Chapter 62
"Tomika-sensei! Is everything okay?!" Garrett asks.
"Oh Garrett-chan, look what I found!" She said, pointing to the captured Eighth.
"...But there's nothing, except cables levitating in the air...?"
"A power of invisibility. You have to be careful and constantly have it in view. Is the secure area over there?"
"Yes, we evacuated everyone we could already with Backdraft and Uruchi-chan. What do we do now? Because I can't see what to do in this swirl of dust..."
"Find the one who caused it. But first I'm going to give this guy to competent force and have a drink." Tomika said, before continuing on her way.
"..." She watches her go, before turning to face the battle, drawing her sword. "All right, then it's on! For our comrade taken hostage, all risks are permitted!" Then she charges forward.
"Huff... Huff... It's getting harder and harder to breathe..." Koneko covers her mouth as much as possible.
"Here, dear." bends down to her level and puts a piece of cloth over her nose, protecting her better.
"We've got to find the source of this dust storm, otherwise we're going to die slowly of asphyxiation..." Kiba looks around, without much result.
"All Might, Death Arms, the priority is to look after the children, we've got to get them out of here." Says
"I quite agree with you, but do you know the radius of effect of the power of the guy doing this? We can't move without a clear plan." Check out Death Arms.
"Stay alert, the fighting continues all around us, who knows who or what we'll run into." All Might recalls.
"Very well, then let's move forward and stay together."
Everyone agrees with the idea of Death Arms. All Might and Death Arms in front, Kiba and Koneko in the middle and at the back, they move forward as best they can.
Suddenly, a loud finger snap is heard, followed by a shockwave. The heroes resist, but the children who, had it not been for Mt. Lady to stop them, would have been sent tumbling.
"Oh, I feel like I've caught a big one. All Might himself, what an honor. But I have to admit I'm disappointed I haven't stumbled across Present mic yet, I would have loved to see which of us has the more powerful sounds." Says a voice in front of them.
"You'd better surrender!" All Might warns. "You look like you're alone when there are five of us!"
A second finger snap is heard. Reacting at a moment's notice, Death Arms lifts the concrete to cover everyone, which explodes as the shockwave makes contact.
The shockwave is so powerful that it scatters the dust for a few seconds, giving a glimpse of the person attacking them, before being blinded again.
"All right, that's enough, I'm going to get bigger and flatter him like a bug!" Get angry Mt. Lady.
"Do so Mt. Lady, I'd be happy to send you waltzing!" Taunts the voice.
"...Don't do it, Mt. Lady-sama, don't give in to his provocation..." Koneko holds Mt. Lady back.
"We'll do it another way, let us get around him and put him out of his misery." Kiba suggests, creating a sword.
"It's far too dangerous!" All Might exclaims.
"Can I take part in the discussion too?" A third clatter is heard.
"Left!" Shouts Mt. Lady.
Everyone jumps to their left, narrowly dodging the shockwave.
Death Arms took the opportunity to leap forward, charging towards their assailant. The latter, hearing this, snaps his fingers, but Death Arms protects himself by raising the concrete again, which again explodes, protecting him.
"Ah! I never thought I'd see brute strength stand up to the power of sound!" Exclaims the assailant, as if in a trance.
With a velvety step, Koneko moved closer and closer to the target, taking advantage of the fact that he was busy with Death Arms. But the sound manipulator turns to her and snaps his fingers. She narrowly avoids the shockwave by leaping forward.
"As discreet as a cat! But too bad for you kiddo, even cats can't stop their own paws from creating vibrations with every step they take!"
"Gotcha!" Mt. Lady expands several meters and lifts her foot, seeking to crush him.
But he stays where he is, crouches down and puts both hands on the ground, then an earthquake starts, knocking Mt. Lady and throwing everyone off balance.
"He can also cause earthquakes..." Koneko couldn't believe it.
"My legs... Don't answer me anymore... Shit!" Death Arms is immobilized, his legs trembling.
"It wasn't just an earthquake. I also caused violent vibration, which had the effect of strongly disturbing the muscles if too close."
"Bastard..." Death Arms swears.
Suddenly, a sword lands right at the foot of the sound manipulator, who panics but regains his composure, realizing that it has failed. But he notices, too late, that a cable has been attached.
