My Hokuto Academia
I DO NOT own Hokuto no Ken or My Hero Academia, they belong to their respective creators, Tetsuo Hara, Buronson, and Kohei Horikoshi. Support the official releases, especially of Souten no Ken. Oh, someone's already translating Souten no Ken: Regenesis [manga version] already!
Italics = Flashback
"Italics" = Speaking in a Different Language
'Italics' = Inner Thoughts
Italics = Flashback
"BOLD" = All-Might's tone or Present Mic [excited]
Chapter Thirty-Six:
Undisclosed Rooftop
"So, where is he? It's been a fucking hour," spat Shigaraki, impatient about the 'new company'. The ash-skinned man had another reason to be still pissed, his previous hand? Now a prosthetic.
"Be patient, Tomura. I have read some composite files on this new hire. If negotiations go slowly, the League will become far stronger," replied Kurogiri, trying to assuage Tomura.
"What's so special about him anyway?"
"I have read some files, well, what's been reported so far on him."
"And..." Shigaraki responded, albeit with a hand motion saying go on.
"He's been sighted on the battlefield, mainly within Southeast Asia and parts of the Middle East. He completed each assignment, even if it ended in bloodshed on both sides."
"Oh, really?" scoffed Shigaraki, thinking Kurogiri was overhyping this supposed mercenary.
"He's gained quite the reputation, but there's one recurring fact: he wears a customized mask. He gets antsy if people try to see his face..."
"What, is he ugly?"
"Quite the fucking contrary, brat," said a masculine voice but its tone was a bit on edge. "Those who see my face end up six feet under, just ask the last one."
Kurogiri and Tomura both turn to see the direction in where the voice came from, it was near a ledge, but Tomura soon got a better look at him: he was around 179cm [5'10.5], cruiserweight definitely, but his build seemed more like an athlete's than a fighter's. What he wore made him stand out: he wore a blue waist-length leather jacket, cargo jeans, and most of all, the undershirt was definitely a short-sleeve.
The thing that made him stand out? A mask that seemed like a hybrid of a ballistic mask and motorcycle helmet, but the design? A menacing skull with two small but curved horns on the forehead. It was chalk-white with the horns being a silvery color.
"You got a name?" Shigaraki asked, not feeling afraid.
"Bloodgash. That's all you need to know."
"Kurogiri, are you sure we should trust this guy? This guy might be-"
In a split-second...
BOOM!
A fist was planted into Shigaraki's gut, making him cough up some blood, and on top of that? He was in the air for a brief bit. "Mind finishing that sentence?"
GAHCK!
"The... fuck... was... that... for," Shigaraki said, wheezing between words.
"If there's one thing that pisses me off, it's people doubting my skills," Bloodgash responded, wiping his hands down. "Besides, I can say the same about you. An overhyped brat."
"Fuck... you... Sensei-"
"Isn't here now."
"Calm yourselves, both of you!" Kurogiri exclaimed, raising his voice. " Tomura, you shouldn't have antagonized him. Bloodgash? Did you really need to brutalize him like that? He's supposed to my master's successor."
"Really..." the mercenary said, albeit sardonically. "Well, your master's paying me by the hour. What's next, Kurogiri?"
"We'll discuss it further at our hideout..." Kurogiri responded while creating a portal.
Undisclosed Bar
"Not a bad setting at all," Bloodgash complimented. "However, there's a question I like to ask."
"Feel free..."
"Where's the rest of your little crew?"
"...They fucking got arrested," spat Shigaraki, reminded of the USJ. "Plus that fucking brat destroyed my hand with some hax Quirk!"
"Describe it."
"I don't know how it works, but he just tapped my hand. My fingers burst like balloons!" Shigaraki exclaimed, emphasizing the last part. As soon as the merc heard that, one of his hands closes into one of rage. Even though he had a mask on, the merc's face twisted into a grimace of wry amusement.
"That's no fucking Quirk."
"... what?" Shigaraki said flatly.
"Did I fucking stutter, brat? That's not a Quirk, it's an ancient fighting style. One I'm too familiar with..." the merc said, but there was an edge to his voice. Shigaraki picked up on it, did he meet the brat before?
