Huntik Heroes
Chapter 17
Time for the new steps and challenges that await the heroes and students. Especially Reiko given she'll be a new type of person from what she is used to. Also….. I'll be looking to maybe remove a few in the hero course after what they went through. You'll see who soon enough. On with the show.
(No POV)
The day after the rescue from the Blood Spirals, a few in the hero course chose to drop out. Mineta being one of the first. "As much as I'd like to show I can be a cool hero, I… I don't think I can fight or deal with the same level of things that are coming to us."
Aizawa nodded sadly while noting that Mineta had been through a lot. 'It would have been one thing if we had just been attacked by villains. That he might have been able to handle. But Blood Spirals take things to a different level.' Aizawa thought before accepting Mineta's paperwork. And then apologizing to him.
Jiro was currently still considering if she wanted to stay a hero, while Kaminari and Jurota were staying for a chance to get back at the ones who used them. Class 1-B though lost someone who didn't even have to face the Spirals. That being Shoda who felt as though he would never match up with his quirk and how it could give him a massive target being in the course.
Pony was one who came to Kan with some paperwork to go on hiatus. Back in the US. "I'm still pretty hurt from…. what she used Jurota for. I just need some time." Pony said while looking down sadly. Kan sighed and accepted her paperwork. And apologizing himself.
Midnight noticed how down the two first year teachers were and, with Hound Dog speaking as well, tried to get them to talk about the problems. "Nemuri just stop. You too Inui. This is something we have to….. deal with. In our own ways." Kan says with a sigh before going to his class.
Aizawa does the same and wonders what else the students could go through after all of this madness. With both classes, quite a few of the students were talking about seeing their classmates leaving or going to the teachers' office.
"How many do you think will swap courses? I heard Pony is actually going home to try and recover. Think those Spirals will come back? What about Yanagi? She's probably done as well. Given she lost her quirk and everything. I hope Yaoyarozu recovers. Jiro? You okay?"
Before some of the questions could be answered, the teachers arrive to their homerooms to take roll. Both feeling a little pang of sadness at seeing the empty seats. Aizawa took a breath before addressing his class.
"As much as I don't want to admit it, this is what we as heroes deal with at times. It's something less understood or known by most who get into this business. Everyone just thinks about being able to use their quirks and getting to be a hero that way." Aizawa starts while his class looks at him nervously.
He sighs before pointing out that was a very narrow and somewhat shallow way to look at what they do. "I've seen it myself. Experienced the pain of….. losing a classmate. A friend. It happened when I was a bit older than all of you. This is the reality. It's why we have to push beyond at our school. To make sure we can save as many lives as possible. Including our own."
His speech doesn't alleviate fears, but it does help harden the resolve of some of the students in his class. Kaminari and Kirishima being two cases, with Izuku and Asahi having already resolved just the same. A few others look nervous. Like Koda, Sato, and even Tsuyu. Whose hand moved to her backside when thinking on what she and the rest endured.
With Kan he notes that all of the 1-B students had to give it their all from then on. "You aren't just doing this for yourselves. Do it for those who… who couldn't go beyond. For those who are scared and hurt. Be they your classmates or just a civilian on the street." Kan says with his eyes moistening.
A few others are resolved, and others look uneasy, but Nieto is the one to point out that they had to prove they were still strong or capable. "This isn't just to show up 1-A. We need to do this to show that we won't buckle to the pressure from the Spirals or any other villain. That's part of what it means to be a hero." Monoma says. And while inspiring, a few could see his knees trembling.
The day went about as normal for the students of the hero classes. Even the hero class wasn't going to be an intense session like they had been expecting. All Might told all the students, "For today I want you each to just test your limits and skills with your quirks. And we'll do it at the mountainous ground."
The students all changed and headed to the battlegrounds. There were no comments about who was missing or what had happened. Each student was focused on getting better so they wouldn't be as vulnerable again.
While Izuku and Asahi practiced their spells, Kirishima and Tetsutetsu faced off to improve their durability and hand to hand skills. Sato and Shoji stretched the limits of their quirks. Sen traded blows with Kamakiri to come up with new ways of fighting, and so on.
All Might noted a few who seemed uneasy about trying to use their quirks though. Those being Kaminari, Jurota, and Jiro. The former two seemed unwilling to put out much. But not out of laziness. Instead, out of fear.
Jiro though couldn't put her jacks into her boot speakers and seemed to be flinching at the slightest sounds. The crackling of Kaminari's electricity seemed especially terrifying. "I wish I knew a way to help them. But that isn't my forte. Especially not in this situation."
"I know Uncle. To be honest I don't think there is anything we could say that would help them. All we can do is try to be there when they need it." Melissa says from his side. She was wearing her own sneaking suit and was practicing a few spells. Before using her newly built holotome to research other matters.
