Here is the forty-second chapter in this story released in accordance with my release schedule for this story. It's now confirmed that the Quirk Knight students aren't the only ones present in the compound, members of the Diamond Company who created it have come to prevent the records it holds from falling into the hands of the Japanese authorities. The result is that two battles, one for the Black Bulls and the other the Golden Dawn students have broken out to prevent the Diamond Company from completing their mission and retrieve that valuable intel. It's time to check into the first of those two battles as Asta, Yuno, Noelle, Nero, and Mimosa's internship has really started with a bang and this is just the start of the week so who knows what else is in store for them. That is all that I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and while there are no questions to answer here there are two guest reviews that need a response, one of which will involve a question to y'all, so I will do that now. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate.
To Guest (guest), yup the adaptation is off to a good start with the first taste of the conflict that will arise in it, a conflict that will start to develop more in this chapter before it comes to its first pause in the next one, providing the Quirk Knight students can win of course. Noelle's ability does allow her to control water so being able to sense it makes sense though it's not something she usually does due to her control issues and usually there is water nearby so she can ignore it but it has its uses and perhaps in the future she'll be able to develop it more once she's gotten it under control. Luck's in a pickle for sure but soon help will arrive but will it be what Luck needs? All that and more to come so do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To Nathan Ramos (guest), yup Luck can acknowledge his foes though I'm sorry if it wasn't clear but Yang isn't so much a challenge for him but rather he is for her. Yang's Quirk allows her to absorb physical damage and turn it into power which is hard to do when being blasted by lightning as the damage isn't the kind she can absorb so Luck is a bad opponent for her in the sense that he can't fight her at her best though he does acknowledge the challenge she poses. Nora on the other hand, well all Luck is to her is a power up battery so she's a really bad matchup. Don't forget that Luck is still struggling with the concept of friends but that will change very soon and when it does and he returns to class I'm sure he'll fully realize what it means be it with Magna or Nora. As for your question, I have seen some of the news such as the image of the villain and the title but that's about it at the moment though that obsession makes sense. Seems a bit Stain-like possibly which could be interesting. Given that the fourth film is set during the Dark Deku arc it does fit a lot better than the third movie for sure and actually plays into my own plans for that arc in this story as well. I do have some plans for Conrad to at least discuss something with Flect but that doesn't mean he has to be in the film and there could be ways that this would work as don't forget that Princia and Jester are dead in the current timeline (the condensing of time from 500 years to 200 years to fit the rough lore before that change in the canon regarding the glowing baby means that Edward can still be alive). Naturally, I will wait until You Are Next to come out before making any decisions but it might be the best of the films to slot into the actual story given what I have planned rather than a stand alone story like the other films. All this said, I have yet to play Arrowfall so I don't know it well enough to include Bram and team BRIR but there is plenty of time so I'm sure I'll eventually get and play the game. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
That is it for this standard pre-chapter note so it is time to sit back and enjoy the forty-second chapter in Black RWBY Academia.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these three great franchises.
Chapter 42: Crushing a Smokey Diamond
Even with his renewed vigor and successful attack, Luck paused, his grin as manic as ever and his eyes wide as he looked at Lotus. He may be looking at his opponent but his mind flashed back to his late mother and the strange upbringing that he'd had with his mother.
Like many in the sticks, Luck had grown up in poverty with only his mother. However, she was abusive during his formative years because all Luck seemed to be able to do was smile, he wouldn't show any emotions at all. Due to his age Luck never really realized this, he just didn't understand why his mother was like that but then a single event changed everything.
However, it wasn't his personality that changed but his mother's attitude when, at the local school one day, Luck topped the fitness tests despite his socioeconomic class which in an area where those with wealth saw themselves as superior in all aspects was big. Almost at once his mother realized that Luck was special, that he was strong, and that he had to keep on winning if he was to advance himself. That said she told him that he had to do it by himself because no one else would help him.
It was the first time in Luck's life that he'd seen his mother happy and praise him so he promised her that he'd do just that, he'd win because it would make her happy. Even after she had suddenly died when he was still in middle school, Luck kept that sentiment with him and used it to drive him forward and keep on winning to make his mother proud.
To continue to do, and because he'd grown to love fighting touch opponents, Luch had decided to try out for U.A. and become a hero because even in the sticks you knew that the real winners were the heroes no matter what the branch and so Luck had to do that. It also meant that he'd have free reign to use his Quirk, which the few tests he'd done as a youth indicated was strong, so he was set.
Naturally, few gave Luck a shot when he applied to U.A., and academically speaking that was true as he barely passed that aspect of the test due to his focus on the physical exam, but when it came to said physical exam he nailed it. It was after all an exam centered around destroying as many robots as possible in the time limit while using his Quirk and that was just what Luck did. It played to all of his strengths be they his love of combat or the various applications of his Quirk and as such there was no stopping Luck during the exam.
