Chapter 23: The Frozen Path to I-Island

The room was dark, illuminated only by the pale glow of a laptop screen. Cloud Strife sat on a worn-out chair in a small, secluded apartment, the walls bare except for a map of international routes pinned above the desk. His blue eyes remained fixed on the screen as data scrolled by—cargo manifests, flight plans, security details.

Across the screen, a video feed flickered to life.

Giran, his information broker, appeared, slouched in his seat with a cigarette dangling from his lips. The man exhaled a puff of smoke, smirking as he leaned forward.

Giran: "You don't call often, Cloud. What's got you lookin' for me this time?"

Cloud leaned back, arms folded across his chest.

Cloud: "I-Island. I need details. When's it closest to Japan?"

Giran chuckled, tapping away at his keyboard.

Giran: "You're lucky it's that time of year. I-Island's orbit brings it closer to Japan for their big tech festival. Lots of heroes, scientists, security—the whole parade."

Cloud's eyes narrowed.

Cloud: "Security?"

Giran: "Oh, it's tight. High-end radar, aerial drones, sea patrols. But..." Giran smirked, tilting his head, "There's a window. Hundreds of flights, shipments and what not, their attention will be... divided."

Cloud processed the information, nodding slightly.

Cloud: "That's good enough."

Giran raised an eyebrow.

Giran: "You planning to swim there?"

Cloud didn't answer. He didn't need to.

Testing the Path

Cloud stood alone on the deserted beach, Fenrir's engine rumbling quietly behind him. The sea stretched endlessly before him, cold and dark under the afternoon sky.

He raised his hand, summoning a chilling wind to his fingertips.

Cloud: "Blizzaga."

A surge of icy energy burst forth, spreading rapidly across the ocean's surface. The water froze instantly into a solid sheet, glistening under the sunlight. Cloud took a cautious step forward onto the ice. It held firm.

Without hesitation, Cloud turned back to his motorcycle. He swung his leg over Fenrir, gripping the handlebars.

The engine roared.

The massive bike surged forward, tires gripping the smooth, frozen surface with surprising ease.

Cloud leaned forward, cold air whipping against him as he picked up speed.

CRACK.

He felt a small fracture beneath him. Frowning, he raised his hand.

Cloud: "Blizzaga!"

More ice spread ahead, reinforcing the path. He drove faster now, his eyes locked on the horizon.

Eight miles out to sea, he finally slowed to a stop. The ice groaned beneath Fenrir but held.

Cloud looked back at the distant shore, then forward into the open sea.

Cloud: "It'll work."

He turned back, racing toward land.

The Plan

Back in the apartment, Cloud examined flight schedules meticulously. Cargo flights, passenger planes, private jets—all converging on I-Island for the technology festival.

Cloud's finger traced along a particular route.

Cloud: "Midday. More traffic. Harder to notice one shadow."

He memorized the time and date.

The Day of the Ride

The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows over the ocean.

Cloud stood on the same beach, fully suited in his SOLDIER 1st Class uniform. The sleek black attire fit snugly, every strap and buckle meticulously fastened. His Chocobracelet shimmered faintly on his wrist, the Master Magic Materia and Master Summon Materia pulsing quietly with latent energy.

On his back, his Replica Buster Sword rested comfortably, its weight familiar.

He adjusted a thick, dark coat over his uniform, hiding the sword. His once-spiky hair now lay damp and flat against his head, and an All Might mask covered his face.

Cloud looked up, eyes following the distant shape of a large cargo plane slowly gliding through the sky.

Cloud: "Time to move."

He raised his hand.

Cloud: "Blizzaga!"

The ice spread rapidly, creating a solid path across the water.

Cloud mounted Fenrir.

The motorcycle roared to life, and Cloud launched forward, the wheels gripping the frozen road beneath him.

Above him, the cargo plane drifted steadily toward I-Island.

Cloud kept his eyes on it, adjusting his speed carefully.

Too fast, and he'd outpace it. Too slow, and he'd lose his window.

The shadows of the plane stretched long over the ocean. Cloud remained just beneath it, adjusting his speed as necessary.

The icy path stretched endlessly ahead.

The Approach

I-Island loomed in the distance, a colossal structure rising from the sea, bristling with technology and guarded by layers of defenses.

Cloud's eyes narrowed.

Radars, drones, patrol ships.

But luck—or perhaps fate—was on his side.

The cargo plane above him slowly began its descent, aligning with the island's docking bay. Cloud's sharp eyes spotted a deployment hatch partially open along the plane's underbelly.

Perfect.

Cloud raised his hand.

Cloud: "Blizzaga!"

An icy ramp formed ahead, spiraling upward toward the open hatch.

Fenrir shot up the ramp, ice cracking beneath its tires as Cloud ascended into the underbelly of the plane.

Inside, the cargo hold was quiet, crates stacked high and machinery humming softly.

No guards.

No alarms.

Cloud smirked.

Cloud: "Luck's on my side."

He parked Fenrir behind a stack of large crates, draping a tarp over it. With the coat concealing his sword and the mask in place, he stepped cautiously into the bustling halls of I-Island.

Among the Crowd

The festival was in full swing.

Scientists, heroes, and investors filled the sleek, glass-paneled corridors. Booths of cutting-edge technology buzzed with excitement. Security was light here, most stationed near All Might's scheduled appearance.

Cloud moved silently through the crowd, blending in.

The All Might mask on his face earned him casual glances but nothing more. Many were wearing similar merchandise in celebration of the hero's arrival.

He approached a terminal, casually accessing the event map.

Cloud: "Weapon storage... where are you?"

His eyes scanned the display.

The Secure Vaults were located deep within the island, behind several layers of clearance.

Cloud smirked.

Cloud: "Doesn't matter."

He turned away, disappearing into the crowd.

Step by step, Cloud Strife was getting closer to reclaiming what was his.

His Buster Sword awaited.

And nothing on this island would stop him.

A/N section.

A/N: drinks water

First thing first to: nathangvirgolino chapter 22 . Jan 17

Do you think you could make a history of izuku inheriting the powers of a SOLDIER from Zack Fair?
My idea is like this:after Zack dies,Minerva the Goddess of the Lifestream,says that if he wishes he can pass his powers to someone who truly deserves the title of a hero in another world (which is My Hero Academia)
then they go to have a look in that world as ghosts to look for someone worthy, finding Izuku protecting a child from Bakugo,they decide to observe his life until the moment Toshinori crushes his that moment when Izuku kills himself by jumping off the roof because of bakugo's "advice",Zack intervenes and pulls him to the Lifestream and explain to him about his story and that he wishes to pass his powers to after hearing his tragic story and feeling that he should honor his wishes accepts Izuku finds himself in the rooftop once again but he hears Zack's voice saying:embrace your dreams...and whatever happens, protect your honor, as a Hero.

A/N: I'm gonna be real with you chief, I dead ass could make that possible, 100% no cap could make that a thing Hell I've also given him materie and a buster sword, But like the reason I had Cloud train Bakugou except Deku, I hate Deku Fuck Izuku, fuck this man and fuck his dreams. I'm not joking I 1,000% hate deku but for story purposes I would.

A/N: zimunyamomo94chapter 22 .9h ago

Eating so good in a 10/10
Jesus, Cloud didn't use the limit break on Allmight. omg lol

A/N: thank you, I hope you this next chapter makes you peckish for the next chapter, and Cloud not needing a limit break for All might was funny, All Might is not on Cloud level, and if yo think about Cloud gave All Might a Limit break by casting berserk on All Might. lol.