"All Might! He's here!" Kiba announced.
"Well done young Yuuto!" All Might gets ready. "Texas! Smash!"
He throws a punch, creating a wind pressure powerful enough to sweep away the dust in front of him and destabilizing the sound manipulator, forcing him to cling on as tightly as he can.
"You won't escape me this time! Mt. Lady has risen to her feet and is trying to catch the assailant.
"You can always try!" He stands up and snaps his fingers.
The shockwave is extremely violent, sweeping away the dust in front of him. Mt. Lady is sent tumbling away, screaming in pain.
"It was a good diversion Mt. Lady!" Death Arms appears grabbing the guy's hand.
"You should have taken both my hands, you stupid hero!" He reaches for Death Arms with his other hand, ready to snap his fingers.
But a blade slips under his throat, ready to slice him, and he can feel it, the blade is very cold.
"Don't move, or your head will end up rolling on the floor." Kiba threatens.
They are soon joined by All Might, while Koneko heads for .
"Huh, you're not number 1 for nothing All Might, creating an opening that big just with a punch, not sure you can count on the fingers of one hand that kind of person." Laughs the sound manipulator.
"Where is the one who created all this dust?" All Might asks.
"Like I'm going to say it."
"...Very well, in any case, you're under arrest. Cooperate or I'll knock you out." Death Arms threatens.
"No problem, I lost after all."
"You're letting yourself go pretty well for a member of such a violent gang." Kiba wondered.
"Kid, know that there's a feature in Darwin's Game called 'Call for Help.' Which allows you to teleport the people you want. It's a bit expensive, but since he never uses points, it won't be a problem. You can lock me up, but I'll be free in no time."
"If your boss can still afford it. We'll arrest him today too." All Might announces.
"Ah! You don't stand a chance! AH ah ah ah!"
"That's it, have you finished interrogating him?" Mt. Lady asks, helped by Koneko. "We've got to get him to the safe zone, and besides, he gave me quite a bang..."
All Migth ties him up and guides the group to the safe area, walking slowly so as not to get lost. Meanwhile, Kiba tries to make contact with the rest of the occult research club, without success.
"Koneko-chan, I can't get in touch with President or Akeno-senpai, they seem to be very occupied."
"... It's okay, I trust them, and then we'll go back right after."
"I like your motivation youngsters, but we're going to have to examine you, and empty your lungs of any accumulated dust if necessary, so no rush." Explains All Might.
The two look at each other, before looking back, seeing only dust, hoping their comrades are all right.
"What the hell is this? Where did it come from?!" I exclaim seeing this dust storm.
"There's no doubt about it, it's one of the members of the Eighth, that complicates the situation." Rain explains in a weary tone.
"All we have to do is get through it! We don't have time to wait for it to dissipate!" Says Ryuji, his foot fully on the accelerator pedal.
"Yes, time is against us. We have to hurry..." I clench my fists, worrying about my comrades fighting inside.
"Then certainly not! Ryuji, we're stopping now!" Rain pats his shoulder. "Senji, going for it is far too risky and you know it. I know waiting is hard, but right now we have no choice."
"And go on foot?" Sui suggests.
"That's what I was wondering, but it's the same, we're more likely to get lost and fall against a member of the Eighth, and that's the last thing we want right now." Rain explains.
"So we wait?" Ryuji asks, turning off the hummer's engine.
"Yes. Let's have faith in our heroes and shinobi, I'm sure they'll stop this storm." Rain said, sitting back comfortably in her seat.
"Um... There's someone waving at us over there... I can't see who it is..." says Inukai.
"Looks like..." I strengthen my eyes and recognize the person. "It's Tomika-sensei." I say, opening the door.
"Tomika-sensei?! What is she doing here? " Asks Inukai.
"Be glad she's okay instead." Said Rain, stepping out of the car in turn.
I move towards her, to reassure her and, above all, to find out what's going on inside the storm.
"Tomika-sensei! Is everything okay?!" I ask.
"Senji-kun! Oh you're all right, I was beginning to fear the worst!" She said, grabbing me by the shoulder.
"Yes, all is well. Do you know what's going on inside?" I ask, pointing toward the storm.