Of course he'd had no concept of the hidden rescue points aspect; he was just focused on getting as many points as possible by beating all the robots. It was why, despite the size, he avoided the 0 pointer as it wasn't worth anything and focused on the other points available. That said he had wanted to fight one and got the shot during the first elimination event of his first Sports Festival where he took one down but during the Entrance Exam his focus was on winning it with the most points rather than fighting the massive robot that showed up.
That was just what Luck did and he passed with 81 points and all were Villian Points, one of the highest of all time for that category and the highest amount in the exam. However, it was the second highest score overall that year behind Xiao Long who'd out gained Luck because of Rescue Points which she'd earned by taking out the 0 pointer with Belladonna's help before it could crush several applicants though that had been her own battle lust talking.
It had slightly annoyed Luck that he'd not won outright but he took that as a challenge and come the Sports Festival he was able to right the scales when the bracket ensured he wouldn't face Valkyrie, who at the time he didn't know was is greatest foil due to his Quirk having the opposite effect on her than it would on anyone else who lacked electrical resistance, and ended with him and Xiao Long in the final. Alas while it was good and the blonde girl kept Luck on his toes with her attacks, her Quirk wasn't well suited to absorbing ranged lightning attacks and he won in the end but her resilience was formidable.
It was the peak for Luck but because of how brutal he'd been along the way to victory, which included laughing almost the whole time, many were thrown off by it. So much so that only the Black Bulls made him an internship offer.
Luck had not minded that and found that the Quirk Knights were more suited to what he wanted out of being a hero as he could let lose in the sticks in ways he couldn't in the city so when the work studies rolled around in their second year Luck took the offer Yami had made following his internship and kept on winning. True he'd lose at times, mainly to Valkyrie as all he did was power her up no matter how much lightning he sent at her and Togata as Luck's lightning would just pass through him, but he won more often than he lost and that would have made his mother happy.
Today, in this canteen underground that had been built by a foreign agitator, things were no different for Luck. Just like always he was going to win or be knocked out and after the initial exchange he wasn't going to let the latter happen. So, with that in mind, Luck held out his right arm, the lightning armor going all the way to his shoulder, and channeled the lightning he could produce into his palm to form a ball there that he then blasted out and at Lotus, his first display of ranged combat all day.
"A ranged attack, my you are full of surprises." Lotus said as he twisted his upper body out of the way of the shot, even though it was made of lightning or electricity it was still avoidable for Lotus, but as he did Luck launched himself at Lotus to get up close and began slashing at him with his clawed gloves and forcing Lotus on the defensive as he began to twist and evade the attacks. "You're a really interesting boy. Despite my Quirk's ability to weaken physical abilities if I have the time to produce it, you've managed to over come that and come at he harder, faster, and sharper. How is that possible?"
"Simply." Luck said his grin broad as Lotus showed more of his skills by evading the attacks as more black smoke poured off his body and filled the room. "I'm going to keep on winning no matter what you try to do to me. That what my power is for!"
With that Luck launched a savage strike at Lotus but he moved to the side faster than Luck expected and so all he cut through was smoke. The reason for the move was the smoke, the control Lotus had over it was such that he could wrap it back around himself and pull his body around so that it moved faster than a normal human without enhanced speed could.
It also meant that he could effectively fly by manipulating how it worked. All of these were high level skills that he'd honed from 2 decades within the Diamond Kingdom army and its cutthroat advancement and bonus nature requiring constant increases in strength if you wanted any sort of comfort and career.
"I'm terribly sorry for that kid but as you see I can't afford to lose either." Lotus said as he landed on the ground far enough away from Luck that he'd have room to execute what he had planned. "So it's time we wrap this up. You're strong though, I was hoping not to use this move."
"Yeah it is." Luck said with a grin as he rushed at Lotus and leapt into the air so that he was high above the man which inadvertently ensured that Lotus's attack would work. "Now I…"
"Binding Cross Prison!" Lotus cried out as he crouched down and even more smoke than before billowed off his body.
Before Luck could even begin his descent the smoke that Lotus had just created, along with the smoke that was still pouring from his body from earlier, though not all the smoke in the room was attached to him at the moment, shot up and at Luck. In seconds it engulfed him in a thick cloud of smoke that solidified into a cross that immobilized him in midair by binding around his thighs, abdomen, biceps, chest, and neck leaving him spread eagled in the air with his mouth covered. The smoke still had traces back to Lotus showing that he had full control over it.
"Man that Ultimate Move as you'd call it uses up so much energy that I'm always seriously exhausted after using it." Lotus said as he looked up at Luck. "It's such a pain to condense my smoke so that it can be used to capture someone you see but at least it ensures that you won't be bouncing around anymore. That Quirk of yours gives you far too much mobility but you're dealt with. Youth these days, you're always so impressive but such is the nature of generational Quirk evolution. I wonder how my own youth is doing. He's the one who we brought to handle the records room but I don't know, it's really hard to get through to him at times. Perhaps it's the generation gap? What do you think?"