"Wait, ancient martial arts? So that brat i-is f-fucking-" Shigaraki sputtered.
"If you think Quirks are the only way to power, you're a bigger cunt than I thought," responded Bloodgash. The ash-skinned boy did NOT like that remark at all but did not press his luck in attacking him. Glaring was the only option he had.
"So, oh wise one, tell me how this fighting style is like?"
"It's more than 2000 years old. It can hit the pressure points in the body, assimilate other fighting styles, natural-made counters, and that's just scratching the surface."
As Shigaraki was taking this info in, say what you will about his personality, but he's smart. "That fucking brat is going to be an SNK boss in the making."
"If you think that green-haired brat is the problem, you're mistaken. Very mistaken," said Bloodgash. He then took off his mask, the face is what made the two villains step back a bit. Bloodgash's face was full of stitches, almost like misfit pieces to a puzzle, and if one could focus, some remaining scars on the left cheek.
"W-what the? The fuck? The fuck?!" Shigaraki said, clearly shocked at what he was looking at.
"Believe me when I say this, that brat is just one-half of the problem. It's his master and if it is THAT bastard, I'll take care of him. This time, I'm prepared," Bloodgash responded, but with increasing venom. "I need to pay the prick back for what HE-no, what HE couldn't finish."
"...this is very personal, is it?"
"Personal does not BEGIN to cover it."
"Let's see what my boss has to say."
Kurogiri grabbed a remote control off the counter, pointing to the TV set, turning it on. However, it was audio-only on a specific channel.
"Ah, Bloodgash. You have arrived, I trust that Tomura wasn't too much trouble? "
"Nothing I couldn't handle. Might I ask who you are?" the merc questioned, the individual in question was definitely using a voice filter.
"Ah, I'm your employer, but you may call me Sensei. Your former organization says you come highly recommended."
"Huh, I'm surprised they still think highly of me," Bloodgash responded. He hasn't been in contact for about two-three years, right?
"Despite what had happened to you, they were a bit surprised that you were able to recover."
"Rage can be quite the anesthetic," Bloodgash quipped.
"However, there's a second reason on why you were hired: it is to be a combat instructor for Young Tomura."
Things have slowed to a stop, Bloodgash wondering if his hearing was also affected in the incident that gave him his scars too. "Mind repeating that... because if I didn't hear better, you want me..." the merc pointing to himself. "...to teach the man-child over there," and then pointed to Tomura who didn't like that remark.
"I'll match the price, how does 1,056,455,000¥ sound?"
"Really, you can afford that much?"
"I know your normal rate, 90,000,000¥ per contract. It's a bit of chump change for someone of your skillset, but there's a reason for the increased payout: Young Tomura needs to know another perspective, not just mine."
Bloodgash took some time to think about this, maybe he could get back to THEIR good graces, right? Could he really teach this man-child too? However, there was a silver lining to this: they could find the bastard that destroyed his face and everything alongside it.
'I want first dibs to carve up his face. Like. He. Did. To. Me.'
"You know what, I'll take it."
"Excellent... but one thing."
"Name it."
"Young Tomura should see you in action, how you work, and most of all, how you finish off your targets."
"Alright, but who you recomme-"
Kurogiri interrupted him to deliver a list of Pro Heroes who operate within the Greater Tokyo Area, complete with a profile picture next to each name. The merc was looking through the first page but landed on a perfect target.
"There..." Bloodgash pointed. "The big guy with the black-striped caution patterns on the wristbands and headband. Death Arms."
"Excellent choice..."
"So he's located within Sukarifu City, the well-known industrial sector in Tokyo."
"I believe you need a decent arsenal..."
"For someone like him? Minimal is best."
Sukarifu City
8:40 PM
It's a small bustling city but it's really renowned for being an industrial sector, either within the Hero Support or Electronics industries. In fact, some of these support companies are usually 1 to 3 kilometers away from Hero Agencies. However, it is where a fairly built Pro Hero is finishing up his patrol for the night.
Name: Death Arms
Quirk: Hyperstrength - The user gets an abnormal level of strength in his arms; great for heavy-lifting objects which can only be moved via machinery; Excellent in close-quarters combat.
