Here is the thirty-eighth chapter in this story released in accordance with my release schedule for this story. It's time for U.A.'s first years to start their internships so let's see how they're going and we start with Asta, Noelle, and Nero as they begin their internship with the Black Bulls on an interesting note. That is all that I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and while there are no questions to answer here there are three guest reviews that need a response, so I will do that now. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate.
To Guest (guest), thank you for your review. Yes that was a suggestion from another review that I felt worked and helped show that the branches have always had strong ties between each other. Yup. The VA jokes will continue when they work. You'll have to wait and see on Klaus; he does need to see that he's wrong so hopefully that happens. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To KGBeastboy (guest), glad to see that you enjoyed the last chapter. As always I'll look over your suggestions. You aren't wrong that there will be a three person team but as of right now there will be only one team of three and because of the numbers it will now have 12 exams rather than 10 with two new teachers coming in for the additional battles. I will think on most of your 3 person suggestions, but I won't do the second and last ones. That is because those are the only exams in the anime who's selection are specifically shown and the reasons given so there is some sense that they are more important so I don't want to mess with them, the same applies for Kaminari and Mina's exam against the Principal as while the anime left it out, the manga actually has that as an exam that Aizawa explicitly states a reason for the pairing and teacher selection as well. The others are fair game if I so chose, same for Class 1-B where if I do their exam they will be paired up randomly just like the Battle Assessment was (for the most part). Do keep suggesting things and enjoying my work.
To Nathan Ramos (guest), thank you for your review. I don't think that Yami will find out, he's too far removed from All Might to be informed of One for All. He'd be a tough trainer though I'm not sure if he could help with Full Cowling or kick style combat, neither are really his strong suit. He'd simply be able to bring out the best in Izuku at his given time and perhaps through that and his mantra he could get Izuku to realize on his own that he's not limited to his arms or just piecemeal but not even Gran Torino managed that. Full Cowling was only realized because Izuku's bad analogy of the microwave was solved by Gran Torino breaking his in training and the new one being different to Izuku's one at home. There are certainly mistakes All Might made early on but I personally don't think that Yami could have done any different to Gran Torino but that's just me. Now your point on Ozpin and Julius, that's interesting and one I didn't consider. Both are certainly in the positions to potential be in All Might's inner circle given that they are his equivalents in their respective areas so that is something to consider, especially when the other Quirks begin manifesting. I'll have to look into it more when that happens and it could be useful during the time skip arc and even the Dark Deku arc with them coming in to help out. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
That is it for this long pre-chapter note so it is time to sit back and enjoy the thirty-eighth chapter in Black RWBY Academia.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these three great franchises.
Chapter 38: The Blackest of Agencies
"Captain Yami, sir!" Magna called out as he led Asta, Noelle, and Nero down the dirt path to the front of the hideout before veering off towards the end to approach the hole in the wall while Finral followed behind them still looking a little drained from using his Quirk over such a large distance. "We're here with the new interns from U.A.! Let's get their initiation under way!"
"I know, Luck and Charmy did show up with you so I know that you're all here." The beefy man in the tank top standing before the kneeling individuals said not looking at them confirming that he was indeed the Captain of the Black Bulls. "Hurry and get changed Magna, we can do the workout after Finral introduces the Squad. They need to know who they're working with first."
There was something oddly familiar with the man's voice, and all three first years noticed it as they approached the gaping hole in the wall and headed over to the man who finally turned to them and they got a good look at the man who led the Black Bulls. Unlike his subordinates, Yami wore his robe in more of a half cape style over his right shoulder and it was ragged at the end with the cord attached to the left shoulder strap of his tank top. However, the most notable thing on him was the katana at his hip which instantly gave Asta stars in his eyes.
"Oh man it that a real katana?" Asta asked amazed as he stared at it. "I heard that you used a sword but I didn't expect to see one. Not many heroes use them these days so there's not many I can learn from."
"Well yeah, there's not much of a need for swords in a world where guns and Quirks exist but it aids my Quirk and I grew up in a…well it doesn't matter." Yami said surprised by the inquisitive nature of the boy and instantly recognizing him as Asta, the silver medalist from the Sports Festival and the big score of the offers that Yami had made. "Anyway, sorry for the destruction, these knuckleheads were acting up."
"Sorry Captain." The Squad said in unison though all of them would have pointed out that Yami was the one who'd punched out the wall when he got angry at their antics had there not been interns present.
Said interns didn't notice that but they did notice that Luck and Charmy were with them now having both quickly changed while they were talking to Finral after arriving. Luck was now in a large green tunic thing, teal pants that didn't reach his ankles and ankle length light brown boots and Charmy into a white tunic with a kangaroo pocket over a pair dark pants that reached her mid calves and yellow flats with a blue satchel that seemed to be par for the course for Quirk Knights.
Yami meanwhile just nodded at what his Squad had said and took a drag on the cigarette that he was smoking and looked over the three recruits he'd managed to land. Well, technically they were interns but those who interned with a Quirk Knight agency almost always stuck with it so he viewed them as recruits.
The silver haired girl was Nozel's sister, Noelle, and the one he'd expected to land because she had to join the Black Bulls if she wanted to be a Quirk Knight. The other girl he'd not expected, he'd just made her an offer because she looked promising and had worked with Noelle in the Cavalry Battle so they had to have some kind of chemistry though he actually couldn't remember her name. The boy already knew was Asta and he was the one with the most potential, even Noelle's potential once she got control couldn't compare to Asta's.
That had been the big surprise to Yami when he'd gotten the news that three students had accepted his offers, along with some notes on them that he couldn't quite remember at the moment. He'd not expected the annoying and brash but powerful silver medalist of the Sports Festival, the guy who'd hilariously pummeled Endeavor's son in the semifinals, which Yami would have remind the man of if he ran into the number 2 normal hero, to accept the worst Quirk Knight Squad out there.
