full understanding of the Athena authority next chapter. Please review!
