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Unforeseen Heroics I: The Invaders Dialogue
Chiba, Chiba Prefecture
Day 5, Morning
"More rice please!"
"Uhh… right."
With an incredulous expression, Suzuna Kendo refilled their houseguest's bowl. As she did so, she brushed a stray strand of her auburn hair from her face.
'This "Saber" certainly eats a lot… I'm not sure Mashumaro and I's wallets will be able to keep up.'
To be honest, the whole situation was one that Suzuna still had trouble believing. A magical tournament of heroes from history and myth? Itsuka summoning an alternate version of Musashi Miyamoto? It was like something out of a visual novel or anime.
'It's a good thing that Shuhei's off at college… I'm not sure our fridge would survive two voracious appetites.'
Suzuna knew that, for a parent, her reaction to this situation might have seemed rather unusual. Most parents would freak out knowing their child was being roped into a deathmatch of legends. But Itsuka's current circumstances were already unusual. Her daughter was a hero course student, and no ordinary one at that. Itsuka was the protégé of All Might himself— inheriting his Quirk, One For All. The No.1 Hero had, of course, initially attempted to keep this fact a secret until her husband discovered the man's lackluster training regime. After a lengthy meeting with the Kendo couple the next day, the Symbol of Peace had revealed the truth to them.
'We had faith in Itsuka then and we're not going to lose it now. Not for some "Holy Grail War".'
Suzuna's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of light footfalls in the hall. Although they'd normally be unnoticeable, Suzuna's Sensory Aptitude Quirk allowed her to pick up the sounds.
'Seems Itsuka is up. Mashumaro's walking sounds much heavier than that.'
As predicted, Suzuna's daughter slid open the screen door to the dining room, still dressed in her pajamas.
"Morning, Mom."
"Good morning, honey. Did you see if your father was awake?"
"Yeah, he was shaving."
"Alright. I'll put his breakfast out then."
Sitting down on the dining room floor, Kendo looked at her Servant, Musashi, mowing through her food. She still had plenty of apprehension about the family's newest houseguest, after all, they'd only met yesterday.
Slurping up the last of her soup, Musashi winked at Itsuka, "Ah, hiya, Master!"
"Uh… good morning, Saber…"
"Sleep well?"
"Alright, I guess…"
Soon after, Suzuna returned with the rest of breakfast, and the group was joined by Kendo's father. Mashumaro Kendo was a muscular man with wild fiery orange hair, not unlike his daughter's own. He was dressed in a white karate gi, and had a small beard he often tugged at.
As they ate, Musashi reflected on her night. Not long after Itsuka had gone to sleep, Musashi had been pulled into a most unusual dream. It was unlike the normal Dream Cycle that Servants experienced. It was a dark void, where seven spirits had questioned her— the previous users of One For All.
Yoichi Shigaraki, The First User.
○○○○○○○ Kudo, The Second User.
Bruce ○○○○○○, The Third User.
Hikage Shinomori, the Fourth User.
Daigoro Banjo, the Fifth User.
En Tayutai, the Sixth User.
Nana Shimura, the Seventh User.
Even for one as well-traveled as Musashi, the discovery of seven vestigial souls within her Master's own was quite a shock.
'They were all quite interesting, those "One For All" users. They might've just been imprints… but they were all characters. Although I suppose I'm not one to talk, haha!'
Musashi's thoughts were interrupted by the voice of her Master's father.
"Ms. Saber, what will you be doing when Itsuka goes to school? If you have the opportunity, I might ask for a demonstration of your skills."
Musashi laughed, "Well, showing off does sound fun, but I figured I'd be accompanying cute little Itsuka here to school!
Itsuka responded with confusion, "But Saber, U.A. doesn't allow guests… and I doubt you could masquerade as a student."
Itsuka was particularly thinking about the incident before the Nagoya Disaster. The school would surely be on high alert now for unwanted guests, after the invasion from the press.
Musashi was unconcerned, "Ah, don't sweat it. Here, let me show you!"
In a flash of blue light, Musashi vanished.
Itsuka almost dropped the fish from her chopsticks, 'Huh?'
Suzuna and Mashumaro both froze as well. They knew teleportation and invisibility Quirks were a thing… but this didn't feel like a Quirk. Was this a unique power Saber possessed, an undocumented precursor to Quirks?
In another flash of blue sparkles, Musashi returned to physical form.
"Man, Astral Form feels weird, no matter how many times I do it!"
Mashumaro spoke with a questioning tone, "Astral Form? Is that what you just did?"
"Yep! It's an innate skill of Servants. It lets us pass unseen when the War isn't getting wild."
Itsuka realized what Saber was implying, "So this is how you'll accompany me to school? Astral Form? What if there are other students with Servants?"
Musashi shrugged, "They might be able to sense my vague presence, but they won't be able to pinpoint anything. Aside from a Caster, but I can handle a little magic!"
Mashumaro looked a little skeptical, but nodded, "Alright… we'll trust you for now, Saber."
"Don't worry, Mashumaro! Your daughter is safe in my hands!"
Within Itsuka's soul, the former users of One For All watched the scene with curiosity.
Yoichi spoke softly, "Astral Form… what a fascinating concept."
Bruce nodded, "Indeed, First. That ability is remarkable. Let us be thankful it's not a Quirk that he could steal."
Yoichi nodded, "Yes… but in other matters, I'm glad to hear Saber will be watching over Ninth even at school."
En spoke up next, "I concur. Whether it is All For One or another Master, it's best Ninth is protected even at her place of study."
Hikage raised his hand before speaking, "But as Saber said, some might be able to sense remnants of her presence. Could this be a problem?"
