Here is the fifty-third chapter in this story released in accordance with my release schedule for this story. Asta, Noelle, Nero, Yuno, Mimosa, and Klaus have met with the Wizard King and been invited to a reception honoring recent accomplishments by Quirk Knights. Now it's time for the reception, and a few words from the Wizard King before it, and with several high ranking, powerful, and prideful Quirk Knights in attendance. It's going to be a simple few words from Julius followed by a banquet for those who are being honored, what could possibly go wrong during such a nice little reception? Well let's find out as that I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and while there are no questions to answer here there is a guest review that need a response 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), yeah I actually forgot to add another in that as Marx's VA also voices Oscar (his first non anime role in fact) so I'll have to work that in as well. With Conrad, it's more about figuring out where to bring him in, I've got a few potential places though they're pretty far off so we'll see what works for his debut. Certainly plenty to look forward to though so do keep reading and enjoying my work.
That is it for this pre-chapter note so it is time to sit back and enjoy the fifty-third chapter in Black RWBY Academia.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these three great franchises.
Chapter 53: Quirk Knight Reception
"All right, it's time to start this special reception to recognize the recent achievements that all of you have accomplished in service to our nation." Julius said to the gathered room as soon as he was at the lectern. "In the few months you have all distinguished yourselves and shown why our branch is vital in keeping this nation safe from threats both at home and from abroad. So, I will now show my gratitude and thanks by honoring you today."
There was silence at the Wizard King's words but the gathered Quirk Knights and students remained polite and silent as they waited for him to continue. That was how it always was at these events and Julius just smiled at them before he went on with his remarks.
"First off Fuegoleon and Leopold Vermillion." Julius said looking over to them. "The Captain of the Crimson Lion Kings and his younger brother, who is only just an intern getting his first taste of Quirk Knight hero work, helped bring down a major fugitive on Japan's top 10 most wanted list and who has eluded the HPSC for several years until two days ago. While Leopold's use of his Spiral Flames Quirk was a bit overwhelming, he helped bring the fugitive to justice and thanks to it being on private property there were no issues with using his Quirk. Congratulations."
There was no applause or anything else other than Leo and his brother bowing to the Wizard King in thanks for his praise. Asta didn't know Leo all that well, mainly he knew Leo through Yuno and Mimosa, but he was a good guy from what Asta could tell so it was good to hear that his internship was going well and he did consider Asta a rival so Asta would have to up his game if Leo was getting results as well. Yuno and Mimosa knew him better of course, as did Noelle, and they all agreed that Leo could go a bit overboard with his fire at times.
"Next I'd like to congratulate Captain Charlotte of the Blue Rose Knights and her work study student Sol Marron." Julius said and Asta and the others looked to the two women in blue now as even though Asta didn't know who they were it was clear that Julius was referring to them. "Together they were able to root out and stop a smuggling network that was using old tunnels on some of the southern islands that went out into the sea to bring in illegal drugs to our county. With the aid of Sol's Quirk we were able to seal off all their tunnels and stop one of the largest international smuggling operations that we've ever seen."
Again there was no applause and Charlotte just nodded her face serious as to her it was just another day at the office. Sol, on the other hand, was clearly trying to repress a smirk at the praise, her eyes glancing over to them and Klaus in particular as if to show that she was better, which in her mind she was because he was a man and an arrogant elitest one at that. That and she had no clue why Klaus was even here as Sol wasn't aware that he'd done anything of note in his work study as of late.
"Next I'd like to offer my thanks and gratitude to Captain Nozel Silva of the Silver Eagles and his siblings Nebra and Solid, the latter of whom is still just a work study student." Julius said turning to the trio of older Silvas where they were gathered and confirming to Asta that they were Noelle's siblings though he'd already suspected as much. "Together they used their unique Quirks to prevent and contain a natural disaster within their jurisdiction, saving countless lives in the process that would otherwise be lost as only the Quirk Knights could reach that area in time. Japan owes a debt to your service."
Noelle tried not school her face but she couldn't help but glare a bit as Solid and Nebra looked thoroughly pleased with their praise and they even gave her side glances as they smirked and looked down at her as if reminding her that they were better than Noelle, which of course they felt that they were. Noelle knew that Nebra and Solid didn't actually care about the low born civilians they saved, to them this was what they had to do as Quirks Knights and as it made them look good they'd do it without question.
Nozel, by contrast, didn't look at her and maintained a serious expression on his face as he stood there. He may be a pompous, elitist, ass but at least Nozel still understood the duty of being a Quirk Knight and it meant and as such he did what he did for Japan and not himself even if he harbored ambitions to be the next Wizard King.
"Then there is Alecdora Sandler, Hamon Caseus, and Shiren Tium of the Golden Dawn." Julius said turning to the three full members of the Golden Dawn that were present. "Together and using their Quirks in conjunction with each other they were able to locate, trap, and capture an entire terrorist cell that was planning a devastating attack on Tokyo long before they could enact their plan, especially as we had no clue of their existence until they were unearthed by a Golden Dawn led investigation into unusual incidents in the general area of their cell. On top of that they captured the entire cell without a single casualty, well done."
Klaus understood his three seniors well having worked with them during his work study. Hamon was just pleased with the praise, Shiren serious as to him this was pure duty, and Alecdora prideful and expecting it. Klaus didn't doubt that a lot of the leg work had been Shiren thanks to his Stone Manipulation Quirk as it gave him an unparalleled connection to stone so long as he was in contact with it and could recreate an area around him in stone down to some really fine details. Alecdora and Hamon were more capture and combat based but without Shiren, Klaus doubted that this would have been as successful.
"And finally there are the last invitees, none of whom are out of school making their accomplishments even more impressive." Julius said turning to Asta and his group. "A joint mission between the Golden Dawn and Black Bulls to investigate and gather intel from a recently discovered, though long abandoned, Diamond Company hideout turned into a battle with several high ranking Diamond Company villains who'd come to destroy it and resulted in critical data being recovered."
This time there was a slight buzz at the news because, well, it was fresh to everyone else in the room. Both Sol and Solid muttered at it and had to be rebuked by Charlotte and Nozel respectively while Alecdora glared at them as if they were upstaging his own accomplishment. All Asta's group could do was just stand there as they got the unwanted attention that Julius seemed to be unaware of as he continued.
"So I commend Klaus Lunettes and Luck Voltia, work study students in the Golden Dawn and Black Bulls respectively, along with Yuno and Mimosa Vermillion who are interning with the former and Asta, Noelle Silva, and Secré Swallowtail who are interning with the latter for their bravery and quick actions in the face of a sudden danger." Julius said. "Thanks to their effort we're one step closer to forcing an international mission to take out the Diamond Company once and for all."
That finally bit really got everyone's attention and while Asta grinned as it didn't bother him, the others could tell that something was off. For the most part it was the likes of Alecdora, Solid, and Nebra who were now actively looking down on them for daring to get such praise while others looked more confused at the news, especially that it had been Black Bulls who'd been part of it, but as it was still the reception no one said a thing despite this being the first that most of the other attendees had heard of a confrontation with Diamond Company villains.
