Chapter 11 Path of Trials
A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials
-Lucius Anneus Seneca-
"We are here…." I said to Izumi who's standing next to me
Two weeks have passed since the news and now, we are here, standing in front of the most prestigious hero school in Japan, U.A. But we're not here alone… hundreds of souls also come like us seeking experience, knowledge, glory, acknowledgement and many other motives
Today is the practical examination day, those that accepted by U.A either personal recommendation or finished their written test that have seventy percent of failure would begin their final trial here, some would be accepted into the hero program, most… would not succeed
'This reminds me the path of trials that mentor told me to do before he handed Last Word to me' I reminiscing my past, the advice of mentor, hunting with Sir D, ramen binge with Cayde-6…
Travelling alone with Aria….
'I wish I could go back to a simpler times Aria, a place where I belong, a place where I can finally be a guardian…' I said to her in a nostalgic hushed tone
'But you can't, my dearest guardian, mine beloved warlock. The only path right now is to walk forward' Aria said with a calm voice, I could feel her presence in my head, caressing me
'Keep your head high, keep your chest puffed in the face of adversary, show no fear, for you are the guardian of humanity' She add, quoting what Zavala said to me before the final assault on the Last City during the Red War
"Are you not excited Izu-nii?" Izumi looking at me with smile in her face, her voice brings me back from my deep thought
"We're finally here! Our chance to be accepted into the Hero Program! Are you not excited!" she said jumping up and down, like a child given her favourite toy
"I am" I flatly said "I just don't show my expression" I add keeping my face straight and my tone flat
"Hmph you're not fun" she pouted while crossing her arms
"Regardless, we need to find the hall for introduction and preparation" I replied ignoring her
I squint my eyes, checking my surroundings seeking for a particular person. I'm wondering that even in this sea of souls I could not see that guy, because I'm pretty sure that with a powerful quirk like him, there's no way that he would not be able to join U.A. Not with a powerful quirk like him
"Move out of the way extras!"
Ask and ye shall receive…
A blond angry boy said while shoving past a tall high school student with glasses. Almost making him falling down from the stairs, fortunately a familiar figure managed to hold his back, making him floating or perhaps levitate. The figure is a medium high girl, with a brown bob hair and a round face
'Aria… is she the one we save from werewolf six months ago?' I ask my ghost
'Indeed, my beloved warlock, that is Uraraka Ochako and her quirk is Zero-Gravity. It's self-explanatory everything she touched will have zero gravity" Aria gives a short explaination of her quirk to me
'How interesting…' I replied but not adding further comment
"Oops, sorry, I activated my quirk without thinking" Ochako apologize to the boy
"Its okay, because of you I would not suffer any injuries for the entrance exam, such action is befitting of a future hero like you" the glasses boy said with a conviction in his voice
Then they decided to exchange their names, quirk, aspiration etc. But I paid them no mind, Izumi and I continues our journey until we arrive at the hall, I can see a sea of students, most are simply normal human, but some have mutant quirk, I see a girl with purple skin, another with a frog-like face, a boy with rock skin and many-many more
More and more people arrive, and the hall is getting more and more bustling. Most engaged in conversation about their quirk, and boasting how powerful they are, some belittle the other by saying that they are not good enough. But for me I keep my gaze sharp to the stage, something is going to happen there, soon or later
After waiting for another thirty minutes for the hall to fill up finally, the door to the hall closed and someone walked up to the stage, one of the teachers I assume. His face is unrecognizable to me, he's wearing a black jacket with a tall collar, a black long pants and knee-high boots, he's also wearing a glass and the most important things is his high spike blonde hair.
Wishing to know further, I quietly summon Aria next to my shoulder
'Aria who is he?" I ask my companion via thought link
'Hm… wait a minute while I running facial diagnostic my dearest guardian…' she said, before disappearing
'He's Hizashi Yamada, alias Present Mic, his quirk is his voice, he has the ability to increase the output of his voice akin to a sonic beam, he's running a radio show known as Morning Heroes. Excell in medium to long range combat, or enclosed space' Aria explains everything I need to know
'Hmm, a hard one to kill, but not impossible. Thank you, Aria,' I thanked for her analysis
'Everything for you, my dearest guardian' she said before disappearing back to my mind
"HELLO EVERYBODY! CAN I GET A 'HEYYYYY' FOR THIS EXAM?!" Present Mic shouts, trying to make everybody excited and he's greeted with a partial success. Some of the students in second floor yell, but the majority of the exam participant remains silent
'Well, I'll take that as a success" he said, before clearing his throat
"Okay everyone, this time our test will involves around robots, points and final boss so please pay attention to the slides that I will show you." He said while holding a remote pointer
"So! Today the exam will match you against robots, your objectives is to destroy robots as much as possible, there are three type that offer three different points. The first robot is simple and only offer one point, the second type is harder to kill but offer three points, but the last one is the hardest to kill but offer a whooping five points."