Kudo's eyes narrowed, "Perhaps… but that woman is strong. We all saw proof of that."
The night of Musashi's summons, the users of One For All had tested the Servant in the mindscape. But to their surprise, the wild woman had overcome them all at once. Her eyes had seemed to gaze into the future itself, and her blades had been like a black hole— forcing her opponents to adapt to her tempo.
Daigoro laughed, "She was wild! Reminds me of my wife!"
Yoichi nodded, "Yes, she is very similar to her. But are we all in agreement? That this Musashi can be trusted to protect the Ninth?"
Everyone nodded, and Nana spoke, "Yes."
"Wonderful. Now, let's all enjoy another day of school."
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture
Day 5, Morning
When Kyoka Jiro brought Saber home with her, things had gone as expected. Her parents had reacted with a mix of skepticism, thankfulness, and confusion. The blonde-haired man may have saved their daughter from a gang, but he certainly didn't present himself as mentally sound. What she hadn't expected was for Saber and her parents to become best friends overnight.
Waking up due to the sounds of guitar music, Kyoka walked groggily into the hall. As she entered the main room, her sleepy eyes widened at the sight before her.
Her father, Kyotoku, was playing one of his many guitars— and so was Saber. The Heroic Spirit was dressed completely differently from the night before. Instead of his white armor, he was now dressed in some of her father's old clothing. Although Kyoka was no fashion critic, she had to admit he pulled off the combination of blue jeans, a dark red shirt, and a black leather jacket remarkably well.
"That's it, Saber! That's the cord I was hoping for!"
Her father's face was aglow with pride and happiness. The last time he was this giddy was when he was at the Brian the Sun tribute concert.
Kyoka's observations were interrupted by her mother's amused voice.
Giggling, Mika Jiro greeted her daughter, "Morning, honey. I hope they didn't wake you?"
"Well actually, they did… but it was only a few minutes till my alarm went off. It's no prob."
"Your father and that 'Servant' of yours… they've become fast friends, haven't they? That Saber is quite the talented man."
As she gazed at Saber, Kyoka felt the same strange feeling she had felt the previous night. Although she hadn't noticed until they made it home, Saber's being gave off a "melody". It was a fast and furious tune, like the theme for a car chase.
According to Saber, the sound was a manifestation of her abilities as a Master. As a participant in the Grail War, she was able to comprehend Servants' parameters through the form of melodies.
'Saber claims his speed is his best quality… so I suppose a fast-paced tune makes sense.'
Mika, meanwhile, retrieved a megaphone from a corner of the room. Kyoka quickly covered her ears in realization, although her jacks would still pick up most of the sound.
Flicking it on, Mika spoke calmly to her husband, " Kyotoku dear! Saber! It's time for breakfast!"
Jarred by the loud sound, Kyotoku's guitar playing screeched to a halt. Turning to his wife, he complained, "Ah, but dear! Our new buddy and I were rocking so well!"
"No buts, dear. Now put your guitar down and come get some breakfast."
"Fine, fine. I'm coming! Sorry, my buddy, we're cutting this lesson short!"
Saber shook his head, "It's no problem at all. Hunger is the enemy of any warrior, even the warriors of music!"
Kyotoku laughed, "Poetically said! Y'know Saber, you remind me a lot of myself at your age. A real bundle of talent!"
Mika yelled from the kitchen, "Dear… your breakfast is going to get cold!"
"Coming, honey!"
Richard mused quietly, "Is this what they call… whipped? I was in a loveless marriage myself, so I'm not exactly familiar."
Kyoka pointedly ignored her Servant, "Let's just go to breakfast, Saber."
"Yes, yes. Those three are saying to ignore it as well. Very well, let's eat!"
Sagamihara, Shizuoka Prefecture
Day 5, Morning
Wiping his brow with a handkerchief, a mustached employee of Yoshimura Jewelers spoke nervously, "Ummm miss… you said you want all of these? And just as gemstones, at that?"
Rin Tohsaka sighed, "That's what I said. Is there a problem with that?"
"W-Well… it's just that your purchase will deplete our supply for creating jewelry."
"Yet I saw on the sign outside that you sell raw gems? Are you telling me that's a lie?"
"N-No, Miss. But never in our history have we been asked to sell in such a quantity. I'm sure you have the money, but…"
"Hah… fine. Give me what you can spare. But I expect a discount for the trouble you've caused me."
"A-Alright! But I can't lower it much, or Mrs. Yoshimura will kill me!"
"Fine, fine. Just get on with it."
As Rin stepped back from the counter, Hippolyta raised an eyebrow, "This is the same tactic you used in the other store… is this haggling truly necessary?"
"Of course it is, Rider. Funds are a vital resource in any mission… and unfortunately, my magecraft is pricey. If I have to intimidate every jeweler in this city to use my jewelcraft, so be it."
Hippolyta sighed, "I see. I may disagree with it, but I am no mage. Our social values differ. But Master… are we going to spend our whole day just shopping for gems?"
Rin scoffed, "Of course not. I've also been analyzing the ley lines. Didn't you notice?"
"Well, I did notice you kneeling at odd times… but I wasn't certain. Have you sensed anything of note?"
"Nothing concrete… but I'm noticing some trends in the flow of mana. I'd need a map to make sure, but I'd warrant the strongest areas of mana are to the north and west of here."
"North and west… so we're caught between going in two possible directions."
"I'd say west is our best bet to start with, that direction has a more consistent mana flow. Let's get these gemstones and get to our next stop then."
"Another jeweler?"
"No, that's enough jewels for now. I need a motorcycle."
"A motorcycle? But you have Kalion and I."
"I need something for more general use. Can't ride a horse in the city, after all."
