- Sven –
I grit my teeth as the wind from All Might's punch changes the weather, talk about ridiculous. I could feel the collective relief exuding from the heroes and civilians from All Might's intervention. It's almost ridiculous how the situation was resolved as soon as he stepped in.
As for me? I'm trying to catch my breath and focus on not passing out. My haggard breathing is telling of my body's state. I feel like I ran a 400-meter sprint while being sore throughout my whole body. I almost ended up as another hostage if it weren't for that big blast of wind I unleashed.
The issue is it was mostly uncontrolled and instinctive as I really didn't like the idea of that disgusting sludge guy using his power to suffocate me and use me like a Muppet.
What definitely wasn't instinctive was the wind ball that hit him in the eye. I was imagining an Air Shot like Patamon's from Digimon. Safe to say it was the perfect image for that type of attack. A quick and painful wind ball.
Thankfully my wind magic was still transparent from earlier, so I wasn't just flaunting all of this to Bakugou or anyone else who I know that was at the scene. It does make me realize how good this power could be for more espionage and inconspicuous stunts.
With my breathing becoming more stable and feeling the muscle pain fade I think it's about time I leave before having to answer many awkward questions. While turning around to leave I spot All Might staring at me. Not sure if he wanted to check up on me, but whatever it was the civilians encircling him like vultures weren't going let him go anywhere.
[Emergency Quest Completed]
[Objective: Ew gross, don't get near me Sludge guy]
Reward: x1 Status Recovery
[Bonus Objective: Prevent Katsuki Bakugou's Death (By Asphyxiation)]
Reward: 1 Roll
Wait, you're saying he would've died if I didn't intervene?!
Like the gambling addict this system is slowly turning me into, I immediately roll. A small slot machine appears in front of me with a small red lever sticking to the side of it. The lever is then pulled down and the machine starts to spin. The machine is spinning so quick that I can't even see the options it's rolling through.
Rolling
It starts slowing down quickly, and in a few seconds, it settles on a similar looking ticket except instead of blue it's purple. And if I know my color schemes…
Epic Roll
Fuck yes!
[Explosion Amulet]
Through this amulet, one may cast a single use of the supreme Explosion Magic used by the foremost and greatest mage among the Crimson Demons! Be warned the attack may engulf enemies and allies alike if used recklessly.
As a big fan of Konosuba, I'd love to use this immediately, purely for how cool explosion magic looks. But considering its single use and would draw the attention of probably the city- if not the whole country, it should probably be a last resort attack. In the inventory it spawned and in there it shall stay for the foreseeable future.
As I pull out my phone to get directions home my body aches causing me to wince. I think of the reward I got for the quest, but I'm hesitant to use it here. "Status Recovery" sounds self explanatory but trying to expand it to get a description isn't working, I can't be sure of any visual effects or side effects. So, I'll probably hold off on that until I get home.
After a long, slow, and arduous trudge back home I head straight to my room and jump in bed after kicking off my shoes. It only takes a few seconds for me to start passing out. Too tired to even use the reward.
-Next Day-
"Ugh.."
Waking up I feel nothing but pain through my body. The combination hitting the gym for probably the first time and the whole sludge fiasco really took its toll. Just getting out of bed was hard and painful. And since I'd rather not spend the whole day like this….
'Use Status Recovery'
A light green aura envelops me for a second before dissipating, and with it, all that soreness and fatigue goes. This is sick! As I move my limbs it feels like nothings happened, in fact I feel better than yesterday. Maybe this just accelerated the healing process.
I head downstairs to get breakfast feeling great. Weirdly enough it seems like Status Recovery also cleaned my teeth. As I approach the table I pause as I see a skinny and frail looking blonde man sitting at the table along with Inko and Izumi.
…What the fuck is All Might doing here?
My pause is long and noticeable as All Might,Yagi, Dad? Looks away from the TV and greets me with a "Good morning!", albeit a bit awkwardly.
I mumble a 'good morning' to both my parents and Izumi. While my brain is in crisis mode, because I may as well flush all my canon knowledge down the drain, Izumi returns the greeting with a yawn while Inko's response was devoid of any tiredness.
