Huntik Heroes
Chapter 20
This time will be more with the rest of the students. As well as getting into the line for the Sports Festival and how some things will change compared to the canon. Also, Shinso will have a different opinion of all of the hero course students given what he knows compared to that as well. So, on with the show.
(No POV)
A few days after the Seekers returned from their missions, Aizawa had a new challenge for them all. "It's about time for the UA Sports Festival." Upon announcing that, most of his students cheered. Some though were questioning if it was a good idea. "Given what happened with the Blood Spirals after all." Kaminari said while looking over at Mineta's empty seat.
Aizawa followed his gaze before saying, "you make a decent point Kaminari. But we aren't taking any chances this time. We've asked Asahi's father to call in some extra security from the Huntik Foundation. And we'll also have heroes patrolling the grounds."
Eraserhead and Vlad King explain to their students that they need to do this to show a measure of strength. "And that we won't be backing down from any kinds of threats. Both villain and Seeker." He gently nods toward Reiko who smiles before touching the amulet around her neck.
Both teachers advise their students to be ready for anything when it comes to the challenges of the Sports Festival. "We have fewer students than most years after what happened. So you'll all have to make up for who have left."
As the day went on, both classes noticed that some of the General Course students were peeking in on them. "What's this all about?" Sato asked as he was packing up his bag. Izuku though hums and notes, "they want to look in on those who survived a villain attack. As well as those who were kidnapped."
"Well it won't do them much good. After all, just looking doesn't tell you enough." Kaminari says somewhat bitterly. He starts to walk out and asks that the Gen Ed students move. "You aren't wrong about us not knowing much just by looking. But my guess is that you think you're the best because your quirk protected you."
An indigo haired student with baggy eyes says before introducing himself as Shinso Hitoshi. And saying they might be surprised by some of the students from his class taking the new spots. "You're kind of full of it you know that?" Kaminari says while barely looking back.
Before the other students could call him out on arrogance, he shuts them down with a few truths. "I didn't get out of the danger. In fact, while I've got a lot of power it was used against me and my friends more than anything. You don't really know anything about the real dangers out there. You haven't felt what its like for someone to jack your mind. A use you to hurt your friends."
Shinso is wide eyed by this and asked if there was a villain with a brainwashing quirk. Kaminari just lets out a humorless laugh and says, "you should stop thinking in terms of quirks. I've learned just how useless, limiting, and powerless we actually all are. Especially against those who don't have powers you could even begin to understand."
"What are you talking about? Quirks are the only superpower. Right?" one student asks. Asahi and Izuku hum before wondering if the reporters from the first invasion were silenced in some way. "After all, what we are and what we can do flies in the face of everything involving quirks." Asahi noted.
Izuku agreed and wondered if it was the Heroes Public Safety Commission or maybe someone from the Hearts and Minds party. "They'd have a reason to want to keep quiet the reality that quirkless people have more power and potential. The latter more than the former." The two Seekers agreed to check with the Foundation later.
But some of those thoughts would be sidelined as the next two weeks they and the rest of the students got ready for the big day of the Sports Festival. With Reiko eventually learning more offensive and defensive spells to go with her skills. As well as going on another mission before the big day.
"Too bad we didn't get the Titan. But at least we each learned a new spell," she said while waiting with the classes to be announced and come out onto the field. Asahi agreed and was looking forward to using it during the competition.
In the announcers' box, Mic introduced class 1-A and how they had been caught up in a massive villain attack. With 1-B getting a similar note. The difference being that Asahi and Izuku were noted slightly as helping to stave off the attack and eventually saving their classmates.
"Think that'll ruffle whoever it is that wants to keep Seekers a secret or hidden away feathers?" Izuku asked with a smirk. And Asahi just chuckled before noting that it just might. "If nothing else, it'll give the foundation and other heroes a place to look into."
As Midnight announces the start of the festival, she calls up Izuku to speak on behalf of his fellow students. He somewhat expected this given his score from the entrance exam. But he never really considered coming up with a speech.
While Izuku was walking up to the microphone, he had a few thoughts running through his mind. 'What would be best to say here? Katsuki would antagonize everyone in hopes of getting better challenge. Asahi wouldn't be much better given his attitude pertaining to quirks. Ida would be long winded about what it means for us to be heroes and students of UA. But me…. No. I know what I need to say.'
The young hero and Seeker took a deep breath upon stepping up to the mic. "To those of you who are watching and those competing, I have this to say. Don't assume it will be an easy victory of your quirk or that it will carry you through everything." The audience was confused as they all assumed he had a powerful quirk himself, so Izuku continued.