"However, killing robots would amount to nothing if your attitude is shit, so there will be an exam judge that will monitor your attitude, skill, and many other criteria befitting of a pro hero. So, make sure that you behave in the competition"
"SO! In a nutshell, kill robot, gather points, harder robot offers bigger points, and behave for perhaps your action would amount to nothing if you do not behave" He finishes his explanation
"Any questions?" he asks, before a student raise their hand. The same student that almost tripped out this morning, he's wearing a glass, a straight serious face, and radiates an uptight aura, a person of by-the-book, a lawful good, a boy with stick so up high in his ass he's turning to a scarecrow kind of person
"Yes! The brochure and pamphlet that we received says that there are four different robots, and only three robots explained. Where is the explanation of the fourth robot? This is shameful for the most prestigious hero school in Japan. U.A prided as the best hero school such action should not happened in the first place" he said gaining many groans and sighs from other students
And he suddenly turns his head to me and Izumi, and points his finger at us
'And both of you, you should not chat and speaking while our MC is talking, instead you both should pay attention such action in unbefitting to a hero. If both of you are not taking this exam seriously then I ask you to leave for you are disturbing everyone"
"What an asshole" Izumi whispers to me
"He got a stick so high in his ass he's turning to a scarecrow. Or at least that what im about to do to him' I replied
"You want to replied to that robot Izu-nii?" She asks me, still talking in whisper
"No, if you wanted to reply, feel free. But I would leave it to the proctor" I made my decision clear to her and she nods and stand up
"Listen you little prick, who are you to judge what we are doing? Who are you to judge what an attitude befitting to a hero? And why only us huh? There are others that chats and I don't see you bothering them or even trying to silence them. So, I suggest that you zip your mouth! before I zip it for you!" she replied with a harsh tone
"Okay everyone, clam down. So! To answer your question boy, the fourth robot is the final boss that I said earlier, you should have been able to deduce that. The last robot is worth zero points, think about it as a road block, so just mind your own action and keep collecting points" Present Mic explains with a jovial face
"Okay I know that some of you still have questions, especially you young boy. But time is the essence for hero so right now go to your designated area and prepare, and GOOD LUCK" he shouts while giving us an up thumb
"Okay so I guess this is where we separate" I said to Izumi
"Yes, good luck Izu-nii" she said
"Yes, and please stay safe Izumi" I wished for her safety
"You don't need to always worry for me you know" she playfully jab my right shoulder
"I know" I said before turning my back and walking to my designated area
'But it is my job as your older brother to keep you safe'
We all gather in a small hallway, like a gladiator before they exit unto the arena, I see the purple skinned girl, a boy with six arms, and the stuck-up bastard. But I pay them no mind, I wish to finish the seventh chapter of The Book of Sorrow before our exam, I sense a person walking towards me
It is the glasses
"Excuse me, as a hero candidate, shouldn't you be preparing for yourself? Without preparation even the best hero would fall against new villain, if you prefer to relax in this important session, I suggest you to go home" he said pointing his finger at me
"Shut up" I said with an icy cold tone while never taking my eyes off from the book
"Wha- such action is unbefitting for a hero, you need to correct your-" he's still talking while suddenly the speaking in the ceiling rings
"Okay Group Beta, I guess you are ready?" I hear the voice of one Hizashi Yamada from the speaker
"Okay now the gates are opening" he adds, and truly the gates are opening, as soon as I see enough space for me to slip, I blink past the gates and quickly go to action with Ace of Spades in my hand
"What are you guys doing! There's no signal for a hero to start to action! Follow that kid's action" I hear the distant voice of Present Mic behind me. But like many other souls, I paid them no mind
I look down to my handgun, Ace of Spades, entrusted to me by my best friend and brother Cayde-6, for too long I have neglected her, for too long he gathers dust. But no more… from now on she will be hold firm in my hand, from now on I would use her like I use Last Word.
I dash through the urban terrain where our exam takes place, there are plenty of space to set up an ambush, to I blinked to the roof, for better vantage points, I see the other participants started to pouring from the gate. I smile a bit, for some reason...
I hear some metallic clanking behind me and check on what is the source of such sound and I greeted by seven robots, like a vex, bipedal, with guns as arms, I quickly shoot them with Ace, seven round to their eyes, and seven robots down.
'What the Fuck? They're so weak' this is surprising for me, but for years after years fighting vex, their black garden, rescuing Osiris and Saint-14 from them i used to on how hard they are to kill, even with Ace or Last Word i need three round to take one down and that is the easiest vex mind you, the cannon fodder type. The harder ones like minotaur, hydras and etc are extremely durable. Some vex even still operates after their head being decapitated, but I guess that because they are robots the do not need head to function, only processor. Regardless this means that this exam would not be as hard as I think that it will be.