Hippolyta nodded in understanding, "That's true. I'm still unused to all these innovations since my time."
"Some mages would probably be turning in their graves at my usage of modern technology, but even my father acknowledged the power of the automobile. So then Rider, let me show you what modern transportation is capable of!"
Todoroki Residence, Shizuoka
Day 5, Morning
"Hah…"
As he washed his coffee mug, Enji Todoroki sighed. As he had sworn in Nagoya, he had tried his best to connect with his family. But the last few days had seen poor results. While Fuyumi seemed to recognize the change he was attempting, both Natsuo and Shoto had remained steadfast in their unwillingness to speak with him.
'How did I never realize how horrible a person I became? Was I truly so blind?'
There was another trouble on Enji's mind— his upcoming meeting with Hawks.
While the two heroes had a professional relationship, it was rare for them to interact outside of a heroic capacity.
'He wants something. It must be about Nagoya.'
Like Endeavor and the heroes he had assisted, Hawks had also encountered one of the unknown villains who appeared in Nagoya. But unlike the Black Knight he had neutralized, Hawks had been ambushed and nearly killed by the mysterious assailant calling himself "False Assassin". There had been some suggestions at the HPSC that False Assassin's identity was that of the increasingly infamous Stain, but the Hero Killer had left a message with his latest victim countering that theory. However, Endeavor cared little for the identity of some villain. His focus was on Hawk's intentions.
'Perhaps he is here to discuss his defeat. But unlikely. He isn't the sort to dwell on such things.'
Roughly thirty minutes later, the doorbell of the Todoroki residence rang at last.
"Alright then… let's see what you have to say, Hawks."
Opening the door, Enji saw the Winged Hero in casual clothing. But that wasn't the thing that caught his attention. Instead, his eyes fell on the second individual at his door. They were a woman, Chinese from the looks of it, dressed in a scandalous rendition of a monk's robes.
'What sort of sidekicks are you letting into your agency, Hawks? This woman looks like a hooker.'
Hawks smiled, "Well, hello, Endeavor. Mind letting us in?"
"Not so fast, Hawks. Who is this woman? Some prostitute you took off the streets?"
Hawks sighed, "Yeah, yeah. Her outfit's a problem, I know. But no, she's not a prostitute. Call her Caster. She's relevant to our meeting today."
The woman, Caster, grinned, "Indeed, as my Disciple says, I am Caster. You are Endeavor, no? The one my Disciple idolizes!"
Enji contemplated. As fun-loving as Hawks was… he wouldn't bring a random woman here for no reason. Somehow, she was important.
"Fine. I suppose I'll be getting answers soon enough. Come inside."
Soon, the three were seated around a small chabudai table, kneeling on the tatami floors of the dining room.
"So then. Hawks and… 'Caster'. What do you want?"
Hawks sighed, "It's complicated, but… the situation in Nagoya is a lot bigger than the HPSC knows."
That statement caught Enji's interest. It was an open secret amongst Pro Heroes that Hawks was a dog of the HPSC. Withholding information from them was out of character for him.
"Explain."
"It boils down to one thing. Something called the 'Holy Grail War'."
"Holy Grail War… I've never heard of that before."
"Nor had I, until I was told about it by that False Assassin in Nagoya… but I thought it was mere ramblings until I summoned Caster here."
Enji stared at Hawks intently, "Did you say… 'summoned'?"
Caster nodded, "That is correct! My summoner was my Disciple here. I am what is called a Heroic Spirit, a sort of familiar brought forth by the Holy Grail."
Enji was skeptical, "The Holy Grail is a tripe of religion and folklore. There is no such thing."
Caster nodded, "Well perhaps in this world, removed from the proper cycle, that would be the case. But not so in my world of origin, whose history is steeped in mystery and magic."
"..."
"According to the information granted to me by the Great Buddha, this magic-less world and my magical one have become interwoven, allowing the denizens of your world to call forth Servants such as myself. Although, I have also been sent as the Buddha's emissary in ensuring the Human Order of this world."
The Servant continued to ramble, with Hawks and Endeavor interjecting for clarifications. But as Caster spoke, things fell into place for the Flame Hero. The power of that knight in Nagoya made far more sense if it was indeed a Hero of legend… but if Caster's words were true, then perhaps he hadn't vanquished his enemy after all, if that flash of red hadn't been a trick of the light.
'Which means the Black Knight could still be out there. Was Prominence Burn not enough to finish it off?'
Hawks looked at the Flame Hero knowingly, "Thinking about that guy you fought in Nagoya?"
"Yes… if that was indeed a Servant, I fear that it might pose a danger once again."
"Yeah, that's true, but if Caster here is any indication… we might have some more allies on our side. Let's leave fighting legends to legends."
Caster offered her words of comfort as well, "Besides, from the description you gave me, Sir Endeavor… that Servant may be a Berserker, one of the most durable of the seven classes. Injuring one of them is a feat in and of itself!"
Enji clenched his fist, "Perhaps… but I'm still doubtful it was on the level of the Avenger that All Might fought against. I need to get stronger. For their sake."
Hawks raised an eyebrow, "Whose sake?"
"My children. In Nagoya, I had a realization. I must change myself, for the sake of my family. I will get stronger… but I won't sacrifice my loved ones to do it. Not anymore."
Xuanzang smiled warmly, "A virtuous goal, indeed! Seeking redemption for your past… reminds me of my pilgrimage."
Enji put his hands in his lap, "However, one question remains."
Hawks nodded, "All Might, right?"
"Yes. If the vigilantes and villains in Nagoya were all Heroic Spirits, then All Might has encountered numerous figures in this 'Holy Grail War'."
"Which means we'll need to talk to him. Luckily, he's more pinned down lately."