"I've seen how that can limit people or could create cruelty beyond what most of us imagine. But more importantly, I know that a quirk isn't an absolute in terms of ability. After all, I don't have one. And I still scored at the top of the entrance exams."
All those watching were shocked and more were trying to pull the broadcast after Izuku announced that. But it couldn't be done as the boy talked about how he grew thanks to those who showed him a world beyond quirks. And believed in him to become more than the heroes most understood.
"So to all of my fellow competitors, I say this: don't expect any of us to make it easy on you. Because you may find that you are facing much more than you bargained for. Isn't that right, Caliban?" Izuku smirked while saying that and tilting his amulet.
Upon calling the Titan's name, the powerful warrior was summoned and shocked everyone watching. Which only grew when Asahi pulled his own out and summoned Asura. With Reiko summoning Storm Gladiator for her own moment of pride.
Most of those with quirks had no idea what was going on and questioned if this was just a hologram or something similar. That was until Asura lifted a few of the other students up and proved they weren't just holograms.
Before more of a bedlam could ensue, Midnight clapped and snapped the attention of all to her. "Well said Midoriya-kun. Though I have to admit, I'm surprised you summoned your partners to show what was hidden from us all for millennia," she said with a warry eye towards Caliban.
The Seekers each returned their Titans and got ready for the events to come. With Mic joking about the situation. And Aizawa noting the interesting rational that he suspected Izuku had. "He needed to show what he meant, and the best way to do that was to illustrate some of the strange powers he has."
"Yeah, but I think he might have put a bit of a target on his back." Mic notes while acknowledging the students all looking at him, Asahi, and Reiko with confusion, envy, or contempt. Though the latter was held by one student in particular.
Todoroki let out a frustrated breath before stepping up to the duo of Seekers. "I'm not going to pretend that you don't have a very good reason for your fight. I know you do. But I have to show I can surpass you and do it only with my ice."
"Ha! If you think that'll work, you've got the wrong idea. Especially if what I assume the final round of the festival will be." Asahi says with a scoff. Shoto refuses to back down though and notes his father was watching. And he had to show his resolve to him.
Asahi hums at that before focusing on the challenge before the students. And suspecting what would happen during the first few moments. He wasn't alone as Izuku smiled while looking at the exit to the arena. Reiko was a little more nervous, but she resolved to do her best and could imagine what would happen soon.
With the description of the race given, Midnight tells the students to take their positions. "READY! GO!" she announced before cracking her whip to act as the starting gun. And right away the first true obstacle was found. The tight space tunnel of the exit to the arena.
The three Seekers though were ready and had already taken measures. "Spider Touch! Bubble Lift! Hyper Stride!" each called out. As Izuku used the spider like abilities granted by the power and ran along the walls of the tunnel. Reiko meanwhile went a bit slower by using Bubble Lift to float herself over the audience.
And Asahi leapt straight over the spectators as well. And they were some of the first to make it to the main path. Shoto tried to trip them up or slow them down with his ice, but they countered with Nimble Fire. Setting their feet alight as they sped towards the first obstacle.
"Are you serious!?" Reiko exclaimed upon seeing the large robots of Robot Inferno that were used to slow down the competitors. But the two more experienced Seekers didn't let this deter them.
With Izuku tightening his fist as the hand of one of the robots came down on him. He smirked before shouting, "Shatter! KNUCKLE!" Upon impact with the arm of machine, the magic quickly worked its way through. And demolished half of the body of the robot.
Asahi meanwhile decided to show off his family's created spell. "Will, WALL!" he called out before stopping two large robot fists and a handful of smaller attacks. And then showing how it could be used offensively as well. By pushing the robots back with his willpower alone.
Reiko had yet to learn Dragon Fist or similar enhancing or empowering attacks. But she knew how to make use of the spells she had learned. And tripped up some of the robots with Stop Glue or Auger Frost. And blinding the sensors of some robots with Bolt Flare.
As the trio of Seekers made quick work of the robots, all those watching were stunned. "Those aren't quirks?! How are they doing that then?! Did you see how that kid shattered that robot? What about that barrier the other one made!? If… they don't have quirks…. Then how are they doing all of this?!"
As those exclamations or assumptions are being tossed around, the Seekers reach the next obstacle: The Fall. But it is of no challenge given they can all use Hyper Stride and easily leap over the obstacle and keep going.
Only to be stopped by the Minefield. "I'm going for it!" Asahi says before using Hyper Stride to leap himself up as high as possible. And rather than use Feather Drop to land safe, he uses Bubble Lift to try and float to the end.
Izuku meanwhile tries something he'd found on the last mission they went on. "I'll only get one shot…..Storm Sprint!" The spell he uses is a stronger, faster variant of Nimble Fire. Allowing him to move so fast he clears the mine field in a second.
