Chapter 22: A Storm of Magic and Might

A/N: only cause you asked Guest chapter 21 . 41m ago

More, pretty please.

Here some more.

The abandoned industrial complex stood like a rotting carcass on the edge of the city. Rusted steel beams groaned in the wind, broken windows rattling as if whispering warnings to those who dared enter. This place, chosen by the Hero Public Safety Commission, was far from civilization—a perfect stage for a confrontation that could shatter the foundations of society.

Inside, shadows shifted.

Seventeen pro heroes lay in wait, scattered strategically throughout the complex. Among them were titans of hero society: All Might, Endeavor, Ryukyu, Best Jeanist, Edgeshot, Mirko, and more. Each prepared, weapons and quirks ready, supported by a heavily armed SWAT team equipped with the latest capture technology.

At the center, standing tall, was All Might himself, his cape lightly swaying. His sharp eyes remained fixed on the entrance.

All Might: "Stay sharp. He'll be here soon."

A heavy silence fell over the group.

Then, footsteps echoed.

Measured. Calm.

The Wolf-Masked Swordsman had arrived.

Cloud Strife stepped into the open, unarmed—or so they thought. His iconic wolf mask concealed his face, giving nothing away. Strapped to his wrist was a sleek black bracelet, embedded with two softly glowing orbs: one green, one red.

The Master Magic Materia and the Master Summon Materia.

They pulsed faintly, as if breathing.

A voice crackled through a loudspeaker.

HPSC Commander: "Your sword is inside. Enter the building."

Cloud didn't respond. His slow, deliberate steps carried him forward without hesitation.

The doors groaned open as he stepped into the dimly lit complex.

But there was no sword.

Only heroes.

And an army of guns trained on him.

Cloud halted. He slowly scanned the room, taking in the positions of every hero, every sniper, every hidden trap.

At the forefront stood All Might, radiating unmatched presence. Beside him, Aizawa narrowed his eyes, his capture scarf lightly twitching.

Cloud's voice broke the tension.

Cloud: "Heh. So this is how it is."

He tilted his head slightly, eyes locked on All Might.

Cloud: "I hope you're all ready to mosey on over to the afterlife."

His words slithered through the air, cold and biting.

Aizawa's eyes glowed red. His Quirk, Erasure, activated instantly.

Cloud didn't flinch.

The air shifted.

Nothing happened.

Cloud slowly turned his head toward Aizawa.

Then, slowly, deliberately, he began to clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Each clap echoed mockingly.

Cloud: "Clever. You think I have a Quirk."

The heroes tensed.

Cloud: "You're dead wrong."

A thin layer of frost began to creep along the ground, spiraling outward from Cloud's feet.

Aizawa's eyes widened.

Endeavor: "What the hell—?! Eraser Head, what are you doing?!"

Aizawa: "I... I'm still erasing him!"

But the frost continued to spread.

Cloud raised a single hand.

Without warning, a pillar of jagged ice erupted beneath Aizawa, encasing him in a thick prison of solid frost. The Eraser Hero was frozen mid-sentence, his body locked in place.

Gasps rippled through the heroes.

Midnight: "W-what was that?! That wasn't a Quirk!?"

Best Jeanist: "Impossible! Then what...?"

Edgeshot: "Explain yourself!"

Cloud's head tilted slightly.

Cloud: "If the man who cancels Quirks couldn't stop me... then it must be magic."

The room erupted in chaos.

But Cloud wasn't finished.

He raised his left arm, the red Materia on his bracelet flaring brightly.

The ground trembled.

A massive glyph burned itself into the air behind him, casting an ominous red glow.

BOOM.

The walls trembled as a monstrous figure tore through the veil of reality.

Ifrit—a hulking beast of molten rock and flame—roared into existence, fire seeping from every crack in its body.

Simultaneously, Cloud's other hand flared green.

A cold wind howled through the building.

From a burst of crystalline frost, the elegant and deadly Shiva emerged, her body shimmering with ice, her gaze piercing and cold.

The heroes recoiled.

Ryukyu: "He summoned... monsters!?"

Mirko: "They're not villains. They're something else!"

Cloud's voice cut through the panic.

Cloud: "Try and survive."

With a guttural roar, Ifrit hurled a tidal wave of fire across the room, forcing heroes to scatter. Shiva countered with razor-sharp icicles, turning the ground into a frozen battlefield.

Endeavor roared, flames bursting from his shoulders as he launched himself at Ifrit, meeting fire with fire.

Mirko vaulted off walls, aiming a crushing kick at Shiva, only to be repelled by a wall of ice.

Edgeshot darted through the chaos, trying to close the distance to Cloud, but Cloud's hand snapped forward, unleashing a blast of Thundaga, forcing him back.