"Well, that concludes the formal nature of the reception and know that all of your actions will be taken into account when this year's review of your Squads is done." Julius said as Marx walked silently through the side door and Julius could tell by the look on his face that he'd either forgotten some paperwork or something serious needed his attention. "Now we've prepared a simple banquet to celebrate your achievements so please relax and enjoy yourselves before you head back to your respective bases. Please mix and mingle with your fellow Quirk Knights and students but alas something has come up that requires my attention so please excuse. Do have a fun time just don't cause too much damage, the HPSC won't be happy."
With that Julius gave a nervous laugh and walked off, skirting the edge of the room and leaving behind Marx before anyone could say anything to him. It was clearly not a good sign and most of the guests knew that something was brewing in the air now that the formal reception was over but for the moment things hadn't boiled over as they moved to get food and drinks though none of them made any effort to mingle with the other Squads. Well, almost no one as Leo intended to do just that with his friends but first he wanted some food and Fuegoleon had a few words for him before that could happened.
Asta of course wasn't bothered by any of this as he helped himself to a massive plate of meat and sides and brought it to a table while the others joined him at it and grabbing glasses of water and smaller plates of food in the process. They were all on edge and they could see why as they stood around the table.
"The contempt from most of them is palpable." Klaus said quietly as they stood around their table. "You can feel it coming from them. How are we supposed to enjoy this banquet when most of them are clearly looking down on us. If this is how I used to be then again I'm sorry for it, feeling it from others is really driving home how bad it was."
"Yeah it's pretty obvious from looking at them so don't forget this as it is what you were like only a few days ago." Nero said not fazed by it at all and idly nibbling at the food she'd helped herself to. "It's stupid of them to do so seeing as we were praised as well and yet other than Leo they're all looking down on us."
"Why would the Wizard King make us go through this and then bail to not witness or help out?" Klaus said as Noelle tried hard to no look at her older siblings though she knew that they were looking at her as she felt their gazes on her. "This makes no sense, he's gotta have a reason but what would…"
"Oh man, what is this!" Asta shouted loudly stars in his eyes as he shoved food into his mouth, getting plenty on his cheeks as he spoke while eating. "I've… never… had… anything… this… good! Not… even… what… Lunch… Rush… makes… tastes… like… this.!"
"However this doesn't seem to be affecting Asta in the slightest." Klaus said as Asta continued to eat enthusiastically and without any regard for decorum or proper manners. "He's completely unashamed in his actions."
"That is Asta for you." Nero said taking a sip of water, Asta's attitude and her own indifference helping her remain calm despite the tension she could feel building. "He's going to enjoy himself no matter what and something as insignificant as class divides and attitudes won't bother him."
"I know, I recall how he treated me." Klaus said. "Not that I didn't deserve it in the end. Asta can be rather inspirational at times."
"It's more that he's uncivilized than unashamed so don't read too much into it." Yuno said simply, he was showing decorum as he stood there feeling the intensity in the room. "There really is nothing more too it."
"Er, um, e, excuse me, A, Asta." Mimosa said as she approached him not looking in his eyes and flushing a bit because even though she ate with Asta often at school, this was a more formal setting and so it felt different to eat with him and Mimosa's heart was a flutter in ways she didn't understand. "D, do you mind if I could, you know, maybe, j, join you."
"Sure Mimosa!" Asta said excitedly. "Just like school and earlier, eh. This food is great, you must have been eyeing the meat as well. Well, have some, there's plenty to go around."
"Huh? Oh, um, yes it does look really good." Mimosa said as she stood next to Asta and helped herself to some of his food, an act that would normally set off Noelle's jealousy and her own internal war but with the presence of her three older siblings for once Noelle had a greater concern then her own internal war over her feelings for Asta and wondering why she was getting jealous at her cousin for sharing his food. "Th, thank you. I expect no less from the Wizard King's reception. They would have the best here and I know that anything not eaten will be donated to those in need."
"What a filthy, gluttonous peasant, he's got no class or elegance." Alecdora muttered loud enough for Asta and his group to hear as he was only a table over and cutting off any potential conversation in the process. "Even if you did manage to get intel from a Diamond Company base, it's not like you caught any of them so why would the Wizard King invite someone as vulgar as you? Let alone praise you for what amounts to a failed mission."
"He's a first year at U.A., the inferior school that we sent our family's shame to so he's not at our standards." Nebra said from a different table that she was at with her brothers. "Which means that if he did fight off some Diamond Company villains then they must have been weak and only held them off by sheer luck."
"He may be an atrocious eater with no class but at least he's appreciating the food." Hamon said with a laugh. "That I can agree with so there is some taste there."
"It's kinda like having a rat in your fanciest room, or any if it was my family's estate." Solid said. "His presence here is unnatural and unworthy, all the commoners here are but his presence is especially loathsome."
"Man, props to you lot, you don't pull your punches at all." Asta said with his mouth full completely unbothered by the comments that were being directed at him. "Oh well, nothing I didn't hear growing up from anyone with money so I'm used it. Hell, I expected it coming here, I'm not concerned with idle talk from people who care more about status then helping people or doing their duties."
As Asta spoke Klaus stared slack jawed at Asta, while Mimosa put her hands over her mouth, and Yuno just deadpanned at Asta's disrespectful words and not so subtle, though knowing Asta oblivious, calling out of several people present. Nero, meanwhile, listened carefully and Noelle was still trying not to get the attention of her siblings so she wasn't even processing what Asta was saying or that he'd just been rude to Nebra and Solid. All that said, Mimosa and Klaus at least were amazed that the words didn't bother Asta at all.
"Clearly he's too stupid to notice who his betters are." Alecdora said a slight not of irritation in his voice showing that Asta's words had actually gotten to him. "He needs to learn his place, the Wizard King should ashamed for inviting someone like him."
"Hey Alecdora, didn't you go to U.A. as well?" Leo asked as he walked up to Alecdora fed up of the chatter regarding one of his acknowledged rivals and unlike Asta, who was treating it as if it was nothing because to him it was, and deciding to confront Alecdora and stand up for his friend. "I heard somewhere that the Golden Dawn prides itself on only recruiting from the best school in the country so I have to deduce that you went there as well."
"Yes but clearly U.A.'s standards have gone downhill if they let rabble like him in." Alecdora said his tone cool and only paying Leopold attention because of his brother's rank and social status, the latter of which Leo also enjoyed and was higher than Alecdora's. "Captain Vangeance should have words with the Principal about that, it's a disgrace that U.A. would stoop this low with its Quirk Knight students."
"And yet despite your assessment you're still recruiting from U.A. and still taking some of the best." Leo said grinning. "After all, you guys got Yuno and he scored the highest regular entrance exam score since the Wizard King himself and was one of the bronze medalists in the Sports Festival."
"That means nothing, we are only supposed to recruit recommended students because regardless of silly games like the Sports Festival, those who got in on recommendations are by their very nature the better students." Alecdora said. "That normal applicant commoner is nothing more than an aberration to our Squad, at least the other raff that Captain Vangeance made intern offers too had the common sense to turn them down knowing that we were too good for them."