Yami was no fool, he knew how the Quirk Knights worked and that while several Squads wouldn't offer Asta an internship because of various discriminatory views, Fuegoleon at least was a good man and would see the potential so for Asta to turn down the Crimson Lion Kings, well that was big and Yami would enjoy rubbing that in next time he got a drink with Fuegoleon. Whatever made Asta choose the Black Bulls, it had to be important and Yami was going to see if he was truly a man of his word and be the next Wizard King like he was yelling in the Sports Festival, through a tough love approach of course.
"Good, now, for those who didn't watch the Sports Festival, these three are first years from U.A. doing their internships with us." Yami said gesturing to the kids though all of them had watched the Sports Festival as they'd bombarded Yami with questions about it when he returned from it and who he might make an offer to, while also going over some of the more interesting fights with him as he'd seen them live which they'd no doubt do with Magna, Luck, and Charmy later as well. "Go on, tell them you names or whatever."
"I got it!" Asta said as it finally hit home his eyes wide. "You sound just like All Might! It's actually really freaky how much you sound like him. Man, this is going to be great!"
"What did you say kid?" Yami asked reaching out and grabbing Asta by the head with one hand and lifting him up with ease while squeezing slightly as he did. "You think I sound like that golden boy top hero?"
"Well a tougher, gruffer, version yeah." Asta said his eyes white as Yami glared into them and Asta thought he was looking into the eyes of a killer while Noelle looked on in horror and Nero indifference though both did agree with Asta's assessment. "Also a lot scarier."
"Huh, well yeah I do get that sometimes." Yami admitted as he let Asta go so that he fell on his ass. "Don't mention it, it gets annoying and while I respect All Might I'm nothing like him."
"Right." Asta said groaning in pain as he held his head.
"Now introduce yourselves." Yami repeated. "We haven't got all day."
"Er, sure." Noelle said still a little taken aback by Yami's style before turning and offering the kneeling Black Bulls, which Magna had joined while Asta was being lifted by Yami now in his normal hero clothes, a short formal bow. "I'm Noelle Silva of House Silva, yes that House Silva. I, I look forward to working with you."
"I have to ask." Magna said. "I was surprised to learn that you were going to be interning with us, Princess. I thought you'd be with your brother's Squad."
"Well I'm not." Noelle said with a flick of one of her pigtails. "I…"
"Noelle has to be here, it's part of her condition for being admitted to U.A." Yami said bluntly as he explained the situation with Noelle so that the Squad was aware of why a Silva was joining them. "Her brother demanded it and I saw no downside in having her in the Squad."
"Yes, that." Noelle said as Asta finally stood back up. "My family considers me a failure so I was exiled to U.A. and then here. I know it doesn't sound bad as U.A. is actually better than Shiketsu, I admit I didn't used to think that before attending U.A. but I do now, however in the circles I travel in, a Silva going to U.A. and not being in the Silver Eagles is bad."
"Oh is that all." Magna said surprising Noelle by not caring or condescending her attitude. "Yeah you're in the perfect place then, we're all failures of some sort here."
"Yup." Luck said. "Don't worry about it."
"Oh, er…" Noelle began surprised.
"As Magna said, the Black Bulls are a Squad of failures, or so we're seen." Yami said. "It's part of why I formed it, a place for the misfits who still want to be Quirk Knights, so we all get it."
"Th, thanks." Noelle said touched by it.
"Good." Yami said. "Next."
"Guess that's me." Nero said stepping forward and bowing like Noelle had. "I'm Nero, nice to meet and work with you. I accepted the offer because Asta did and I know Noelle well from class so it made sense to turn down the Crimson Lion Kings and Blue Rose Knights to join you."
"Nero?" Luck asked while Yami's eyebrow raised at that, he'd not known that the other girl had such strong offers, he was so going to rub this into Fuegoleon and Charlotte but especially Fuegoleon for losing two potential interns to him. "That means black in Italian."
"It does." Nero said with a small nod. "It was the nickname given to me by my Guardian when he took me in and because that was a fresh start for me I prefer to go by it."
"Right, it's not your real name." Magna said as something from the USJ incident tickled his brain. "If I recall it was something different."
"It's not but as I just said I prefer so I ask that you refer to me by it." Nero said simply. "But for the sake of disclosure, my legal name is Secré Swallowtail. I don't go by it though; I just have to have it on paper until I'm old enough to legally change it."
"Right, that was it." Yami said recalling the name and the note that Nezu had added to the list of inters who'd accepted his offer to just call the girl Nero. "Alright and finally…"
"I'm Asta from Hage Village up north!" Asta said loudly to the gathered Black Bulls before Yami could finish. "It's nice to meet everyone! I look forward to working with you this week and learning the basics of being a Quirk Knight because one day I'm going to be the Wizard King!"
"Eager I see." Yami said while the Black Bulls blinked at Asta for that, or complained about how loud he was. "And as you may recognize, Asta was the silver medalist in the Sports Festival."
"Wait, you got second place and you still accepted us?" Finral asked surprised. "Why? I get why Luck did, he was far to savage in the Sports Festival he won but you were pretty normal in it, if a bit over the top with Endeavor's son."
"Because Noelle was coming here." Asta said causing Noelle's cheeks to flare red which at least one of the female Black Bulls noticed, or would have had she not been holding back vomit from her hangover and subsequent day drinking to try and get over it. "And we all got offers from the Black Bulls. We're in the same class and are good friends who've fought together. I trust Noelle and Nero and they trust me so it made sense that we join the same Squad for out internship."
"Oh, that's actually well thought out." Finral said blinking in surprise at that, from what he'd seen of Asta in the Sports Festival he just thought Asta was more of a meathead brawler with a strong Quirk but he had some tactical insight it seemed. "Most would just go for prestige."