"Well, that's it for the day," Death Arms says, lighting up a cigarette. He was standing outside his own agency, a simple two-floor building that has a construction-motif. As soon as he opened the door, something felt off. He was sure that one of his Sidekicks was supposed to help lock up for the night.
BOOM!
Death Arms felt a strong punch in his cheek, sending him over his desk, it didn't help that only one light was on. He was dazed, but pissed! Instead of rushing in, he took his stance, confirming that he's now in combat mode. The orthodox stance he took said it all.
"You're not going anywhere, asshole."
"Who said?" said the voice. The buff hero threw a left hook but that attack felt off, almost as if it was redirected! He threw several more but each one was being deflected, likely with a palm parry.
Dark Hound Bite!
Death Arms felt his flesh being torn, covering his forearm wounds instinctually, but he decided to keep fighting on. He lowered his stance, readying himself for a tackle.
Demolition Day!
He ran like a bullet, ready to drive his shoulder into the skilled intruder. However, the intruder saw this coming.
WHAM!
A well-timed roundhouse kick was sent into the hero's face!
The pro hero's entire momentum was stopped, no, it was nearly stopped. However, the intruder wasn't gonna stop there. He kept kicking him, forcing him to guard up, but the intruder then exclaimed: "Pre-fucking-dictable!"
WHAM!
The intruder's own momentum was interrupted by a sucker punch into the gut, sending him back a few inches. Death Arms now got a good look at the intruder: blue waist-length leather jacket, cargo jeans, and though it was dark: the skull mask made him really stand out.
"Alright, Villain. This debut will also be your retirement day too!"
Death Arms sent a volley of punches into the skull-masked intruder, but that's the thing: he was weaving in and out, meaning that he's a trained fighter at the very least. Unfortunately, the fight would go in favor of the intruder.
BAM!
The intruder went for an overhand, specifically near the eye area, knocking back the big hero. However, there was a squirt of blood above his eye.
"The name's Bloodgash."
A few low kicks made that message clear, making Death Arms buckle, falling to a knee. Bloodgash grabbed the hero by the hair with both hands...
WHAM! BAM! WHAM! WHAM!
Death Arms' face was kneed in. Repeatedly. To the point where he was begging but Bloodgash ignored it. Say what you will about the merc's viciousness but he completes the contract thoroughly. One final knee into the hero's face definitely broke a few teeth and nose. Once letting go, Death Arms in all his glory fell backward, making a small thud.
"Y...Y...You f...fucking a...ass...hole."
The pro hero slowly got up, wondering why Bloodgash was letting him get up. He went back into his stance, then dashed towards him, ready to deliver another volley.
Tree Dragon Crushing Legs!
WHIP!
Death Arms held his nose in pain, stopping whatever attack he had planned.
WHAM!
BAM!
SLAM!
BAM!
Death Arms was now feeling the pain more than ever, he was pelted by an endless array of kicks: side-kicks, crescent kicks, front kicks, you name it. However, the hero kept moving forward and timed it.
He grabbed Bloodgash by the head and sent a nasty liver shot!
"Okay... asshole..." sputtered Bloodgash, caught off-guard for a bit. "It's time to end this."
Executioner's Pulse!
Death Arms knew that this villain moved faster than he thought, speeding past him with his arms in an X-pattern. The pro hero thought it was some trick of the mind, mainly to psych him out.
"Really, was that-"
SPLORCH!
KHOFF!
A stream of blood was flowing from the neck of Death Arms. He wasn't able to breathe as he fell to the ground, blood pooling around him, and Bloodgash came to verify the kill.
"Tch. Still clinging, eh?"
SNAP!
Death Arms's neck was bent, finally killing him.
"Well, how was that?" the merc said, clearly indicating he has an earpiece.
"You barely struggled. At all. You were playing with your prey!" said a shocked Shigaraki. "You were able to read him... it was like a player with MAX stats fighting an Lvl.1 boss."
"I needed to demonstrate some techniques, techniques that will give you more advantages in close-quarters. You can't rely on that Quirk of yours all the time."
"Oh, why's that?" scoffed Shigaraki.
"What's stopping the brat from doing a repeat to the other arm?"
