Chapter 21: Buster Sword Found

Deep beneath the shimmering waters surrounding I-Island, industrial machines hummed and churned. Spotlights pierced the ocean's depths, illuminating a massive object half-buried in the seabed. It wasn't a wrecked ship or a piece of lost technology—it was a sword.

But not just any sword.

It was enormous. A six-foot-long broadsword, thick and imposing, scarred with battle damage yet untouched by rust despite being submerged in saltwater for who knows how long. Its massive form pulsed faintly, emitting an energy signature unlike anything ever recorded before.

Around the colossal weapon, deep-sea cranes and submersibles strained to free it from the ocean floor.

Dr. Yumi Nakamura, one of I-Island's top weapons researchers, stood on the observation deck, arms crossed, staring intently at the feed from the submersibles.

Dr. Nakamura* "Is it moving yet?"

A technician shook his head, nervously adjusting his headset.

Technician* "No, ma'am. Even with reinforced grapples, we're barely making progress. The thing weighs… well, the sensors are saying 87 tons. That… that can't be right, can it?"

Nakamura's expression darkened.

Dr. Nakamura* "No, it can't. A six-foot blade weighing over 190,000 pounds? That's physically impossible. But it's happening."

The machines groaned as they adjusted, more anti-gravity devices being activated, reducing the sword's perceived weight. Slowly, painstakingly, the blade began to rise from the seabed.

Dr. Nakamura* "Increase magnetic containment and prepare the isolation chamber. I want that thing secure."

*I-Island Research Facility – Containment Lab*

Suspended in a vast magnetic chamber, the Buster Sword floated, humming softly. Scientists dressed accordingly in their white lab coats circled it, scanners and analysis devices aimed at the massive blade.

Dr. Nakamura* paced in front of a large monitor displaying fluctuating energy readings.

Dr. Nakamura* "What do we know so far?"

Dr. Hiroshi Tanaka, another leading researcher, adjusted his glasses.

Dr. Tanaka* "The blade emits a low-frequency energy pulse. Nothing harmful, but it's consistent—like it's alive. We also discovered these seven slots along the hilt. Designed for… something. Possibly spherical objects. Gems? Or energy cores?"

He tapped on the screen, enlarging the image of the sword's hilt, and highlighting the empty slots.

Dr. Nakamura* "Energy cores… or weapons augmentations. Either way, it's inert now. Have we identified the composition of the metal?"

Dr. Tanaka* "No known metal on Earth. It's resilient to heat, pressure, and even plasma cutting. Despite being underwater, it shows no corrosion. We ran molecular scans, and the structure is too dense for analysis."

Nakamura stared at the blade, contemplative.

Dr. Nakamura* "If something wielded that… it wasn't human."

Before anyone could respond, the lab's main screen flickered.

Breaking News*—Footage from the *U.A. Sports Festival*.

The display showed a masked figure tearing through villains at the *USJ Attack* weeks prior. Cloud, wearing his wolf mask, moved with brutal efficiency, his massive sword cleaving through debris and enemies alike.

But it wasn't just any sword.

It was this sword.

Gasps echoed in the room.

Dr. Tanaka* "That's… impossible."

Dr. Nakamura* "No. That's our sword. Or at least a perfect replica of it. Which means whoever this is… he's connected to this thing."

Silence.

Then Nakamura turned sharply.

Dr. Nakamura* "Alert the *Hero Public Safety Commission*. Now."

*Hero Public Safety Commission Headquarters*

Inside the towering building of the *Hero Public Safety Commission (HPSC), high-ranking officials gathered in a dimly lit war room. Monitors displayed the sword, Cloud's footage, and energy readouts.

At the head of the table sat Commander Kuroda, the stoic leader of the HPSC.

Commander Kurod "So This… Symbol of Death… as those with a flair for the dramatic seem to call him. I much prefer referring to him as The Wolf Swordsman, lest we feed the flames that have arisen from all of this. Is he a villain by association, or perhaps something else?"

Agent Fushimi, a strategist, leaned forward.

Agent Fushimi sighs "The Wolf Swordsman's involvement in the USJ attack suggests alignment with villain activity, yet his behavior contradicts that. He targeted villains, not students. Furthermore, this sword ties him to the weapon retrieved by I-Island. We don't have enough information."

Commander Kuroda ponders for a moment before speaking "Hm. Then we make this supposed Symbol of Death come to us."

He gestured to the sword's hologram.

Commander Kuroda he points at both broad swords. "Prepare a holographic message. Show The Wolf Swordsman his blade. Bait him."

*A City in Chaos*

Cloud stood amidst the ruins of a burning warehouse, his wolf mask reflecting the flames. Before him lay the defeated form of a *Pyro Villain*, their Quirk rendered useless against Cloud's brutal efficiency.

Suddenly, a faint beep echoed from nearby.

A small drone hovered into view, projecting a hologram.

The image flickered to life the Buster Sword his real Buster Sword, suspended in containment.

Unknown Voice: "We know who you are. And we have something of yours."

Cloud's stance shifted, tense.

Unknown Voice: "You will come to these coordinates. Unarmed. Cooperate, and we talk. Resist, and you'll find more than just heroes waiting for you."

The hologram cut off, leaving only the coordinates blinking.

Cloud's grip on his current sword tightened.

His eyes, hidden beneath the mask, narrowed.

"I'll be there and I'll let you know." he said as he walked off to the distance.