"Yeah, interesting." Yami said just as surprised by Asta's reasoning but not showing it. "Anyway, Finral, introduce the Squad."
"Yes sir." Finral said before looking over the Squad. "You already know Magna Swing, Luck Voltia, and Charmy Pappitson from school or at least from early. They're a virgin street punch, a battle freak who's addicted to fighting anyone he deems strong, and a big eating, bottomless pit but they're all good people."
"I'm not a virgin street punch." Magna said putting an emphasis on the word 'virgin'. "But yeah I'm a street punk and proud of it though now I use that for good rather than delinquency."
"I still want to fight all of you." Luck said before anyone could question, or call out, Magna's claim to not be a virgin which given the very strange way he and Sol interacted with each other in some weird kind of flirting that may or may not actually be true though only Luck and Charmy knew about that odd relationship in their class and neither bothered to learn more about it. "You've gotta like fighting if you came second in the Sports Festival."
"Yeah I don't mind it." Asta said as Luck stood up and took a boxer's stance before he began to shadow box at Asta. "It's what you have to do to take down most villains after all."
"Great because I absolutely love it!" Luck said excitedly while Charmy just ate, not acknowledging her intro at all though Noelle at least noted that the pastries that Charmy was now eating were different from the ones she'd had in the station. "So what do you say? Wanna go a few rounds after this."
"Er…" Asta began his hands up and taking the light jabs that Luck started giving on his left palm.
"Next is Gordon Agrippa." Finral said interpreting Luck's antics and getting their attention as he gestured to a pale man at the end with what looked like black lipstick and eyeliner all around his eyes at the right end of the line as it faced Asta and the girls. "He's not always the easiest to talk to as he can be rather quiet, but he's good people."
"Nice to meet you." Gordon muttered unable to be heard while Luck knelt back down. "I look forward to becoming best friends with you."
The trio didn't hear him but they did notice him. In addition to his strange makeup, Gordon wore what looked like a uniform of sorts that consisted of a dark gray jacket lined with red piping and red cuffs and matching gray pants tucked into knee high black boots. Around his waist was a black belt with the standard satchel at his left hip.
"Next there's Vanessa Enoteca." Finral said gesturing to a woman with wavy pink hair wearing only red lingerie for some reason and made the trio really glad that Mineta wasn't around because he'd love this and that was when you didn't factor in that Vanessa was very well developed in the breast department to the point that her Black Bulls robe couldn't actually be closed it seemed, that or she just didn't bother to do so. "She has a habit of picking fights when she's drunk, which is more often than not, but she's good people."
"Picking fights, I have no idea what you're talking about Finral." Vanessa said with a slight slur to her words before she turned to look at Asta and smiled at him. "You're from Hage then, that's way up north if I recall. Even by Hokkaido standards it's up and that's saying something."
"Yeah that's where I'm from." Asta said surprised as Vanessa got up and made her way over to Asta. "I…"
"To make your way from such a tiny little backwater village in the middle of nowhere all the way to U.A. and then to come second in the Sports Festival, besting a Vermillion, and two regular hero family elites along the way…" Vanessa said as she reached Asta and cupped his chin to look into his eyes causing Asta to have a nosebleed at the sudden, and very seductive, action while Noelle yelped, a sound Vanessa heard and understood well but she was still going to have her fun before letting the other girl have her claim to Asta, which she'd naturally help with. "You must have worked so hard to achieve that, now that's impressive kiddo. How about I give you a reward for all that. Well, what do you say?"
"What did she…" Noelle began as Asta freaked out because it was really hard to turn down, even he could acknowledge the attractiveness of the woman before him though her attire, which he'd never seen a woman wear in person, made it easy, but he fought hard and reminded himself that he was committed to Sister Lily. "Asta's 15!"
"I…" Vanessa began respecting the challenge before she suddenly lost her battle with her stomach that standing up caused and she cupped her hands over her mouth and threw up into them.
That was just the start as Vanessa bent over and vomited on the ground as Asta leapt back and away from it just managing to avoid it as Vanessa continued to vomit. This shocked Noelle as well, and relived her as Asta wouldn't fall for that though why she cared she didn't know, but she hadn't really seen someone hungover and trying to solve it with drinking more before so this was entirely new to her. It wasn't a good first impression as Vanessa continued to vomit but it would only go up from there.
"Hey, kid." One of the Black Bulls, a teen who looked at most two years out of high school, though more likely just one, with light brown hair swept over his left eye, said getting Asta's attention and thrusting a picture of an adorable blonde girl smiling at the camera in his face while bleeding from the nose. "See her?"
"Huh, yeah I do." Asta said confused.
"This is my angelic sister Marie." The teen, who was so close that Asta couldn't see the long sleeved purple and blue shirt he wore under a brown over shirt and brown pants tucked into brown boots that he was wearing until he removed the picture from Asta's face only to get into it with his own. "If you lay a finger on her, or even think about doing that, then you will die."
"Gauche Adlai." Finral said as if his actions were normal while Asta yelled and Noelle, and Nero for that matter, were a bit worried at what was going on. "Loves his little sister a tad too much but he's good people."
"I won't don't worry." Asta said.
"You'd better not." Gauche said as he sat back down and Asta breathed out a sigh of relief as Finral moved onto the next person, a girl with blue hair cut in a bob with a cowlick sticking up from the top and some of it hanging down in in the middle of her forehead though they could barely see it as she covered her face with her hands. "Because I will end you."
"Next up is Grey." Finral said ignoring Gauche and naming the girl as she seemed to shiver there though her white sleeveless top and high waisted blue pants that didn't reach her ankles seemed warm enough. "She's very shy, especially around those she doesn't know, but she's good people."
"I can tell." Noelle said.
"It, it's good to meet you." Grey said in a very timid voice, not looking at them. "Ah, I'm so embarrassed."
"Er ok." Asta said but Finral was already moving onto the last person present.