Something that surprised everyone though was the person who walked into the battleground. Reiko was currently wearing the PE uniform and was rubbing her hands a bit. Aside from the surprise a few from 1-B quickly rushed over to her and asked if she was okay.
"Did your quirk come back? Are going to be able to still be a hero?" Kinoko asked with a tear eyed smile. When some from 1-A walked up, Reiko and Asahi's eyes met. He smiled before saying, "Why don't we let her show us what she has in mind."
A few from 1-B looked at him funny. Before Monoma claimed he had no business talking with her. "It's your fault she was taken in the fi-GURK!" he starts to say before Itsuka and then Jurota start beating the crap out of him.
While that is happening, Asahi walks up and smiles at her. "So. You doing, okay?" Asahi asks. Reiko blushes a bit before nodding and speaking her own piece. "Did you know? That it would-"
"Sort of. I suspected something back during the mission to Mt Fuji. But why don't you show them. If you really are still willing." Asahi says before stepping back. Reiko gulps and sighs a bit before unzipping the top of her uniform. And they can all see the amulet around her neck.
While they were all wide eyed, she took it off and held it aloft. "Join us! Sorcerel!" At Reiko calling this out, the Draco Titan appeared. Her pink braided hair flowing a bit beneath her golden ram helmet. And magic crackling in her palms as she floats in the air.
To say most everyone was shocked or had their jaws on the ground was an understatement. Even All Might was stunned and confused by the situation. "How? What? Why can she….. I'm so confused I don't know where to start." Itsuka says before dropping the bloody form of Monoma on the ground.
Izuku whistles before saying, "so you gave her that one? I had a feeling you would do something like this. But Sorcerel? Any particular reason?" Izuku says this last piece with a smirk towards his best friend. Who just coughs in his hand and says he thought they could be the most compatible.
"Is this some of what she was talking about? When that woman had us, she mentioned something odd with Yanagi. Something that intrigued her." Tsuyu asks with a tilt of her head. Asahi hums before saying it was likely.
Ida though has his own thought. "During the investigation we tagged along with. She picked out which one was Ametarasu's mirror. And it seemed to glow when she had it. But why didn't it do anything more than glow when she held it?"
Asahi and Izuku share a look as if to say they shouldn't tell the rest the likely reason. Reiko notices though and choses to ask them later. "So can you show me how you do things? As a Seeker?" Reiko asks with a twinkle in her exposed eye.
All three of the Seekers smile before saying they could. "Let's get started." Melissa says before placing a gentle hand on Reiko's shoulder. All Might nods before asking them to practice in a separate area from the rest.
While the quirked teens were practicing their quirks, Reiko was going through the basics of Seeker spells and even Titan-Seeker combat. She was easily able to grasp Boltflare, Bubblelift, Farslip, and Honorguard. But she struggled with the more physically demanding spells and skills.
"Can we take a break? I can't wrap my head around those spells." Reiko asks after failing to Hyperstride between two rocks for the fourth time. And needing to be saved by a quick Featherdrop from the others. The more experienced Seekers shared looks before quietly agreeing that she would have to come into the spells on her own.
Melissa hummed for a moment before taking out something she had found on a short mission she had taken before the USJ incident. "Reiko. Here. Maybe we should try and see if she can handle other Titans or if they'll bond with her."
The amulet she handed Reiko was a silver rounded piece, looped around a pointed piece of lighter silver with a large green stone in it. It flashed in her hands and Reiko could feel its name. "Tolivane!" she called out and the mole looking fairy titan appeared.
Asahi nodded and summoned his own titans to spar with Reiko. The silver haired girl gulped before taking a rough fighting stance. The more experienced Seeker held back a bit and didn't use his most powerful spells. But it was enough to help Reiko understand where she stood as a hero now.
"So you aren't switching to the General Course?" Kinoko asks nervously while all of the teens were walking back. Reiko smiles down at her classmate before confirming that she was going to still be a hero. "It may not be something everyone can do. But at least like this I can try to help others. And maybe….. Maybe make a few wrongs right."
Jiro meanwhile was looking at Reiko with unease. A state that Melissa noted as well. 'I don't think she'll be wanting to stick around much more. But that won't fix her fears, problems, or trauma. I may have to pull her away to try and help her.' Melissa thinks with a sad frown.
With the classes done for the day, each of the students are conflicted on what else could change in the coming weeks. Especially with the postponement of the Sports Festival. And though there were some general course students who were talking down about the fact that it was being postponed, more could see that some of the hero course students weren't in the best state of mind.
"This isn't just about trying to get into the course now. I saw how some of them seem extra nervous or scared in other ways. I don't know what they all went through, but there were a number who kidnapped guys. So, lets back off."
