Izuku had been meditating while Ben and Gran Torino sparred together. It had been a rather proactive internship with the elder hero, who showed that even in his old age, he was a force to be reckoned with. He even knew both Observation and Armament Haki.
"Not bad, sonny. You and Midoriya have really been showing your skills." Gran Torino said. "Let's take a break and after that, we're heading out on patrol."
"Any particular reason why?" Ben asked as Izuku stood up, finishing his meditation.
If you keep fighting me you could pick up some bad habits, so we're going out to break up some street fights in Shibuya. This is only your second day of training, so it'll help for you brats to see if you're ready for a real patrol."
As the three went to the train station, something on Izuku's mind made him ask a question.
"Hey, Gran Torino, I heard that you used to teach at UA, but only for a year. Is there any reason why?"
Gran Torino tensed slightly before sighing sadly, looking twice his age in that instant as painful memories resurfaced.
"It was a promise I made to Nana Shimura, she was Toshi's old mentor and the previous holder of OFA before him." The old hero explained. "She was a bright and strong hero, but she was nearly broken down when her husband was killed. She left her son in an orphanage and went to fight, not expecting to come back alive. The last thing she said to Toshi, was to not repeat her mistakes."
"Guess it helped that we were able to form a network of people who know about OFA and are able to keep it a secret," Ben noted. "But did Toshinori ever share the secret with anybody before else?"
Gran Torino nodded. "A good handful of trusted associates, yes. Regenizard, Depestilous, Nedzu, and the S-Rankers just to name a few."
-OP-
"So why are we traveling all the way to Hosu?" Rosa asked as she, Hilda, and Regenizard were at the train station.
"Several heroes with Quirks that render their skin tougher are trying to track down the Hero Killer in order to put a stop to him. After all, Stain's victims were always found lying in their own blood with severe cuts and stabs over most of their body." Regenizard explained.
"So he prefers slashing weapons," Hilda realized. "Has anyone ever seen him in person?"
"Only those victims of his that he leaves alive, and even they only saw him hiding in the shadows. He's claimed sixty victims, though only twenty have been killed by his hand, all of them Pro Heroes. Many of us want justice for the families of those heroes."
"Iida mentioned something on that, his brother overheard Stain muttering about how those who only seek fame or money aren't real heroes. But fame is important if you want people to believe in you and find hope when they see you fighting crime, and of course, you need money to support yourself and your family. So if you can do that and still protect others, why wouldn't you?" Rosa noted.
Regenizard nodded. "A good ideology to have, kid. Some heroes are indeed only interested in fame and fortune, but that doesn't mean they don't take their job seriously regardless. Stain probably doesn't see it that way, but considering that those who survive his attacks have found him to be...Unhinged...That shouldn't be too surprising. But he lost most of, if any sympathy he could've have when he killed Star Plasma."
Rosa's eyes widened.
"I think Ben mentioned her once…Her Quirk was kind of Body Horor like, but so many people were thinking she could make the Top 10 in a year or so."
Regenizard nodded.
"Yup. Her real name was Riko Amanai. She came from old money and had a Quirk that enabled her to merge with others to heal them in almost every compacity; be it physically or mentally. Heck, if a few cases, the merges enhanced Quirks, so all in all, despite not being much of a fighter, people had high hopes for her, even if she came from old money and had a bit of ego. From what I've herd she was a very kind and selfless girl…And just a week after graduating, Stain found and killed her."
The pro's voice had grown cold at the last sentence, causing both girls to fear their mentor for a second.
"His reason was that she couldn't really fight on her own and was in his mind, using heroism to gain attention." Regenizard continued. "He struck down an 18 year old girl who'd had her whole life ahead of her, thinking she was a spoiled brat. The one good that came from that whole thing was that it proved he's stopped researching who he kills. He now attacks anyone not in the Top 10, and even then, we all know he'd try and kill some of us…"
The Pro took a few deep breaths and then rubbed his forehead.
"I am so sorry you girls had to see that."
"Hey, no, no, no!" Hilda said. "We needed to hear that."
"We have friends who Stain would probably go after." Rosa followed. "And we never would've known if not for you."
This made Regenizard smile.
"Hey, guys!"
Everyone turned to see Izuku and Ben with Gran Torino coming in. Hilda beamed and scooped both boys into a big hug, which they laughed and returned as Rosa joined in, causing them all to fall down.