Enji murmured in agreement, "Yes. He's teaching at U.A."
Hawks tilted his head, "Speaking of, isn't your kid at U.A. right now?"
Enji nodded, "Yes. Shoto is in his first year of heroics."
"Well, well, well… seems we'll certainly have an exciting Sports Festival this year. What's his Quirk again? I assume it's like yours."
Enji sighed, "It is a combination of my Hellflame and his mother's Ice Quirk. But he staunchly refuses to use his fire."
'Because of me.'
Hawks nodded in understanding, "So that's what you were getting at…"
"Yes… my drive to become the top Hero ravaged both my late son's and my youngest son's— no, all my children's lives. No longer. For the sake of their futures, I will no longer dictate their paths."
Hawks hummed to himself, "But how are you going to make that happen?"
Enji's confidence wavered, "I… don't know."
Sensing the negativity in the room, Caster spoke with a voice full of hope, "Well, Sir Endeavor… perhaps I can provide you some advice on that. So that you might mend your family once again."
U.A. High School, Mustafu
Day 5, Afternoon
As the lunch period wrapped up, the students of U.A. returned to their classes. For the Heroics Course, this meant something very special.
Foundational Hero Studies.
After two days of delays caused by the Nagoya Disaster, Class 1-A was excited to return to their studies.
Denki Kaminari was the most vocal of the bunch, "Aw heck yeah, it's heroics time!"
Tsuyu Asui nodded in agreement, "I wonder what All Might has planned for us, Kero."
As the rest of Class 1-A waited for their teacher to arrive, Kyoka Jiro's thoughts were focused on another matter. Her classmate, Momo Yaoyorozu.
'Yaoyorozu… she's wearing bandages on her hand again. Although I'm not exactly one to talk with these gloves.'
On Saber's recommendation, Kyoka had gone about concealing her Command Spells with some fingerless gloves. Luckily, it was cold enough that day that no one seemed to question her on it. It also certainly helped that Kendo had opted for some gloves today as well.
Kyoka wanted to keep a close eye on Yaoyorozu— she was debating whether to approach her as a potential ally. She considered asking Saber for his opinion, but her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of their homeroom teacher, Mr. Aizawa.
'That's weird. I thought All Might ran our heroics classes.'
The Erasure Hero regarded his students, "Alright. Quiet down. It's time for today's Basic Hero Training."
After verifying that the class had settled down, Aizawa continued, "As you may have noticed, All Might isn't here. He was going to join us today, but he was roped into an unexpected meeting. However, it's not a problem. Another teacher will be leading today's activity. I'll merely be assisting."
Sero raised his hand, "Mr. Aizawa, what're we doing exactly? Some sort of special class?"
Aizawa nodded, "That's right. Today we'll be focusing on combating disasters such as fires or floods. This Rescue Training is a crucial part of your education, so I want you all paying close attention today."
The students of 1-A began to chatter, but Aizawa's glare silenced them immediately, "Quiet. I'm not done speaking."
Aizawa clicked a button on a small remote in his hand, causing Class 1-A's Heroics Costumes to emerge from the wall.
"It's up to each of you whether you wear your costumes, however, I recommend wearing them. If they prove ill-suited for rescue operations, that's evidence your attire may need to be modified by the Support Course."
Setting the remote down, Aizawa continued, "One more thing. The training site is a bit remote, so we'll be taking a bus there. We'll meet up outside by the parking lot. That's all. Get ready and meet me outside in twenty minutes."
Twenty minutes later, the nineteen members of Class 1-A stood in the parking lot. Following their teacher's advice, every single one of them was in costume.
Tilting his head towards his classmate Minoru Mineta, Denki Kaminari muttered at the sight of Momo Yaoyorozu's costume. Since she had missed the Battle Trial, none of them had seen it before, "Oh wow, man…"
Mineta grinned, "Long live the Hero Course, heheh~"
Kyoka looked at the two with disdain, "Perverts."
Ochaco Uraraka nodded in agreement, "Yeah you two, don't leer at Yaoyorozu like that!"
Mashirao Ojiro turned to Yaoyorozu, "Are you alright? They are saying some vulgar things, so…"
Momo smiled back at her tailed classmate, "No, it's alright. I can't blame them… and I needed a costume like this for my Quirk."
Ojiro shook his head, "That still doesn't make it okay. They're future heroes. They can't be leering at a woman just because she's pretty."
Mina Ashido grinned at Momo and Ojiro's unintentional flirting, and jumped in place excitedly, "Oh, they're so cute!"
Next to her, Eijiro Kirishima nodded, "Yeah, Ojiro's a pretty manly guy, isn't he!"
Ashido pouted, "You hard-headed idiot, Kiri! It's about the romance! The romance!"
Class 1-A's conversations were abruptly interrupted by the voices of their Class Reps, Kendo and Iida.
Itsuka was the first to speak, "Alright, everyone! We need to settle down and board the bus!"
Iida was next, "Everyone, please line up! We'll line up according to our I.D. Numbers, and board in an orderly fashion!"
Aizawa sighed, knowing Iida was going overboard, "Just get on with it, you fools…"
Principal's Office, U.A. High School
Day 5, Afternoon
"I apologize for the delay I've caused. I know you'd have preferred to hold this meeting in the morning, Nezu."
The Principal of U.A. shook his head, "It's no problem at all, Detective Tsukauchi. The delays gave me time to focus on the matter of acclimating Izuku and Inko Midoriya into our housing unit. It also gave Toshinori and I the chance to learn about the Grail War from Mr. Cervantes here."
Naomasa Tsukauchi nodded, "I see. Was there anything vital I missed?"