The one saying this was Shinso Hitoshi. He had been passed over at the entrance exam due to the limitations of his quirk. But hearing about the kidnappings made him and a few other students questions if they really wanted to try and get into the hero course themselves.
While walking back with Reiko, Asahi asked if she was willing to come with him somewhere. She agreed but was still a bit unsure about what he had in mind. Only to be embarrassed as they walked toward a few love hotels.
"Um aren't we going a bit too fast!?" Reiko asks with a blush. Asahi looks at her with some confusion. He follows away from her looks and notices where they were. He blushed before coughing in his hand. "That isn't why we're here! There's something else this way."
His own blush makes Reiko less suspicious and is willing to follow him. To an antique and bookstore. One that seemed small despite the size of the building. "Ah. Asahi. Good to see you. I take it this is the recruit?" the old man at the counter asked while putting down his book.
Asahi smiled and said she was before asking if they could go see the mirror. Reiko is surprised and the surprise grows when the old man pulls on a book and a shelf shift to the side. Exposing a hidden elevator. He then extended his hand to her and asked if she was ready to see more.
Reiko nodded before taking his hand and riding he elevator down to the hidden Japan HQ for the Huntik Foundation. "Whoa… this was hidden here in the city?" Reiko asks while looking around building. Asahi's smile widens before saying there was still something cool to come.
He escorts her to the special vault for artifacts and some special titans that couldn't bond with most Huntik Seekers. The artifact that held the two young Seekers interest though was the eight-span mirror that Reiko had found under Mt Fuji. And the amulet that was next to it.
The coloring identified it as a Yama titan, with the jade green gem in the center of the darker green circle. "So is it a mirror titan or what?" Reiko asked while looking at the item before the mirror. Asahi shrugged before saying, "it's not Divine Mirror Kagami. Also. It wasn't here before. I think it was waiting. Waiting for you."
Reiko looks at Asahi with confusion before asking him something that had been bothering her. "Asahi. Is there another reason that most titans don't, can't or won't bond with those who have quirks?" The young Seeker rubs the back of his neck before saying he wasn't the person to ask.
"That's something… you'd probably be better asking Cherit about. But he's not here right now. All I do know is, quirks seem to mess with the will of most humans. It's why they are more susceptible to powers like Simplemind." Asahi says with a shrug.
Reiko looks at him with a bit of suspicion before gently reaching for the amulet before the mirror. She gulps a bit as she takes it in her hand. She feels it pull a bit at her and it's power rising as she bonds with the beast inside.
She sees the beast in her mind. A white wolf that had flames wreathing its legs and back. A gleam in its blue eyes and the symbol of an eclipse above it. Reiko needs a moment to catch her breath after the bond is fully established.
"Whoa. That was a bit intense." Reiko says after gathering herself. Asahi smiles before asking her if she knew what the titan's name was. Reiko looks down at the amulet with some trepidation. "Divine Beast, Mitama."
Asahi smiles before saying, "honorable spirit huh? Guess that fits. But from what I can tell… you're not ready to really summon it. The power reminds me of Terros." He continues by noting that she would eventually be able to, but it's Yama titan nature plus its power could provide some problems.
"Give it some time and let your skills and power as a Seeker grow. For now, you might want to read up on a few of the tomes that are stored here. It could help you understand a few more powers." Asahi finishes before gesturing to the entrance of the vault.
Reiko follows Asahi out and some of the other Seeker note the surge of power they felt. With one younger agent surprised that Reiko could bond with such an intense feeling titan. She felt a bit self-conscious given she was the center of attention at the moment. But Asahi grabbed her hand to say he was right there with her.
"As powerful as that one is, she could still use a good warrior to back her up. And this one might be just right," a researcher says before holding out a Draco titan amulet. But right as she was reaching for it, both felt a surge of power from Mitama's amulet. One that made a massive snarling wolf face appear behind Reiko.
This scares everyone nearby with Asahi just being surprised. He looks the amulet before asking, "that wouldn't happen to be a Wolf Knight amulet, would it?" The researcher gulps before acknowledging his guess was accurate.
"Maybe this was Mitama's way of saying she wants no other wolves." Asahi says with a chuckle. Reiko pouts at him before asking if he had a suggestion for a warrior then. The old watch man from earlier steps up and holds up a Krono titan amulet. "How about a gladiator instead of a knight?"
Reiko nervously reaches for the amulet, but this time Mitama didn't react. She gripped the golden spear point amulet with an aqua gem in the center of the point. Reiko could feel the strange form of the titan and sensed it's name.
"Blow through the enemy! Storm Gladiator!" she called out as the spectral suit of armor appeared wielding it's spear and trident. A few other Seekers were impressed, but others were annoyed as her summoning caused their various papers to be blown about.
