OKAY! Let's get into this. First off, this chapter is in its raw, un-beta'd form because Hiatus is sick (Send him well wishes), so excuse any grammatical issues. Second, I'm… not sure about this chapter. I've had a very trying two weeks and not really in the bad way, or a good way… kinda just a way. If you follow hockey at all (and you've read my profile) you know that the Washington Capitals were knocked out of the playoffs, which sucks. However, before I could stew in that too long I went to see Endgame the night after and OMFG! If you didn't like this movie I have to ask: What is it like living in a world where you can't just like things and have fun?
Uh, anyway the reason this chapter is soooooo delayed in coming out is that I've been… in a funk for the past week. I'm not sure what's exactly wrong, but my head has just felt extremely foggy and it's hard to concentrate on anything. This chapter was perhaps the hardest to write so far just because I couldn't string together more than a hundred words at a time before just zoning out. So I truly apologize if this isn't up to my normal standards (which aren't the best to begin with, but still) and I will try to do better once the fog clears a bit.
Also, there is now a Community Page for this story (Just search Purpose of a Hero and it should come up... in theory), so if you are interested in joining go right ahead. If you have any interest in writing a One-Shot/Off Shoot of the PoaH Universe, just shoot me a PM and I'll add you to the staff. Not sure if a lot of people are interested in something like this, but hey, gotta try new things, right?
Remember to vote on which style of tournament you wanna see, join the discord if you haven't already. We've got Fan Art, memes, Chapter Previews, and a very easy way to get into contact with me 24/7 if you have any questions. Alright, that's it. I'll stop boring you now and get on with it. I hope you all enjoy and have a great start to Ramadan if you're of the Muslim faith and have an awesome start to May if you aren't!
Purpose of a Hero
"ALRIGHT! Planning time is over! Teams Three and Four please move to your designated area and let's get this second heat underway!" Derrick Holl shouted into his intercom as he observed a dozen screens laid out before him. 'This is going much better than I expected. Usually, when I wait a month to give the second practical the students show signs of fatigue. Even those in General Hero. There won't come a time when this class doesn't surprise me.' During his ponderings, the teacher failed to notice the door behind him slide open and an elderly man in a ruffled suit walk in until the newcomer practically collapsed into the chair beside him with a heavy groan, causing Holl to nearly jump out of his own chair in shock. "P-Principal Fetisov?"
"Da, how's it going Derrick?" The man asked casually. Principal Igor Fetisov, at least in Derrick Holl's eyes, was not the man one would picture when thinking of the head of the most prestigious academy in the whole of North America. His shoulder length black hair, which in his old age had become flecked with gray, was usually held in a bun, while his wizened lavender eyes were mired by smile lines. His clothing was rarely ironed and, more often than not, did not match, including his socks. On his feet were a pair of black and gold running shoes that looked older than Fetisov himself, held together by small thin wires.
"Uh, pretty good. How was the conference?" Derrick inquired, to which Igor responded with a loud groan, propped his chin onto his left palm, and uttered a few choice curse words in Russian.
"A damn nightmare. Honestly, for people who run the most important schools in the world, you'd think they'd give us a better place to meet than some dinky little pub in northern Scotland. All because that hag Hughes just needed to be home in time for her great-great-great grandson's birthday party. Bah!" He exclaimed, obviously still annoyed by the thought. "That woman has been a thorn in my side for years. Ridiculous. Then that… what the hell's his name… Mudiwa? The headmaster of the South African school? Ah, anyway, all he did was complain about the rise in Villainous activity in his area, which got everyone else talking and again led to Hughes whining about the Red Sun attacking some embassy in London."
"That bad, eh?" Derrick mused. 'Seems like the rise of Villainy is global. Even more reasons to accelerate their training.'
"Let me know when you're ready to take my place so I can retire and go to Tahiti to die in peace."
"I see your sense of humor hasn't diminished over the summer," Holl observed with a roll of his eyes. "Now, why are you here... other than to gripe about your fellow Headmasters?"
"What? I can't stop by and prepare my successor for what he'll have to deal with?" He asked innocently, causing Derrick to sigh and turn his attention back to the video board, where the students of the next heat were silently waiting for him to give them the go ahead. But, as usual, it seemed Clara's patience was being stretched to its limits.