"I believe everything critical was covered in your discussion with Izuku Midoriya's Archer, but I'll still send you my notes."
"Wonderful."
"Now then, I've formulated a rough agenda for our discussion. Firstly, I believe we should address the Grail War. Then, we can discuss the villain group that kidnapped Izuku Midoriya. Mr. Cervantes, Father Shiozaki, it is up to you if you want to join us for the second half."
Hansa shrugged, "Eh, might as well. Got nothing better to do. I'm still curious about this world anyway."
Nezu turned to Piero, "And you, Father Shiozaki?"
Piero thought for a second, "I'll excuse myself from it. I doubt I have anything to add to that half of the conversation."
Hansa clapped his hands, "Actually… that may not be the case, Father Shiozaki."
"Hmmm? What do you mean, Mr. Cervantes?"
"Well, I was taking a gander at this report on this 'Izuku Midoriya' case… and I noticed something very intriguing."
"Hmm?"
"Seems that the boy recalled the man on the radio claiming something very interesting— that he was the Master of a Lancer-Class Servant. Now, it's only a one-in-three chance… but didn't your daughter's Servant face a Lancer-Class Servant in Nagoya?"
Piero froze in realization, "Are you suggesting…?"
"I am. I am proposing that this mystery man and Vritra's Master may be one and the same."
Naomasa gulped, "Wait… Mr. Cervantes, did you say Vritra?"
Hansa looked quizzically, "Ah that's right, you wouldn't know. The False Lancer of this War… it seems their identity is that of Vritra, the Dragon of Obstruction. Terrifying, no?"
Nezu mused with concern, "Vritra, the Danava described in the Rig Veda and the Mahabharata… quite the powerful asset to be in the hands of villains."
The principal was already piecing things together. While there were many identities left unclear, he already knew several by this point.
'Astolfo, Vritra, Nobunaga, Ariadne… we have quite the cast assembling.'
Toshinori, while he did not recognize the name Vritra, could read the room. Whatever this 'Vritra' was, it was bad, "So this Lancer, Vritra… they are the one who killed Ryukyu and Kamui Woods? And that would make young Shiozaki's Servant the Caster… Ariadne, I believe?"
Nezu nodded, "Indeed. So your daughter summoned the princess of Crete, Father Shiozaki?"
Piero nodded, "Yes."
Nezu looked Piero dead in the eyes, "That leads me to my next question… where is Caster now?"
Tachikawa City, Tokyo
Day 5, Afternoon
"I wasn't mistaken as I had hoped… but how can it be here?"
As she stood in a defunct construction site in Tachikawa City, Ariadne's eyes remained set on a strange set of brickwork. Having felt a familiar presence through her threads, the Cretan Princess had left her Master's side to investigate the anomaly. In the care of Hansa and the Pro Heroes at U.A., Ibara should be safe even without her present.
Ariadne still possessed doubts about investigating the odd presence, but the sight of a familiar Labrys mark made her quickly discard such thoughts.
"The Labyrinth shouldn't remain in this world's history… and a constant activation of the maze would be beyond any Master's ability to maintain, even the vampire who commands Avenger."
'Is it possible my presence brought it to this world somehow? That doesn't make sense either.'
Shaking her head, Ariadne forced her doubts to clear, 'Theorizing won't help me right now. I must trust in my own skills— and enter the maze.'
Walking up to the Labrys-marked wall, she watched the bricks rearrange themselves into a darkened entranceway. Banishing her lingering hesitation, Ariadne descended into the Labyrinth.
Initially, everything was quiet. Only Ariadne's own footsteps and the crackling of torches could be heard. Then, suddenly, with a roar that echoed throughout the Labyrinth's halls, the air turned heavy.
Something was coming.
'Into the fire, as they say…'
As Ariadne's strings coiled around her defensively, a section of the wall ahead crumbled away. With a bullish huff, a monstrous beast loomed out of the darkness. It looked similar to her late brother, albeit with a face that was more bull-like than his was.
Growling, the facsimile of the Minotaur towered over Ariadne. It cared not for her connection with its mold.
Caster was an invader— and invaders must die.
Taurus Chamber, The Labyrinth
Day 5, Afternoon
As she sat in the lap of one of True Berserker's puppets, Eri Nagamasa was happy. If she had a better understanding of the concept of death, she might have believed herself to be in heaven.
Due to the Labyrinth's unique placement in the in-betweens of space-time, her bodily needs had stagnated. She didn't need to eat or sleep, and even if she spent years inside, she wouldn't age a day. A more developed individual might have been suspicious of their circumstances, but Eri's nascent mind innocently accepted her new life. Playing with Mr. Bull and napping as she pleased was enough for her. As the Labyrinth hoped, Eri Nagamasa was steadily losing her link to the outside world. She would not only be safe in the maze, she would never want to leave.
As she lay within his arm, Eri heard the Labyrinth's avatar softly growling.
"Is something wrong, Mr. Bull?"
Upon hearing its Master's concerned voice, the Labyrinth rapidly began processing her reaction. That concerned tone indicated distress. Distress would lead to fear and negativity. Worst of all, it might lead to a desire to depart the Labyrinth. Berserker knew it needed to modify its dolls' behavioral protocols before Eri became genuinely worried.
With its behaviors updated, the Doll of Asterios fell silent and shook its head. Satisfied, Eri nestled back into his mane.
The Labyrinth, although incapable of feeling satisfaction, recognized this as a positive occurrence. It was best to keep Eri unaware of any invaders.
It would deal with this invasive element, and it would do so without its Master ever knowing a thing.
U.S.J. Access Road, U.A. High School
Day 5, Afternoon
"Hrrrghh… so it was this type of bus."