"Lastly before you we have the owner of the hideout and the land around it so this is private property which means you can use your Quirks as much as you like inside the hideout or for about 20 miles in any direction." Finral said as he gestured to a man with a massive amount of white hair that covered his eyes and which no doubt would reach below his waist if he was standing, wearing only white pajamas for some reason. "Henry Legolant, he's a bit eccentric in his own way but he's good people."
"Hello, welcome to my home, it's a pleasure to meet you three." Henry said his voice slow as he enunciated every word individually. "Don't worry about the damage, my Recombination Quirk will fix it right up once everything is over."
"Oh, ok." Asta said as Noelle and Nero blinked at the strange man.
"And finally there is me, Finral Roulacase." Finral said introducing himself. "Suave, sophisticated, lady-killer extraordinaire. Well, not forgetting our fearless leader Yami Sukehiro that is."
"There are other members of course." Yami said now that Finral was done while Noelle and Nero doubted the whole lady-killer thing while Asta was confused about the lack of a 'he's good people' being added to Yami's introduction. "But they're on leave, or missions, or I don't know it's hard to keep track of what they're up to. Think you three can play nice this week. Do so and there will be a work study spot for you once you pass your provisional license exam."
"Yes sir, we're all going to get on so well." Asta said loudly and excitedly. "I can't wait!"
"I will do my duty as a member of House Silva." Noelle said while Vanessa muttered about Asta being too noisy.
"Sure, won't be hard." Nero said in her usual tone.
"I'm so excited to meet you all!" Asta said his tone still loud. "I can't wait to work with you!"
"You're as loud as you are short, I noticed that in the Sports Festival." Yami said.
"Yeah I can be." Asta said while Noelle and Nero nodded.
"So shut it." Yami said with a glare at Asta.
"Right, sorry sir." Asta said quieting down at once.
"Alright Squad, it's time to test these interns and see if I made the right choice in giving them offers." Yami said with a grin. "Magna, take Asta to the male quarters, Charmy, take Noelle and Nero to the female quarters and show them to the rookie rooms, as well as the base in general along the way. You've got half an hour to get changed into your hero clothes and come outside for your workout."
"Workout?" Noelle asked worried.
"Yes sir, I love working out!" Asta said.
"I can tell." Yami said with a glance at Asta. "And yes, you're all getting a workout to show me up close what your level of fitness is and what you can do. Now get to it."
"This will be painful." Nero said as the Squad got up and got to work with Vanessa cleaning up her mess and the rest beginning to move furniture while Asta, Noelle, and Nero headed in as Magna and Charmy began to show them around.
The tour was pretty quick despite the size of the base most of the lower level was taken up by the spacious common room that was two levels high though the balcony around the upper level was for show. The common room itself had several mismatched but comfy looking chairs, a chaise long with bottles of wine around it, a few sofas including a wraparound one in the corner, and some tables and a big TV in a protective case on one wall. However, the big thing was the fully stocked bar in it that ran along the most of one wall and had a full bar top and stools before it.
From there Magna and Charmy led Asta and the girls through a curtain and into the rest of the lower level, showing them a large dinning room filled with long tables and benches and wood paneling on the lower half of the walls with pictures. Noelle noted that it looked like a European boarding school's dinning room but the others didn't know what that meant so before they moved on rather than ask questions. In the process none of them noticed that Charmy, who'd been eating this entire time, paused to create three cotton sheep with her Quirk that she then set to work making the feast for later.
Next up was the dusty library that no one used, the game room which just looked like a room filled with medieval looking torture devices for some reason, the toilets, a public bath that was basically the men's bath, and a brief trip to the subterranean level where the dungeons were. Thankfully there was nothing there so Magna took them back and upstairs before they parted ways.
"The girls' quarters are over there and Vanessa has set up a lot of lethal traps." Magna said pointing to a dark corridor where strings were before they left as they split up that Charmy quickly led Noelle and Nero towards as they parted ways. "No way we're getting there. They have their own bathroom and baths there as well."
"Ok that's fine with me." Asta said as Magna led him to his room.
"Also this place changes randomly." Magna said with a grin as they reached a door. "So just remember the door and you'll be fine."
"Got it, thanks." Asta said as he opened the door.
"It's not much, mine's way bigger, but it's the same as what the girls are getting so…" Magna said imagining the Noelle would really dislike this.
"It's great." Asta said with a grin as he looked at the room that had a simple single bed on one wall, a chest of drawers under the windowsill, desk, chair, and small set of shelves along with a few more high ones. "Other than the lack of an attached bathroom it's just the same as my room on campus and better than the orphanage."
"Right you grew up in the sticks like me so you don't mind humble living." Magna said as he thought he heard a faint note of protest from where the girls' quarters were but ignored it as he continued. "My room is twice the size but I'm a provisional member who'll become a full member once I graduate from U.A. Once you are one you'll get an upgrade and then when you're a full member you get an even bigger room. There is a sense of seniority though why Henry gave Yami the master suite I don't know as this is his place."
"Well bigger rooms based on seniority just makes sense." Asta said not questioning why Henry would do that though the simple reason was that this had actually been his parents' place before they abandoned him her so he didn't want the master suite. "Thanks, this is perfect for me."
"Good now get changed." Magna said as he grinned at Asta. "It's almost time for that initiation that I mentioned earlier and it's going to be a good one."
With that Magna left and closed the door behind him and Asta looked at the room and smiled. He'd made it this far and while it was only an internship it was the first step on his heroic path to the Wizard King. Next up was his chance to really show the Black Bulls what he was made of and he was going to do just that and then some as he moved to the desk and put his costume case down on it and opened it. It was time to really nail this initiation thing, he just hoped that the girls were ready as well.