Luck of course couldn't speak so he couldn't say anything but what the man was implying, and not for the first time, was that there was someone else here, someone who was stronger than the old man who'd caught him. That was really interesting and Luck wanted to fight him as well but he was rather preoccupied right now and couldn't get out of the bind he was in as the condensed smoke was too thick to break through with his lightning and even his scouting ability was being messed with thanks to the dense smoke. Fortunately for Luck his situation was about to take a whole new turn.
However, at that very moment Luck was in too much of a bind to realize that help was on its way and it wasn't just the physical bind but a mental one as well. He had to win, he had to do so with his own power and he had to do it no matter what. True he'd lost but in class that was people like Valkyrie and Togata who had ways around Luck's Quirk that were near unbeatable for him, not that it didn't push Luck to be stronger to beat them next time. This was different, he could beat Lotus with his power alone but so far he'd not managed that and it was confusing to him, messing with his head.
"Judging by your eyes there's something more than my smoke that is binding you right now." Lotus said as he rubbed his cheeks and winced a little at the wounds Luck had inflicted on his right cheek. "I wonder what it could be."
Luck of course couldn't respond as he continued to wonder how he'd seemed to fail in this fight. He'd almost managed it, he'd even overcome the subtle smoke attack, but now he was really in a bind and the more he struggled and failed to break free the more his mind questioned things to the point that he started to forget what he was even looking for or why he was here.
"Don't worry, you won't be conflicted about anything anymore." Lotus said as he held up his left hand towards Luck. "Let me take all those worries away. A shame, really, but it has to be done."
However, just before Lotus could act, there was a roar and suddenly a large black sword cut through his smoke from behind and somehow freed Luck. All Lotus could do was stare in surprise at the gray haired youth who looked a few years younger than Luck but was wearing the same robe yelling as he landed on the ground in front of Luck as Luck fell to his hands and knees.
"Well would you look at that." Lotus said getting his surprise under control so that it wasn't showing. "It's another spirited youth who's come to join us. Now who might you be?"
"Who am I?" Asta asked back his teeth grit as he glared at the old man before him who he was sure was a villain though he had no idea if the man was a normal villain or one from the creators of this compound. "I am his friend!"
It had been dark and Asta, Noelle, and Nero had gotten a bit lost in the maze of tunnels once they descended the stairs but after a few wrong turns, which included a disgusting venture into an uncleaned toilet and shower complex that almost made them throw up, Nero was able to deduce that they were in a living quarters of sorts. From there she suggested that they try and find a map or guide of sorts in one of the rooms as there should be one lying around but before they could do that they saw a light coming in from a staircase at the end of a corridor.
That was all they needed to know that something was up as everywhere else had been dark so they hurried there and down the stairs to see that the light was coming from an open doorway at the end of a really long corridor. However, as they ran they began to see black smoke, which all three took as fire based given how thick and voluminous it appeared to be, fill the area and so they hurried up just in case it was Luck's doing and they had to put it out.
Usually you wouldn't do this without any formal training, especially with the amount of smoke they could see, but with Noelle around extinguishing a fire was a piece of cake. This was even more true as they ran because Noelle noted that there was a water tank underground somewhere and within her range as they neared the light so they had that covered if need be.
It turned out, however, that they didn't need it as the smoke was a Quirk and they arrived just as Lotus was talking to a captured Luck. It was hard to see through the smoke but with the high ceilings there was room to move and Luck's lightning allowed for a good visual as to where he was.
That was what Asta used and he rushed forward to leap at the smoke and cut two of the branches of it that were holding Luck up and as he did he saw the villain who had captured Luck as the smoke dissipated. However, Asta missed that the smoke had been connected to the man especially because the room was still filled with smoke so the true nature of the man's Quirk was hard to gage at a glance.
That was how Asta and the girls had ended up here and now they were all going to back up their senior and aid him against this man. Together they could take down the villain and capture him, they just needed a plan that involved Asta smacking him with the edge of his great sword, or his other sword for that matter but as he had the great sword out and the smoke was thick it felt like the right choice for the moment.
"You're taking us on right here and now!" Asta yelled as Noelle and Nero joined him standing on either side of Asta and in front of Luck while the rest of the smoke steadily dissipated revealing the damage to the room and the 4 still unconscious grunts that had been moved to the edges of it and out of harms way. "Get ready old man because we won't let you escape this place."
"Oh really?" Lotus asked his right hand on his chin. "Well this is delightful, seeing your friends come out to play is most intriguing and here I thought that you didn't have any friends."
Luck was still on his hands and knees and smiling. This wasn't how it was supposed to go, he was supposed to finish this on his own, that was how it had to be, it was what his mother had told him before she died. Yes Asta had helped when Luck needed him the most but now that he was free he could end this.
"No, he's mine." Luck said as he rose to his feet.
"Luck, wait…" Noelle began.
"Yeah I might not be best suited but Asta and Noelle can aid you." Nero said looking back at him and noting that Luck didn't seem to have any injuries so even her limited healing skills weren't needed at the moment. "You can't win alone Luck."
"He's my prey, not anyone else's." Luck said his manic grin getting wider. "I will win this fight and dedicate my victory to you, mom."