"A normal track hero will never accept an intern offer with us, the internship is too critical to understanding the basics of the paths we choose, but they might take a work study so you may get more from non-traditional backgrounds." Leo said. "And I'm in Yuno's class, I know just how good he is and he showed that or did you not watch the Sports Festival this year and see him place third in it? I did say he was a bronze medalist a second ago but clearly you don't know what that is seeing as you never got a Sports Festival medal, right?"
Alecdora just glared at Leo who continued to grin at him. Had Leo not been in a class with Yuno or seen Asta in action he wouldn't have had the same reaction to someone like Alecdora insulting them but he had and as he'd learned from his brother and sister, birth meant nothing when it came to results, potential, and power. Asta and Yuno had shown that in spades and it was because of that that Leo respected the pair and saw them as his rivals.
"No, you're a little lapdog to Captain Vangeance if I recall and he commentated from the semifinals on so you'd have been glued to a TV in your base watching it just so that you could hear his voice." Leo continued while Alecdora glared at him. "Which means that you did watch it so you would have seen Asta beat Enji Todoroki's son in the other semifinal, you know that's Endeavor, right? The number 2 hero?"
"Of course I know who Endeavor is." Alecdora snapped. "He may be a hothead but when it comes to hero work he's on the same level as a Captain and has enough money and social status to merit my respect."
"Oh I know, my sister dreams of battling him to see who's flames burn hotter but he won't give her the time of day." Leo said. "Well then you'll know that Asta beat his son, a proud legacy student who was recommended, and before that he beat the younger brother of Ingenium, another scion from a notably hero family, and before that he beat my cousin Mimosa who if you recall is a member of one of the Great Houses. Yuno also beat the heir to the Yaoyorozu legacy, now that's a wealthy upper class family with deep hero roots right there, and like Todoroki she's also a recommended student. Oh and he beat her without moving and in near record time as well."
"So what?" Alecdora asked as everyone focused on his chat with Leo now while Mimosa went red at the memory of her loss to Asta though secretly she didn't mind it at all and a small part of her that she refused to acknowledge actually wanted Asta to do what he accidentally did at the end to her again. "A Quirk Knight track student should outdo a normal hero track student, even a recommended one, if they wish to join our ranks as a commoner, that is the least that they can do. As for Mimosa, that was a shameful display to House Vermillion to lose like that, surrendering is never acceptable."
"Funny that you mention that because why don't you remind us of how high you placed in your three Sports Festivals, do remind me again?" Leo said ignoring the slight on Mimosa because his brother would probably deal with that later. "Did you even make it into the quarterfinals once? You're in the presence of the bronze and silver medalists this year, the first time that our branch has had two podium finishers in a decade and had it not been for Bakugo they'd have faced off in the final. We had two recommended students and a special exemption but it was normal entrance students who did best."
"So, that…" Alecdora spat clearly pissed now but Leo ignored him as he continued.
"Are you still going to talk a big game after that?" Leo asked. "I know what your Quirk is, it could have easily won a Sports Festival and yet you never got past the last 16 now why is that?"
"Well you seem to be a bit full of yourself now, cub." Alecdora said not answering any of Leo's questions as he turned it back on Leo. "If I recall correctly, you were the first Quirk Knight student to be knocked out when you lost in the first round of the final event to the failure of House Silva and without her using a single offensive attack with her Quirk. In fact, she beat you by kicking you below the belt, how fitting for someone like you."
"Yeah, that was painful on a few levels but all's fair in battle." Leo said with a shrug, his sister had called him after the Sports Festival to laugh over the phone at him at how he'd lost and to make sure he knew that in combat, dirty blows were valid so he shouldn't be pissed at losing like that, and that he might want to invest in a cup for his hero costume. "Noelle taught me that and I accept that I was the worst of us in the Sports Festival and intend to use the shame I feel at my loss to become stronger rather than wallow in it. The best, though, were two commoners and one is now an intern with you."
"That may be but he's sub-par at best, then again we can't expect much from some poor low class orphan dazzled by us." Alecdora said falling back on insults and rank to sooth his ego. "Besides, we know that it is those of us in the upper class and who are from the established Quirk Knight houses that embody the noble ideals of our Squad and Captain."
"Now with all due respect, Alecdora, but…" Klaus began ready to defend Yuno and point out that he more than embodied the ideals of the Golden Dawn because he'd seen that with his own eyes.
"Ah so you speak at least, what about you Klaus?" Alecdora said turning to Klaus just as Fuegoleon was about to come in and reprimand Leo for his rudeness to a more senior Quirk Knight before pointing out that Leo was right and that he'd offered both Asta and Yuno internship offers as well which showed that one of the Great Houses recognized them. "A man from the noble Quirk Knight house of Lunettes ought to be ashamed to be seen in the company of low class filth like them even if you have to because of your position. On that, remember that you are a work study student, not a full member of the Golden Dawn, you must still prove yourself to Captain Vangeance. As for you, Mimosa."
"Er, yes." Mimosa said with a slight eep as Klaus glared at Alecdora, the change that Asta and Yuno had forced in him really showing him how bad he could have been if he hadn't changed when he did, if Alecdora's attitude was anything to go by. "W, what is it?"
"I heard that you were wounded in your very first mission as an aspiring member of the Golden Dawn and had to remove yourself from the fight with those Dimond villains." Alecdora said revealing that he'd been briefed on the mission that had happened so he was aware of what the Wizard King had praised the group of students for but that he still looked down on their accomplishments. "That is utter ineptitude, especially for a member of a Great House. You're making them a laughing stock just like you're doing for the Golden Dawn."
"I, I didn't mean to." Mimosa said. "I'm sorry if I…"
"Enough Alecdora." The person who spoke had a deep baritone that reminded Nero, Noelle, and Asta, of Ida and they all looked over to see that it was Leo's older brother Fuegoleon who had been the one to speak. "I acknowledge that my brother was rude to you and will make sure he tenders the proper apology for his rudeness even if he spoke words of truth for the conveyance of such words is also important. However, I will not stand here while you insult my House over the actions of an intern on a mission that was clearly not meant to involve any combat. Nor will I dissuade Leo from standing up for his friends who have more than earned it, that is the very attitude that I expect from him."
"They've earned nothing and you should be ashamed for your cousin's ineptitude." Alecdora said glaring at Fuegoleon his anger and indignation and the whole situation overruling his usual deference to a superior in both rank and status. "A true member of a Great House would be."
"No they wouldn't, they would understand and know that the only person who should be ashamed here is you." Fuegoleon said cooly. "Remember that thanks to the abundance of Quirks birth means nothing these days, only results and these two male orphans have more than proven that already. both in the Sports Festival and their first mission as interns, one more dangerous than any of our first missions ever were. Do not forget that I offered both of them internships with the Crimson Lion Kings, as well as the female orphan commoner, and I am not ashamed of that at all because I recognize their potential. Only you need be ashamed, Alecdora."
"Now, now, Alecdora, there's no need to make more of a fool of yourself then you already have." Solid said with a scoff clearly enjoying Alecdora's humiliation and using this as an excuse to finally get involved. "After all, we all know who the most inept person in this room really is even if she did beat Leopold in the Sports Festival, that was in a dishonorable way that is unbecoming of a Quirk Knight, let alone a member of one of the Great Houses, right, Noelle?"