"MacAllister, if you don't shut the hell up I WILL rip off your arms and shove them up your ass!" The Sound-Quirk user roared, jabbing her index finger into the chest of a seemingly unperturbed Lyon. Though Derrick grimaced and pinched the bridge of his nose, his superior appeared to find the whole exchange amusing and started to chuckle.
"I'm guessing that's Seismos' kid? Strange, he was always so quiet in his years here. Usually, it was you and Maximillion Abrams that caused all the trouble," the elderly man reminisced.
"That's because Max was extremely easy to egg on. Say one word about Jeanne and he'd flip his lid. Richard was just content to hang around Harmony…" Derrick's smile trails off and he glances towards the screens again. Sensing a change of conversation was in need, Igor coughed and nodded at the duo again.
"That's him? Funny, I expected something different from the 'the greatest student to ever grace our halls'...Elvira's words not mine," he commented. Derrick grinned in response and turned his head to address the principal.
"You have no room to talk about expectations."
"Yeah, yeah. Tell me about him." Derrick sighed and reached into his bag, pulling out a yellow folder.
"Lyon MacAllister. Quirk: Pyrokinesis, though I think there's more to it than that. Perfect five hundred on his entrance exam. He's has dominated in every combat situation we've placed him in. Although he excels in his studies, I believe he doesn't really understand the motives or purpose of Heroes. He constantly questions any and every simulation or lesson, not in a disrespectful manner but more of a genuinely curious one. I've never had a student like him. If anything… he reminds me of Miles," the blue-haired man explained, reading directly from his personal notes on the boy. Igor whistled and leaned back in his chair.
"Comparing him to the Number One already, eh? Second time in the past few years you've done that… Meh, the last one was a bit of personal bias I suppose," he said, a sly grin on his face.
"I still stick by what I said about Rune. If he can just get his head out of the clouds he could easily surpass Overgrown, no disrespect to the guy. The theory about Quirks getting stronger in each passing generation is given even more proof with these kids." The two men stayed silent for a few moments before Igor cleared his throat.
"Gotta say, I've never seen you so dedicated to your students. Past years, you've really taken a backseat to their training and let them figure out their own." The moment the words, which held no venom whatsoever, left the elderly man's mouth, Derrick flinched and his face darkened.
"And look how well that's worked out." Immediately realizing his mistake, Igor's carefree demeanor vanished and was replaced by a more sympathetic one.
"Isobel's death was no fault of yours. If what my sources say is true, then the one who killed her is likely that Spitfire fellow from the Yonkers Incident. Even the top Hero couldn't easily defeat him. No matter how much training you gave her, it wouldn't have mattered in the end," the principal consoled. 'You say that. I still can't help but think about how many of my former students have been hurt due to my ineptitude. I will not fail this group. For Isobel.'
"Ahem, anyway… what'd you say we stop making these kids wait, huh? Any longer and Clara's gonna make good on her threat."
Purpose of a Hero
Narruk grimaced as another wave of nausea and pain washed over him. His muscles ached, eyes stung when the light hit them just right, and his palms refused to stop sweating. He glanced over at his opponent, who stood off to the side observing the course ahead of them, and clenched his fists. 'Even if the moon wasn't a few days ago, I'd be at a massive disadvantage. I'm faster and stronger, but that means nothing if I can't move freely. My best plan is to avoid Andrew at all costs… when the hell are they going to start this thing? Mr. Holl sure is taking his sweet time.' The brunet growled and turned his attention back to the derelict town before them.
To his surprise, it wasn't how he'd first imagined it. It was… clean. Each and every house looked as if it'd been made with a cookie cutter, with only paint jobs distinguishing one from another. The same was true for the cars that lined the streets and sat parked in driveways. However, what really stood out were the mannequins. Hyper-realistic men, women, and even children frozen in their daily routines, as if time itself didn't flow in the town. 'Those things are way too creepy.' The wolf-boy was too caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't realize the starting horn had gone off until he saw Andrew racing into the town. He swore under his breath and started to sprint after him, only to feel his body weight increase exponentially. "Sorry, but I'm not losing this."
"Sonofabitch," Narruk grumbled as he struggled to move. Andrew gave him a regretful smile before lifting into the air and shooting off towards the climbing wall at the other end of the town. 'Shit! No, no, no I will not lose this!' The wolf-boy renewed his struggles as the hair on his arms began to elongate. His left eye began to change to a more reddish color and with each breath came a slight growl. Only just in time did he realize what was happening and clench his fists hard enough to draw blood from his growing claws. "No… no… not again," he grumbled. As his composure returned, the changed body parts began to revert to their original states. Halfway across the town, Andrew continued to soar towards the finish line, until a blaring siren filled the air.