"So...I heard you've signed up at a gym?" Dear old 'dad' couldn't have started it off any more awkwardly.
"Yeah, I did" Oh All Might, my poor brain is still trying to think of all the implications of you being here. My canon advantage wisping away, the possibility of All For One finding out about your family also sounds horrible. I can see so many bad endings, I could end up being kidnapped and turned into a Nomu, or just kidnapped in general by any other villain.
"...well that's good, you're around the age I was when I started working out. If you need help with a workout pla-"
"Don't worry about it. I just plan on doing full body and stamina training for now."
See despite not having much core memories around All Might as my dad, I still do get the residual feelings which are mainly a slight bitterness. Last I remember at some point, he started spending more time with Izumi to train her quirk. Not exactly the nicest thing for a quirkless sibling to hear. Maybe that happened because Nana died- well if she even died in this universe. Sigh
I also don't really need a workout plan. This body is so out of shape I just need to do physical exercise to get it going. This is besides needing to practice my wind magic during downtime or after my workouts. And it's not like I could get One for All or any crazy benefits from training with Yagi since to me he's not even All Might.
"Ah I see…."
Izumi, less groggy, cuts in to kill the awkwardness "Soo, have you decided on which high school to go to?"
"Yeah I did" All three of them looked a bit surprised, guess I hadn't decided for a while "I'm going to UA." What's probably going to be a cash cow of quests and rolls.
"Eh- really?!" Despite being taken aback at first, Izumi's eyes start sparkling as she grabs my shoulders and makes me face her.
"Is it that surprising?" Aren't her reactions a little over the top or is that so out of character for me?
It's annoying that I only got a summary of my life here. I got mismatch of recent and old memories with no coherence to them.
"I suppose the General Education department is pretty good at UA" Yagi mutters. That's a fair assumption, not like they know I have powers.
"...Well, you know we haven't had much time to hang out at school recently…" Izumi switches from excited to bashful "Not that it's your fault! ….If anything it's probably more of mine, so it's just nice to hear that we'll be going to the same high school…and I never really expected it with how much you don't like heroes or being around-"
"Ok Izumi, I get it" I chuckle. I guess the muttering is the same across different versions of the character. That's interesting to know though. So, I didn't like heroes huh, or maybe more so this quirk-oriented world?
"As long as you're happy sweetheart. Although, you may want to apply quickly if you haven't already. Applications should be closing soon." Inko is always ever so supportive-...huh?
"Isn't there plenty of time left?" I asked a bit anxiously; I suddenly feel a bit worried about what I'm gonna hear.
"Hm? The exams should be in about 15 days..I'm surprised you've forgotten honey, given how much Izumi talks about it" Inko confirms my fears with an exasperated sigh, one directed toward Izumi seeing how she shrinks in her seat a little.
Well, shit. 2 weeks to get used to this power and build up some stamina. Not enough time to do anything major but at least my physique will be a little less pathetic.
…
I huff in frustration at the third? - failed attempt at making a wind arrow. Currently, I'm making the wind have a light blue color so I can see what's going on. The issue is I can't even get the wind to stay in the shape of an arrow let alone do target practice. This beach is perfect for that, especially in the back covered by all the metal garbage, it's perfect to obstruct sight of me using my 'quirk'.
On that thought about a quirk, I wonder what I should do about that. Registering for the entrance exam only took a few minutes after breakfast today. But I am still legally quirkless so I wonder what my newly discovered quirk should be. I could just say the truth, that I can control wind, but that'd show all my cards. Which could be an issue considering the difficulty of this version of MHA and all the unknown factors that I need to watch out for.
Well, it's not like I'll be using many different aspects of my wind power in hero work. So, if I just figure out a main mode of attack, I can just pretend that's the extent of the quirk. Though, that brings me back to the issue of not being able to even form an arrow. I'm racking my brain to figure out the issue here…the power shouldn't have any limits creativity wise. Is it the detail then? If the details of the arrow are using up too much concentration then maybe-
Forming an another arrow, this time it's only a small rod with a spinning cone head. The head is like a small tornado whirling around. My eyebrows furrowed as sweat starts forming on my forehead, despite this being easier it's still more concentration than I'd like.