Noelle had inadvertently let out a gasp when Solid had begun speaking and turned away from him but he just smirked as he walked over to her. Then, still smirking, he proceeded to pour almost his entire water glass over her head as she stood there.
"Why? Why would you do something like this in the Wizard King's reception?" Noelle asked looking at him while everyone else just stared at what Solid had done. "Why Solid?"
"And to your own sister at that!" Klaus exclaimed as Asta growled at Noelle's brother's actions. "Do you have no shame or sense of family!"
"Simple, she's a disgrace upon the Silva name so I can do as I please to her." Solid said unphased by Klaus's rebuke because to him it was nothing but barking from someone lower than him. "She can't even properly control her Quirk and she's got to be able to do that much if she desires to still be a Quirk Knight, even if she's marginally better since her exile to U.A. and the Black Bulls."
"You're lucky that you've not been completely disowned for being an abject failure." Nebra added. "Even if you rode the coattails of some orphan rats to get an invite to this, that just shows how low you've fallen Noelle. A true Silva would never need cover herself with filth to look good."
"Nebra, please stop this." Noelle said, she really didn't want to deal with her siblings. "I…"
"It would seem that while you have grown a bit at U.A. and did embarrass House Vermillion in the Sports Festival, you've let that and the success of your internship mission that shouldn't have even been like that go to your head." Nozel said interpreting Noelle before she could continue to plead with Nebra to stop being a bitch to her. "You've sullied the Silva name with your presence at this reception."
"Huh, but we were invited by the Wizard King himself." Noelle pointed out as Asta got more and more angry while Nero kept her calm exterior but inside was seething almost as much as Asta was though for more than just the insults her friend was received from those who dared to call themselves her family. "And he commended us just as he did you. We belong here as much as you do, Nozel."
"That is no comparison and even if the Wizard King invited you this is still no place for a pathetic creature like yourself." Nozel said his face expressionless despite his harsh words. "Now leave this place, you are responsible for our mother's death and that should have been enough for you."
Noelle had no words for that, no one did, she just turned and did as she was told. She didn't want to be here anymore anyway; this was what she was worried about and so she was going to run away from it while everyone else just stared at how far Nozel had gone. However, before she could get more than a few paces, Asta had suddenly grabbed her right forearm in his left hand as he growled causing her gasp at his actions.
"Don't run away Noelle, you don't need to do so from people who clearly don't deserve the title of Quirk Knight." Asta said angrily as he continued to hold her forearm and glared at her siblings. "Unlike people who belittle and look down upon those they deem as weaker, you're actually worthy of being here."
"Asta…" Noelle began but he let go of her arm and with an impressive leap he leapt up and onto the table that they'd been standing at so that he could glare down at the three Silver Eagles. "Please. It's not it."
Nero had to give it to Asta, this was a bold move that took a massive set of stones to pull off but she wasn't surprised because this was Asta after all so there was no doubt that he'd pull something like this if his friends were in trouble. As such she put down her plate, dabbed her mouth with her napkin and paid close attention to what was going on, her eyes hard as she assessed the situation and waited to see what Asta and the arrogant elitists did next.
"You were invited to this by the Wizard King in recognition of your service, so I figured that that meant that you all had to be pretty amazing, better than the others out there because you're being honored today, that you were true Quirk Knights who'd earned your licenses." Asta began as his voice rose. "But you three are just like all the rest of the upper class, historic, Quirk Knights who only do this because it makes you look good, aren't you? Commoner, rat, disgrace, failure, dirt, shit, that's all you people think when you see someone like me which shows that you're not true Quirk Knights, but you know what, I don't care if I fit in with people like you. Now watch, because…"
Before Asta could finish someone in the group that he wasn't addressing moved his hands and suddenly a rush of sand shot towards and then covered Asta where he stood. The sand was coming from the outstretched palms of one of the three fully licensed Golden Dawn members present as he glared at Asta.
"Shut your disgusting mouth you filthy rat!" Alecdora said his arrogance clear through his anger at Asta as sand continued to erupt from his palms. "You are the one who's not worthy of being here! Learn your rightful place, peasant!"
Alecdora Sandler, Quirk: Fine Sand. Alecdora can create streams of sand from his palms and mold it as he sees fit, compressing it to as hard as stone or keeping it as loose as a sandstorm. So long as it is still in contact with his hands he can manipulate it into any shape or consistency that he wants as well as adding to it with his capacity for sand production currently unknown. Additionally, so long as he compresses it before disconnecting the connection to his palms, the sand will remain hard and has to be broken up with heavy machinery. It's pretty damned strong to deal with.
There was no doubt that Alecdora was pissed at how a low born orphan with no family name had spoken to them like that but his anger was clouding his judgement and no one noticed the whole picture. All they were focused on him and Asta, with Alecdora's attention fully on Asta.
It was clear that he was going to try and put Asta in his place and hurt him for daring to speak up to, in Alecdora's mind, their betters but those who knew Asta just grinned as Alecdora was about to be upstaged by a first year student. They knew this because almost as soon as Asta was covered in sand, a rend appeared in the air next to Asta and he drew his standard sword and slashed through the sand around him nullifying the Quirk and causing it to burst apart and dissipate into the air all the way back to Alecdora's hands.
"You're not going to shut me up!" Asta shouted in response to being told to shut up. "I'm speaking hear and you're not going to stop me! You expect to be listened to when you sprout your mouth off so have some courtesy and listen when I do the same!"
"How dare a disgusting rat like you defy me!" Alecdora roared clearly having forgotten what Leo told him about Asta being the silver medalist at U.A.'s Sports Festival, as well as showing no real inventiveness with his insults. "I am Alecdora San…"
"I don't even know who you are and frankly I don't care because you don't get to treat people like that and as a someone with money and influence who's got enough of a sense of duty to become a Quirk Knight you should be better than that but clearly you aren't, so you shut up because I wasn't done." Asta said as the last traces of sand vanished leaving no sign that Alecdora had used his Quirk at all while Asta continued to glare down at Alecdora only now with his sword pointing at the Quirk Knight. "Now listen up all of you, I'm going to get results unlike no one before me and I all do it as a commoner, a filthy rat in your eyes and you know why? Because I am going to become the next Wizard King and prove people like you wrong."
As soon as Asta was finished speaking silence fell over the room as everyone reacted to his words. Leo was grinning at it as his rival his own desire to surpass Asta, one that had been driving Leo ever since Asta was the top Quirk Knight track student in the Sports Festival, boosted up another notch by Asta's latest declaration. Elsewhere, Shiren and Charlotte were unphased by it while Hamon and Sol were still eating despite the scene unfolding around them, and Fuegoleon seemed intrigued, which given all he'd heard about Asta and Yuno from Leo, in addition to what he saw in the Sports Festival, was true.
Meanwhile Nebra and Solid were stunned by that as if someone slapped them with a gutted, wet, fish. Most of the group with Asta were almost as stunned at what he'd said though it was mainly because of how he'd declared it in front of several well connected and powerful Quirk Knights though Yuno just smirked and smiled at that as Asta's boldness inspired him to catch up with his rival and brother.