"What is-" He began, but was cut off as the air around him began to heat up at a rapid pace. He glanced down and his eyes widened as he saw the mannequins starting to melt. Sweat trickled down the back of his neck as several houses caught fire, the glass of their windows shattered. Below him, Narruk, freed from the gravity by Andrew's momentary distraction, hopped from foot to foot as the asphalt burned through his sneakers. 'What the fu-' All cognitive thought stopped as the streets cracked and spewed forth fire.
"Are they trying to kill us?" Narruk murmured in shock as he sprinted towards a nearby house, feeling his skin starting to tingle. 'That's gonna be a really bad sunburn.' Not a moment too soon, the wolf-boy leaped into the house and slammed the door shut behind him as the street quite literally exploded. Great plumes of fire shot into the air, giving Andrew a very intense workout as he had to dip, duck, dive, and dodge each and everyone that came his way.
Purpose of a Hero
"Well… that's intense," Igor chuckled as he watched the first quarter of the course split by fire. Beside him, Derrick leaned forward in his seat and watched two of the screens intensely. "I'm guessing this is your addition to the Relay?"
"Mhm," the teacher answered simply, not taking his eyes off of his students.
"Modelled after the Yonkers Incident, I assume?"
"Figured if our enemy was capable of something like that, our students have to be ready for it. Nevertheless… I'm glad that it was these two that decided to take this course. Other than Lyon and Clara, they've got the most potential for greatness," Derrick responded, leaning back as he saw Andrew narrowly avoid another blast of fire and continue his slow trip towards the finish line, while Narruk, who seemed to have figured out the trick, ran along the backsides of the houses, avoiding the fire in its entirety. "Narruk has some hangups about his Quirk, but even holding back he is extremely strong. That's the Abrams' kid, though he inherited his grandmother's Quirk. He's… a bit like his mother."
"Stiff as a board with high aspirations?" Igor said snarkily, a wide smile overtaking his expression. Derrick nodded and turned his attention back to the carnage unfolding before him.
Purpose of a Hero
Narruk scowled as he dodged another piece of burning rubble falling from the sky. For a while, it had seemed as if he would completely avoid everything happening on the other side of the house, but then things had started to fall on his head. 'Just my damn luck. I swear I'm gonna rip Mr. Holl's ugly head off.' The wolf-boy rounded a corner just as the rock wall came into view but was forced to stop as Andrew slammed into the ground in front of him. His costume was covered in scorch marks and his hair seemed to be smoldering as he got back to his feet. "You look like hell," Narruk said off-handedly, only to grunt as the boy raised a hand and increased gravity around him. 'Not this again.'
"I'll… I'll lift it as… soon as I finish," Andrew sputtered, clearly short on breath. 'Crap, I'm nearing my limit. Can't waste any more time,' he thought and turned to limp towards the climbing wall. He only made it about ten yards before he noticed something coming up behind him and turned just in time to block Narruk's punch with his forearm. "What?"
"You're definitely weakening. That makes this easier," the brunet growled as he lifted his leg and swept it in an arc, knocking Andrew's own out from under him. The Gravity Quirk user groaned as he landed hard on his back. The boy again raised his hand and mustered enough force to cause Narruk to take a few steps back, during which he jumped back to his feet and charged. Using his Quirk to speed up his own strike, Andrew's fist connected with the wolf-boy's cheek. To his shock, however, Narruk took the hit in stride and snarled as he thrust his foot into his opponent's stomach, knocking Andrew back. Both boys took a brief moment to catch their breath before rushing at one another again.
The melee continued for several moments before Narruk started to get the upper hand. A combination of exhaustion from his previous endeavor and the pure ferocity of his opponent's fighting style had Andrew losing ground extremely quickly. In a last-ditch attempt, the Gravity Quirk user readied himself as Narruk stormed towards him again and, using the last bit of his strength, used his Quirk to leap over the wolf-boy. Mid-flip, he managed to grab onto Narruk's arm and, as soon as he landed, flipped his opponent over his shoulder, sending him hard into the ground. Almost immediately, he noticed something different about his classmate. His skin seemed to be rippling and the hair on his arms and head was growing longer and shaggier.