"I'm guessing you're the friends Rosa mentioned?" Regenizard started, then spying Gran Torino. "Oh! Sorahiko! Good to see you."
"You're heading to Hosu as well, Tony?" Gran Torino asked. "Me and the boys are gonna clean up some street crimes in Shibuya."
"It'll be good for the kids to mingle while we take the train. But I have this feeling in my gut..." Regenizard frowned.
-OP-
Fumikage panted as he landed on the arena floor. So far, the internships had been the hardest in the raven-headed boy's life but also the most beneficial. Sengoku and Fumikage did the same two things every day for the past few days. From dawn to late afternoon, It was combat and strategy training, and then from dusk to about midnight, it was patrol.
Right now Fumikage was once again testing his Quirk against Sengoku and like the past few days was making little to no progress in taking it down.
"It really is as fearsome as people say."
Sengoku's Quirk was [Buddha Idol], which allowed him to summon a golden Buddha-like entity to fight alongside him. It was the perfect foil to Fumikage's Dark Shadow in every way.
"Alright, I think it's time we take a break," Sengoku said, clapping his hands and dismissing his fighting spirit.
Hearing this Fumikage dropped to his knees as he attempted to catch his breath as Sengoku walked over to help him up.
"That was well done young Tokoyami, you've improved leaps and bounds since we started."
The bird-headed boy bowed. "Thank you, sir."
Meanwhile, Tsuru was busy training Momo and the old woman was pulling no punches in that regard.
"Again!"
Momo shakily got up and created another staff before charging toward the older woman who could only sigh annoyed before grabbing the wrist of the hand holding the staff before twisting it causing Momo to yelp before letting go. Tsuru wasted no time as she swung the young girl before slamming the girl into the ground, twisting her arm behind her back and pinning her.
"Pathetic, that's the 4th time you've tried that, when are you going to try something different?" The Heroine asked Momo who could only look down in shame. "Look kid, you have the smarts, Quirk, and potential to be a true hero, but you must open your mind to other options and stop overthinking things. It'll just come back to haunt you."
"I'm sorry, ma'am."
"Don't be sorry, be better," Tsuru said in a gentler tone of voice. "You were raised to a high standard, but you shouldn't let those standards hold you back. To be a Hero, you have to give it your all and break past your limits."
"I-I'll try, ma'am."
Tsuru nodded. "My Quirk is called [Specs]. Anything I look at, doesn't matter if it's living or not, I can learn everything about them. Their top speed their durability, and any weaknesses. I learn it all, and unlike that kid Ragdoll of the Wild, Wild Pussycats, I don't have a limit to how much I can observe."
Momo was amazed. "That's...that's amazing. I take it you and Principal Nedzu must be equally matched."
"Oh, we have chess matches every Sunday. So far, he's ahead in the victories but I'll catch up." Tsuru chuckled. "Anyway, the reason I'm telling you this is because I can see how low your self-esteem is."
"Ma'am, I can assure you, that's not-"
Tsuru gently put a hand on Momo's shoulder and carefully rubbed around the girl's eyes.
"Kid, I'm seeing way too many tears where there are none. That's actually why I sent you an offer." The old woman said. "I may be an old hag, but I only want to make sure you're the best version of yourself. Help you become the Hero that YOU want to be, not what everybody else wants."
Now, Momo began letting her unshed tears come out as she nodded her head, Tsuru giving a grandmotherly smile as she decided it was time to take a brief break before resuming training.
"I wonder how Koby and Todoroki are doing..." Momo thought.
-OP-
"This is Hell..."
He would never again complain about his father. Asshole yes, but he was HUMAN compared to…THIS!
Punching ships to build up strength with no Quirk to aid you? No breaks unless Garp himself jumped you or your lunch was tossed at you? Doing this from sunrise to sunset, all while being quizzed on proper hero behavior and hypothetical situations?
What few thoughts remained of Shoto Todoroki being the strongest of his generation were dying a painful, agonizing death. He was even further away from surpassing his old man then he realized.
Koby has Shoto's respect for not only still being fully dressed, but smiling and responding to Garp's questions as he did so. Hell, much as Shoto hated to admit it; Endeavour was gaining his respect for not only enduring all this but becoming, in Garp's own words; 'the most recongized star pupil'
"You're still holding yourself back, even after that kid Ben pounded a much-needed lesson into your skull!" Garp admonished. "The only way you'll get stronger is if you work on both sides of your Quirk!"