"A rat like you becoming the Wizard King, not a chance in hell!" Alecdora snarled breaking the tension somewhat, the indignation at everything clear in his voice. "It will never be allowed; the Emperor would never appoint you."
"A mere commoner, there's no way that he'd let that happen, you're just naturally inferior to the likes of us and the sooner you learn your place in society the better." Nebra added as her brother Solid laughed though Fuegoleon was taking everything Asta was saying seriously because while the Emperor was an incompetent, elitist, buffoon who took credit for everyone else's work he still wanted to be loved by the people of his nation and as such if they loved a candidate for Wizard King when Julius retired or died that would play a big role in his decision. "You've got to be joking. In fact, let me put you in your place right now so that you truly where you belong, brat."
"As will I dear sister, I've been looking for a bit of fun since we got here and this will be it." Solid said stepping up beside her. "He's just a mere first year and a U.A. student at that. Alecdora should have treated him as such but that's fine I'll show him how you truly handle insolence like this. After all, this brat doesn't know an ultimate move so let me prove why Shiketsu is the better school. Sea Serpent's Coils!"
Suddenly the sound of rushing water was heard as an intense jet of water burst from Solid's hands and coiled through the air taking the form of a snake with fangs that opened as it tore at Asta. However, because the attack twisted and spun through the air in an elaborate and needlessly pointless dance, it gave Asta more than enough time to get his sword around to counter it.
Solid Silva, Quirk: Water Generation. Unlike his younger sister who can manipulate any water within a certain radius of her body but not create it, Solid can create water from anywhere on his body and then manipulate it as he sees fit but it must remain in contact with his body or else it's just a powerful blast of water. As the water comes from his body he has an internal reserve that stores all water that he has to maintain by consuming water though it is unclear how deep this reserve is as he's seemingly never run out of water though he does drink a lot of it.
"That's not going to work!" Asta roared as he slashed through the snake's head and dispersed it all the way back to Solid much to the shock of the older teen. "You're clearly nowhere near as smart as Noelle, are you?"
"My turn." Nebra said as mist rose off her body, an annoyed tone in her voice though whether it was at Asta nullifying Solid's Quirk, his insult to Solid's intelligence, or both Asta didn't know or care. "I'll show you a pro's ultimate move. Mist Spider's Threads!"
Suddenly a plume of mist burst out of Nebra's body and coalesce as it arced and shot at Asta and began to encircle him in a cocoon. Asta just let it reach and form around him before he slashed at the mist as it covered him, his sword well within range and easily cutting through the mist and dispersing all of it with another one of his yells this time questioning Nebra's intelligence as well.
Nebra Silva, Quirk: Mist. Nebra can create mist from her body and shape it as she sees fit so long as it is still coming from her body. She can make it as dense or as light as possible and even create clones of herself within it or use it to capture or hit people in ways that mist shouldn't move.
That clearly got to the upper class pricks in the room as it was now evident that Asta was nullifying their Quirks simply by hitting them with the edge of his sword despite their Quirks being strong and well-trained thus proving that he was no ordinary commoner as he landed on the ground having leapt from the table following his dispellment of Nebra's mist. As Asta had been distracted he didn't notice that sand was now covering the ground at his feet.
"I've got you now." Alecdora said as he raised his hands revealing that he'd been letting sand out of his palms this entire time that Solid and Nebra had been attacking and raising them as he used all the sand to form it into one of his ultimate moves that was meant to capture someone and keep them from moving at all, which included swinging a weapon. "Sand-Armored Guard! You won't get out of this you pathetic rat."
The sand erupted from the ground around Asta and almost instantly compacted into an armored creation, well the upper half at least, before it quickly wrapped Asta in its arms in such a way that he couldn't use his sword. It was a good move; it would be a shame if Asta had a second sword that he could still access.
"Asta's in trouble." Mimosa said with an eep and worry in her voice as it all outweighed her rational thought or else she'd have remembered Asta's second sword. "This can't be good if he can't use his sword."
"Alecdora, this is enough, I'm sure that Asta's learned his lesson." Klaus said trying to diffuse the situation even if he believed that Asta was entirely in the right to defend Noelle he had still engaged in combat with two Quirk Knights and a work study student so he should be scolded for that at least. "You don't need to do more."
"Your abhorrent behavior must be punished, rat, especially when it interferes with a grand occasion like a personal reception of the Wizard King!" Alecdora said as he kept his arms up and ignored Klaus while continuing to compact the sand even more and Yuno was about to make some stars when he saw it and held back. "You defiled it with your mere presence and now I will be the one to rectify that in a way that will ensure that you never forget your place in society. So it…huh, wait a second, I can't move. What's going on! Did you do this you piece of trash!"
"Asta did nothing, I did." A female voice said from behind Alecdora and everyone turned to it. "I sealed your body up with my Quirk. You were so distracted by your pointless pride and rage at someone being better than you that you were blinded to another threat while everyone else was distracted by all the flashy, pointless attacks that you lot had been throwing at Asta. Now be a good statue and stand there while you gaze upon the next Wizard King."
As she had been speaking, Nero, for it could only be her given the whole sealing his body up thing, walked around Alecdora and revealing that she'd used the distraction to get behind Alecdora. From there she'd starting at his right arm before going to his feet and then worked her way up to seal all of his joints and muscles, as well as sealing his feet to the floor, before she spoke, trailing her glowing right hand along his left arm to seal that as well.
"Why you little bitch!" Alecdora said as another rend appeared in the air and Asta's great sword appeared, falling point down and cutting through the sand dispelling it and freeing him as it fell allowing Asta to catch it before it slammed point first into the ground. "You'll pay for your insolence as well!"
"I think not, good thing your Quirk Factor is so limited and specific, mine's the same so I understand how a factor like this works." Nero said as she pressed her palms against his outstretched ones, a blue glow in them as sand began to form there while Asta lifted up his great sword so that he was holding both of them at the ready. "Sealing may not seem like much to someone like you but it's damned useful because if something can theoretically be opened or closed then I can seal it and that includes a palm based Quirk Factor."
"What have you done!" Alecdora roared as Nero removed her hands from his and sand tickled down to the ground while no more sand came out though his palms bulged a bit as Alecdora tried to force it out. "Why have you done to my Quirk!"
"Sealed it, I'll unseal it once Asta beats you a few times with his sword." Nero said simply. "To, as you so eloquently put it, teach you a lesson. That way…"
"Holy Water Bullet!"
The cry came from Solid but Nero reacted as soon as she heard the words and leapt back and into the air, flipping with a twist towards the speaker as she did showing a grace that not even Asta or Noelle had seen from her, and landing on a nearby, empty table. As she did the water smashed into the ground and blew up drenching Alecdora's pants while cracking the marble in the process.
"Now that wasn't nice, was it? But then again you aren't nice so I should have expected it." Nero said looking over as Solid who had his hand out having fired a condensed blast of water at her from his palm. "Still, shouting an attack is stupid, you told me that you'd attack in that moment and gave me the time I needed to evade it. Well, this is getting serious so I should as well."