"Is anyone else a little perturbed by how this could be Midoriya if he ever lost it?" Nero asked as Luck blasted forward between them and once again took the fight to Lotus while all they could do was watch. "Because I am."
"It's odd but right now we've got bigger issues than that." Noelle said as Luck ordered them to stay back and that he'd take the man on alone. "Because despite his claims he can't win alone. Please, Luck, let us aid you!"
"I have to do it by myself or else my mom will never accept me." Luck said confusing them even more. "I must win on my own. That's what she said and it made her happy so I'll do that to make her proud of me."
"Fine then, have it your way." Asta said understanding what Luck was saying to an extent as Lotus suddenly leapt to the side smoke billowing off his body as he did and refilling the finally cleared room with it. "If that's how you want to play it then go for it."
"Asta…" Noelle began.
"Seriously is this all that you have?" Lotus asked as he evade Luck and poured even more smoke into the room by blasting it at Luck from his hand but Luck leapt up and over it and Lotus ended the attack though the smoke remained. "You shouldn't hold back right now."
"Don't worry, I'll do it, I'll win this." Luck said as he turned in the air. "I have to win this!"
Luck meant it because in his mind it was the only way to get his mother's acceptance and without that he'd be alone. As such he had to win this fight no matter what but as he came down to the ground Lotus leapt into the air as smoke billowed from his feet which kept him aloft before he sent even more smoke out at Luck that was going to engulf him as Lotus vanished into the thick smoke he was creating from his back.
However, right before it could reach Luck, Asta again acted as he leapt over Luck's crouched body and cut through the smoke, dissipating it but by then Lotus had already detached it from his hands so that was the only thing that Asta dissipated with his attack. It didn't matter though because Asta had, at least to him, finally figured Luck out and knew what had to be done.
"That's fine Luck, if you want to win then do it." Asta said as the smoke dissipated and they were surrounded by more of it at the same time. "But that's not going to stop me from doing what I got do as well, got it?"
"I have to beat him on my own." Luck said simply. "That's how it has to be."
"Yeah that's just not going to happen though." Asta yelled as he leapt at where he thought the man was and swiped down with his sword cutting through the smoke and briefly revealing him but Lotus just poured more smoke off his body and disappeared into it again before Asta could press his attack. "You can fight him but so will I whether you like it or not. Now where is he?"
As soon as Asta asked that, Lotus reappeared in a free spot flying sideways on smoke coming from his legs, waist and feet, his right arm out as he send another attack blast at Asta but Asta was ready for it as he turned to the smoke with a yell. Again he cut through it and dissipated it, much to Lotus's confusion as he couldn't figure out what this new brat's Quirk was or how it allowed him to cut through Lotus's smoke, but it could so Lotus just created more from his body and vanished into it.
"I'm not done!" Asta roared as Luck gasped and stared at Asta who began to press forward and cut through the smoke that kept billowing towards him. "I won't be until I hit this guy!"
"Keep trying, I do like that vigor you show." Lotus called out from the smoke as more of it came at Asta but he cut through it again. "But you're friend may be done."
"No I'm not." Luck said though he didn't move. "I have to win this and I have to this alone so back down Asta."
"Look, Luck, I don't know what you think of me and frankly I don't care." Asta said ignoring Luck's order and swinging his sword as he spoke to cut through the smoke but as he dissipated some more just filled the space while Luck and the girls watched. "Do whatever you want with your life and your power as a Quirk Knight. That is fine but at the end of the day you're now my friend, our friend, so let us help you! That's what friends do!"
It was a strange thing to watch and hear but it was something that Luck hadn't actually heard before even after more than 2 years at U.A. and which deep down he'd subconsciously tried not to see it. However, as Asta yelled and cut the smoke, rather ineffectively as he only dissipated the part that was connected to Lotus's body, and even then only to the specific point and there were too many points to work on, Luck realized that even he had friends who he could count on. It was in that moment that he fully grasped it; he'd just needed a loudmouthed brat to bluntly tell, or in this case yell it at, him.
Luck's friends were twofold and it all hit him in that moment. There were the Black Bulls, who he was going to be a full member of once he graduated from U.A., and then there were his friends at U.A. itself who had been the first batch of friends he'd ever had. Magna, who he always had a fun rivalry with, and Charmy who always cooked for him when they were together, fell into both camps but they all were friends.
Over the last two years at U.A. Luck had gotten to know them well be it Togata's bad jokes, Hado's airheadness, Amajiki's near crippling self-consciousness, Xiao-Long's sparring and competition with him that matched Luck's own battle lust, juicing up Valkyrie just for fun, Arc's healing, the calmness of Ren and Belladonna and their willingness to help anyone. Hell, even dealing with the prejudices of Lunettes and Marron and trying to help them get over their classism or sexism was part of being friends.
It was all this and so much more that made them friends. All of his other classmates had all been there for Luck and he'd not realized it. It was the same with the Black Bulls and all this would continue because that's what it was like to have friends. So it turned out that Luck wasn't alone after all; his mom had been wrong about that.