Though not without some cost. Mainly being it seriously drained his stamina and made it harder for him to keep up with Asahi. Reiko bit her lip as she looked over the obstacle and could hear everyone else coming. "I'll only get one shot too. But I won't use it yet. Hyper Stride!"
She decides to copy Asahi and leap as far as she can, making it halfway through the field. But unlike him, she chose to use the mines to launch her further. 'They wouldn't use mines that could hurt us severely. So I just need to make use of the explosions to send me further!'
These thoughts went through her mind as she launched herself and used Hyper Stride to leap further. Catching up to the boys before long. But Asahi still had the lead by a decent margin. So the silver haired girl chose this time to use the spell she had learned.
"Gate Jump!" she says with her target destination in sight. And she teleports to the finish line ahead of Asahi and Izuku. Finishing first, with the other two right behind her. And though she's happy, she feels a minor repercussion from the spell. That being a bit of nausea from "leaving her stomach behind" as it were.
The audience didn't applaud or cheer upon her and the other Seekers arriving to the finish line. Most of them were dumbfounded, insulted, or unsettled that the trio had made most with quirks look like they were weak or redundant.
But the reaction from two individuals started some minor applause. The first being All Might himself who voiced his own pride at how the students had handled themselves. The second, was the number 2 hero himself Endeavor.
Saying, "even if we don't understand and many may not want to accept their power, we should respect it and them. They surpassed my son and many others with exceptional quirks or abilities themselves. That deserves respect and acknowledgement."
So a few other members of audience start clapping and cheering a bit for the Seekers. With even a few of the heroes applauding as well. Before one asks something of a person protecting the area.
"Talk about skill. Not to mention crazy power. You ever seen anything like that?" Death Arms asked a young lady with burning red hair. She smirked before looking up at the man. Her amulet glistening around her neck. "Oh I know it quite well. After all, I'm a Seeker too!"
This shocks the heroes nearby and they ask if she was serious. With Mt Lady asking if she was saying that just to get some attention. "The name's Ruby Montegue. And let's see what you think of Gybolg!" The silver vine like amulet's green gem flashes as the Titan appears.
The leaf and vine-like monster with it's big green beard lands behind the smirking Seeker. It's large blade gleaming in it's hands. "Whoa! Okay. Didn't see that coming." Death Arms says with a confused chuckle.
Ruby asks if that was good enough or if she should summon something with a bit more bite. "No! No thank you. We get it. Still, you can just summon these whenever?" Kamui Woods asks while feeling odd kinship with the Titan.
"Something like that aye. Let alone a bit of power and muscle from things like this. Dragon Fist," she says before the red glow envelops her hands. She then picks up Death Arms and holds him in the air with one finger.
The hero freaks out a bit before asking to be set down. "So, that enough of the proof of who and what I am?" Ruby asks while letting the hero down. Mt Lady grumbles before agreeing and asking if there were others around.
"Yep. After two attacks by some dangerous Seekers, our superiors thought it best to make sure the area is protected," a dark haired and somewhat disgruntled young man says. But he doesn't show off when asked about showing his titans. "Not the important thing here. And I know you're the number two in the foundation, but we don't get chosen by public opinion."
Ruby sighs and agrees but notes her companion could be less of a stick in the mud. Before asking if any of the heroes had a problem with her Titan staying out full time. "No, if anything it might make you easier to find and keep things safer." Kamui says with a gulp up at Gybolg.
"You're a right prince you are. Perhaps I could show you what others like Gybolg her can do!" Ruby says before heading off with her Titan. Before stopping to get some snacks from a stand nearby. The heroes wonder what else will shake up the world of quirks next.
I thought this would be a good place to shift to after the extremes from a few chapters ago. As well as acknowledging that there would be some who would say, try to silence the reality of Seekers and their powers. Especially those who dislike the idea that quirks could be making them weaker or are a step in the wrong direction.
Aside from that, I wanted to introduce a few new notable Seekers for this age I've made. Zaeed was obviously the Dante and Zahlia descendent. While Ruby is meant to be the Montehue and Scarlet Burns descendent. Obviously we have no confirmation at the end of the series, but there was a little spark there.
Aside from that, I went with a few new ideas on some powers that could really shift the skill and power of the Seekers themselves. Yes Izuku's new one is based on what would have been his power with OFA. But I thought it would also be one that could be done with magic. Thunder just made the most sense.
Reiko's though, I built from the idea of Ghost Walk and Fire Port. She can jump further than the latter and it takes a bit out of her with the former. Anyway, you'll see the idea I have for Asahi's new spell with the next chapter. Please review!