Amid the chaos, only All Might advanced, undeterred.

All Might: "Enough!"

His booming voice silenced the room.

Cloud turned to face him fully.

Cloud: "You're the only one here worth my time."

All Might: "I won't ask again. Surrender!"

Cloud flexed his fists.

Cloud: "Not in the mood."

All Might moved first, closing the distance in a blur. His fist rocketed forward.

BOOM!

The ground shattered beneath Cloud as All Might's punch connected.

But Cloud didn't budge.

The air cracked.

Cloud's head tilted, ice spreading across his cheek where the punch had grazed.

Cloud: "Huh. That tickled."

All Might's eyes narrowed.

Cloud: "You're holding back."

All Might gritted his teeth.

Cloud: "Don't."

With a sharp movement, Cloud's fist lashed out, slamming into All Might's ribs. The hero grunted, sliding back.

All Might: "So be it."

The ground exploded as All Might launched forward, fists blurring. Cloud weaved between the blows, countering with swift, brutal strikes.

The industrial complex trembled under their fight.

Cloud's magic exploded outward, casting fire, ice, and lightning in waves, forcing the other heroes to stay back.

But All Might pressed on.

Each punch rattled the air. Each counterstrike from Cloud was sharper, faster.

Cloud: "You're not invincible. You're human."

All Might: "And you're dangerous!"

They clashed again, power meeting precision.

But Cloud smirked behind his mask.

Cloud: "You think this is my limit?"

The green Materia glowed ominously.

Cloud: "Ultima."

A sphere of searing light formed between his hands.

All Might's eyes widened.

Cloud thrust it forward.

BOOOOOM!

The world turned white just for a brief moment.

The battlefield was in chaos.

Flames and frost clashed, explosions shook the very foundation of the industrial complex, and the air crackled with energy both magical and Quirk-based. Heroes scrambled to subdue Cloud, but their combined strength was barely holding the line. Ifrit raged in a storm of molten fire, hurling flames that scorched steel beams, while Shiva glided elegantly, casting sheets of frost to freeze heroes in their tracks.

And yet, Cloud Strife—the Wolf-Masked Swordsman—stood calm in the eye of the storm.

Across from him, All Might panted, sweat dripping from his brow. The Symbol of Peace was powerful, unmatched in strength, but something about this fight felt off. Cloud wasn't even using his full power, and All Might knew it.

Cloud slowly raised his hand, the green Materia glowing ominously.

But then… he stopped.

The shimmering energy of Ultima flickered out.

Instead, Cloud's posture shifted, a mocking tilt to his head.

Cloud: "Since You're not holding back and lacking power, Let me fix that."

The green Materia pulsed.

A strange, ethereal glow surrounded All Might.

His eyes widened.

All Might: "W-what...?"

Cloud smirked beneath the wolf mask.

Cloud: "Berserk."

A violent surge of energy tore through All Might's body. His muscles bulged unnaturally, veins pulsing as raw power coursed through him. His breathing grew ragged, his vision sharpened, and a primal roar threatened to escape his throat.

All Might staggered, gripping his fists tightly.

All Might: "What... did you... do?"

Cloud: "No more holding back. You're four times stronger now."

Cloud's voice dripped with sarcasm.

Cloud: "Now hit me. Like your life depends on it."

All Might's pupils dilated, and instinct took over.

BOOM!

The ground split as All Might lunged forward, faster and stronger than ever before. His punch carved through the air like a missile.

Cloud sidestepped.

The shockwave from the punch tore through a wall, reducing steel to dust.

All Might roared, throwing another punch. Then another. And another.

Each strike was a hurricane of force.

And Cloud?

He weaved through them like water, every movement precise, effortless.

Cloud: "Faster. Harder. Come on."

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Cloud caught All Might's fist mid-air.

The ground cracked beneath their feet.

Cloud: "Disappointing."

He drove his knee into All Might's stomach, sending the hero skidding back.

All Might coughed violently, barely staying on his feet.

Cloud: "You're the Symbol of Peace, right? You're supposed to protect them. Yet here you are, powerless. Even with all this strength, you're still weak."

Nearby, Endeavor blasted flames at Ifrit, but the fiery summon only roared louder, absorbing the flames and retaliating with molten fists. Shiva danced gracefully, forming walls of ice to block incoming attacks.

Midnight, assessing the situation, knew she had to act.

Midnight: "I have to stop him!"

She lunged forward, releasing a thick cloud of her Somnambulist gas, the sweet scent of sleep drifting toward Cloud.

But as the gas spread, an unnatural cold wind howled through the complex.

Shiva raised her hand, and a blizzard of frost extinguished the gas mid-air, freezing it into harmless crystals.