"Don't tell me that..." She widens her eyes. "Are you planning on going? It's out of the question, their objective is you Senji-kun, I can't allow that!"
"On the contrary, we want to wait until the storm stops." Rain approaches.
"Kashiwagi-chan! What are you doing with Senji-kun?" Tomika is surprised.
"Let's just say we've come to collaborate on a joint, long-term project." She explains vaguely.
"And saving Youta-kun is one of them?" Tomika asks.
"Not really no, let's say more that it's an incongruous event. This situation should never have happened, but the Eighth have pushed the limits, as usual." Rain explains, staring at the warehouse behind the storm.
"...I see... In any case, Senji-kun, it's out of the question for you to go any further than that."
"I'll save Youta whether you like it or not. We have a plan and we're going to stick to it." I clench my fists.
Tomika stares at me open-mouthed, not knowing what to say. She releases me, looking in one direction, as if expecting something. Thinking it's for reinforcements, I start walking forward.
"Senji! We need you in top shape if we run into One! So please be reasonable and don't enter this dust storm!" Rain asks me.
"Don't worry. I just want to give them a hand." I stop and charge my magic circuits, then in a screen of smoke, 7 clones appear. "'GO!" At my command, they leap up and disappear into the storm.
"Yet I asked you to keep in shape, and you create 7 clones, how do you still stand?" Rain asks me, coming back to her.
"It's not much." I reply simply.
"...Seriously?" She couldn't believe it.
"Tomika-sensei, I know you're worried about me, but it's my fault that all this is happening. So it's also my responsibility to fix everything. Please let me go save Youta." I bow to her.
"..." She looks at me with great hesitation, before letting out a defeated sigh. "Very well, since everyone is busy with the Eighth, I have no choice but to leave you with the heavy task of rescuing Youta-kun. But promise me one thing, you'll all come back in one piece, with Youta of course."
"It goes without saying, take care of yourself too." I then turn to Rain. "Let's join the others and go for it when the veil dissipates."
"How do you feel?" Asks a member of the Eighth.
"Honestly, I'm fine, I can hold out for another ten minutes or so. But we're losing. Are you sure you don't want to go and help the others?" Asks the dustman.
"You're our wild card, if you go down, I don't see us stopping them."
"And you're quite right, sir." Ayaka's voice is heard.
"What's that?! Are they here?! Why didn't you say anything?!"
"Because I don't feel anything!... Wait... Ah, now I understand, my power doesn't reach them." The dust manipulator grits his teeth.
"Huh? How is that possible?!"
"Because I've reversed your dust, villains!"
At Shiria's voice, she finally appears with Ayaka and Demitra, who have like a protective bubble around them to prevent the storm from getting any closer.
"Venus huh members?" Remarks the dust manipulator. "They're big shots, maybe more dangerous than the heroes, so be careful."
"Don't worry, I mostly know Shiria, but this should do." He rolls up his sleeves, ready to fight.
"He seems confident." Ayaka said, massaging her jaw. "Should I get serious about it too?"
"Ayaka-sensei, let me do it." Demitra stepped forward to face the two Eighths. "I'll take care of it quickly."
At these words, she conjures up a trident in her hand, while staring at her two opponents.
Without warning, the dust minapulator's bodyguard leaps forward, raises his hand towards her, which opens in the middle and spits out white smoke, hurtling straight towards Demitra.
She raises her trident but feels the temperature rising. Understanding immediately, she jumps back, narrowly avoiding the steam.
"I see, it's going to be more complicated than expected." Demitra observed, watching the steam gradually disappear.
"I hope you don't underestimate us! Because you're going to pay dearly!" Exclaims the steam creator.
Suddenly, the dust around her becomes much denser, almost suffocating. She dashes forward, trying to make contact with him, but it throws up another wall of steam, forcing her to brake immediately and circle around, trying to escape the cloud of dust made just for her.
"Be careful, she's fast! I can hardly keep up with her!" Warns the dust manipulator.
She raises her trident in the air, then conjures up a ball-shaped water source, then increases the pressure by reducing its size and releases, creating a fine jet of water, so powerful and fast that it saws through concrete.
"Watch out!" The steam creator jumps on his comrade to push both of them aside, narrowly avoiding the attack.
the dust storm suddenly calms down, falling back gently and allowing a clearer view at last. Demitra takes the opportunity to look behind her, in the direction of the sea. Then the dust manipulator refocuses, reforming the dust storm.