Noelle looked around her room once the door was closed following a slight cry of protest at the meanness of her accommodations. It was the same size and style as Nero's, which was next door though the quiet girl had gone in the moment that Charmy had opened the door without any protest like Noelle, and thus likely the same as Asta's. As such it was far beneath what Noelle was used to living in. Even being exiled from her family she still had a place worthy of her station but this, this was not.
However, there really was nothing that Noelle could do or say about it other than vent a protest so she did just that and then accepted it. Now that she was in her room, she just put her case down on the desk and opened it to access her outfit that she wore for hero work. This was the result of her own choice to become a Quirk Knight despite her struggles. Being sent to U.A. was just the tip of the iceberg, the body was being with the Black Bulls and having to live in a room like this while on duty with them.
Still, despite the humble quarters, Noelle did have a small smile on her face as she took off her school uniform and changed into her hero clothes. She may be a failure but thanks in large part to Asta, not that she'd ever dare admit it to him, she'd begun to come out of her shell and warm up while also getting the first semblances of control over her Quirk. She had real friends for the first time in her life, friends who cared about her and didn't treat her as a failure and who were so loyal that they'd turned down the Crimson Lion Kings, and other Squads, to stick with Noelle in the Black Bulls.
That meant more to her than she realized and so she'd be able to put up with this without an issue thanks to them. Hopefully the rest of the Black Bulls were just as understanding even if they were an odd bunch.
Naturally Noelle wouldn't show it and as she finished changing, affixed her support item to her waist after making sure there was water in it, and left the room to find Nero waiting for her already changed which wasn't a surprise as all the girl wore was a simple dress and nothing else for hero work, Noelle put her usual walls up. They were cracked but she still had them for a reason and this initiation or workout whatever it was called would no doubt annoy her to reinforce them as she and Nero began to head back to the common room and see what the workout was all about.
The three first year interns reached the common room at almost the same time, a coincidence as they'd not planned it but it worked out as Magna was waiting for them there grinning like a madman which didn't put them at ease. The hole was still in the wall and the chaise lounge style sofa was missing but a quick glance showed that it was outside so they just followed Magna in silence as he led them outside to where the rest of the Squad was.
Most were crammed onto the sofa with Grey at the far end hands over her face though she was peeking through her fingers next to Gauche who staring at a picture of his sister while having another nosebleed. Charmy was in the middle eating yet more pastries with Luck next to her but sitting on the back and Vanessa sat on the arm. Only Yami, Finral and Gordon were standing with Gordon on the side that Grey was at the end of and Yami and Finral on the other side. Henry wasn't present, which surprised Asta.
"Where's Henry?" Asta asked using the man's first name as that was how those in a Quirk Knight Squad addressed each other so it was the correct form of addressing the members though none of them knew that Sukehiro was Yami's first name. "Shouldn't he be here?"
"He had to return to his room to repair the damage to the hideout." Finral said. "The nature of his Quirk is both esoteric and draining so he when he's making repairs he needs to be where he can lie down once he's done just in case he collapses."
"Oh ok." Asta said.
"Right get to it." Yami said before anyone could say anything more. "And make it quick but thorough."
"Yes sir!" Magna said seriously as he led the trio out to the area in front of the other Black Bulls though his grin never faded. "Right you three, time to show us what you can do. Quirks are physical attributes so you need to be strong physically to use them. Let's see just how strong you are as you complete all the exercise I give you."
"I'm ready, let's go!" Asta roared. "Whatever it is I'll do it!"
"I'd rather not." Noelle said. "I understand the importance of being in shape and do that but do I really have to workout in front of everyone."
"I second Noelle." Nero said while Vanessa yawned at the whole idea of this kind of initiation. "I work out fine at school."
"You'll do as you're told!" Magna shouted ignoring the girls' protests. "Now, 5 thousand crunches!"
"On it!" Asta roared as he fell into the position right away and went to work with he drive only he could, and with the strength only he had. "This is nothing!"
"Annoyingly he's right about that." Nero as she sat down and began to do crunches though making sure she was facing such that no one could look up her dress. "This is actually less than what he does in a day."
"Yeah, it's why we don't join him for his physical workouts." Noelle said sighing and doing the same as Nero. "But we're only doing as much as we can."
"Fine but you'd better push yourselves." Magna said. "The U.A. motto is Plus Ultra and the Black Bulls personal mantra, well it's Yami's so it's the Black Bulls', is Surpass Your Limits so I expect you two to do both."
Noelle groaned at that but she and Nero did as told. A workout wasn't a bad idea and in their line of work physical prowess did mean something as being in shape could mean life or death in certain situations so they set to it.
Both girls were in decent shape and managed to do over 30 crunches each before the hit their limits though the words of U.A. rang in their heads, along with Asta's screaming as he continued to do crunches next to them and at a much faster pace, and they both pushed to reach 40 with pride driving Noelle on as well. In the end Noelle managing 42 and Nero 47, which both were pleased with. Asta was still going and had to be stopped by Magna because no one expected him to go all out and they'd stopped counting once he'd blown past 100.
Next came push-ups which again Asta showed his physical strength by powering through while both Noelle and Nero had to reach deep and surpass their limits just to exceed a certain number, 20 in their cases before Noelle tapped out at 24 and Nero managed to get to 30 though she was really struggling by that point and wasn't even sure why she pushed herself to that number. Again Asta's number couldn't be counted and had to be stopped by Magna for the next test, which was raw strength.
Asta of course easily lifted a massive boulder over his head and held it there while neither Noelle nor Nero tried that, especially because after a few moments Asta's arms and legs began to wobble showing that even he was at the edge of his strength. They could lift some decently sized rocks but that was it and this time Noelle managed to outdo Nero, she was silently competing with the other girl and of course it wasn't to show Asta that she was the stronger of the two, not at all, by lifting a heavier rock. Naturally it paled to what Asta could lift but then again only Yami could lift more than what Asta could.