As his opponent watched in bemusement, Narruk struggled to regain his composure. He once again drew blood as his claws dug into his palms, but even the pain wasn't enough. Agony coursed through him as he tried desperately to hold back the wolf. He could feel it, the primal presence that usually lied dormant in his mind but now rushed towards the forefront. Memories he'd long since tried his best to forget surged past. A girl with honey blond hair, a run-down shack on fire, a boy with brown hair and a cruel smile… a solitary grave in the middle of a field. "NO!" He roared, clutching his head.
"Narruk? What the hell's happening?" Andrew demanded, kneeling beside his friend, who's head whipped up at the sound of his voice. A chill went down Andrew's spine as he saw the pain, somewhat feral look in Narruk's amber colored eyes. Then, just as quickly as it had started, the wolf-boy collapsed forward, breathing heavily and completely exhausted, muttering something too quietly for Andrew to hear until he spoke a bit louder.
"Surrender… I yield," Narruk stammered, his face pale and clammy.
Purpose of a Hero
"With Narruk's surrender, he will receive a two-minute penalty, so the final times are Narruk with eleven minutes and six seconds, while Andrew finishes with ten minutes thirty-nine seconds. Group two, you have four minutes to prepare," Derrick announced. Though he managed to keep any sign of it out of his voice, the teacher was slightly shaken.
"Lycanthrope, eh? Any relation to the Lupine Hero: Howl? I remember hearing Hughes complain about her tendencies of aggression around the full moon each month," Igor said, his right hand thoughtfully stroking his beard. Derrick heaved a deep breath and shook his head. He'd expected Narruk to have some difficulties today, but nothing of this extent. 'I should have realized what a problem this would be. He even told me before the semester started that this could be an issue. Damnit, how the hell could I let this happen.' Seeing him stewing in his thoughts, Igor rolled his eyes and patted the younger man hard on the shoulder. "Don't take it so personally. It ended well, didn't it? No harm no foul."
"I knew he was having difficulties… I should have sat him out for the day."
"Bah! Do you think he'd have taken that sitting down? He's a teenager for heaven's sake! You know, the brats that are infamous for thinking they know better than adults, despite still being children? I guarantee Mondronen would have lost his mind if you'd tried to bench him for the day. He knew this was a possibility and participated anyway. The fault is not on you, ya hear?" Igor punctuated his speech with another hard slap to Derrick's shoulder, causing him to flinch and turn his head to glower at his boss. "I'm just saying you have to stop blaming yourself for every little thing that goes wrong. You won't be able to progress as a teacher or a person if you continue to do so. Lighten up!"
Purpose of a Hero
"Tch, pathetic. Moron can't even control his own Quirk," Clara scowled as she watched her classmate writhe on the ground. From beside her came a thoughtful hum, which only furthered her bad mood. She whipped around and got right into the face of her opponent. "You got something to say, Fire Idiot?"
"Oh? I see I'm no longer 'Flame Brain'. What brought about the change in my nickname?" Lyon asked innocently.
"By calling you 'Flame Brain' I was admitting you may not be a complete and utter waste of oxygen, but you've proved that wrong today. Therefore… Flame Idiot." The orange-haired boy tilted his head to the side and knit his brow.
"I see. Perhaps I should give you a nickname then? Hm, maybe 'Angry Yelling Girl'? No, that doesn't have a good ring to it. Ah, how about 'Yelling Angry Girl'?"
"That's the same thing, shithead!" Clara bellowed. 'Why the hell is this idiot so clingy? No one else in the class is constantly following me around like a lost puppy. Doesn't he realize I wanna be left alone?'
"Oh… yes, I believe you're right. Give me some time to think about it and I will give you the best nickname that fits your personality," he declared confidently.
"I don't want you to think on it, Flame Idiot!"
"I thought it was 'Fire Idiot'."
"PISS OFF!" Silence fell after her most recent shout, something Clara was all too happy about as she looked towards the metal door that led to the course. 'I'm going to need to be careful here. Judging from his Quirk, he has to have some sort of fire resistance, but the real question I have to be on the lookout for is if it extends to something like lava. I was skeptical that it was going to be real but after the fireworks in that last match I have to assume it is. There might be some trick to it though. This is the first starting area I've seen have no clear view of the course ahead. Then there's Fire Idiot to worry about. As much as I hate to admit it… he is stronger than I am… and smarter. I have to hope he screws up somehow or that I can get him off his game. In any case, I have to win this,' she decided, her muscles tensing as their teacher announced the previous scores.