Midnight: "W-what?!"

Cloud didn't even glance at her.

Cloud: "Try harder."

Midnight stumbled back, realizing how outclassed she was.

All Might, still struggling against the Berserk status, roared and charged again. His punches were faster, heavier—each one a cannon blast. He unleashed powerful attacks he hadn't used in years.

Carolina Smash!
Detroit Smash!
TEXAS SMASH!

Each attack leveled sections of the building, debris raining everywhere.

Cloud deflected each with a flick of his arm, sparks and shockwaves colliding.

All Might: "Why?! WHY DO YOU FIGHT LIKE THIS?!"

Cloud finally stopped dodging, catching both of All Might's fists with his hands.

Cloud: "You really want to know?"

Cloud shoved All Might back, his voice low and cold.

Cloud: "I'm not a villain. I'm a SOLDIER. Ex-First Class."

The heroes froze.

All Might: "S... Soldier?"

Cloud: "All I've done is take out the trash."

He turned, casually glancing at the scrambling heroes.

Cloud: "Your 'villains'? I kill them. Permanently. Not just slap them in a cell to escape later. You heroes... you give people false hope. You promise safety but let these scumbags crawl back, over and over."

His tone sharpened.

Cloud: "I don't give second chances."

The heroes felt a chill deeper than Shiva's frost.

Endeavor: "You're insane! Heroes protect people!"

Cloud's head tilted slowly toward Endeavor.

Cloud: "Do you protect them... or give them a false sense of security?"

Endeavor snarled, launching a wave of flames, but Ifrit blocked it effortlessly.

Cloud began walking toward All Might again.

Cloud: "Tell me, how many times have villains escaped from Tartarus? How many innocent people have died because you couldn't finish the job?"

All Might's fists trembled.

All Might: "That's not... the hero's way."

Cloud: "Exactly."

Cloud spread his arms wide.

Cloud: "That's why I'm not a hero. And that's why I'm better at this than you."

All Might lunged again, this time driven by more than just strength—by anger.

Cloud sidestepped and slammed his palm into All Might's chest.

A burst of Blizzaga exploded, launching All Might through several walls.

Cloud turned, his patience thinning.

The heroes regrouped, panting, bruised, and overwhelmed.

Cloud raised his hand, Master Summon Materia glowing once more.

Cloud: "You had your chance."

A red glyph burned brighter than before.

The air grew heavier.

CRACK!

The ground split open.

Rising from molten depths, a massive dragon coiled upward, wings unfurling, eyes burning with cosmic fire.

Bahamut.

The King of Dragons.

Gasps filled the air.

Mirko: "T-this guy's a monster..."

Cloud's voice echoed like a death knell.

Cloud: "Bahamut. finish them."

Bahamut let out an earth-shaking roar.

The sky above the industrial complex split open, darkening unnaturally.

Cloud casually turned away, walking slowly as Bahamut began charging a sphere of energy.

Cloud: "Pray you survive."

The heroes stood frozen as the Mega Flare began to take form.

The industrial complex was in ruins. Cracked steel beams groaned under the weight of debris, scorched concrete steamed from residual heat, and the bitter sting of frost clung to the air. Heroes, some bruised and others barely standing, struggled to comprehend the power of the man they had faced.

Cloud Strife stood at the center of it all, his figure barely moving, the faint glow of his Master Materia fading. The devastating Mega Flare charging within Bahamut's maw slowly dimmed, the swirling sphere of destruction dissolving into the night sky.

Then, as if reality itself softened, Cloud raised his hand, and the titanic form of Bahamut shimmered and vanished. Moments later, Ifrit and Shiva followed, their monstrous presences evaporating into mist.

The battlefield was silent.

Everyone stared, confused by the sudden withdrawal.

Cloud's head turned slowly, his sharp eyes scanning the darkened ruins.

It wasn't the battered heroes that caught his attention.

It was something... softer.

A faint sound. Quiet, but distinct.

Small voices.

Cloud's expression, cold and stoic, shifted slightly. His sharp instincts picked up on what others hadn't.

Children.

From behind a crumbled section of the industrial walls, small figures began to emerge. Their tiny faces peeked out, eyes wide with curiosity and fear. There were about six of them, bundled in ragged clothing, shivering slightly from the cold night air. Their wide eyes reflected the ruins, the heroes, and most importantly, him.

Cloud's entire body subtly relaxed.

He took a quiet step forward.

Cloud: "…Why are kids out here? Alone. In the middle of the night."

His voice, cold during the battle, now softened, though still carried a quiet authority.

One of the children, a boy no older than seven, shuffled forward nervously.

Boy: "We... we live close by."