The final task was breaking a boulder with their heads. This was a joke task and naturally Noelle and Nero refused to do so right away but Asta took it seriously and slammed his head into the boulder. That caused him to wail and fall to the ground where he rolled around in pain before getting up, declaring that he wasn't done and trying again much to everyone's shock. This time he didn't fall to the ground and the boulder cracked so he roared and did it again.
"I knew he had a hard head but that's something else." Noelle said her eyes wide as Asta worked on the boulder with his head and her voice a little breathless from the workout, not to mention feeling very sweaty. "He's actually able to crack it."
"Yeah even his natural density doesn't explain that." Nero said sound just as breathless as Noelle as the boulder cracked even more and finally broke. "He's probably stronger than we realized. Most impressive."
"I'll give it to the kid, he's doing well." Vanessa said from the viewing area. "Best we've seen in a while I'd say."
"Yeah in terms of strength and stamina he's off the charts." Luck said. "Hell, when it comes to non-Quirk boosted, power I'd say even Togata and Xiao Long would be hard pressed to top that though both would see it as a challenge to try."
"It will serve him well." Vanessa said. "In our line of work strength and stamina are just as important as how good your Quirk is."
"Few there, that's done." Asta said as he panted and then looked over to Magna who'd backed up a bit now stunned that Asta had actually tried this part of the test let alone beaten it. "So is that all? Do we pass?"
"I agree, are we done?" Noelle asked. "I could use a shower at least."
"Asta's a lot stronger than he looks, I'll give him that and you girls are clearly in shape which is good though you might want to get stronger just in case." Magna said getting a glare from Noelle that he ignored. "But I'd expect that from U.A. students so you're not done yet."
"We're not?" Asta asked. "What's next?
"Well, now that we've tested your physical fitness." Magna said as Noelle and Nero both clearly sweaty from the impromptu workout though Asta didn't seem phased by it at all. "It's time to test your Quirks."
"Don't we get a moment to rest." Noelle complained.
"You don't rest in the field." Magna said as a fireball appeared in his hand. "You might have to fight right after a long run to get to an attack on a village or after a natural disaster so you don't get to rest now."
"It's a fair point." Nero said. "We should have to be able to fight even when exhausted, or at least know when to run away and get help."
"Bring it on!" Asta said ignoring the girls. "What's the challenge? I'll ace it!"
"Simple, using any tools at your disposal be they Quirks or physical prowess, dodge and counter my attacks." Magna said as he cocked his arm back. "If you can. Don't forget that I've seen you fight back in the USJ."
With that Magna suddenly started chucking fireballs at the trio at a rapid pace instantly forcing them on the back foot right off the bat. It was a good strategy to overwhelm them but already Asta had an idea and a rend appeared in the air next to him so that the handle of his great sword appeared as he showed off surprising nimbleness by dodging the attacks with ease. As he did he saw Noelle draw her wand thing and it aided his idea.
"Noelle, protect Nero." Asta called out as he drew his sword and began slicing at the fireballs. "She can't fight at range. When I provide the opening, follow it and set up Nero for the sealing blow."
"That was a terrible pun!" Noelle yelled as she moved around the fireballs though most were aimed at Asta and for once glad that she was actually in good physical shape as it really helped her dodge them. "Still, it's not a bad idea. Nero get over here."
"Right, I agree this is a good idea." Nero said already grasping it and even if Noelle missed, which was likely, it should work fine as the water alone would be a distraction. "Create it!"
Noelle nodded as the water flowed from the tip of her wand at her mental command while Nero sprinted behind Asta as he roared and cut through the fireballs, or rebounded them away so that they hit the ground and exploded. With the later strategy it was either in front of the gathered Black Bulls or the other side though any that got too close were transported way by Finral's Quirk.
In seconds Nero was by Noelle's side. The moment she was the water dome quickly formed around the girls and soon it was fully erected, closing them off from Magna and Asta as the swirls appeared in it so that any fireball the hit it was instantly extinguished without any hope of reaching them.
"Impressive." Vanessa noted as the dome went up while Asta worked on the fireballs not phased at all by any that came too close to her. "The Sports Festival showed this but seeing it up close is something else. He really can nullify Quirks and Noelle's water control is strong. It's a good barrier though fire is naturally weak to water."
"It's a shame her accuracy wasn't great." Luck said. "I saw it miss though she used it to her advantage and still won her first battle I don't think she intended for her battle to go the way it did."
"They are doing well." Gordon muttered though no one heard him. "They'll be great friends and squadmates with us when this is over just like they already are with each other."
"They aren't Marie." Gauche said not paying attention at all. "So I don't care."
"I'm more interested in how they counter." Finral said. "This is just defense and whatever Asta's doing."
"Give it a moment." Luck said as Asta continued to dodge the attacks while dispelling or redirecting the ones he couldn't do that with. "He'll get frustrated and when that happens he'll use more power to overcome it. It always happens and is kinda why he's not in the Top 10."
"Mhm yes Magna needs patience." Charmy said as she ate while watching the battle. "He and Togata are the only ones who are actually able to handle my cotton without an issue but he's not willing to wait for the opening. Course Togata doesn't have to even wait for that, he can just go through it. Quite annoying."
"Come to think of it, why aren't you in the Top 10, Charmy?" Vanessa asked. "Aren't you strong enough?"
"Oh she is, even I struggle if I can't set fire to her cotton when it's overly dense." Luck admitted. "Not even the real powerhouses who actively challenge Togata like Xiao Long and Nikos can get through it, I'm the only one who can and only when I go for focus but that kinda stuff doesn't appeal to Charmy."
"Yup, I just want to eat and do good when I can." Charmy said happily as she continued to eat. "This is the perfect path for me."