It was a massive revelation for Luck and he'd make sure to really embrace it when he got back to the hideout after this as well next time he was at school, hell he was really going to have fun juicing up Valkyrie next time they had inter-class exercises because that would make things really interesting, and this revelation couldn't have come at a better time as Asta panted from his exertion while an unharmed Lotus landed several feet away. As he did he parted the smoke to show that Asta hadn't harmed him while even more smoke streamed off his body to add to the mass amount in the room.
"You're right, it will be a lot more fun to fight together." Luck said happily. "Man I can't wait to really work on this in class, I've got to come up with a combo move with Magna. Thanks Asta."
"It sure does." Asta said with a grin. "And we'll take him down as a team."
"Well that was surprising." Noelle noted. "Asta got through to Luck. I wasn't expecting that, let alone him managing it so quickly."
"It's Asta, he has a strange way about him." Nero noted. "I was drawn to him at the Entrance Exam when he put Ida in his place and the way he was willing to stand up to the zero pointer solidified that. I mean just look at the change in your personality Noelle, that's all Asta's doing and that was really impressive."
"Are you saying something?" Noelle said as she looked at the other girl while the smoke continued to fill the room.
"Yeah that you were an arrogant, elitest, uptight, bitch when we first met." Nero said bluntly not looking at Noelle. "But after Asta saved you and we got a sense for why you were like that he was able to help and now you've started to come out of your shell and show us who you really are Noelle. It's because of that that I am glad to call you a friend now and I know that you have our back."
"Oh, well, th, thanks." Noelle said surprised and flushing though a good part of it was thinking of how Asta had saved her life but it was still nice to hear that Nero considered her a friend even if her words had been a bit harsh though they weren't an inaccurate assessment of Noelle's early U.A. days. "I was a bit much I guess."
"Sure, let's leave it at that." Nero said but she had a small smile at that. "But you see, this is the effect Asta has, it's why I know that my own path is to be by his side just like yours is. He's not the only one who can bring this out in people though. I've noticed this in Midoriya as well back when he fought Todoroki, he broke through to him in a way that no one else did and Asta only added to it. Then there's Ruby, look how she thawed out Weiss just as well as Asta thawed you out."
"Yeah that was a surprise." Noelle admitted. "I recall Weiss growing up, she was, well…"
"Like you." Nero said knowing what Noelle was trying to dance around. "But for her own reasons."
"Yup." Noelle said. "I've honestly never seen her like that though. It's an amazing change in her, Ruby must be really special to Weiss if she can get through to her."
"She's as special to Weiss as Asta is to you." Nero said. "And one day you will both realize that."
"If you lot are done chatting, I'm still here." Lotus said interrupting them as Noelle was confused by what Nero meant and they all focused back on the villain before they realized their mistake as their chatter had given Lotus the time he needed to prepare. "Good. Well not good as this isn't a good turn of events for me but if you're all going to team up on me then I suppose it's time to get serious. The more I distract you the better it is for Mars after all so I am working with a team as well. Now handle this; Prison of the Fallen King!"
At that smoke blasted out from all around Lotus and completely engulfed him. As it did it sped towards the quartet and surrounded them in a circle that went up to the ceiling and was pitch black and roiling as it did. They could barely see within it as they looked around trying to figure out a plan of action to take him down now that they were actually fighting as a team.
"Poor little children, there is no escaping now." Lotus called out from the smoke. "A shame to end so much promise in one go but we really can't have you threatening the Diamond Kingdom the next time we make a move on Japan."
"That's fine because the thing about Quirk Knights is that they don't lose to anyone and now that I'm finally on that path I'm going to make sure that this is the case for the Black Bulls!" Asta roared his motivation even more now that he knew that the man was part of one of the groups that were a major threat to Japan and which was mainly dealt with by the Quirk Knights. "And that includes you! Got it old man?"
"Yeah you've got this old man trembling in his boots." Lotus called out from the smoke but as he did Luck finally managed to get a good sense of the smoke with his lightning, he'd been trying to do this ever since the start of the fight but following his revelation he'd really focused on it, so that the previous issues with his scouting ability were no longer at play. "You lot really are tenacious; I'll give you that. However that tenacity will end now."
"You haven't seen the half of it!" Asta roared as he started cutting the smoke with massive swings shouting has he swung his sword. "Get ready to be beaten!"
However, as with before, when Asta cut the smoke some of it dissipated, all that his sword hit and could be traced back to Lotus's body, but only what his sword hit and the smoke around it that was coming from the same point on Lotus's body. The problem was that smoke was coming from basically all of Lotus's body and being used to form this dense barrier around them so for all that Asta dissipated by nullifying it, more just filled the spots the moment his sword left it. It was rather frustrating.
"Damn it, I'm cutting and cutting and cutting, but it's just not cutting it." Asta said as he paused to complain about the situation. "What is with this smoke? Why can't I get rid of all of it?"
"Here let me try." Noelle said as channeled water through her wand and focused a ball on the end before blasting it out but as with Asta's sword all it did was go through the smoke, get rid of a bit of it, and then more smoke would fill the hole that she'd made showing that it was making no difference. "Damn, this is really annoying. His control over the smoke is impressive."