I get rid of the arrow idea entirely and just end up making a small wind ball. It's a little bigger than the size of my first, and extremely easy to make. This barely feels like a third of the concentration I needed for the spinning arrow from earlier. Testing how far I can go I make three of them before I feel like I reached my limit. It's like knowing you're on the verge of getting a headache.
I fire them at a nearby broken fridge. The wind balls leave a decent dent in the door as they all impact the same spot. They pack a punch but don't have that much penetration power, though I can probably change that if I choose to use a sharper weapon.
I turn towards the ocean and imagine a sharp wind slash. With a simple and clear image and objective in my head, I fire it off. The slash leaves my side in a flash leaving a gust of wind and instantly cuts into the ocean. The cut is more than two feet deep and is quickly filled in by the surrounding waters but it gives me an idea. Looking around I grab the first pipe I see, pretending it's a sword I fire off a wind slash from the bar at the fridge, this time I make it as sharp as I can.
A grin is plastered on my face as it almost tears right through the whole fridge and leaving me exhausted. Ok firepower isn't bad, the issue is going to be endurance. Though it's interesting to note that it caused less strain to imagine that slash compared to the first one, could it have been the pipe? Something to test out.
I doubt the time I have before is enough to help me steamroll through the test, but it should be enough to at least secure a spot in the school.
And at least now I have an idea of what my 'quirk' will be. A quirk that creates strong wind slashes, but for some reason limited to needing an object to start the slash..maybe the sharper the object the better? Seems like a strong but limiting quirk, one with obvious disadvantages people can take advantage of. I could even say my own theory of why I need an object is because the quirk took too long to manifest or something, grinning I decide I can iron out the details later.
For now, I can still practice some more with my lovely new quirk which happened to awaken following a scary encounter with a slime villain and a hostage situation. Hm~ that sounds pretty good.
…
A few days into training I realized very quickly that I was not going to be making any large progress in terms of my stamina and quirk. While it'll improve, it won't not be enough to ensure passing the exam.
What I need to focus on is efficiency rather than trying to get large improvements which brings me to here, rummaging through the garbage looking for a knife or switch blade.
I rummaged for a while before almost giving up. Until I saw a knife handle sticking out of some garbage. Carefully pulling it out, I find a knife placed inside a knife guard, at least whoever threw this here tried to be safe about it, I guess. Pulling it out I find a rusty blade, hopefully shouldn't affect what I'm about to test.
Moving back to the area with the split fridge, I decide to use it as a measure. I aim a little higher then the first slash I did with the crowbar.
Slashing with the knife I blast another cleave. This one comes out much easier than my initial slash with the crowbar and is leagues easier than the slash at the ocean with no medium. I did notice that this slash isn't as large as the crowbars, but it felt sharper.
I can also tell I'm able to shoot off a lot more cleaves with the knife as opposed to a crowbar or just using nothing. While the alternatives aren't going to make me pass out immediately, they cause just a bit more strain/exhaustion which will add up quickly in a test where I need to destroy at least a dozen robots.
I think I just found an answer to my efficiency problem. Now I just need to figure out how to convince UA to let me bring a knife into the entrance exam….
-A Few Days Later-
For the physical side of my training, I decided to focus more on working out at the beach rather than at Might Gym. Running on a treadmill for 10 minutes became boring very quickly into my 2 Week Non-Pathetic Physique workout plan. It also didn't help that the gym was small, so they didn't have a track field. So, besides the few actual workout days I have planned later, I'll only be visiting the sand beach for the next few days before the test.
I won't be able to progress that much in the short time till the entrance exam, but improving my physique will only do me good in the long run and may be a little helpful in the short run.
I huff- my breathing strained and dry as I jog carrying a microwave outside the beach and up the stairs. Placing the microwave on the pavement, I can't help but feel embarrassed at how hard this is.
It also doesn't help that people keep staring, some even looked worried. At what? A skinny teen struggling to move microwaves while running?! I swear I saw someone trying to sneak a picture with his phone before my glare cause him to quickly walk away.
