Huntik Heroes
Chapter 21
Even for me, this has been way too long coming. Been putting this off forever due to a few things. First the backlash of that whole post USJ arc. Second, I realized just how much I disliked the Sports Festival arc. Just really not a fan of tournament arcs anymore. But thanks to someone else, I've got a work around for it. One that will be quite interesting to write. So on with the show.
(No POV)
As the cheers died down and the rest of the students arrived to prepare for the next event, others were having considerations of their own. Endeavor for one was looking at Asahi, Izuku, and Reiko with some fascination. "If will is what is needed to gain their various powers, why is it that someone like myself or All Might can't use them?"
"It's because of your quirks," the man heard behind him and rapidly turned to see Melissa Shield giving him a raised eyebrow look. The hero looked at her funny before asking who she was. Only to be shocked two fold, first by revealing who she was and then illustrating that she was a Seeker as well.
The girl chuckled before saying, "not 100% sure on the reason, but it appears that the Titans don't view those who have quirks as human. From the little I felt from mine, they see you as… unnatural? Warped? A mis… No mistake isn't quite right. Anyway, that's where most of it goes. But, there are some that the Titans find interesting." A nod towards Reiko as she walked away and leaving the burning hero to stew in his thoughts and possible plans.
And he wasn't the only one planning. As Midnight was explaining some of the next event, the Calvary Battle, Momo gulped before excusing herself to send a quick message. 'I wonder if this is some more of what she meant by important to report. And I wonder…. What she'll do to me if it is good.'
The girl's legs tightened at the thought while subtly biting her lip and heading to the bathroom. Once there, she quickly sent her message to Sadie. Including a suggestion of how to tear down the veil of safety that the heroes and even the Foundation tried to maintain.
"It seems my pet is becoming more pliable than I realized. Hm. I should use another of my pets to infiltrate the arena. As much as I'd like to lead an attack, it's not my specialty. But I know who would truly love to cause chaos and hunt down whoever he feels deserves it~!" the Blood Spiral leader said with a twisted smile. Before using her Loreslave to contact Rodolfo and his hunters. And rapidly sending one of her own agents to get into position for the battle.
With the man himself smiling when he received it. "Excellent. Looks like I'll get a chance to do even more damage," he said while holding a hero from another country up by their throat. Slowly choking and burning the life out of them with a mix of curses and spells. All the while, screams were echoing throughout the town the hero had been protecting. And a mix of frozen wasteland and hellish inferno consuming most within.
Back at the arena, Midnight had just finished her explanation of the next event. Namely, teams of two to four were needed for all the students. "You will all work together to try and steal one another's headbands. Each having scores that add together to your final total. With one special exception~!"
And Reiko herself was that exception. Because she had placed first, she would have the 10-million-point headband. Making her a massive target for her fellow hero students. But she luckily already had an exceptional team to pick from. With Izuku and Asahi standing with her.
While they were finished, the others among the students were trying to gather whoever they could for teams to face the Seekers. Shoto being a lead one who was looking to defeat them without using his left side. Recruiting Momo, Ida, and Kaminari for his team. "Yaoyorozu? Are you alright? You seem a bit distracted." Shoto asked while noticing the spaced-out gaze of the girl.
She shook her head before saying, "I apologize. Sometimes I…. I have moments when I go back to what happened." Kaminari's hand sparked a little at that and said he'd had similar moments. "I don't even want to think about what she put you all through. But I know some of how you feel."
Momo gulped and nodded before suggesting that she take the left side to better cover Shoto's less train part of his quirk. He agreed and continued to strategize with his classmates. While this was happening though, someone special had snuck into the stadium and hidden themselves among the crowd. A young man with an unfortunate mutant type quirk that made him look and slightly smell like a skunk. It couldn't even be used to disable villains or heroes as he didn't possess the glands to launch any stink spray.
The reason he was aiding Sadie and her goals was a hope to remove his quirk and become more normal. With even a minor possibility of becoming a Seeker. He'd already had his quirk removed a few times during sessions with the sadistic Blood Spiral. And now he'd been promised a chance to fully remove his quirk if he fulfilled this task.