"Hey, Clara… if it isn't too much trouble, I have a question," Lyon said suddenly, breaking the magenta-haired girl's concentration.
"It's too much trouble," she replied hotly. Appearing to not have heard her, the orange-haired boy continued.
"Your father… he is one of the top Heroes in the country, yes? Why do you seem to get angry whenever he is brought up?" He asked. Almost immediately, Clara's posture became as stiff as a board.
"You… are treading… on very thin ice, MacAllister," she snarled, not even turning to face him.
"Perhaps there is lingering jealousy? Or Maybe some hidden desire to surpass him, though you're unsure if you can? It's fascinating to me how you can look upon a parental figure with such distaste, especially when he is considered one of the most morally sound Heroes of the top ten," he proceeded, completely oblivious to the girl beside him, who had begun shaking in anger.
"I swear… if you don't shut your fucking mouth this instant, I'll make good on my promise from earlier and if you ever bring that bastard up around me again I will break every bone in your body. Do. You. Understand?"
"Alright! The time for planning is over, let the second section begin!" Mr. Holl called over the intercom, interrupting their conversation. Her anger was momentarily forgotten as a wave of heat stung her eyes. The metal door had opened, unnoticed, during their conversation. The two students raced towards the new opening and came face to face with a literal fast-flowing river of lava. Clara quickly scanned the river, looking for any way across, and her eyes fell on a series of rocks, placed anywhere from two to four meters apart from one another.
"You have got to be shitting me."
"Hm, well… this is quite the dilemma," Lyon agreed, eyeing the rocks warily.
"What? Not up for a swim, Fire Idiot?" Clara barked.
"Fire and lava are two very different things, Angry Girl. It would appear, on first glance, that our only way across is an obstacle course. Now, I am willing to be a gentleman and-"
"HOWL MISSILE!" Clara screamed. The condensed wave of sound threw Lyon back into the waiting area and slamming into a column, which brought a small smile to his opponent's face. "Take a nap, Fire Idiot."
"That… was uncalled for," Lyon groaned as he struggled to sit up. As he went to stand, he found his balance had left him and he crashed back to the floor. Meanwhile, Clara glared at the series of stepping stones before her. She took a deep breath, something that only succeeded in delaying her progress as her lungs filled with ash, and leaped to the first rock. She landed precariously but managed to right herself and make the next jump. 'These are a lot smaller than I first thought. I'm definitely going to need a new pair of boots after this.' As she settled on the third rock, a snapping sound drew her attention away from her progress across the river.
"Damn you!" She cried as she ducked to avoid a blast of orange flames in the shape of a spear that flew over her head. Standing just one rock behind her was Lyon, smiling. 'How didn't I hear him coming? Better question, how is he already on his feet? That blast should have incapacitated him for at least five minutes. Just my luck,' she lamented as the spear turned in mid-air and dove back towards her. She swore and sucked in another breath before unleashing a devastating wave of sound. The shockwave created by her Howl Bazooka pushed the lava beneath them back and nearly threw Lyon off his perch.
"My, my… this is getting interesting, now isn't it?" The orange-haired boy said as he righted himself. Raising one of his hand and placing the black surfaces of his index finger and thumb together, he snapped again. This time, the small spark generated by the action grew into a massive fireball above his head. The fire swirled like a hurricane as Lyon made a similar motion with his finger before he waved his hand lazily in Clara's direction and the fire surged towards her.
"SHRED HOWLER!" The girl countered. Unlike her previous abilites, this one created a very visible crescent of vibrating energy to go along with the thunderclap-like sound, which flew through the air directly at the wave of fire. For a brief moment, time seemed to slow down as the two attacks met and, subsequently, exploded, sending fire and lava flying in every direction. As the flames cleared, Lyon and Clara locked eyes and both smiled. "I'm gonna enjoy tearing that smile off your face."
"And I will enjoy seeing you try."
Purpose of a Hero
So as I said above, I'm not 100% about this chapter. I don't normally ask for reviews, but if any of you spot anything wrong with this chapter please, please let me know so I can fix it. I really don't like giving the like 60 of you that read this regularly a bad product. I honestly didn't want to post this until it was beta'd, but it's been nearly two weeks since my last update and I would feel horrible if I made you wait another. Okay, on to the preview!
NEXT TIME ON THE PURPOSE OF A HERO!
Chapter 21: Brain over Brawn