A little girl clung to his sleeve, peeking out shyly.

Boy: "There was all this noise, and... and we wanted to see."

Another child, slightly older, tilted his head curiously.

Older Boy: "Why do the heroes look so tired?"

Cloud paused.

He glanced at the exhausted heroes—their bodies battered, their pride bruised.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes.

Cloud: "Training."

The children blinked.

Cloud: "They're training hard. Heroes need to fight and grow strong, even when it's hard. This is their special training ground."

The boy's eyes lit up.

Boy: "Really?!"

Cloud crouched down slightly, so he was closer to their level. His tone, while still firm, softened.

Cloud: "Really. They're too busy to keep going to hero schools, so they come here to get stronger."

The smallest girl, hugging a worn-out stuffed bear, raised her hand hesitantly.

Girl: "Can... can we be heroes too?"

Cloud stared at them for a moment. His blue eyes, once cold, now seemed distant—haunted by echoes of a past life. Memories of a broken world, of friends lost in battles fought for the sake of others.

But then, he softened.

Cloud: "You can. And you will."

He slowly stood up, turning slightly to glance over his shoulder.

His eyes locked onto the battered group of heroes—the so-called protectors of society.

His gaze was sharp, piercing.

Cloud: "You'll be the best heroes in the world."

His words, though directed at the children, carried a silent judgment toward the heroes who could barely stand.

All Might, panting heavily, watched this exchange, sweat clinging to his brow. His mind spun in disbelief. The man who had just nearly obliterated them was now speaking so gently to these children, like a protector.

It didn't make sense.

Cloud turned back to All Might, his voice regaining its commanding tone.

Cloud: "All Might."

The Symbol of Peace stiffened, bracing himself.

Cloud: "Where's my sword?"

The air grew tense again.

All Might straightened himself, pushing past his exhaustion.

All Might: "I-Island."

The name rolled off his tongue carefully.

All Might: "Your sword is on I-Island. But if you go there, know that you'll face more than just me. I-Island is home to the greatest technological defenses and world-class heroes."

Cloud was silent for a long moment.

Then, something unexpected happened.

He reached up to his wolf mask.

With one smooth motion, he pulled it off.

His spiky, ash-blonde hair caught the moonlight, and his cold blue eyes were sharp and piercing. His face, rugged and marked by faint scars, was expressionless.

Cloud: "My name is Cloud Strife."

The heroes collectively froze.

Aizawa's eyes widened in disbelief. Best Jeanist inhaled sharply. Even Endeavor, despite his pride, felt the weight of that name. It wasn't just that he had revealed his identity—it was the confidence behind it.

Cloud's gaze never wavered.

Cloud: "I will be getting my sword back before the end of summer. Heal up. Prepare your team."

His voice remained calm, but there was a sharp edge to it—a warning.

But then, he glanced down at the kids, his tone softening again.

Cloud: "More training awaits."

The contrast between his threatening presence and his care for the children unsettled the heroes.

Cloud knelt down, gesturing to the children.

Cloud: "Come on. Let's get you somewhere safe."

The children hesitated, but his calm demeanor eased their nerves. One by one, they approached him, and Cloud gently lifted the smallest girl into his arms while guiding the others with a steady hand.

Cloud: "You've been out here too long. You need a warm bed."

The sight was surreal.

The man who summoned gods of destruction was now carrying children with the gentleness of an older brother.

He began walking away.

No hero dared to stop him.

Not after tonight.

All Might's fists trembled at his sides.

All Might: "…Why?"

Cloud paused but didn't turn back.

Cloud: "Because they deserve better."

And with that, he disappeared into the night, the children at his side.

Aftermath

Silence hung in the air long after Cloud was gone.

Heroes stood still, processing everything.

Mirko was the first to break the silence.

Mirko: "What the hell was that?"

Aizawa slowly lowered his head.

Aizawa: "We... would have died."

Best Jeanist exhaled sharply.

Best Jeanist: "And yet, he stopped."

Midnight stared at the frozen remnants of her gas, still glistening as ice.

Midnight: "Because of children."

All Might clenched his fists.

All Might: "No... because he's more than just a villain."

He turned his gaze toward the horizon.

All Might: "He's a man who believes in something else."

Endeavor growled, still seething.

Endeavor: "What does it matter? He's coming for his sword. He's declared war on us."

All Might's expression hardened.

All Might: "No... he declared a Promise."

The words hung in the air, as absurd as they sounded.

But it was true.

Cloud Strife was no ordinary threat.

And soon, the world would know it.

They had until the end of summer.

Time was running out.

A/N: Guest chapter 1 . 5h ago

Author goblok. Makan tai dan mati aja lu, otak babon.

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