"Well?" Sadie asked her agent. "I'm working on it ma'am. I can't just- Whoa crap!" the agent said before tripping and bumping into his target. All Might. "Steady there! Ah, trying to find the restroom closest to your seat? Its just down this way and… what?" All Might started in his usual grandiose tone. But it was damped thanks to a few somethings stuck to his back. Modified Deadcalms to drain certain powers.
The hero turned with shock written on his face and he took an unsteady swing at the villain. "Impressive. If I hadn't slipped back in that moment, you'd have knocked me out. And unfortunately, I don't have the power to take you out right now. But I can get you out of the way!" the Spiral soldier said before tossing a handful of crystals out and around All Might.
They started chanting and a portal opened beneath the weakened hero. Suddenly finding himself in….. "Are you kidding me?! They managed to send me to Nepal?!" he shouted upon realizing he was near Mt Everest.
"Ma'am? The main obstacle is removed. I don't know how long we'll have till the few Seekers around notice," the skunk soldier said while hurrying through the halls. Setting a few other portals up in hidden corners. "Just don't waste a crystal. Those are difficult to create. Let alone complicated to harvest," the researcher Spiral warned before contacting Rodolfo again.
As this was happening, and the Calvary Battle was beginning (with Izuku, Reiko, and Asahi taking advantage of their skills to send themselves up into the air), Ruby noticed the flare in magic in the stadium.
"How the Hell did one slip by?!" she shouted in anger before reporting to the other Seekers. The few that were there quickly made their moves and started evacuating the civilians with the heroes. "Are you sure something is up?" Death Arms asked while gesturing where to go.
And his skepticism was answered by a strong Null Curse to his back. Sending him flying and dropping him like it was nothing. A few more spells and curses flew as Blood Spirals seemed to come out of nowhere. Kamui Woods and Mt Lady quickly moved to guard the civilians with the quirks. The former making wood barriers to intercept attacks, and the latter picking up handfuls at a time to remove them from the danger zone.
Only for her to meet a Black Bull ramming her knee and causing her to trip and fall, then a trio of Undergolems attacked her face and body. "Bristle Bind! Stop Glue!" were a few of the spells called out while she was on the ground. And these worked to hold her in place even with her increased size.
"Bloody Hell! Alright, Gybolg! Firbolg! Elf King Oberon! Let's go!" Ruby called out before summoning all her main combat Titans. "Gybolg! Summon the Cadbolgs!" she called to the tree like Titan. Who slammed his blade into the ground before summoning a group of smaller tree men to fight. Engaging and dispatching some of the Harlekin Titans their foes had summoned.
To back the number 2 of the Foundation up, the other Seekers summoned Melee Artists, Freelancers, and Ferric Warbringers to protect the civilians. "Why do this? Didn't they know we'd have extra security?" Kamui asked while putting out the flames and other injuries to his arms.
The red head among them narrows her eyes before catching a Spiral in one hand. And then Dragon Fist tossing them towards the street. "It's not just how they got in. These people are… making it even more obvious that they are here. Because they want to show more of what they could do!" Ruby thinks aloud while punching and blasting certain grunts that were attacking her.
She was correct. Right as Midnight announced the start of the calvary battle, the crystals that had been placed went active. The first to walk through was Rodolfo himself. Dropping his hood and mask as his tigerlike hair is shown (he doesn't look like a tiger, it's just his hair has streaks of black along with the white). As well as his piercing blue eyes. "You two. Stand by for transport out of here. I don't want to lose too many of our hunters and soldiers," he says before instructing the rest to attack the other areas of the stadium.
"Now I just need to get to one of the highest points. No doubt that is where that pendejo is looking down on everyone from there." Rodolfo says while spinning two amulets in his hands. The pair looked like twins, with one difference. One had two crescents on one and only a single silver crescent on the other. Around his neck meanwhile were another pair of amulets. Two wolf looking ones with red and blue accents.