Shigaraki didn't have much of a counter-argument to that, so he kept his mouth shut.
"Oh, one more thing. Tell Kurogiri to start setting up a portal. Five minutes."
"Hmph. Alright."
As soon as the convo ended, Bloodgash looks toward the now-dead Death Arms. "Perfect. You're the right size for a message." The merc unsheathes a scalpel-like knife, marveling at its precision.
Aurek Complex
It was a series of two-floor apartments, looking more like a motel than say an actual apartment complex. It is where Shigaraki was put, able to have a good view of the Death Arms Agency. He was impressed, though he wouldn't admit it, the pro merc was quite skilled. Skilled to the point where the fight between Death Arms and him was fairly one-sided.
The throat slicing was a nice touch, he thought.
"Huh, you're on time, Bloodborne."
"Good to know that you have a functional internal clock, brat."
Shigaraki flipped him off.
"What exactly did you do to that pro?"
"Oh, I decided to leave... a calling card of sorts," Bloodgash said with a small grin.
Breaking News!
Horrific Scene at the Death Arms Agency!
This horrific event sent shockwaves throughout the Hero Community. As of 10:00 AM, Kenzo Shungo AKA Death Arms was found murdered alongside one of his Sidekicks who was found impaled in a custodian closet. The details of the incident are developing at the moment, but the agency has an official statement on the matter, delivered by one of his Sidekicks.
"We are saddened by this tragedy but we can't make any assumptions about what happened. We can only ask for a period of mourning."
Despite that statement, it seems that the killer left a calling card of sorts. The scene itself is fairly gruesome but it seems the scars match a pattern of a certain constellation.
The Big Dipper. Why? Why this constellation in particular? As said, could this be someone inspired by the Hero Killer Stain, or do we have a new one on our hands, using constellations as his calling card?
Reporter: Taneo Tokuda, Juzo News
Undisclosed Bar
"Holy... shit," said Shigaraki, shocked at the impact that Bloodgash made. "But why? Why didn't you drop our name?" he said to the pro merc.
"Quite simple, delayed gratification. Something you need to learn. On top of that, dropping the League's name would have the Heroes get a laser-eye focus on us. If anything, it's an advantage."
"Fuck, you're right. We don't have much in the way of numbers."
"I'll have to ask this Sensei if he has connections to any prisons..."
"Wait, why do you want-oh, I see."
"Exactly. If we're gonna need numbers, we need to handle two fronts. I handle the overseas while you can handle the domestic side. I'm sure Sensei wouldn't have a problem with that, right?"
"I doubt that."
It seems that Shigaraki and Bloodgash were reaching a bit of an understanding. The former saying he needed to ask Sensei for a favor...
'Hope you like the little gift, you bastard.'
Author's Notes: Bloodgash was inspired by quite a few people, but the main sources: Jigsaw of Punisher fame and well, Jagi. Both of them have deformed faces because of what the protagonist did to them. Horikoshi loves his Star Wars references, so they're references to Scarif and Aurek-14 from Rogue One. On top of that, Death Arms was the perfect first target for Bloodgash to kill. Someone kinda well-known but still minor enough. Originally, Death Arms's death was gonna be more graphic, say like how Akoya Seishu from Kengan Ashura brutalizes criminals.
Dark Hound Bite - A touki-based attack in which the hands are utilizing ripping-like motions at the opponent's limbs, mainly to slow the opponent down. At other times, it's used for an instant kill. Its original name in Japanese is Meigogami [Yea, it's a small One Piece reference].
Demolition Day - A Quirk-powered spear [shoulder block takedown] that wrecks the opponent's balance and brings them down to the ground.
Tree Dragon Crushing Legs - A fast leg attack in which it crushes the enemy's defenses with various kicks, ranging from side-kicks, whip kicks, axe kicks, and crescent kicks. The original name in Japanese is Kiryu Saikyaku.
Executioner's Pulse - A Nanto Seiken-type of attack; the user holds his arms in an X-pattern, then dashes past the opponent. In a delayed period of two-four seconds, blood spurts from the enemy's throat, revealing a nasty slice. Its original name is Keiri Myaku.