Sighing I turn around to do a little more quirk training before calling it a day before a voice stops me.
"Ahem, excuse me~" Whoever this is, she has a nice easy-going voice.
"Yes, can I help you?" My initial thoughts are that it's someone from the peanut gallery who finally decided to directly bother me. But that thought quickly vanishes as I turn around and see the speaker.
She's wearing a white blouse and a red overall mini dress. She's taller than me but that could be from the brown boots she's rocking.
Her long hair is a very pale blue, almost white, which contrasts her red eyes making them more prominent. And finally, what stands out most is a cone like horn on the right side of her head.
This girl looks way too familiar…
"Well, not really. But maybe I can help you!" I would've just written her off as someone original to this world if I didn't have this gut feeling that I just knew who this was.
"Excuse me? And how exactly can you help me?" She hums melodically.
The only person with even remotely similar descriptions to her would be Eri, but…. there's just no way. What would that even mean. She's practically my age, if not older. Are the Eight Precepts of Death all older or was Eri just born earlier. Is she a part of the gang or has no relation in them in this timeline. Hell, is her quirk the same as the original show or is it different-
"Well, I got a few worried civilians asking about what you were doing. Some people were worried about a kid with a tinker quirk making dangerous gadgets"
A tinker what- "Are people stupid?" I ask incredulously. "I'd have to be pretty stupid to use my quirk illegally in such a public place, I'm just trying to workout and do good at the same time"
"See that's what I said, but you know how people are. They couldn't just believe that someone was going out of their way to clean up the garbage filled beach, especially in this crappy neighborhood" She looks off to the right which causes me to do the same. Graffiti covers a lot of the walls and most of he stores that seemed to operate look like they've been closed for a while. I suppose when the beach went out of business, they went out of business.
"Since people were coming to you, I'm guessing you're a hero?" She really isn't dressed like one. Forget a proper costume she doesn't even have a mask on.
"Yep! Though, I'm underground so you wouldn't really see me on the news. I mostly patrol here and other impoverished neighborhoods. Oh! And I know what you're thinking, but I'm out of costume right now~" She's shifting her weight from one foot to the other while talking. Bouncing slightly.
"Well now that you've confirmed that I'm just trying to workout could you get rid of people's concerns so I can workout without all the stares and whispers?"
"Here's the thing. Being an underground hero, it's become a habit to always scout a situation before approaching. Just keeps you in the business for longer and away from a casket." She stops moving as much and holds direct eye contact.
Ah shit…
"Imagine my surprise when it turned out people's worries weren't unfounded. Though instead of a tinker quirk it's an emitter."
Her smile becomes fox-like as she finishes speaking. She tilts her head, leans forward, and just stares, wanting to see what I had to say. I exhale through my nose as I try to gather my thoughts. This really isn't that bad since I've already thought of what to say if this scenario ever happened.
"I'm sorry about that ma'am. I only recently awakened my quirk and I wanted to practice using it for the UA entrance exam in a private place to make sure I can use it without hurting myself or others"
She steps back and stands upright. Tilting her head left to right repeatedly, she looks off to the sky while humming and...is she blushing?!
"I'd give it 7/10! I don't think you lied, but I'm doubting the sincerity of your words. Don't worry though like I said I'm here to help!" With her hands on her hips, her chest puffs outward with confidence at her declaration.
As I wait for her to elaborate, the silence stretches on….is she waiting for me to ask? Sigh.
"…. what advice do you have for me?"
Her head tilts ever so slightly upwards and her smile widens just a bit. I'm not sure where all this satisfaction is coming from just because I asked a question.
She starts walking towards the beach with both hands held behind her back, prompting me to follow with a head nod towards the piles of garbage.
"From what I've seen every time you use your quirk, you shoot it off from that rusty knife you hid under that fridge. Why is that?"
"It's less straining, makes my quirk easier to use" I explained, already having an idea where she was going with this.
"Wouldn't it be better to get used to using the quirk without it? It's not like they'll ever allow you into the entrance exam with a knife. Heck, they don't even allow people outside weapons at all."