With that, and unaware of why heroes of any branch called out their ultimate moves as she'd not learned that yet, Nero kicked off her shoes and made sure to kick them at Alecdora's head and hitting him there as he remained frozen in place a grimace on his face. That turned to blind, impotent, rage at Nero's disrespectful act as he began to unleash a torrent of abuse at her that included several choice words about Nero's gender which was enough that he got Charlotte's attention.
"Shut your mouth!" Charlotte shouted as thorny briars with blue rose blooming on them burst from her back. "You will not insult a woman like that! I don't care about the status of those here but I will not tolerate misogyny in my presence! This is your only warning Alecdora, if you say another word like that I'll whip you with my briars, thorns and all."
"You show him Char." Sol cheered though she had taken a few steps to the side to be out of the way of the briars. "Put that man in his place."
"It's Captain." Charlotte said glaring at Alecdora and retracting the briars back into her body when he didn't say anything more and nodding. "I see, it's not necessary to whip you now that you can't move. You've been beaten and by two first year interns in the Black Bulls, both of whom are lowborn commoners, that's humiliating enough. He'll never live this down and this just shows that I was right to disregard birth the way that Fuegoleon or Y, Yami do."
"Looks like the Golden Dawn's gone and gotten all soft on us, Alecdora." Solid said as he stepped up beside the man grinning at the man's humiliation and ignoring what Charlotte was saying as it wasn't relevant to his plans. "Restraining people like this is is not enough; you've got to actually beat the lessons into a lesser like this when they get presumptuous and think that they are above their lowly station in life. Violence is the only thing filth like this understands so you just have to hurt them until they understand that they're beneath us."
"My brother's right, I'll deal with the girl but first that loudmouthed rat needs his comeuppance." Nebra said as mist once again rose from her body. "Start with him Solid and then I'll do the same to the bitch on the table."
"With pleasure." Solid said and Nero at least had a feeling that there was more to the word pleasure than met the eye and she tensed but waited for Solid to make his move, and mistake. "Now you will pay you orphaned rat."
"Solid, don't do it." Noelle pleaded as Solid created a spinning, pointed, cone of water in the palm of his right hand that he pointed at a still defiant Asta. "If violence is how you see commoners then what does…"
"This will shut your mouth for good!" Solid roared a maniacal and sadistic grin on his face as he ignored Noelle's pleas, not that he'd have listened to them anyway. "Holy Water Bullet!"
The blast shot at Asta as Noelle yelled but Asta was calm while Nero watched closely and backed up a few paces on the table. As she did, Asta dropped his small sword, took the handle of the great sword in both hands, and then spun as the water neared him as if he was swinging at a baseball and not a blast of water. With a gong, he hit the water with the flat of his blade and blasted it back at Solid.
"I'm not done yet!" Asta roared as Solid tried to get some water out of his hands and up in front of him in a crude shield just time to block it as the now twice as strong attack was rebounded into him and exploded right as Nero ran across the table and leapt off it and towards Solid. "Now apologize!"
The collision of water on water boomed throughout the room and rattled the windows as mist shot up and around Solid as he was send sliding back over the marble floor. At the same time, Nero planted her right foot on Alecdora's frozen arm and leapt off it with a flip dove into the mist. A second later it cleared to reveal that Solid had been brought to one knee and driven several yards back by the blow from his own ultimate move being sent back at him and in front of everyone had been clearly bested by a commoner who was two years younger than him and not at the same school.
"Why you, how dare you bring me to a knee!" Solid roared as he tried to get up but he wobbled and almost fell to the side when he realized that he couldn't rise. "Huh, what on earth? Why can't I get up!?"
"Distractions are so useful, aren't they, but you didn't learn with what happened to sandy over there so now that it's happened to you, you might actually learn something though I doubt it." Nero said as everyone suddenly realized that she was behind Solid her right foot on the back of his right calf, her left behind his left foot and blue light glowing from her soles. "I've just sealed you to the floor in this position facing someone infinitely better than you and who you will never reach in this lifetime. Now listen to Asta and apologize to your sister for the utter disrespect you showed her."
"Nero…" Noelle said her eyes wide as she stared at her friend, she'd been surprised and touched by Asta defending her but that could be expected, Nero getting involved wasn't and it really made Noelle realize that Nero was as much a friend as Asta was to her. "I…"
"Enough! This has gone on long enough. Release…"
"No."
The first statement came from Nozel and interrupted Noelle as the scent of metal began to fill the room and liquid mercury began to form on his body with several viscous strands rising into the air around him but as it did, Nero gave her blunt response as her left hand shot out and grabbed Solid around the throat. As she grabbed him, she pivoted back to look coldly at Nozel's oldest brother.
"Your siblings disgraced themselves and their lineage to the first Wizard King by attacking the current Wizard King's personal guests, as did that sand guy minus the lineage part, and if you can't see and accept that then your even worse than they are." Nero said as her hand squeezed just enough to make Solid's breathing a little tougher and his eyes went wide as he finally realized just how bad the situation was that he'd found himself in. "Do you really think that your mercury can reach me before I seal off his windpipe? I can you know, pretty easily as my sealing is instantaneous once I activated it, and even if you knock me out, are you sure that my seals will be broken or that I won't just use your excuse of a brother as a shield?"
"This isn't how a Quirk Knight should act miss." Fuegoleon said, he'd not said anything until now but he was finally speaking to the situation at hand as he looked at Nero. "We do not threaten our own, or anyone for that matter."
"Perhaps not but the way I see it, if these three won't act like Quirk Knights and disgrace our branch, their families, and the robes that they so proudly wear then all I'm doing is acting in self-defense." Nero said simply turning her head to Fuegoleon as she spoke. "It is our duty to protect those who need to be protected, to stand up for the weak and make this country better. Yes, Noelle is far from weak, unlike her siblings she will become a true Quirk Knight, and all Asta did was show true nobility in defending her honor. I'm just helping him out. Who's side are you on, Vermillion? Your brethren in the Great Houses or the duty of a Quirk Knight and a man who's one of the closest to being the next Wizard King?"
"I see, I apologize for the question I was just making sure that your intentions were honorable miss." Fuegoleon said with a nod of his head. "This has gone on long enough after all and I want to see an end to it. To answer your questions, I chose the side of honor and duty. I see that I was right to offer you an internship and I commend your loyalty to your friends for turning it down to join them in their internships. That kind of close friendship, trust, and teamwork are vital in Quirk Knights. Yami has found some real gems this year, I commend him for his keen eye for talent."
"Back off Fuegoleon." Nozel said turning to his rival. "This doesn't concern you. A low born orphan has defied and disgraced a Great House while another threatens a member openly and I can see in her eyes that this isn't some false threat, she will seal Solid's throat if I act. These acts can't go unpunished."
"And yet it was the actions of you and your siblings that started it when you disrespected your own sister, an act that is an affront to honor and the Quirk Knights and one that I will be personally reporting to the Wizard King after today is over." Fuegoleon said calmly. "That too should not go unpunished, nor will it if I know Julius. The fact that Solid and Alecdora have been bested by first years at U.A. should be enough of a humbling experience but if you keep this up then I will get involved on their behalf and stop you and if we come to blows then this building won't remain standing. Even you cannot deny the disgrace and shame that Solid has brought upon House Silva today."