"Well he is a high ranking Diamond Company officer." Luck said with a laugh as he trued to cut through it with some kick and slashes with the claw-like lightning gloves he had on but he had the same results as Asta and Noelle did. "So he should be strong."
"Yeah but this is just annoying." Asta said as a blast of smoke shot out and hit him just as he turned to it causing him to violently cough and for Lotus to already be gone as he flew through his smoke taking pot shots at them as he wore them down with a strategy of attrition. "Anyone else feeling dizzy because I am. Why is that?"
"That's because this place is filling up with smoke." Noelle said as she coughed as well before putting a hand over her mouth to try and mitigate it as her breathing began to shorten. "And it's enclosed so we'll suffocate if we don't do something and fast. I'm willing to bet that he's immune to the effects of his own Quirk."
"An accurate assessment, the general rule with smoke and gas Quirk users is that if their faces are uncovered then they're immune but all we have to do is hit him." Nero said as she spluttered in the smoke all but useless at the moment beyond tactics though right now that was right where she was needed as she had been observing and analyzing the situation the entire time due to not being able to attack. "That will do it, I'm sure of it."
"How do we hit him?" Asta asked. "I agree as I'm sure a good whack from my sword will do the trick but right now we can't even find him. That's kinda a problem."
"Come to me, now." Luck said and the command got the three first years too him as they were at least relatively close in the smoke, which was in large part thanks to Lotus's move to trap them in it, and so as soon as they were will Luck he lowered his voice as he looked at Nero. "How certain are you that a hit with Asta's sword will do it?"
"99.9%." Nero said just as quietly. "I've been watching this whole time and I think I've figured out how his Quirk work, or at least I've deduced enough to know how to counter it with who we have. He can generate this thick black smoke from his body and so long as it is still attached to his body he can manipulate it in a similar fashion to Lunettes. The difference is that Lunettes seems limited to his hands and feet, this guy isn't which works to our advantage. As does the fact that we're dealing with a gas not a solid or liquid."
"It does?" Luck asked.
"Oh right yeah that's perfect, you're amazing Nero!" Noelle said as she got it. "There is still the need to find him but if we can then it's over."
"Just observant." Nero said though she gave a tiny smile at the complement as it wasn't often Noelle let out this side of her though it was growing thanks to Asta's influence. "I can't fight right now, Sealing is useless against something like this, so I watched him closely. I've learned over the years that observation can be important and as I'm not the fighter at the moment I used my time to help where I can."
"Good but why is how his Quirk work good for us?" Luck asked again. "The biggest issue is this smoke after all."
"Because Asta's sword does more than nullify the effects of a Quirk." Noelle said. "It can nullify the Quirk itself for a brief period of time so long as he strikes the Quirk Factor with the edge of his sword. It makes striking someone who's whole body is a Quirk Factor, as is the case with this man's Quirk, really easy. I'm not sure how long it will last though."
"About 2 to 3 minutes." Nero said recalling their training as Luck took in this information and added it to what he knew about the man's fighting style. "Give or take but my Quirk Factor is localized so it could be different for a whole body Quirk Factor. The only one I've seen it used on is Todoroki and Asta beat him unconscious within that time frame."
"Great then I have an idea." Luck said with a grin as they looked at him for it as more smoke came at them but Asta cut it away though it was getting more and more difficult to breath. "I've been fighting this guy for a while and so I understand his smoke. Early on it was blocking the low grade lightning that I use to scout but now I can get it through as I know how much power to use to overcome its density so I have a good idea of where he might be in this."
"Ok but if we attack then he'll dodge." Noelle said. "This smoke allows him to move through it with ease and he'll likely see the attack coming as anything in the gas will cause it to fluctuate so he'll see it before it hits."
"True and if it was just me and someone else it would fail but teamwork will work." Luck said and for once he was actually seeing the true value of it, especially with friends, as the idea came to mind. "I've managed to get a strong sense of how he fights but his tactics aren't good for large group with multiple ranged fighters so all we gotta do is manipulate him to a fixed point and then blindside him with a swift, fast, counter."
"How do you propose that?" Nero asked.
"Simple." Luck said as a ball of lightning crackled to life in his hand. "I'll use my Quirk to blast at him and force him to our right. Then, after several blasts and in a split second having used the time to build up the pressure, Noelle will blast Asta into the smoke on an intercept course with him. From there all Asta needs to do is swing his sword. This smoke is thick but it's likely not all that deep as he's got to focus on knocking us out with it rather than filling the whole room."
The others thought on it for a moment before they all nodded. It was the best plan that they had and while Asta wouldn't have a way of stopping it would at least ensure that he was able land the needed blow and so long as he managed that then this battle was theirs.
"You lot may be younger but I can do this all day." Lotus called out from the smoke as they set their plan in motion though the problem with the thickness of the smoke was that just as Lotus couldn't be seen by them, he couldn't see them in return but that wasn't a problem. "Just let the smoke do it's job and pass out, there's not point in getting any foolish ideas that you can beat me. After all, I'm connected to most of this smoke and can see how it moves so any fluctuations will be noticed. You're done, just accept it."