"That's not how you're going to win!" Scoffs the steam creator.
"I've already won." Demitra replies simply, raising her trident again.
"What are you talking about?... Why does the sea smell so strong all of a sudden...? Oh fuck..."
Demitra concentrates her power to summon the sea, bringing two waves rushing past her towards her enemies. Accepting defeat, the two remain motionless, watching the waves arrive at high speed, before being violently percussed, knocked out by the pressure of the water.
The storm stops for good, allowing everyone to breathe easier at last.
"Good work Demitra!" Shiria steps toward her, along with Ayaka.
"Hm, with a little more training, these two could have been real threats. What a waste to use powers like that." Demitra sighs.
"And yes, unfortunately, some don't have a choice, not that that justifies anything." Ayaka approaches the two unconscious men. "Let's take them to the safe zone, then we'll go back and help those who are still fighting... Hm?" Ayaka stops, hearing the engine of a vehicle approaching.
The three turn to see a hummer hurtling towards the warehouse, avoiding objects and debris.
"Who could that be?" Shiria asks.
"It's Senji-kun, there's no doubt about it." Demitra replies.
"I don't know who it was that got rid of the storm, but I dig it anyway!" Ryuji exclaims, mashing the accelerator pedal.
"Stay focused, who knows who we'll run into!" Warn Rain, not sure what's going on.
"Up ahead, there's a guy facing us!" Shows Inukai.
A guy comes out of nowhere and stands right in front of us, raising his hand, ready to do something.
"He's a sick man! I'm going to hit him!" Ryuji shifts up a gear.
"No, don't! If he throws his power at your car, there's no way we'll get away unscathed!" Rain stop Ryuji.
"Seriously?!" Ryuji brakes and turns the steering wheel violently, forcing the vehicle to slide to a stop. "Just who is this guy?!"
"He goes by Radames, so there's a good chance it's a nickname. He's super dangerous, right after One. I'd hoped we'd be safe until we faced their leader, but I guess our luck ran out..." Rain sums it up.
"Then no choice." I open the door. "Let's face him and get through."
I leave, closely followed by my companions. We move forward, leaving a few meters between him and us. He says nothing, just watches us silently, as if waiting for our next move.
"[BOOST] We'll get through no matter what!" I exclaim, flashing my gauntlet.
"Let us give you a hand." A familiar voice calls out to me.
Suddenly, Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura appear beside us, ready for battle.
"Kakashi-sensei, guys..." I'm surprised.
"Don't forget that you're also part of Team Seven. Besides, I'm surprised to see that Kashiwagi and Inukai are with you." Kakashi looks behind me.
"Kakashi-sensei, he's..." Rain tries to warn him but he stops her, raising his hand.
"He's dangerous, yes I know, and we'll talk about the rest later. For now, Team 7 will take care of this guy, apart from you Senji, you have a plan don't you? So go ahead, we're counting on you." Kakashi gives a thumbs-up.
"Good luck Senji-kun! You can count on us!" Sakura exclaimed.
Sasuke nods. Seeing their confidence, I let out a long sigh and turn to my clan members, signaling them to follow the rest of the plan. As we start to move, I see that Inukai is staying with team 7.
"Inukai!" I call out.
"Sorry Senji, but go ahead, I'll take your place for a few minutes!" He said, preparing for battle.
"Let's go Senji." Rain calls to me.
Seeing Senji and the rest of the group off, Radames turns to them, and stamps his foot on the ground.
"He's up to something, in action!" Kakashi warns.
Inukai rushes towards him, kneeing him. He protects himself by putting his arms forward and Inukai feels something strange in the impact.
"Where are you looking?!" He said, backing away. "It's over here where it all happens!"
Radames stretches out his hand towards him, the ground at his feet begins to crack and shatter, throwing chunks of concrete into the air which is replaced by a strange white viscous matter. Sakura runs to the side and throws a kunai. Radames barely moves, but a white wall rises up to protect him, the kunai enters the wall, swallowing it bit by bit.
"That's gross..." Sakura is sickened, grimacing at the sight.