He quickly made his way up through the stadium with Cutrace and dropped fired a few of his preferred spells around. Some setting fire to the building, others were leaving icy traps. Smirking as he could smell the flames and lightly burning hair from Endeavor.
The man in question was watching the calvary battle with intrigue. "Interesting. The three…. Seekers? Yes that's right. They took to just avoiding the battle altogether. Flying or floating above everyone else. Not the way I'd do it, but I do see the wisdom. But why not use those Titans to take care of the competition?"
"Because they don't see the truth. That monsters like you and the rest need to be dealt with. Instead, they'd prefer to let the faux humanity of monsters who have quirks run matters." Rodolfo says while slipping out from the doorway. Rubbing his hands slightly while subtly building up his magic.
Endeavor turns to see the strange man next to him and while narrowing his eyes. "Who? You're not with those reinforcements, are you?" he starts before surmising the likely nature of the man before him. His eyes darting towards the civilians and the area where the students are battling.
Rodolfo smirks before saying, "no. And I'm going to enjoy burning another one like you down. Fireswarm!" A burst of black and purple embers fly from Rodolfo's hand and quickly surround Endeavor. He's startled at first, but he ups the intensity with his quirk and pushes the flames away.
"Did you really think that would work on me? I have resistances to fire!" the hero says before punching at his foe. Only to be shocked when said foe stops his punch with one hand and isn't even burning. "Chillskin. And now, Firestorm!" Rodolfo says while unleashing a torrent of flames at the hero. Which has a few other effects that Endeavor underestimated.
The lead of which being, he didn't notice that the embers from Fireswarm he had pushed away were still burning. Namely, burning a few people and the surrounding area. The second, his own flames were being compounded by the Firestorm spell as it was increasing his internal heat.
The red-haired man snarled before trying to use one of his ultimate moves in the confined space. But when he went to use his Jet Fist, said fist had no fire. Thanks to a sneaky Titan Rodolfo had summoned, Dendras. It used it's ice dragon puppet to freeze Endeavor's hand and leave him open to a number of burning blows from the villain.
This was capped off by a Nullcurse spell knocking him away and down into the field where the students had been battling. This put a full stop on the proceedings for the Sports Festival as more people realized what was going on. There had been some panic inside, but now it was compounding as Rodolfo's traps were blocking exits and attacking others.
"Behold! Your mighty hero, number 2 or not. Laying broken and charred by his own arrogance." Rodolfo says while leaping up and then floating downward in the direction of the main arena. People were panicking as he also had his Titans alongside him. With a recently summoned Volcana flying next to Dendras.
Upon seeing the attire he was wearing, Izuku, Reiko, and Asahi dropped all pretenses and shifted to a ready state. Pulling a few of their amulets from their pockets. "Hold it! I'm not… DONE!" Endeavor said while increasing the power of his flames. He picked himself up and shook his head before glaring up at the Blood Spiral commander.
He then launched a pillar of flame at his foe before saying, "you children need to get out of here! I can handle him! I will handle him!" Most of the students agree and quickly make their way towards the exits. The Seekers though disagree with what Endeavor said.
"Sir you need stop! You have to see he's using your quirk against you!" Izuku says while stepping towards the hero. But the boy is shrugged off somewhat violently before saying, "no! I won't leave this in anyone else's hands! I will prove I'm stronger and the better hero! Prominence Burn!"
The massive beam of fire is launched at Rodolfo on his perch. The man having stood there and let the attack happen. Which was a major red flag to all of the Seekers. "This is bad. And we don't have a lot of Titans." Asahi muttered before asking Izuku to go get their other amulets.
Reiko shakes her head and says, "no I'll go. You two have more experience. And that is what he'll…. Need." Right as she was saying this, Endeavor collapsed to his knees from the output of heat he used to attack Rodolfo. Who was still standing on the rail of the arena just fine. Thanks to a special spell, Frigidhold, creating an even stronger resistance to fire than Chillskin.