So with a grim smile I jumped down from the roof, down to the streets, joining the fight just like in the Red War. And so I hunt, firing Ace with pin point precision, throwing trip mine grenade as traps, dashing, running, dodging enemies gunfire, as a hunter I hunt, and as a warlock I shall live.
In the viewing room several figures are looking at the screen showing several students fighting against hordes or robots
"We have a good batch for this year…" a creature of dog, mouse, bear said. This is Nezu, the principal of U.A high and the smartest being on earth, a creature born out of experimentation.
"Yes especially that blonde boy don't you see his explosions? I myself doubt would be able to come out of that unharmed" a scrawny man with blonde hair said, this is Toshinori Yagi, or people knows him more as All Might than Toshinori Yagi
"My my, what a beauty we have here, her body is quite skinny yet she's extremely strong. Her telekinesis power truly stood above everyone I have seen" Midnight, the pro heroine said with a sultry voice
"Hmmm" a hum can be heard coming from two figures, Shota Aizawa with his baggy black outfit, unkempt hair, a perpetually tired face and wrap scarf, however he know a talent when he sees one and a certain green haired gun wielding boy that blasted through formations of military grade robot and shooting them with pin point precision caught not only his attention but also his colleague
"What a steady hand that boy has" a man with gasmask, a cowboy hat, a red cloak and white amour on his black suit said.
"He's just like you Snipe, but something is off about him. Look at his movement, look at how he chooses his targets, look at his expression. He's like a veteran of a long war" Shota Aizawa aka Eraserhead said with curious voice
"Hmmm… yes, after all of this I wish to check his profile" Snipe said looking at the cam
"Well, regardless, we need to know how many of them are ready to be a hero aren't we?" Present Mic said, and with a giddy smile push a red button
*With Bakugo*
"Come on! Is this all that is?!" Katsuki Bakugo yell with arrogance in his voice, he came here not only to success the exam but also to find good opponent for testing his skills, and so far, none of these robots are challenging enough to him
"Tch, even the extras are also shit, they are weak. I need a challenge damn it!" he said as he launches another explosion engulfing another robot
Suddenly he feels a rumbling beneath his feet as if someone or something that has slumbering awaken. And suddenly from the ground, burst up a giant mechanical construct its green colour towering even the biggest hero.
"What is that?" one panic student yell
"Shot I'm not up to this!" another started to run away from the robot
"Is that the Zero pointer? That's not a road block goddamnit! It's a freaking mountain!" another yell and started to run away
One by one the students started to run away, terrorized by the shadow of the giant construct however, for Bakugo this is the moment he's been waiting
"Finally, a worthy opponent" he said while flexes his muscles foe the upcoming fight
"Our battle will be legendary!"
*With Izumi*
"Hmm, something's not right" Izumi said as she sitting on a large pile of broken robots
"Where's the zero pointer?" She knows that sooner or later there will be a final boss that will come. She sees the other students amazed at her telekinetic powers, how easily she crushes her opponent no matter the sizes.
'When will it come?' she said to herself,
There are sayings of ask and ye shall receive, and something answer her prayer and grant it to her. The massive figure of Zero pointer burst from the ground, shocking many students and making the run away like rats
But not her, she will not run. She carefully analyses the weak spot of Zero pointer, she's running out of strength for her telekinetic power, she needs to be efficient, she could not brute force her way through the sturdy body of the robot.
"Ahh!" the cry of pain suddenly brought her back to reality, a girl with short bob hair got one of her legs crushed by a rubble. Seeing her in distress Izumi quickly teleport next to her side
"Oh my, it seems you are in a trouble, let me help you" and then she moves the rubble from her legs and using teleport to safety
"Stay here, I will deal with that thing" Izumi said as she smiles, but deep down she knows that she only has one chance to stop the Zero Pointer, she's running out of steam and her teleport in and out really exhaust her energy
"I hope this will be worth it" she said as she closes her eyes and focus on charging for her strongest telekinetic attack
*Back with Izuku*
"Zero pointer… so its just a big robot" I said with a sigh, how unoriginal this is.
"Regardless, Aria…" I said as I open my palm to summon my companion
"What is it you desire my dearest guardian?" she asks me
"Scan that big guy right there please, I need to know its weak spot, the source of energy… just everything that could be used to bring it down" I said
"I see… it shall be done!" she cheerfully said and disappear, only to reappear near the top of zero pointer, it doesn't take a long time for her to return to me and transmit the data via thought link.