As Tenya Iida slumped in defeat, Itsuka Kendo stifled a laugh as Mina Ashido patted their zealous class rep on the back.
The pink-skinned girl grinned cheekily, "Seems all that lining up was for nothing, huh, Class Rep?"
Iida had thought the bus they'd be taking would have entirely forward-faced seating. But as it turned out, it utilized public transport's mix of face-to-face and forward-facing seats— making his entire line-up directive pointless.
Iida had seated himself on the right of the two areas of face-to-face seating, with Ashido, Aoyama, and Kaminari to his right.
Kendo had opted to sit across the aisle from Iida, to the right of her classmate Rikido Sato and to the left of Tsuyu Asui and Eijiro Kirishima.
At the back of the bus, in the second row of front-facing seating, Hanta Sero snarked at Iida's overblown reaction.
"Hey, why did we agree to sit in a layout to begin with? I kinda just went with the flow. Or maybe it's 'cause no one was willing to sit next to Bakugo?"
The sandy-haired boy exploded at the jab, "WHAT WAS THAT, SOY SAUCE FACE?"
Seeing his seatmate Jiro clutching her ears, Tokoyami coughed to draw attention, "I believe your volume is uncomfortable to our classmate here, Bakugo."
On the other side of the third row, behind Bakugo and Todoroki, Mezo Shoji nodded next to Koji Koda, who was also clutching his ears, "Yes. I believe you've made Koda uncomfortable as well."
"Shut up, emo bird, octopus freak! I'll be as loud as I damn please!"
Across the aisle from her belligerent classmate, Yaoyorozu sighed, "How vulgar…"
Uraraka, who was seated next to her, merely laughed, "I don't know… I think it's funny!"
Such conversations continued for several more minutes until the bus finally came to a stop outside a large domed facility. Rising tiredly at the front of the bus, Shota Aizawa addressed his class.
"We're here. It's time for your Rescue Training."
Tiryns, Greece
A Long, Long Time Ago…
As he stood outside the walls of Tiryns, Heracles sighed. Even after dedicating years to the completion of his nine previous labors, he still considered his time at Tiryns to be the most irritating facet of his tasks.
'Damn you, Copreus… I know you take your time just to spite me.'
After the completion of his First Labor, when he had returned to Tiryns clad in the Nemean Lion's hide, Eurystheus had become too scared to face him directly. Instead, he left that task to his herald, Copreus.
After three hours of waiting, Heracles at last heard the gates of Tiryns open. He watched with contempt as Copreus came out in his usual black toga, accompanied by an entourage of guardsmen.
"Ah, Heracles. I see you were successful in your ninth of ten— ah, excuse me, twelve labors."
The herald grinned mockingly as he spoke, his grimy teeth on full display.
"Copreus. Just tell me what my Tenth Labor is already."
The man spoke with a disgustingly sweet tone, "Tut-tut… not so fast, kinslayer. Hand over the proof of your labor. The winds have spoken of the massacre of the Amazons, but that was not your labor, was it?"
Heracles reached into his satchel, pulling out a large cloth sash.
Copreus chuckled as his soldiers took it from Heracles, "Ah, the Sash of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Such a shame how she ended up, no? This will make an excellent birthday gift for Princess Admete."
"You have your trophy, Copreus. Now tell me. What task has my cousin thought of this time? Or is this labor of Hera's design?"
Copreus scoffed, "Disrespectful and heretical as always. But very well. Your Tenth Labor is to travel to Erytheia and retrieve the Cattle of Geryon."
The herald and his entourage then suddenly turned and headed back to the gates. Realizing he lacked crucial information, Heracles called out to them.
"Wait, Copreus! Where is 'Erytheia'? I've never heard of such a place!"
Copreus smirked and laughed, "In the west, I believe. That should be more than enough for you to work with, yes?"
Heracles growled, "Copreus…!"
The man let out a caustic laugh, "Ta-ta, kinslayer!"
The gate then shut and Heracles sighed in frustration, "Damnable herald! 'West' he says! As if that's enough for me to work with."
Speaking softly, Heracles prayed to the Gods, "Lady Artemis, I've shown kindness to your hind and boar in my labors… please bless my search for Erytheia."
Receiving no response, Heracles had to hope the Goddess of the Hunt had heard his plea.
"Well… west it is."
Akaishi Mountains, Shizuoka Prefecture
Day 5, Afternoon
As he sat next to his Master in the backseat of a Shie Hassaikai car, the Heroic Spirit Heracles pulled himself out of his memories.
'That dream… I haven't thought about the Tenth Labor in some time.'
Across the row from the Servant of the Bow, Second Caster chuckled as she lay seated next to her summoner, "Did you sleep well, Archer?"
The Grecian Hero nodded, "Yes. Thank you, Caster. Your remedy was remarkable— to allow me to sleep as I did in life, and even curb the Dream Cycle…"
Caster chuckled, "Silver Valerian Root is quite remarkable, is it not? It is fortunate my Item Construction skill is capable of producing botanical reagents."
Heracles murmured in agreement, "Hmm… Caster, you remind me of my wife."
Agrippina waved her hand and laughed, "Oh, is the great Heracles flirting with me?"
Archer shook his head, "No, it's not that. Deianira also enjoyed making medicines."
"And yet she wasn't wise enough to know that centaur's blood is powerless. Should I be insulted by your comparison?"
"Caster…"
"My apologies, Archer. I overstepped."
"Very well—"
The car suddenly screeched to a halt. Next to Heracles, Chisaki yelled at the driver.
"Yotsu! Why are we stopping?"
The driver spoke with a slight tremble, "S-sorry Sir. It's just… someone is standing in the road."