"Brother, the disgrace is against us!" Solid said. "You know it as w…"
"Be quiet Solid." Nozel snapped, he hated being in this position but he couldn't deny that the disgrace was on his House today and that he'd played some part in it but there were extenuating circumstances for him with Noelle that he couldn't voice at all and of course he didn't want to lose face so he had to do something. "Fuegoleon is right, you've disgraced and shamed our House today with your actions, we will have words later when we return to headquarters. For now, show some humility and apologize to Noelle for what you did."
"But brother…" Solid began but Nozel glared at him as Nero's hand tightened a little more making it even harder for him to breath.
"Do it." Nozel said, he was going to put all the blame on Solid for this humiliation as he had caused it and perhaps his brother could learn something from this and the potential punishment he might receive for his actions today. "And release him girl."
"When it's done." Nero said not backing down as she turned to look at Nozel again though she did loosen her grip a little. "Then I'll release him form his rightful supplication before the next Wizard King."
Nozel just nodded at that knowing that he was in no position to argue with Fuegoleon on the side of the brats and the horned first year girl holding Solid by the throat. He'd not forget this of course but for now he'd lost and he needed to show some sense of humility at that.
"Gah fine." Solid said and no one was believing his sincerity for a moment as he turned to a still stunned Noelle. "I'm sorry for pouring water on you and what I said to you, Noelle. There I said it now release me."
"I hope that one day you can say that and mean it because you are nothing compared to her." Nero whispered in his ear as she lent down next to it and finally removed her hand from his throat. "Remember this feeling and position facing your betters. I'm sure that a day will come where you will get a shot at some petty revenge and I for one can't wait for that day because I know that Noelle will beat some sense into you then."
At that Nero's feet glowed and Solid was unsealed from the ground, the shock of it causing him to tumble over and onto his side as he gasped at being able to properly breath again. Nero didn't see any of this as she walked away from him without a backwards glance though she did hear Solid's gasps as he slowly got to his feet glaring at Nero's back as she walked.
"Hey! What about me!" Alecdora said. "Release me you damned bitch!"
"I will be informing Captain William of your disgrace but none of us can order you to apologize." Fuegoleon said and the mention of telling William about Alecdora's actions kept him in line because Alecdora was almost fanatically loyal to William so being seen as a disgrace in his Captain's eyes was a major dishonor while Charlotte made a note to slap him with a briar later for calling the girl a bitch. "And I doubt you'll accept this despite being bested today, especially with what you just said. Miss, if you could free Alecdora that would be great, I will personally guarantee your safety should he try anything."
"As will I so feel free to be as rough as you'd like." Charlotte called out looking over at Nero and finally recalling exactly who she was. "If I am remembering correctly, you're name is Secré Swallowtail, right? I made you an offer but you rejected me for the Black Bulls."
"Call me Nero, that's what I go by." Nero said as she looked at Charlotte while walking to Alecdora who was glaring at her. "And yes I did, I was going to join whichever Squad Asta did and as he was going to join the Black Bulls with Noelle then so was I but I do appreciate the offer, thank you."
"I see, well you've proven why I made the offer." Charlotte said and Nero was oddly reminded of her classmate Yaoyorozu as Charlotte spoke though in a more mature and warrior-like way than the book smart and kind girl in her class. "And I will defend you and the boy should Alecdora act after you free him, you have my word."
Nero nodded back at that before she came to a stop before Alecdora and turned to him glad to have the protection of a few Captains as this wasn't going to be gentle. Nero then crouched down and leapt up so that she was at his head height, as she did she brought her right arm back and savagely slapped Alecdora across the face as hard as she could manage, unsealing her Quirk the moment her whole hand made contact with his cheek and the side of his face.
Alecdora howled in pain from the slap and staggered back before falling onto his ass, hard, from the sudden unsealing, his left hand going to the red hand print on his cheek. He wanted to react teach the common bitch a lesson about striking her betters but he couldn't with two Captains both ready to act in her defense. He'd disgraced Captain Vengeance and the Golden Dawn today; he'd not forget this humiliation but it wasn't his fault nor was he responsible for the disgrace. No it was the two commoners who'd dared defy him who were to blame for this and he swore that one day he'd make them pay for it.
"There now let's get back to this banquet." Fuegoleon said. "And if you can't handle that then leave."
That was it, the tone in Fuegoleon's voice brokering no argument and so with that Asta dismissed his swords as Nero turned to return to them. As she did Leo grinned and headed over to their table while Nebra went to Solid's side to whisper with him and help him out while making it clear that he was at no fault for what happened, it was all Noelle and her low born friends' fault.
"Well this has certainly been an entertaining banquet." Hamon said still eating having been doing so throughout the whole thing as he watched Shiren by his side and neither going to aid Alecdora after his disgraceful acts. "More lively than I expected."
Shiren just grunted at that. He was a man of few words and didn't see the need to voice any now. Alecdora had embarrassed the Squad and their Captain and that would have to be dealt with but Shiren saw no reason to comment on it as Hamon continued to eat next to him.
"Man that was great you two, just what I'd expect from my rival and his friend!" Leo said as he slapped Asta on the back and laughed while Mimosa blushed at the sight of her cousin accepting Asta so readily in front of several high ranking Quirk Knights, between that and his words of support earlier it just showed how good he was. "You really impressed me there. I've got a long way to go to catch up to you now."
"I was just doing what was right." Asta said with a shrug. "And Nero was the real force there. I didn't expect her to get involved as well but I'm not complaining. Man Sealing can be a really scary Quirk when you stop to think about it."
"Yes, um, th, thank you Nero." Noelle said as she bowed deeply to her friend. "I, I'm sorry for having to put you through all that and for not showing you how much I value our friendship before. I, I promise to do better."
"Don't be, this was as much for me as it was for you, I can't stand those who disgrace the legacy of my Pri…I mean the first Wizard King." Nero said as she patted Noelle's shoulder to get her to rise while deciding not to add that if she could have done so subtly she'd have sealed her own urethra as she almost pissed herself when Nozel confronted her, his power and intimidation level was scary and showed just how strong he really was. "And besides, it's Asta you should thank, he was the one who stood up for you. I just got in as soon as I knew that I could be of use and I basically just used Asta's actions to get in close, I couldn't have done anything without him."
"I, yes." Noelle said as she flushed and turned to Asta who was still getting his back slapped by Leo who was laughing and praising his actions even more while saying that he and Yuno had gotta meet his older brother after that. "Asta, I…"
However, just as Noelle was about to thank him and promise that she'd get stronger so that she didn't need him to help her next time as she wanted to stand up to her siblings instead thanks to him inspiring her to do so, even her pride could manage that much, there was a massive explosion outside and only a few blocks away in the heart of Hosu City. Almost a second later a shockwave hit the building and it suddenly shook, violently, and only the training of everyone present managed to keep them on their feet, or in Alecdora's case his ass as he was still sitting down and fuming after Nero slapped him.