"Hmm how interesting…" I said while checking the data, the metal body, the efficient small fusion engine… and several more information such as the body work, the program. But none of that is useful on how to kill this thing
"You could use Gjallarhorn to blow them up my beloved warlock" she said giving her opinion to me
"True, but that would make a rain of debris falling down and injure the other participants" I said, while thinking on the best option to dispose this mechanical construct before deciding to using the Rubric of Ahriman
'Well here goes nothing…"
*With Bakugo*
Katsuki Bakugo, using his explosions, fly past several students before finally stopping beneath the Zero Pointer, eh put both of his palm together and direct it at the underbelly of the machine, a small ball of fire flares up before suddenly a large jet of fire comes out and rising to the under belly of Zero Pointer burning the Zero Pointer entirely
"Nova Blast!"
*BBBOOOOOOMM!*
When the dust and ashes finally settled there is nothing on top of him.
"Heh, how weak" he said and turning his back and walking to the exit gate
"He's so cool" a student said
"How strong is he?' another speaks with reverence in their voice
"Such bright light only to be match by darkest shadow" a boy with a bird head said, observing the departure of the blonde Pomeranian
*With Izumi*
After a while, Izumi open her eyes and suddenly all, rubble and discarded robot fly to the Zero Pointer, Puncturing in its legs, body, and head before several metal beams from buildings around her blasted to the main body of Zero Pointer
"Aku Soku Zan!"
*STAB**STAB**STAB**STAB**STAB**STAB*
The metal rods puncture clean the body and hit the heart, or the main battery that power the whole thing, so fast the metal beam flying that it tear the heart away from its body
"Haah… haah… haahh" she gasps for air, her vision blurs and her body weak. That is truly her last move. And before she lost her consciousness, she only mutter a single sentence
"Sorry, Nii-san"
*Back with Izuku*
"Preparations are complete my beloved warlock…" I hear Aria's voice next to me
It has been five minutes I finagling with Rubric of Ahriman, trying to find the right 'zeros' and 'ones' to change realities, and finally after what feels like five years of coding I finally manage to make the formula
*Clack* *Clack* *Clack* *Clack*
…
*Click*
The sound of the floating rubric that keeps turning before suddenly click indicates that it is finally ready
"Rubric of Ahriman: Spatial Collapse" I mutter
*FFWWOOOOMM!*
And a small black hole suddenly formed on top of the Zero Pointer, sucking in debris, robots, and the Zero Pointer itself, the black hole can only exist for fifteen seconds before the space and time remould itself, closing the black hole as if it was never there
"Fantastic execution my dearest guardian" Aria praises
"Yes, and it can be done thanks to you" I replied, and this is true… Aria guides me on using the Rubric, although she only nudges me if I made a wrong combination
"You delight me with your humble attitude to me my dearest guardian. But now I believe the exam is finally over, let us head back to the exit" she said before disappearing
"Yes, let us go back" I answer to no one
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!" Present Mic yell "IS THAT A FUCKING BLACK HOLE?"
"Who could have done this…" Midnight ponders
"Such power, if it falls into the wrong hand then…." Aizawa's voice lace with fear
"Do we have any record on who did that?" Toshinori ask his colleague, he fears that whoever did that might be a disciple of his old arch enemy
"We will reconvene about this on the afternoon" Principal Nezu said, concluding all of their arguments "We will check our recording right after this exam finishes" he adds
"Okay I guess" Present Mic says, voicing his colleague's decision, the matter will be put on hold, for now. But they commited to look every records, every camera to find out the creator of such feared anomaly...
"Izumi…" I look at the unconscious figure of my sister, apparently, she overexert herself and fainted due to exhaustion. Although I disagree that she decided to push herself beyond what she could do, a part of me feels proud of her for the exact same reason
"At least you're unharmed" I said as I sit next to her, waiting for her to wake up. I slowly caress her head, just like when she pass out because of sadness six months ago
"Mmmm" I hear her voice moaning, it seems she's ragining her consciousness
"Hm? Izu-nii? Where am I ?" she's certainly confused
"Infarmary, you pass out after the exam, one of the students found you in the battlefield and call medic." I answer
"Ah, sorry for troubling you" she apologizes
"No need to apologize Izumi. You are safe, that's all good" I replied
The creaking of the door indicates a figure walk into the infirmary, and old lady no taller than one hundred and fifty centimetre walk to where Izumi lay in her bed.
'So, this is Chiyo Shuzenji, aka Recovery Girl…' I thought to myself
"I see that you are awake young girl" the old lady said "Let me check your condition first" she adds
I was about to say something, but Izumi quickly shot me a look and agrees to her demand. I said nothing and walk out of the room. It wasn't until five minutes of waiting she comes out of the infirmary.
Truth be told… today is tiring, an exciting day, but a tiring one. Not tiring as in physical way, but in mental. Too many people, too many distractions, I wish to go back home, to be alone. But I have a feeling that the trial of life have just begun, and with head held high i will face whatever comes next