Ryumatsu Nagamasa looked forward curiously, "Standing in the road?"
Archer looked through the windshield, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the familiar purple-haired Servant, "Saber."
Agrippina raised an eyebrow, 'The False Saber… hmmm…'
Opening the car door, Heracles stepped out of the car. Agrippina, Kai, and Ryumatsu soon followed.
Archer was cautious. Saber may have been his ally in Nagoya, but they never had a true alliance. But was this truly just a consequence of the Holy Grail War's design?
"Hail, Saber! Why have you stopped our convoy?"
Saber's voice was strained by contempt and barely contained hate, "Why am I here? That's simple. I'm here to kill you, Archer."
Heracles frowned, "Saber… it is clear you hold a grudge against me. But why? I have no memory of facing you in life."
With a stony expression, Saber poised his sword at his fellow Servant, "That's true, we never met in life. You were born after my death, son of Zeus."
"So you know who I am. But if I was born after you, then why…"
"Chrysaor."
Heracles stopped as Saber locked eyes with him, "What?"
"My true name is Chrysaor. Son of Medusa. Father of Geryon and Echidna."
'Geryon…!'
Heracles clenched his fist, "I see… so you seek vengeance for your son."
"No matter the reason, I will not let my son's murderer go unpunished. I will do what he could not, and cut you down, Heracles."
"And what of my Master?"
"I have no quarrel with him. My only target is you."
Heracles glanced toward Ryumatsu, who nodded, "Don't worry about me, Archer. Fight this battle."
"Understood. Drive safe, Master."
As Agrippina and the two men returned to the vehicles, the two Servants walked over to a small clearing on the side of the mountain road. The wind blew gently in the trees, and the air was tense.
"Prepare yourself, Saber. I won't hold back."
"Good. I'll strike you down— for the sake of my son."
Main Entrance, Unforeseen Simulation Joint
Day 5, Afternoon
"WHOAAAA!"
Hearing his students exclaim at the sight of the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, Shota Aizawa suppressed a smile. Despite his gruff attitude, he couldn't help but enjoy the boundless excitement they were having toward the exercise. If he needed to calm them down when they actually got started, he'd do so, but he let them have this moment.
Next to Aizawa was the primary teacher for today's rescue training, Anan Kurose.
Kurose, better known as the Pro Hero Thirteen, was one of U.A.'s specialized staff members. She only taught the classes held at the U.S.J., and rarely assisted at the main campus.
Even more so than Aizawa, Kurose loved the sound of the student's enthusiasm. The U.S.J. was her pride and joy, after all. It always felt good to be praised for her life's work.
"Well, I better get started. Greeting Class 1-A! Welcome to the Unforeseen Simulation Joint."
Under her helmet, Thirteen smiled as several students (particularly Ochaco Uraraka) reacted with recognition.
'Seems I've got some fans in this class, heheh.'
"We're going to get started real soon, but before we do, I want to cover one… well two… actually, make that four…"
Thirteen cleared her throat, "Yes, four points I want to cover! First off…"
As Thirteen continued to explain her Quirk and the day's activities, Aizawa watched over his class. After a few minutes, seeing Thirteen bow as they wrapped up their explanation, he began to speak, "Alright, class. Settle down, let's…"
The facility lights suddenly flickered, and Aizawa felt his instincts roar as he stopped speaking. Turning, he saw something out of place in the U.S.J.'s Central Plaza— a portal.
As the portal widened, a man with a detached gray hand covering his face began to emerge from the shadowy gateway. Aizawa's thoughts clicked into place as even more figures began to emerge from the darkness.
'Villains!'
"Stay together and don't move! Thirteen, protect the students!"
Kirishima looked down at the crowd with confused naivety, "The heck? Those don't look like the robots from the entrance exam…"
Aizawa shouted again, "Eyes up, all of you! Those are villains!"
Behind Aizawa, Mineta muttered in fright as Class 1-A displayed a variety of reactions to their teacher's words, "V-villains? N-no way!"
Below, the portal coalesced back into a humanoid shape as Kurogiri gazed at the two teachers and their students with confusion, "How odd. The staff schedule we retrieved indicated All Might would be here today."
Aizawa clicked his tongue, 'We rescheduled this training due to the Nagoya Disaster… but how did villains find out about that?'
Next to Kurogiri, Shigaraki rambled frustratedly, "What the hell? We came all this way, brought grunts, Nomu, and Berserker… and the Symbol of Peace isn't even here? What a shitty pull. Maybe killing some kids will lure him out?"
Momo, doing her best to keep a level head, looked to Thirteen in confusion, "Ms. Thirteen, aren't there intruder sensors?"
Thirteen tried to respond calmly, but even she was a bit off-put by the sensors' failure to go off, "Yes! Of course there are!"
Todoroki looked down at the growing army of villains, "This could be an isolated attack… or a siege on the whole school."
Kendo nodded, "But, given we're at an isolated facility, outnumbered, and they're jamming the systems…"
Todoroki finished, "...it's probably just us. These guys aren't dumb brutes. They have an objective, one deserving a well-coordinated sneak attack."
Aizawa nodded at Todoroki's analysis, "Thirteen, leave the villains to me. Evacuate the students and get backup. Kaminari, it's probably an electrical Quirk jamming the sensors. Use your Quirk and break through."
Kaminari shouted with all the confidence he could muster, "I-I'll try!"
Ojiro looked at Aizawa with worry, "Sir, you're going to fight them alone?!"
"Yes."
"But there's so many, and you're alone—"
But Aizawa was already on the move, diving into the fray. Combining his Quirk and his Anti-CQC techniques, he began to single-handedly hold back the mob of villains.