"Can't complain there, that cotton you produce is really strong and has come in handy in plenty of natural disasters and building collapses." Finral admitted as Magna's frustration got more and more pronounced as none of the fireballs landed on his targets, and Noelle taunted him from in her water dome while Nero looked impassive both of which clearly annoyed Magna. "One of the few good things we do is feeding those in need thanks to Charmy's skills."
"True and we get good wine and sake as gifts from them." Vanessa said. "Which always go well with the food."
"Yeah but it's not fighting." Luck said as the fireballs ended. "Oh, it's going to get good let's watch. Who wants bets on what brings down Magna? I got Asta doing it with his sword like he did against those kids in the Sports Festival."
"You're on." Vanessa said with a grin. "Noelle's water for the win. Always go for water when it's against fire."
"I just want them all to do well." Gordon muttered.
"Marie." Gauche said but he was ignored.
"Er, I'll say the other girl, Nero will be key." Grey said nervously. "She's not acted yet so there has to be a reason for it."
"Oh Grey, you're getting involved, that's good." Vanessa said. "Then we've got those for everyone. Let's see how the virgin street punk falls."
The others nodded while Magna roared about the not being a virgin street punk but they ignored it. It was about to get good and the Black Bulls were eager to see how the new interns finished off Magna and ended the initiation on a high note.
"Ignoring the peanut gallery, this will be something you can't handle." Magna said still annoyed at the virgin street punk comment but grinning as he held out his arm and fireball formed in his palm that began to grow larger and larger. "I can control the size of the fireballs I create; I don't use this bad boy all that much as it's quite destructive but for you I'll make an exception Lil' Rasta. Once your done, well that Rose girl showed how to handle Noelle's dome and Nero's got no range so you're done."
"Bring it." Asta said as Magna threw the fireball. "That won't stop me!"
Asta knew from the size that he couldn't cut the fireball, the backlash of dispelling such a concentrated mass of fire would be too much to handle. His experiences with Todoroki in the semifinal and Bakugo in the final had showed him that fire, or fire from explosions, was something that, while negatable, could cause problems in the process and that had been loose fire not concentrated fire like this. Still, Asta did have a counter for it and as the fireball came at him, Asta twisted his great sword and swung it like a baseball bat so that it hit the fireball with the flat of it.
There was a deep gong before it was blasted back and at Magna with enough force to surprise the Black Bulls even if they'd seen the rebounding effects moments earlier when facing Magna's smaller fireballs. Now though it was clear that anything rebounded was done so with twice the speed and power as the fireball tore at Magna who's eyes bugged out of his glasses at the incoming fireball as he'd not expected to be hit by his own Quirk today.
"Noelle!" Asta roared.
"I know Dorksta!" Noelle shouted back over the sound of the whirls in her water dome as it fell.
However, rather than let the water hit the ground, Noelle gathered it in a ring around her and Nero and sped it up as the fireball reached Magna and hit him with an explosion the engulfed him in flames. The moment that it did, Noelle blast her water at him hoping it would hit and if not it would provide the distraction that Nero needed and at least be able to quench any flames that might come from it.
There weren't any flames as the fire was extinguished shortly after hitting Magna and staggering him back. He was singed and his clothes torn but otherwise he was ok, which surprised all of them though it didn't stop them.
"Damn that was impressive, would have really hurt too if I wasn't somewhat flame resistant thanks to my Quirk, well that and I can dispel my own fire." Magna said. "But that's good, that should…"
Magna didn't get to finish as he let out a high pitched scream. That was because for the first time Noelle's water had been on target, though why she didn't know and it was still technically a miss. She'd been aiming for Magna's chest but it had instead gone lower, much lower. Every man present winced at that and Magna fell to his knees clutching his groin foam forming in his mouth but as he did Nero was already sprinting forward in the wake of Noelle's water.
Nero knew that this was her opening even without an order from Asta and in seconds she'd reached Magna, falling to her knees and sliding the last part of the way on them as she slid over the grass with her hands out so that she could grab Magna's shoulders to stop herself from crashing into him. As she did, however, her hands flashed blue and she sealed his shoulder joints in place. She then moved her hands down his arms to repeat the seals on his elbows and wrists before touching his hands and sealing them to his groin though she didn't touch that.
With that done, and in a matter of seconds that was hard to see from those watching, Nero raised her right hand and grabbed Magna around the throat and lift his head up a bit while pressing her left to his chest. With her left hand she sealed his pain away for a moment, it wouldn't last long but she needed him to be able to understand, and as she saw his eyes go clear of pain she finally spoke.
"Yield, you've lost." Nero said simply as she squeezed Magna's throat for emphasis. "In case you forgot, Quirk is called Sealing and it allows me to seal or unseal anything I touch and thanks to my training that includes things like joints and muscles as well as two things that are currently under my right hand. I'm sure you realize that now, especially with your pain briefly sealed away which I can also do though it won't last and that pain will return with a vengeance so trust me it's not actually worth it. I presume you know what I can seal with my right hand now."
"Yeah, I get it." Magna said surprised at the lack of pain and the scope of Nero's Quirk. "So that's why that kid yielded to you in the first round of the third event, you're a lot scarier that I realized."
"My p…a close friend of mine made me realize that my Quirk was more than it seemed." Nero said. "Thanks to him and the inspiration I've gotten from Asta I've grown it so that it's a Quirk worthy of a Quirk Knight hero. Now yield, we win this stupid test."
"No doubt, you're teamwork is impressive." Magna said. "I yield to you now can you unseal me."
"Magna's yielded, I can see why you three sticking together is a good idea." Yami said ending the test. "Course there will be times you aren't together so other teamwork is important but that will come. Nero, please do as Magna said."
"Yes sir." Nero said as she let go of Magna's throat and began unsealing what she'd sealed including the lock on his pain. "There."
"Thanks, I…" Magna began before his eyes went wide and he fell to the side as Nero rose. "And there's the pain."