He smirks at the man and says, "you are just as idiotic as every other fire quirk user I've hunted down and killed. Fireport. And you'll burn just like them." Once in front of Endeavor. Rodolfo grabbed his neck with a strong Infernohand spell. "I can take the heat," the hero chokes out while feeling his skin start to burn.
Rodolfo's cruel grin grows before saying, "many heroes of fire have said that." He then pulls out a chain that has a number of locks of hair. Enji's eyes widen as he acknowledges what that could be. "This is all that was left of ten other fire heroes from around the world." Rodolfo says before increasing the fire around himself with Armorburn and Volcana's powers. Actually starting to burn Endeavor inside and out.
But two Touchram attacks knock the Titan and Spiral away. Rodolfo shakes his head and spies the pair of Seekers before getting blasted once more by their spells. Reiko then hurries in and gets to Endeavor. "No…. I'm not…. This fight is…" he mutters out while his body is still burning.
"Chillskin. No. This fight is done. At least for you." Reiko says while pulling the man out and away from the new duel between Seekers. As well as going to get the rest of their Titans Rodolfo spies the girl and nods slightly. Saying, "so, one of the ones we grabbed did have more potential. And finished our plans to make this world right once more."
He was looking in the direction of some of the still active video cameras which puzzled the younger Seekers, but they refocused on him. "Izuku, what Titan do you have around your neck? I've only got Asura." Asahi asked with some worry. Izuku shook his head before saying, "just Ronin. At least they're battle Titans."
Asahi lets out a breath before quickly removing and calling to his Titan. "Show them your wrath! Asura!" she shouts before summoning the golden armed warrior. Izuku nods before calling out to his Yama Titan as well. "Show your steel! Ronin!" Izuku calls out and the Titan appeared in a flash of jade green light.
And before them stood a warrior with a large kasa hat and light somewhat traditional looking armor on his body. On his waist are twin tachi swords hanging on either side of his body. Beneath the hat and covering his face, is a ghostly mask with glowing eyes to accentuate the demonic visage.
The warrior draws both of his blades and holds them in a ready stance to face their foe. Rodolfo narrows his eyes before gesturing for his Titans to attack. Both shoot fire (and some ice from Dendras's other puppet at the pair. But the Seekers quickly protect their Titans with Honorguards. They then cast Darkfog before having Ronin jump into Asura's hands to be thrown at Volcana and cut her down. While Asura rushed Dendras and pummeled him into the ground.
"I'd call that clever given your limited numbers. But I still have plenty in reserve. And these are the ones I really hunt with! Charge! Wolf Knights! Materialize Jirwolf! Strike them down! Kopesh! Howl Doberman! Hunt them Cerberus! Poison them, Ihimis!"
The last Titan summoned was a feminine looking wolf who's claws had a sickly green color and her saliva was much the same. Izuku and Asahi were wide eyed by the sheer number of enemies before them. "I uh… I think I'm seeing a pattern here." Asahi said with a scared chuckle. He shook his head before taking his stance. Izuku was in much the same position and was really hoping that Reiko got back soon. 'And I hope Melissa and the rest are okay too,' he thinks while trying to come up with a plan.
Oh finally. I'd originally planned for a final fight in the tournament between Asahi and Izuku going all out with Titans and spells. But writing everything else in between ended up sucking the life out of me. This meanwhile is more fun to write. Including setting up for what future allies that the Blood Spirals could gain. I think some of you can guess who that might be.
As for Ronin and Ihimis, I wanted to add in some custom Titans. Ronin I've mentioned before, but I never gave a proper description for what the Titan looked like. And while I gave Izuku Caliban, I like the idea of him not needing to use the exact same as a Dante. Including for a possible powerbond. Ihimis though, I got the idea from a werewolf legend in northern Europe. To fit with Rodolfo's true theme and essence as a Spiral.
Next chapter though I'll have more on what Melissa and the rest of the Seekers are doing against the Spirals. And having Reiko get back in time to save her friends. Please review!