Tomura scratched his neck as he watched Aizawa fight, "He's good at hand-to-hand… plus those goggles and his Quirk are confusing the troops."
Next to Nomu, Berserker grunted, "Doesn't matter— he's still weak."
Kurogiri however, was focused on the entrance, "Tomura Shigaraki… I will prevent their escape."
As Thirteen and Class 1-A moved for the exit, the warp villain vanished from the plaza.
Aizawa cursed and yelled, "Shit…! Thirteen, watch out!"
Above, the Space Hero held the students back as Kurogiri's gaseous form manifested in their path.
"Greetings, students… we are the League of Villains. Forgive our audacity, but we have invaded this bastion of heroism for a single purpose— to kill All Might, the Symbol of Peace."
Kendo's eyes narrowed, 'They're here to kill All Might?'
Kurogiri continued as Thirteen undid her gloves' seals, "However, it seems the schedule we acquired was… inaccurate. No matter. My role remains unchanged—"
"Sorry, Master! I won't hide out any longer!"
Reactively moving backward, Kurogiri found himself face-to-face with a katana-wielding woman with light pink hair. She was dressed in what could have been mistaken for a Pro Hero's outfit, if not for her statement of having a Master.
Kendo couldn't contain her shock, "Saber?!"
Kurogiri did his best to hide his shock, "A Servant? And a Saber, it would seem."
Musashi smiled, "Yep! I was gonna manifest in that plaza and team up with Mr. Grouchy down there, but then you got a little too close to my cute little Itsuka!"
"A Servant's presence was not unexpected. I shall have Berserker deal with you."
"Not so fast, blackguard! She is not the only Saber you face!"
Kyoka Jiro did her best to remain unphased as she watched her own Saber manifest by the female Saber's side.
'Kendo kinda gave it away with her reaction… but can I keep my secret still?'
Thirteen, meanwhile, wasn't sure how to react.
'Now there's two of them… but are they allies or enemies?'
Saber gave a passionate greeting as the students looked on, confused, "Greetings, heroes-to-be! I am True Saber! The first True Saber, to be exact!"
Momo looked on in confusion, 'Rider said Saber had purple hair… are there two more Sabers? What's going on?'
Kurogiri meanwhile, did his best to stall, waiting for an opening to perform a mass warp, "So, not one, but two Sabers have shown themselves? Intriguing…"
Richard smiled, "Indeed, rogue! We shall stop you here, and ensure the safety of our Masters and their friends!"
But another voice interrupted them, "Not if I take gas-head out first, you dumbass vigilante!"
Thirteen's body stiffened and turned toward Bakugo, "No, don't!"
But it was too late. Bakugo was already on the move, momentum pulling him towards the gaseous villain. Once in range, he unleashed a point-blank explosion.
"DIE!"
But Kurogiri was faster, coming out mostly unphased from Bakugo's attack, "Close, I'll admit… U.A.'s students truly are the cream of the crop. Forgive me for not playing fair."
Sensing the villain was about to make his move, Thirteen cried out desperately, "Bakugo! Get back!"
Kurogiri laughed as his gas expanded outwards, encroaching on students and Servants alike.
"Begone… and breathe your last."
The first to vanish were Bakugo and Kirishima. Then Todoroki and Aoyama. Then countless more were enveloped— even Jiro and her Saber were warped away.
Seeing the cloud coming for Kendo, Musashi rushed for her Master, pushing her out of the way before facing the oncoming warp shadow. Leaping forward, Musashi unleashed a powerful slash. It was enough to even cut the gas, but it came at a cost. Swallowed up, Musashi saluted Kendo before swiftly vanishing.
Kendo cried out in shock, "Saber!"
As he reeled from Musashi's last-ditch attack, Kurogiri muttered in surprise, "It is a good thing I acted when I did… to think that a Servant could even cut my warp. I wonder, could that have affected where I sent her?"
With Kurogiri momentarily distracted, Thirteen glanced around and did a quick headcount. The results weren't good, 'Kendo, Sero, Uraraka, Sato, Iida… only five students weren't warped away. Dammit.'
Kurogiri spoke with a contemplative tone, "It seems there are some students I missed. Well, I suppose it gives me something more interesting to do."
Thirteen knew her combat ability was a far cry from Aizawa's. Even so, she stood firm. She was a Pro Hero– she wouldn't balk in the face of villainy.
'I'll protect the students… even if it kills me!'
To be continued in Chapter 19: Rampage Playground
Lunar Files: U.S.J. Situation Report
The students in Mysterious Night's iteration of the U.S.J. Arc have been scattered slightly differently than in canon. Here are the locations of all important characters. For the sake of some theorizing, neither of the Sabers will have their current locations revealed yet.
Main Entrance:
:: Anan Kurose / Thirteen
:: Itsuka Kendo
:: Hanta Sero
:: Ochaco Uraraka
:: Rikido Sato
:: Tenya Iida
:: Kurogiri
Central Plaza:
:: Shota Aizawa / Eraserhead
:: Nomu
:: Tomura Shigaraki
:: Second Berserker / Cú Chulainn
Conflagration Zone:
:: Mashirao Ojiro
:: Mina Ashido
Downpour Zone:
:: Fumikage Tokoyami
:: Koji Koda
:: Mezo Shoji
Flood Zone:
:: Denki Kaminari
:: Minoru Mineta
:: Tsuyu Asui
Landslide Zone:
:: Shoto Todoroki
Mountain Zone:
:: Kyoka Jiro
:: Momo Yaoyorozu
Ruins Zone:
:: Eijiro Kirishima
:: Katsuki Bakugo
Location Unknown:
:: Yuga Aoyama
:: True Saber / Richard I
:: Second Saber / Musashi Miyamoto