"I wouldn't be bringing it in as a weapon but rather a support item. People are allowed to bring those in." While I tried to sound confident, I didn't think that would work. I was hoping I would be able to reach a middle ground where they'd allow me to use a blunted switchblade or something of the sorts.
"Bzzzt!" her voice vibrated, "that also won't work!" She turns back to grin at me
…Is she gloating?
"While that rule is true, it's very case by case and likely won't help you. Not only will it be giving you an unfair advantage with a weapon, but it would also place students at risk if you had nefarious intentions or made a mistake during the exam causing another examinee to get hurt." She chides while kicking the barely visible handle of the knife, pushing the knife further under the fridge.
"Well then what would you advise me to do." She turns towards me immediately with a twinkle in her eyes. She leans in closely, almost as If she's about to whisper, only to yell excitedly.
"Be more creative! You just discovered your quirk! Any rules you think exist, only exist in your mind. Can you truly say a knife's your only option? Does it have to be a bladed weapon that can cut things, or can it just be an object similar in shape to a bladed weapon?"
She clearly doesn't know I don't need anything to use the damn power, so she wasn't watching from the start. Her comments do inspire some ideas. No, in fact she's right, I just don't want to admit it and watch her gloat even more. With the stress of the exam date drawing closer I hyper focused on a knife as the only weapon way too much
While a crowbar is nowhere near as efficient in terms of reserves as the knife, it's still a last-ditch option to use if my request gets rejected. No- before even thinking of that there's lots of other things I need to try out first. If any of these have the same or more efficiency than using a crowbar, it'd be a much easier sell to the UA staff.
"Could you move out of the way?" I ask hurriedly, eager to test ideas out. As she steps away from the fridge and awaits what I'm about to do. She seems awfully happy and not as gloating as earlier.
Straightening my hand, I flex my palm and perform a karate chop but horizontally. A cleave fires off into the refrigerator, cutting a one third into the hunk of metal. While the attack is worse than using a crowbar it's still better than nothing.
A whistle and clapping draw my attention back to the spectator. After we make eye contact, she waves goodbye and yells a shout of encouragement as she leaves.
"Good luck on the exam!"
Looks like I won't be getting her name. Despite her smug attitude earlier when I asked for help, who knows if I would've had a similar breakthrough on my own. While I do think it would've happened, it likely would've occurred way later than I liked. It would've been nice to confirm who she was but that's a problem for another day.
With a few days left and more ideas popping up by the second on things I could use to increase attack efficiency, I can't fight off the excited grin off my face. I feel like my chances at getting through this exam increased ever so slightly.
Now, where's the nearest toy store, I need a shiny plastic sword to play with.
- ? POV –
I can't help but skip with every step. My mini dress and hair fluttering with the wind as people eye me strangely, not that I could care less.
I'm ecstatic with how our first encounter went. He asked for my help. Thinking back to his frustrated look while asking makes me giggle uncontrollably. Ah and his look of realization and excitement after figuring it out- no forget all of that, he called me Ma'am, I couldn't help but blush.
I stop skipping as I see my reflection while passing by a closed down clothes store. Standing straight with square shoulders I inspect my reflection. I wonder if I gave off mature big sister vibes when explaining everything to him~
I didn't want to mess with his natural progression too much, but giving him a few extra days to work on cleave should at least help him avoid class B.
Skipping again I make my way back home.
Hmm~ I'm already so excited for the next time we meet!
Author's Note: Like last time, this chapter kept going on and on. And while I wanted to end it off with the start of the entrance exam, I kept getting more ideas which kept pushing that part back.
In response to the last chapters reviews:
-TheLegend27 was a very funny time to be on the internet, thanks for reminding me of that piece of internet history! Who knows, maybe that'll be his hero name?
-I'd like to think I'm writing an underdog gamer, but if what you're reading causes you to disagree, I'd love to hear why!
Lastly, funny mistake, the name for the quest (last chapter) was something I randomly wrote and was meant to be temporary. But I ended up forgetting about it so now we're stuck with "Ew gross, don't get near me Sludge guy".
As always, I hope you enjoyed reading and leave a review about what you liked or didn't like or if you have any advice on what to improve.