As soon as he said that Luck began to unload sending out several rapid fire blast of electricity right at where Lotus was. The result was that Lotus had to move to his left through the smoke to avoid them, which wasn't hard thanks to said smoke but the accuracy was frustrating as it showed that the brat had some idea of where he was.
"You're getting desperate." Lotus called out to show that he was still there and taunt them a little as the more they exerted themselves the more they breathed which in made them breath more and thus got more smoke into their lungs and so they'd pass out faster. "Rapid fire attacks aren't bad and you seem to have a sense of where I am which is impressive but with this smoke your attacks are slowed while I can move freely through it so you won't hit me. Plus my smoke will just fill the area so all you're doing is overusing your Quirk. See, it all comes down to experience and you're just high school students where as I'm a seasoned officer of the Diamond Kingdom. Why I've probably been in…"
Lotus didn't get to finish his statement as his rambling taunt had actually alerted Asta, who'd just been launched by a powerful blast of water that Noelle had built up in her wand with it pressed against Asta's back, to Lotus's precise location within the smoke. As such he was able to judge when the right time to swing his sword was and do just that as Lotus casually flew through it.
The result was that he slammed the heavy, blunt, great sword into Lotus's left arm mid-sentence with enough force to break the man's arm cause him to spit out blood from a few broken ribs that the blow also causes. Asta just yelled through it as the smoke quickly began to dissipate and Lotus was launched sideways and out of the dense cloud he'd created to trap them as said cloud faded away.
The man was in shock at what had happened and didn't even make a sound as he flew across the large mess hall and slammed into the wall to the right of the door that lead towards the training hall where Mars should be with enough force to crack it. As he watched the smoke clear, Lotus let out a grown and slid down the wall to sit at the base of it and look across the room at the four kids who were now standing in a line facing him completely unharmed and no longer hindered by his smoke.
To make matters worse, as Lotus tried to summon up more smoke to cover a retreat further into the living quarters where he knew that he could find a place to hide while these annoying brats went for Mars who'd easily crush them, he realized that he couldn't summon up any of his smoke. In fact he couldn't use his Quirk at all which was beyond confusing as he knew it was still there just inaccessible for the moment.
"That actually worked." Noelle said surprised. "And really well at that."
"Yeah you were right earlier old man." Luck said smiling at Lotus as he clutched his left arm in pain his focus shot and completely thrown by the sudden inhibition of his Quirk as it was a feeling he'd never experienced before so it really threw him. "Teamwork is vital, and fun."
"What have you done to this feeble old man?" Lotus asked the pain in his voice as Asta began to walk towards him the large sword resting on his right shoulder. "You've broken my arm and a few ribs, that's some strength you have to wield such a heave sword, but why can't I use my Quirk at the moment?"
There was no answer to his question, which was annoying as Lotus was fishing for information on this ability so that if he got out of this jam he was in he could tell his superiors about this new threat that was associated with the Quirk Knights. However, Asta didn't rise to it so Lotus continued to talk to see if he could get a response as well as to verbally assess what was going on.
"I gotta say, the Quirk Knights are an interesting heroic branch choice but Japan has really embraced it and their focus on people like us seems to bring out some rare gems that not even your normal heroes or whatever those Huntsmen are can find." Lotus said looking at Asta as he approached. "So what is your secret kid? The only person I've known who can nullify a Quirk is that pro hero you guys have called Eraser Head but he can only suppress it from what I've heard though we don't know how he does it. Regardless, we've tried to avoid him but you seem to be able to do something similar. This is rather frustrating; I'd rather die than be taken prisoner."
Asta continued to not say anything as he walked towards the man. There wasn't really a plan at this point but Asta was going to pull out his other sword and use it to hold the man in place so that Nero could use her Quirk to restrain him as he was sure she was the best for it. As such he ignored the man as he talked but that didn't last much longer.
"Or I could just run away!" Lotus yelled as he used his physical training to leap to his feet, turn, and spring down the corridor as he waited for his Quirk to return as it had to come back soon, he was sure of it. "See ya, I'm not going to be captured, you'd throw me in that hellhole you call Tartarus and not rightfully recognize me as the prisoner of war that I am."
"Hey get back here!" Asta yelled his composure broken by the man's sudden actions as he began to sprint after the man. "You've got a lot to pay for! You're not allowed to run away."
"Wait up Asta!" Noelle yelled running after him while Nero just shrugged and ran to the side to start sealing up the muscles and joins of the still unconscious grunts as she was sure that the others had this, that and they'd reach the man long before she would. "I've got better range, let me try to…"
"I've got him!" Luch said interrupting Noelle as lightning reformed over his legs. "He's mine! This time I will knock him out!"
Luck let out a laugh and launched himself off the ground and at Lotus. He shot over Asta and Noelle and landed in the doorway where he pushed off again and right at Lotus's back as he continued to try and run away.