Then four arms sprang out of the wall towards her. She leapt to the side to dodge the attack, which stopped dead in it's tracks, and returned to the wall.
Taking advantage of the fact that his attention was elsewhere, Inukai came up behind him, ready to kick him in the neck, but stopped him with his left arm. Inukai couldn't believe his eyes: he could clearly see the impact of the blow pouring down his arm, watching it flail about as if it were made of...
"Hey! His body is probably made of the same stuff as his power!" Inukai exclaims.
Coming to the rescue, Sasuke ran at full speed towards the enemy. When Radames sees him coming, he pulls 5 white arms out of the ground, transforming them into muscle-like spikes, which hurl themselves towards him. Taking advantage of his unrivalled agility, Sasuke dodges the attacks, also using a kunai to deflect the spikes a little too close. When he gets close enough, he pulls an explosive paper out of his pocket, stretching out his arm to stick it to his chest, but a column is created around Radames, turning on itself, protecting him and making the paper explode in the air, projecting white matter all around them.
"Seriously right now?" Inukai steps back with Sasuke. "What are we supposed to do about this?!"
"You'd have to know what this material is first..." Sasuke is frustrated at having missed his chance.
The column slowly descends, as if transforming into liquid, creating a cluster around Radames. Then all this matter moves towards them, destroying the ground as it passes, as if infecting it all around.
Kakashi stands in front of them and places his hands on the ground, creating several stone walls. But as he'd expected, the walls are ineffective, as matter comes into contact with and destroys them as quickly as they were raised.
Seeing this, the three jumped to the side to dodge this white tide, which, having missed its target, returned to Radames.
Further on, Sakura observes Radames' power, trying to understand what it is. Something piques her interest as she observes what has been scattered by the explosion, trying to return to its owner, creating veins running through what lies ahead, digging into the concrete and advancing little by little, pulsing.
"It looks like... these strange... It's!" Sakura turns to her comrades. "Boys! Sensei! His power is organic, it works like those strange mushrooms!"
"Organic huh... Sasuke, do you know what you have to do?" Kakashi prepares to jump.
"...Yes! I'm ready!" Sasuke prepares himself.
"Inukai, you run into him on my signal! Let's go!"
Kakashi jumps to Radames' side, followed by Sasuke who jumps to the other side. Both put their cone-shaped hands in front of their mouths and spit out a fireball. Radames protects himself by creating a dome around him. The fire surrounds him, making it impossible to see anything.
After a few seconds, the dome opens like a flower, crushing the flames and extinguishing them.
"Tsss... for an organic power, it's pretty fireproof..." Kakashi murmured. "Inukai!"
At the signal, he charged straight at Radames, ignoring his ground-replacing power, and kicked him in the left leg, but Radames protected himself with a block of organic matter. Reacting at a moment's notice, Inukai activated his power to free his foot, which was beginning to jam, and struck with his other foot in the ribs. Radames is taken by surprise and has no time to defend himself, receiving the blow full force. Inukai hears his ribs splinter on impact, but is forced to retreat quickly, pursued by a giant white arm.
"I shattered his left ribs, but he's still standing, this guy's probably made of the same stuff as his power!" Inukai looks at Radames, seeing that the white matter is coming out from where the impact took place.
"I can see that. How's your leg?" Kakashi asked.
"It's okay, it burns a little but nothing serious." Reassures Inukai.
"So it's toxic to the touch, and the problem is that this stuff spreads... hm?" Kakashi turns his gaze to Sakura.
She concentrates her energy to create a golden aura around her hand, then takes a kunai and imbues it with this aura.
"His power is resistant to fire, which is hardly surprising, given the number of heroes and shinobi using the element of fire, his powers have had to adapt. This organic material works like rubber or chewing gum, its consistency reducing vibrations. So the last thing you want to try is drilling and cutting!"
Sakura throws her kunai. Radames creates a wall in front of him, but the kunai cuts through it like butter, piercing Radames' shoulder.
"It works! huh...?" Sakura exclaims.
But her enthusiasm stops immediately, as she sees bubbles beginning to appear on the organic material, as if it were boiling.
"Stay on your guard youngsters, Sakura has managed to piss off our opponent..."
Hearing Kakashi, Sasuke and Inukai get back into position, ready for the second round.