Of course no one was paying Alecdora any attention because almost as soon as the shockwave ended the screams began to reach them from outside. There was no doubt in anyone's minds, Hosu City had just been attacked and by something that was notably powerful.
"How?" Alecdora asked getting to his feet as they all looked to the windows facing the square and saw smoke billowing into the air and a glow of a fire in the distance. "We stopped a terrorist attack so this shouldn't happen. They'd not decided their target but Hosu was a potential one so it should be safe."
"Clearly there was another terrorist group or cell out there that was a fallback in case the first was caught." Fuegoleon said simply though he was actually wrong as this wasn't related to the cell that the Golden Dawn had taken care of but no one knew that yet. "And this one was a big attack, we felt that shockwave."
"Actually it was two explosions." A calm, measured voice said and they all looked to see that Shiren had spoken for the first time all day and if he was speaking then it had to be serious. "I can sense the stones around and below us through this building and right after the first explosion a second one occurred deep underground. I don't know if they're connected or just a coincidence but it's definitely two explosions."
"Underground?" Solid asked. "But there's nothing under Hosu but sewers? Why would they strike underground?"
"Not exactly." Fuegoleon said thinking on it and recalling what he'd learned back in school about a certain incident that had always fascinated his sister because of the battle chances it could have posed for her. "It's been decades at least but I recall studying it back at U.A. Hosu was once connected to a settlement to the southwest of here call Mountain Glenn. It was in the mountains on a natural plateau and chosen to serve as the hub between Hosu and the city of Vale where the Beacon Huntsman Agency is located. It was effectively a connecter between our headquarters and the top Huntsman Agency during some of the most turbulent times after the advent of Quirks and emergence of Grimm."
"Yes, I remember." Nozel said also recalling his classes from Shiketsu on the subject. "It was the model for high speed, subterranean, inter region travel that would reconnect the country during the worst of the Quirk Wars and the Grimm epidemic. It worked because it connected our headquarters to the strongest Huntsman Agency via a third sight that was deemed to be safe and protectable. However, when they expanded it to try and branch out and connect Atlas Agency as well they ran into the first recorded subterranean Grimm and it was overrun. Hosu and Vale sealed their ends to prevent the Grimm from reaching us and attacking in the heart of the city where there were defenseless civilians."
"Well that seal has been broken." Shiren said calmly his eyes closed and hand on the ground now showing impressive range with his Quirk but then again he was in the Golden Dawn and a high ranking member of the Squad at that so this was to be expected from him. "I can tell though it's only the main one at the bottom, the redundant ones on the levels between the station and the surface are still holding but for how long I cannot say. It's also too far for me to see if there are people or Grimm there, just the general structure so again I don't know more than that that's where the second explosion occurred."
"If this is a two front attack, destroying that seal while triggering a bomb in the city, especially if that bomb is followed by a villain attack, will cause mass panic and fear." Fuegoleon said. "Which will draw the subterranean Grimm that can access that tunned here faster and add to the chaos to the point that it might even overwhelm us if we don't get backup in time. This is a sinisterly clever plan of these villains. We've gotta protect the city."
"Well then what's everyone waiting around for?" Asta shouted getting everyone's attention. "People are no doubt getting killed out there by whoever's attacking and we're just standing around and chatting about the plan is not going to help them. I'm going to help them."
"Asta wait!" Noelle shouted as Asta turned and ran off towards the exit. "This is a city and we're interns, we actually can't use our Quirks right now. You can't help!"
"Where are you going Asta?" Klaus shouted at him. "We've got no idea what the situation is or the kinds of villains that we're facing out there, not to mention the potential of Grimm suddenly bursting from the ground! Besides, what will you do in a city you don't know!"
"Simply, I'll just go wherever it's loudest and hit villains and Grimm with my swords!" Asta shouted as he ran. "It's not like someone will send me their location while fighting a villain so I'm going to follow the screams and chaos to where I can help! Plus I'm the best for those Grimm things, they're the product of a Quirk so one tap from my sword destroys them."
"What are you talking about!" Klaus shouted back. "And Noelle's right, you can't use your Quirk!"
"It's fine, under my authority as a pro hero and a Quirk Knight Captain I will authorize all first years here to use their Quirks." Fuegoleon said deciding to take a risk and put his faith in Asta especially because he'd seen what those swords could do and if they could destroy a Grimm with a touch, well that was an advantage that would be critical if Grimm poured into the city as even Huntsmen heroes struggled with large numbers. "Though only to aid the citizens or destroy Grimm, leave the villains to the pros be they normal, Huntsman, or us."
"Now we're talking, thanks bro I'll go make sure Asta knows and back him up." Leo said with a laugh as Asta left the room. "Hey Asta, wait up, I'm not going to miss seeing my rival in action once again!"
"Man it's really amazing how silly guys can be with their macho stuff." Sol said laughing. "Isn't it Char?"
"Yes it is and call me Captain." Charlotte said as Hamon laughed. "But they are right in this instance, if there are Grimm then that boy's swords are needed against them right away so leave them to it."
"It's what they're best at." Nero said and Noelle had to nod at that. "Let them, we can back them up in a moment. We can already see fire out there and as much of an ass as your brother is, his Quirk is perfect for battling that."
"Must you be such a child, Leo?" Fuegoleon asked with a sigh. "I'm going to have to have a long conversation with you but that will come later. Listen up everyone, I know that it may chafe taking order from me but right now we must act to defend Hosu and put any of our own petty differences or issues aside for the good of this city. We are here and we will show that even in a city the Quirk Knights will step up and take care of any villainous threat. These villains chose the wrong time to attack Hosu while we were here."
With that Fuegoleon took charge as everyone nodded in agreement at his command. Instantly he began to break up their forces to head out and into Hosu to see what was going on and where they could help best with Fuegoleon personally going after Leo and Asta and taking Noelle and Nero to back him up. Meanwhile Shiren remaining in the room to create a model of the city to direct them but it would take time that they didn't have.
They needed to be out there helping and that's just what they did as they broke up and headed out to defend Hosu from the attack, aid the citizens, and put out the fires all at the same time. The burning questions as they all left, though, were who was attacking Hosu City and why?
A bit of a cliffhanger but the best spot to end this chapter on as we finally hit the core of the Hero Killer arc with Hosu now under attack and everyone either officially in place or about to have a Nomu crash into their train to force them into place. Next up is a look at the attack itself, how it started, and the villains behind it so stay tuned for that. As for this chapter, first off I know that this is far more than Nero usually speaks but I felt that between Asta's actions, her own deep loyalty to him (and growing friendship with Noelle), and other factors that I can't go into right now without spoiling some things, that Nero would get really pissed at the whole thing and act. Plus this gives her a chance to look really badass and changes a lot of how the reception goes, which is good, as well as putting Solid and Alecdora in their places like they deserved after what they did and said, same for Nebra but she got lucky in this story. Also the change of Leo's age to make him a student and classmate, and one who's already come to respect Asta and Yuno and see them as rivals, changes a lot as well so it's interesting to see how all that played out I feel. That's all that I have to say about this chapter, however, so I will leave it 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