And upon realizing this, she returned to the titan to it's amulet. "Wow. So, this is some of what it means to be a Seeker?" Reiko asked while looking up at Asahi. He gave her a small smile and said it was. "But it's only the beginning."
With that done, the two spend the rest of the afternoon reading through some tomes and scrolls about various powers and other histories chronicled by the Foundation. Once they were done, Asahi called Shiro-san and asked for him to bring the car to take him and Reiko home.
"You didn't have to do this Asahi. I know, I wanted to," the two say back and forth while sitting in the backseat. With Shiro-san smiling a bit at the young master interacting with the girl he fancied. After dropping her off and Asahi walking her up to the door, the boy said he was glad she was staying with the hero course.
Reiko blushes before hugging the boy and thanking him for showing her to the Foundation. "And showing me to Mitama." Reiko says while looking at the amulet. Both can still feel the intimidating energy coming from the titan, but it seems calmed slightly by Reiko rubbing her finger along the top.
They both laugh and say they'll see each other tomorrow before Reiko heads into her home. "So. I would say you are getting quite close with young lady Yanagi. Though I have to admit. I'm surprised you would give her the amulet of Sorcerel. There have been few who could bond with it."
"I guess that just means she had more of what it took all along. Though I have to wonder; why is it that titans don't bond or rarely acknowledge those with quirks?" Asahi thinks aloud before wondering if Cherit would be willing to answer.
The next few days had Reiko learning more about the titans, spells and what she could do as a Seeker. Feeling more invigorated when she finally managed to get Hyperstride right. As she and the other Seekers were celebrating, a beeping was heard from Asahi's holotome.
He opened it to see Maria Guggenheim, one of the current heads of the Huntik Foundation. "Ah good to see you all. I see you are helping the new recruit grow a bit, eh?" Maria says with a smile on her face.
Reiko nods before saying hello. "So what can we do for you Guggenheim?" Asahi asks while a few others listen in with some curiosity. Guggenheim nods before mentioning some troubling rumblings in Russia, Africa, and Australia.
"There's been a rash of snowstorms in some northern regions of Russia. Not to mention some Organization activity in Australia. Mostly focused around Kukadu. And there's been rumblings about more Spirals being active across Africa. Luckily, you won't be going to that one."
Guggenheim mentions that Zaeed had taken up the mission with the current number 2 of the Foundation, Ruby Montehue. "Have they still got a longstanding rivalry? They'll most likely be competing to see who can take out more of the Spirals during the mission. So I take it you want us to go to the other locations?" Each of the more experienced Seekers asks almost in unison.
While confusing to most listening in, Guggenheim can follow well enough and answers each. And he notes that they should meet up with some local agents to help and supervise them. "The Spirals have been getting more aggressive if that attack on UA was anything to go on. So it would be better if you had some back up from older agents."
While both Asahi and Izuku grumble about this, they do agree it was a good point. Guggenheim then asks who wants what mission. "I haven't been to Australia yet. I'm up for that one." Izuku says with a smile. Melissa thinks on it herself before saying she'd go with him. "I don't like the cold so going to a tropic reason suits me just fine."
Asahi laughs a bit before saying he'd check out Russia. "And Reiko is coming with me." Hearing that make the silver haired girl freak out a bit. Stammering out questions like, "are you crazy? Do you really think I'm ready?! Why would you volunteer me for this?!"
"First, no I'm not. Second, you sort of are. But hands on experience will help you in the long run. And third, I figured you wouldn't do it yourself." Asahi says with a smile while stretching out his back. Guggenheim has a laugh before mentioning it was how quite a few Seekers learned in the past and then shooting them the missions.
Mission: Curiosity of Kukadu. Meet with local Huntik agents. Uncover the Organization's plans and intervene if necessary.
Mission: Fright of the Frigid North. Investigate a rash of strange blizzards in northern Russia.
"Seekers. We have our missions." Asahi says while picking up the card for the Frigid North. And Izuku takes the other. Melissa nods while Reiko looks nervous about the whole situation. But steels herself when Asahi places a hand on her shoulder. As if to say, 'you can do this.' She gulps before nodding and asking what was next.
For those who know a few different things in Shinto myth, there are multiple mythic wolves associated with the islands of Japan. And no, it's not just because of Okami the game. Part of my basis for Mitama is the Makami of Japan. And for those One Piece fans you'll recognize it based on the most recent arc.
Considering Thor was a Seeker in the Huntik story, it made sense to have Ametrasu be a Seeker associated with another powerful titan mistaken or related to a deity. And now said powerful wolf is bonded to a silver haired ghost girl. And yes, Mitama is going to be akin to Lindorm for Reiko.
But I'll leave a question to my readers. Which mission do you want to see first? Russia or Australia? Please review!