The man didn't have time to glance back and only made it 10 feet down the corridor before Luck was on him and shoulder charging him in the back. The blow sent Lotus flying forwards to face plant on the concrete ground, his twice wounded right cheek hitting first, where he slid several feet over it as Luck landed on the ground to the right of Lotus and slid over it at the same pace as Lotus was laughing as he did.
Then, just as Lotus came to a stop and felt his Quirk finally start to respond again, Luck coated his left arm in electricity again and slammed it down onto Lotus's back pinning him to the ground. Never once did Luck stop laughing.
"See, I got you." Luck said through his laughter. "And thanks for the lesson about friends and teamwork, I wouldn't have beaten you without it."
With that, and right as a few whisps of black smoke began to rise from Lotus's back, Luck discharged lightning from his hand directly into Lotus's back. After 2 years of training at U.A. Luck was well versed in the knowing the required amount of lightning needed to knock someone out so there was nothing that Lotus could do but let out a yell of pain as his body spasmed where it was and blackness began to overtake him.
Still, as Lotus lost consciousness he was certain of one thing, he had succeeded in holding off the Black Bull students. Now there was no way that Mars would fail in securing and destroying the records room thus protecting the information there so his job was done and so all he had to do now was wait for Mars to come and rescue him. With that Lotus passed out just as Luck removed his hand from Lotus's back.
"Thanks for that guys." Luck said with a smile as he got up and turned back to the canteen while Asta and Noelle rushed to catch up. "I needed that assistance to beat him. I guess teamwork can be fun."
"Er, good to know." Noelle said as she looked down at the unconscious man. "So what should we do with him? We didn't bring any restraints to hold him and it might take too long to find them in this compound, if there even are any here."
"Leave him to me." Nero said as she appeared having finished her work with the grunts and placing her hands on him. "I'll make sure that he can't move. The Diamond Company may claim to be a nation but they're not recognized as one so they are nothing more than a criminal organization which makes this person a villain and thus subject to the standard laws of Japan. We'll take him and the others with us and then hand them over to the authorities as any hero no matter what branch they are in would do."
"Understood." Noelle said as Nero's hands glowed blue and she began to lock Lotus's joints in place and seal his muscles. "Thanks Nero. We wouldn't have managed this without you."
"Wow is that what you did to Magna?" Luck asked as Nero nodded at Noelle's thanks while she worked. "Back in your baptism."
"It is but I suggest that you move on." Nero said as she worked. "There could be more so the others might be in trouble and need your help. I'm not the best on offensive, especially if we're dealing with someone who can fight at range, and would get in the way. Leave leave me to sort this out then I'll come aid once the coast is clear. Then we can sort out the records room and have Sir Spectacles use his steel to properly restrain the villains."
"Oh yeah there is one more person here with them and he's apparently stronger than that guy." Luck said with a grin as lightning sparked off his body and got a sense of what was going on ahead of them and quickly picked up the other conflict that was still occurring. "Yeah I can sense it and it seems so. Whatever the case the other three are fighting him so let's go help."
"Of course." Asta said as Luck charged off towards the corridor that Lotus had tired to flee towards. "We're coming Yuno! Don't you dare lose this fight!"
"I just hope they're ok." Noelle said a hint of worry in her voice as she and Asta headed off down the corridor. "That battle was hard and the other guy is apparently stronger so how powerful is he?"
Noelle's sentiment was one that the others shared, even Luck now that he was understanding the value of teamwork in ways he'd never understood before, as they charged off while Nero worked unaware of what they were running towards. However, they were just what the others needed as the Black Bull students hurried to aid the Golden Dawn students right as the sound of an explosion made its way through the corridor towards them and coming from the direction of the Golden Dawn.
I think this is a good place to end this chapter off. As is becoming more frequent in this series, I was going to do more in this chapter and have the full Mars fight as well as the one with Lotus but when it started to push 12k words and Asta still hadn't shown up in that fight, though it was within 1500 words of that happening, I realized that it was getting to the point that it should be two chapters with one on Lotus and then one on Mars before we enter the records room. This has, once again, extended this part of the Hero Killer arc but such is life and I am fully expecting the Hosu stuff to be several more chapters than planned as there is a lot going on there that needs to be adapted so it will all work out in the end. A positive with this is that I'm already well on my way through the next chapter's draft which should help me in getting out the next chapter faster depending on how the other stories in the Black Trio go. Anyway, this chapter is as expected straightforward and is the adaptation of Luck's understanding of things with Nero thrown in and the expected changes caused by changing magic to Quirks such as the fact that Lotus didn't get away this time. Of course there is still plenty more to go and who knows what will happen so stay tuned as the aspiring Quirk Knights continue to try and reach the records room in this abandoned Diamond Company compound. That is all that I have for y'all, however, so I will leave this chapter off here. If you like this story please follow, favorite (this story and me) to keep up with it and leave a review or PM; your support is what helps motivate me to keep up this work and any questions posed before the next chapter is uploaded I will try to answer. Until next time.
Stringdog