"Well done you three, that was quite impressive." Vanessa called out with a slight hiccup as Nero backed away from Magna who was moaning and clutching his groin on the ground. "Also rather funny, it's not honorable to go for a man's weak spot but it works and there are times where you'll have to do so if you want to win."
"I wasn't trying to go for it." Noelle said. "I am sorry about that but I know it works and have no qualms using it if need be."
"Me next!" Luck said happily as electricity sparked over his body. "I want to test them as well."
"No you battle freak; they've had their initiation and passed." Yami said bluntly. "Help Magna in to recover and get him some ice. Vanessa, give them their robes."
"Right Captain." Vanessa said as Luck and Finral went over to help Magna out as he'd taken a serious blow from Noelle, and his own Quirk for that matter though he'd mitigated most of that. "Here you are kiddos, your brand new Black Bull robes."
As Vanessa spoke what looked like red threads came out of her shoulders and zipped back to the hideout, through the hole still in it, and grabbed a few things that were tucked away in there. She then brought them back, arcing them over Magna as he was helped inside, and to the trio of first years before gently putting them on each with expert control, all while not getting up and clearly a bit tipsy.
"There you go, you earned these." Vanessa said as Asta had stars in his eyes while Noelle blinked as she'd not forgotten how Vanessa had thrown up after her introduction. "You're part of the Squad now, at least for the week of your internship."
"That, that was some impressive control." Noelle admitted looking at the moderately intoxicated, half naked woman. "How?"
"I have excellent control over my Quirk, Noelle, so if you need help let me know as I heard you say that you missed when you hit Magna." Vanessa said before she grinned and glanced at Asta who was smoothing his new robe over himself stars still in his eyes. "And give you some womanly advice if you need it, both of you."
"I'll take the control help; I really need it." Noelle said before going bright red. "Not so much the advice, I, I'm good there."
"What Noelle means is that she needs a ton of help in that department." Nero said bluntly her tone neutral causing Noelle to splutter and go even redder as she turned to Nero but couldn't speak for a moment causing Nero to gesture to her. "See, point proven. Asta's as dense as they come though so don't worry he won't figure things out. Oh and I don't need help, I'm not into that stuff."
"Oh I already noticed about Noelle and well there's dense and there's dense, he can't be the latter surely." Vanessa said as she raise a hand towards Asta and a thread shot out of her palm. "But I'll aid where I can though getting through density is hard, trust me I've been trying for a while. Hey, kid, let me sort out that headband as well."
"What?" Asta asked having completely missed what had just happened and before he realized it a thread hit his black headband and rearranged it to put the red thing at the back while embroidering a prefect stitching of the crest of the Black Bulls on it at the same time. "Woah, so cool! How do you do that?"
"My Quirk is versatile and highly applicable." Vanessa said as she picked up a bottle of wine that she'd brought out with her. "But that's it for me today, back to the booze."
Vanessa Enoteca, aka 'The Drinker Witch', Quirk: Threads. Vanessa can create threads from anywhere on her body and manipulate them freely so long as they are still attached to her. With them she can ensnare opponents, locate things as they act as sensors for her, or repair and emboss clothes. It's really an all-around versatile Quirk though with her usual state of intoxication she hasn't shown her full potential yet.
"With that kind of versatility you'd expect her to be in the Blue Rose Knights at least." Noelle muttered finally recovering as Vanessa necked the bottle of wine in a few glugs. "But then again she's an immodest drunk it seems so not the kind of woman that Captain Charlotte would recruit. Interesting woman though, that control while intoxicated is unreal."
"I can see why she's a Black Bull and why they say the potential is greater than the ranking." Nero replied. "Of the others are just as impressive then I wonder just how good the Squad can be if properly motivated. With that control though, Vanessa could be a good mentor for you."
"True she could." Noelle said. "If…"
"Alright let's head in." Yami said getting their attention. "Take the furniture back and head to the dining hall. I've got a call to take from Julius so I'll be in my office multitasking as I do. Show these three the ropes and answer any questions that they may have."
"Yes sir!" The Squad members able to respond said snapping off crisp salutes before setting to work.
"Also, well done you three." Yami said with a nod, they'd all shown that his offer was worth it. "So welcome to the Black Bulls, the blackest of Quirk Knight agencies."
"Thank you." Asta said as Yami turned and walked in ahead of his Squad though something was still nagging at him while Noelle and Nero nodded though internally Noelle was happy with the praise from one of the top Quirk Knights out there, even her brother acknowledged that Yami was talented even though Nozel hated him, as they began to head inside. "But, er, what did the Captain mean by multitasking?"
"The Captain means that he's taking the call on the toilet while pooping." Charmy said helpfully. "The Captain's often on the toilet. Come on, let's eat the food is almost ready, I can smell my sheep cooks now."
"Did we really need to know that?" Noelle asked but Asta was already following the others inside eager to learn more. "And sheep cooks?"
"Probably not." Nero admitted but she followed Asta and Noelle hurried to catch up. "But so far this has been interesting, let's see what's next though it may be best to not question some things."
Noelle just nodded as they headed inside and made their way to the dining room, the smells of a well cooked meal reaching their noses as they went. It had been interesting for sure and they were all eager to learn more about the Black Bulls and Quirk Knights in general as their internship began in earnest.
Initially I was going to have this be a longer chapter with the chat over the meal as the second part of it but I realized that it was getting pretty long already and with the business I've got at the end of the month which will likely mean that this is the last chapter before December I felt that it would be better to break them up. Don't worry, the next chapter will cover a lot about the nature and duties of the Quirk Knights and set things up for what is to come in the early part of the Hero Killer arc. There really isn't much more to say here, this was a standard and straightforward chapter, so I'm going to leave it off here. If you like this story please follow, favorite (this story and me) to keep up with it and leave a review or PM; your support is what helps motivate me to keep up this work and any questions posed before the next chapter is uploaded I will try to answer. Until next time.
Stringdog