Koby helped Shoto up. "Come on, it's like I said; Garp is fair but firmly cruel."
Shoto sighed, he was starting to see Garp's training as even more hellish than anything Endeavor put him through.
"Exactly, your father was able to handle this training!" Garp laughed. "So it's only fair that his son be able to handle the same punishment!"
Shoto took a moment to collect himself before narrowing his eyes and preparing to face the legendary Navy Hero once more with Koby by his side.
-OP-
"Good job in your training so far," Swift Sculpt said as he and Tenya ended for the day. "Tonight, we'll be heading to Hosu."
Tenya was shocked. He had been hoping to avoid Hosu, at least until he felt he was ready to confront his brother's attacker.
"Why are we heading there?"
"Stain's recent attacks have been causing outrage among the community," Swift Sculpt explained. "Me and several other heroes are converging on Hosu to track him down. Mostly those whose Quirks render them invulnerable to blades and such, like Superalloy Darkshine."
Tenya understood the logic, but he couldn't help but feel nervous all of a sudden.
"Am I really ready? I know I've vowed to make my own name as a hero...but the desire to avenge Tensei is still there..."
As they headed out, Tenya couldn't help but take the time to visit the memorial held for Tensei. Despite the fact that not all of Stain's victims died, most wound up retiring due to critical injuries that rendered their Quirks or bodies unreliable, causing people to mourn the loss of a hero regardless.
"You gonna be okay?" Swift Sculpt asked.
"Just contemplating the burden I accepted of becoming the successor of Ingenium. My brother entrusted me with his legacy, and I hope to live up to that."
Swift Sculpt nodded. "I'm actually relieved. I know that Manual also sent you an offer. You could have easily decided to join his agency just to patrol Hosu to look for Stain."
"As much as I honestly really want to, I doubt I'd be able to face him and live to tell the tale," Tenya admitted.
"Hmm, the sun's setting. Given Stain's normal stalking habits, we might be able to spot him tonight." Swift Sculpt noted as he looked up at the sky. "Be ready for anything, Iida. Who knows what'll happen."
-OP-
Izuku, Ben, Hilda, and Rosa had since boarded the train that would first stop at Hosu before going to Shibuya. Izuku got a message on his phone and checked it to see it was from Tenya.
"Huh, you got someone sitting next to you and you're on your phone. Are all teenagers like that, or is it just you celebrities?" Gran Torino laughed.
"Nah, it's everybody." Ben shrugged.
"Iida says he's in Hosu too with Swift Sculpt," Izuku said. "Oh, and Superalloy Darkshine of the S-Rankers has taken Marco and Yaato with him there as well."
"I'm not surprised. Swift's greatest strength isn't his speed, but the fact that most damage just bounces off of him." Regenizard noted.
Suddenly, a massive explosion was heard and everyone could see a building nearby set on fire.
"Kinda doubt that was Stain's doing!" Hilda said.
Everyone with Haki sensitivity suddenly felt it blare out like a warning signal, with Hilda's [Danger Sense] only adding the sensation of danger.
"GET DOWN!"
The train car wall suddenly exploded. When the dust cleared, everyone was shocked to see a Pro Hero being held down by a sky blue-skinned Nomu with four eyes and a lanky yet muscular build.
Before the Nomu could do anything to the Pro Hero in its hands, it was slammed into the walls by Gran Torino.
"SORAHIKO, LOOK OUT!" Regenizard suddenly screamed out.
Regenizard's warning came just in time as Gran Torino noticed two figures hiding in the smoke.
"Shit!"
Fortunately, Hilda came over and slammed the two figures' heads together, knocking them out and allowing everyone to get a good look at them.
"What the heck are they? They look like...skeletons." Rosa noted at the two unconscious bodies.
Suddenly, the bodies crumbled into ash, making the chubby girl jump back in shock.
"Uh, guys..." Ben nervously spoke as everyone looked up and their eyes widened in horror...
...For everyone in the train car could see Hosu City being burned down by an endless army of undead.
Knightmare Lord A/N:
DUN-DUN-DUUUUUUUUUN! CLIFFHANGER!
What will happen in Hosu? Will our heroes prevail in this disaster? And what of Iida? Will he be able to finally confront Stain and gain closure without getting himself killed along the way?
Mrotrax A/N:
Tune in next time on the next exciting chapter of 'DEVIL'S DREAMERS!'